atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Need some ideas on this soon.

We will begin cabling a new building for an existing customer next week; about 75 station locations. We've had this customer for over 25 years and have them under maintenance the whole time, so there isn't much likelihood that they have any plans to go anywhere. Their architect has specified CAT6 wiring for all voice and data (shocker).

The problem is that we will be installing a new 100 pair BET to feed the building and will be sending extensions (either digital or SLT) to these CAT6 cable runs. The ones that we use look like THIS.

I prefer to use the 189 type protected entrance terminals, especially on this site since we have them installed in almost all of the buildings on the campus. They have 66 block outputs.

Of course, we aren't going to terminate the CAT6 cabling on 66 blocks, as much as I'd like to in order to keep the wiring standards the same everywhere. This has me leaning toward terminating the cables on 110 blocks and using a BET with a 110 block output. There won't be any equipment located in this building, just cross connects from the BET to the station cable blocks. These terminals look like THIS.

I absolutely refuse to terminate the voice cables on patch panels. The customer hasn't even asked us to do anything like that. They just want that magic buzz word from the architect; "CAT6".

What would you do? Use the same BET with 66 outputs that exist in over a dozen other buildings on the property or make the change over to one with 110 outputs? Of course, the incoming PE-22 cable is CAT-Zero, and aside from the fact that the output of the BET would be 110 blocks, this would only be an effort to match the incoming and outgoing cross connect methods. There's certainly no reason why we can't have a mix of 66 and 110, but I'm just looking for input from everyone.

Does this make sense? What would you do in this instance?

Have you talked to the architect (why is he doing this and not the electrical engineer?) as to why he is using Cat6 for voice only cabling? It might open your eyes a little to find out what he is thinking.

Why do you refuse terminate in a patch panels? It's a normal practice in many locations now a days as it offers the ability to use the cable as voice or data by just moving a patch cable.

Probably the same reason as mine. Too easy for any jerk-off to screw with the patch cords and you end up with a heck of a mess...

I guess I'd choose 110 blocks on both sides.

I'm with Jeff, 110 blocks on both sides.

However, like you said, it really doesn't matter. So do whatever's easier and whatever will make the Architecht happier.

Sam

Since the only reason you can't use 66 blocks is they won't maintain the data integrity for CAT6 and you're only using them for voice, I'd use the 66 Blocks anyway. Find some place you can store some slack than if they ever want to change the use for data and actually need CAT6 you can re-terminate to a patch panel. (What are the odds of that?)

Talk to the end user and explain the folly of using Cat6 for anything unless he needs to send huge files in very short lengths of time. Explain how much more expensive it is in terms of parts and labor.

I would go with a cross-connection system that makes you happy. If you like all 110-type, then go with that.

I recently asked an architect, in a meeting with a builder and owner, how many courses he had taken in electrical engineering during his education in architectural studies. "Silence."

Why not BIX or better yet, GigaBIX

https://www.belden.com/products/enterprisecabling/GigaBIX-Cross-Connect-System.cfm

Offers a nice, neat solution that maintains the CAT 6 performance and provides options down the road if customer ever decides they want to move from TDM to IP.

What Roadie says....... even in our market it is pretty standard that everyone would have it terminated on a patch panel. Just seeing more and more of it.

I have ran into your scenario. I've used the 66 block type then tailed it out to a Patch Panel and terminated all Cat 6 in a panel. You can't argue with these architects! I understand why you don't want to put it in a panel but future proofing should be on the back of your mind for sure.