Structured Cabling Networks are utilized in data, voice and video transmissions. Communications networks are the best way to gain and maintain a competitive advantage in today's "information age". A professionally installed and maintained system:
 
• Enables users to share information regardless of location
• Maximizes users' access to file servers and printers
• Allows for immediate workload sharing between sites
• Minimizes downtime
• Allows users to keep up to date within their industries

A poorly installed structured cabling network can lead to chaos rather than communication.

Available Media
• Fiber Optic Cable
• Unshielded Twisted Pair
• Wireless

Fiber Optic Structured Cabling Networks

Today, fiber optic networks have the largest bandwidth available to transmit information. Fiber optic cable is available in single-mode and multi-mode construction. Single-mode is used for longer distances and outdoor applications. Multi-mode is commonly used in intra building applications. Both types of fiber optic cables can be used indoor or outdoor depending on the application. The fiber optic cable can be terminated with several types of fiber optic connectors; ST, SC, LC, MTRJ, etc… depending on the application or customer preferences. Protocol recommends that a fiber optic patch panel, whether wall mounted or in the rack, be used. The standards the fiber optic cabling will support are:
• 100BaseFX for 100-Megabit transmissions
• 1000BaseSX for short distance Gigabit transmissions
• 1000BaseLX for long distance Gigabit transmissions
• 10000BaseFX for 10-Gigabit transmissions

Unshielded Twisted Pair Cabling Networks

This is the most common type of structured cabled network being utilized today. The cable and hardware are rated Category3, Category5e and Category6. Each Category has different electrical properties to pass information. Category3 networks are a legacy type of network, but are still utilizing in voice only cabling networks. Category5e is the most common type of structure cabling system being install in the first quarter of 2004. In 2002 the Category6 Standard was approved. With the end in site of the Catgory5e standard, new buildings or companies signing long leases are utilizing the Category6 cable and hardware.

The following is the structure cable Categories and their uses:

Category1 Voice Only Eliminated as a Standard
Category2 Voice Only Eliminated as a Standard
Category3 Voice and 10BaseT Activate Standard
Category4 Token Ring Eliminated as a Standard
Category5 100BaseT Eliminated as a Standard
Category5e 100BaseTX and ATM Activate Standard
Category6 1000BaseTX Activate Standard

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