John Peters, IT and Network Consultant, LLC

Too many occurrences of poor network wiring are the result of cost saving measures performed by people that “Googled” how to terminate and test a Cat 5/6 cable with no or very little knowledge of the ANSI/EIA/TIA standards for the installation of structured network cable. The result is usually globs of unorganized, unlabeled, poorly installed network “spaghetti” that is now proving difficult to trace, maintain and upgrade. The slang term for this is “Cheap Net” and as the name implies, you get what you pay for.

Since network wiring standards were not adhered to during the initial installation of “Cheap Net” networks, increased demands for more efficient network connectivity required to perform business functions drives up costs as network connectivity issues result in additional costs. “Cheap Net” networks are more costly to maintain and upgrade. Most of the time new wiring is simply added without addressing the the underlying issues with the initial installation and without correcting existing problems. In those instances where there is a change in building layout, building damage or a break in connectivity that requires repair, tracing breaks and making repairs becomes more costly.

As the old adage goes, “it is better to do it right the first time than to go back and do it over.” Without trying to sound trite or redundant, the end result of failure to adhere to network wiring standards in the initial installation of network cabling is additional cost to fix problems. To reiterate an old Midas Muffler ad, “You can pay me now or pay me later.”