Secure Those Cables

Secure Those Cables!

A common problem with small offices or home offices is that you are not using a structured wiring plan. That is, you just string cables from here to there and plug things in. If you have a twisted-pair network cable lying on the floor near your desk, use tie-wraps, scotch tape, or anything else that you can to make sure that the cable doesn't just lie on the floor where you can roll over it with a chair. Even stepping on a twisted-pair network cable can be enough to cause it to have problems carrying the network signal. Secure those cables so that they aren't mangled by accident.

If you can't hide your cables from foot traffic or other hazards, consider using cable organization devices such as wire ducts, raceways, cord protectors, and so forth. Cableorganizer.com is a leading company in cord and cable management.

Note

A friend of mine had a pet rabbit at home that was occasionally let out of the cage. Rabbits, in case you don't know, like to chew on just about anything (my friend no longer has the rabbit). Be sure to keep your network cables (not to mention electrical cords) safe, even from your pets!

If you suspect a problem with the cable, trace it from the network card back to the hub or switch/router to be sure that it hasn't been damaged. Never try to "stretch" a cable or pull too hard on it when you are moving things about. This too can damage the cable and cause it to generate so many errors that the network becomes unavailable to the attached computer.

Note

If your service provider is using DSL, you might have to connect a small device to your telephone outlet known as a microfilter before you can plug in a telephone. This device prevents telephone interference from causing problems with the frequencies used on the copper wire by the DSL service. And the reverse is also true. These filters can keep the DSL frequencies from interfering with and degrading the voice channel. Not all DSL services require this sort of device. If your service requires microfilters, be sure you obtain another microfilter when you buy a new phone for a different room. Don't just plug in the phone and expect all to be well. A ringing phone or a phone off the hook can cause enough interference to make the DSL connection sporadic or nonfunctional for this kind of connection.