In this first instalment of a new podcast series, Mastering Connectivity, Kordz’ connectivity experts unravel cabling myths that have plagued the integration industry for decades and share how that needs to evolve for integrators to meet the demands of tomorrow.
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Connectivity has long been one of the most misunderstood, undervalued and frustrating categories of the integration industry, often to our own detriment. We integrators, and even consumers, realise a good network optimises the interoperability and performance of a home or building’s myriad smart devices, yet this fundamental cabling backbone rarely receives the attention and respect it deserves. It’s been far too easy to dismiss this invisible highway that works behind the scenes, cutting corners during installation to focus on the shiny new technologies that ride on it. Inferior, confusing and cumbersome cabling products have let us down, leading to costly callbacks and exasperation all round. Consequently, it’s sometimes created a reluctance to explore the new and better connectivity options available today.
Now, with the rapid evolution and societal adoption of technology, connectivity has never been a more important enabler and it’s time for the professional integration industry to elevate its cabling game. As seasoned former integrators specialising in connectivity, the Kordz team is here to share our deep knowledge and on the job experience to make that easier. In this inaugural episode of the Mastering Connectivity podcast series, two of Kordz’ resident connectivity experts, managing director James Chen and technology consultant Hugo Fitzjohn, bust five common myths that have held us back, highlighting the key features in the construction, manufacture and design of new generation professional cabling you need to know to make installation easier and ensure optimal performance, reliability and longevity.
Myth #1: Thicker is Better
Twenty years ago, this statement may have been accurate. Analogue audio and video systems were the primary tech deployed in homes, and thick, heavy cabling served them well. As technology began to evolve, technicians found themselves in uncharted territory, which led to some degree of confusion and haphazard execution of networking projects. But that was a long time ago, and we’re now in the digital age where a diverse array of sophisticated microprocessor-based technologies and denser systems are fuelling a need for a variety of integration approaches that support greater speed, bandwidth and connectivity, plus both pre-terminated and site terminated products.
“A technician’s installation time is way more expensive than cable in the long run.”
Hugo Fitzjohn, Connectivity Technologist – Filbert Square
Myth #2: Manufacturing Practices Don’t Matter
With many integrators and consumers alike not understanding the value of quality connectivity and opting for the cheapest price, many technology products, including connectivity, have become commoditised and made with components that are produced to hit a price point. As a result, corners are often cut in the design, engineering and manufacturing processes. This approach may be suitable for some segments of the industry, such as video, where products can be swapped for newer models with relative ease, but once a cabling backbone is installed, it’s extremely difficult and costly to replace. “A technician’s installation time is way more expensive than cable in the long run,” says Fitzjohn. Therefore, it behoves integration technicians to align with cabling providers that follow strict, rigorous testing procedures; employ quality materials and manufacturing that comply with the latest networking standards. Going the extra mile doesn’t necessarily require a high price tag, however. Nor should you base your selection of cable on superfluous features like bespoke jacket designs, for example.
“Every second counts when terminating cabling, and when your hands grow tired, the entire process slows down.”
James Chen, Managing Director – Kordz
Myth #3: Appearance Signifies Quality
Looks may have mattered to integrators in the past, but today, reliability, installation ease and repeatable performance trump appearance. But if you can’t identify quality just by looking at a product, how can you tell if a cable possesses the essential features you need? Chen says one of the ways is by how it feels in your hands. You need to look for a strong yet pliable composition, a jacket that can be easily stripped for fast termination, and matching connectors that snap on tightly. “Every second counts when terminating cabling, and when your hands grow tired, the entire process slows down,” Chen says. “The easier it is to work with a cable, the better off your hands will be and the more profitable the project.” Accept anything less, “and you may be installing nothing more than a service call,” Fitzjohn says.
Myth #4: Price Signifies Performance
Like any technology, you get what you pay for when it comes to connectivity. However, there is a certain point where price is no longer indicative of performance. You might be wasting money on a hand-braided jacket or fancy packaging, so look past all that fluff. A quality network supported by quality cabling can be deployed more cost effectively than you might think. The trick is matching the right cable to the application. Know which type of products will be connected and how they will be used before designing and deploying the cable infrastructure.
Myth #5: Connectivity Doesn’t Matter Because Everything is Going Wireless
With our growing dependence upon myriad technologies comes the need to connect an increasing number of devices. Many people think that Wi-Fi provides a complete solution for this and it does not. As the volume of devices drawing on the network increases, bandwidth becomes limited. This can cause delays and dropouts during important calls, gaming or streaming. Wi-Fi connections are also much more susceptible to interference than wired connections and much more easily hacked. The only way to ensure a safe, secure and reliable connection is to wire your devices. And one way or the other, wireless devices still ultimately require power and generally a wired connection to a network to work.
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Implementing connectivity infrastructure that performs flawlessly and lasts a lifetime doesn’t have to be so confusing, complex or time-consuming. By choosing the right products and following best installation practices you can provide your customers with a network that supports all their connectivity needs now and in the future. It’s one tech investment that lasts a lifetime!
To learn more about the evolution of connectivity and its influence on smart building ecosystems, subscribe to Kordz below, check out our articles, and stay tuned for future episodes of Mastering Connectivity where Kordz will demystify technology, share tips for proper installation, solutions to common pain points and more.
A special thanks to AV Trade Talks host, Katye McGregor Bennett and the team at KMB Communications, for collaborating on this podcast series.