The basic premise that defines a business phone has been simple and well stated for many years. Business phones, unlike home telephones, need to be able to handle a large call volume and provide functionality that is useful to the end user. This usually includes the ability to field several calls at the same time, put people on hold when necessary, and direct phone traffic to wherever it needs to go. Business phones have accomplished these tasks with flying colors going all the way back the earliest models. Even more impressive, however, is the ability business phone manufacturers have shown to incorporate new and expanding technologies into their products.
Technology has grown by leaps and bounds, especially in the last two decades. From faxes to cellular phones and the dawning of the computer age, changes that have affected phones in general, but particularly business phones, have been varying and abundant. Looking at other industries where technology has influenced design and protocols, one can easily see that not all manufacturers share the same competitiveness that business phone manufacturers share in relation to keeping their products as current as possible. Digital telephones were available before the digital alarm clock, digital wrist watch or the digital thermostat.
While it could be argued for the digital alarm clock or the digital wrist watch that this is simply a matter of function not really benefitting form, I doubt that anyone would dispute the exclusion of the thermostat in that description. Like the digitalization of the telephone, digitalized thermostats offer options that were not possible prior to the conversion. From the ability to adjust temperature settings based on time to the increased level of accuracy, digitalization has offered great benefits to this particular product. Why then, were products such as these so much slower than the business telephone to adopt digitalization?
It is more a testament to the dedication of telephone equipment manufacturers than it is a knock on other product manufacturers. The telephone business is highly competitive, and the ultimate beneficiary of this competitiveness is the consumer. Whatever changes lie ahead for technology, you can be certain that business phone manufacturers will incorporate those changes into their products.
Showing posts with label phone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label phone. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Basics of Multi Line Commercial Phone Systems
While most commercial phone systems offer standardized features such as voice mail, call forwarding, transferring and hold music, not all are created equal. With three different options for businesses, it's important to understand that the phone system you choose should be reflection of your businesses size and where you expect to be several years down the road. If your company has a very small number of employees, a KSU-less system might be the right choice. KSU-less systems offer a high degree of functionality for a much lower initial investment. KSU-less phones are not tied together in the sense that traditional phone systems are. Instead, the actual handsets provide commercial phone system features, instead of connecting to a central control unit.
For mid-sized companies, key systems offer more features and are expandable for normally up to 35 handsets. Key systems utilize a central control device called the key system unit (KSU) to manage the connected network of phones within your business as well as any outgoing or incoming calls. In recent years, key systems have become so advanced that many rival PBX systems in terms of standard features and customization.
For large companies with over 35 to 40 employees, a PBX system is the way to go. PBX systems offer the greatest amounts of functionality are highly expandable. A PBX central terminal controls all phone systems in the same manner that a key system does, but can do so for a substantially greater number of phones. Almost all PBX systems come with the standard features necessary for phone system operations as they pertain to large businesses. PBX systems are highly programmable and can be configured to meet the individual needs of any business. The only downside to PBX systems is the overall expense compared to key systems and KSU-less systems. Still, if your business needs over 35 handsets or may in the future, PBX is your only choice.
There factors that will determine the size of the system you need are the number of lines and the number of extensions you will need. Lines are the number of outside phone lines your phone system can simultaneously connect to. Extensions are needed for every handset or other device that the company needs to connect to the phone system. Knowing both can give you an idea of which phone system is right for your business.
For mid-sized companies, key systems offer more features and are expandable for normally up to 35 handsets. Key systems utilize a central control device called the key system unit (KSU) to manage the connected network of phones within your business as well as any outgoing or incoming calls. In recent years, key systems have become so advanced that many rival PBX systems in terms of standard features and customization.
For large companies with over 35 to 40 employees, a PBX system is the way to go. PBX systems offer the greatest amounts of functionality are highly expandable. A PBX central terminal controls all phone systems in the same manner that a key system does, but can do so for a substantially greater number of phones. Almost all PBX systems come with the standard features necessary for phone system operations as they pertain to large businesses. PBX systems are highly programmable and can be configured to meet the individual needs of any business. The only downside to PBX systems is the overall expense compared to key systems and KSU-less systems. Still, if your business needs over 35 handsets or may in the future, PBX is your only choice.
There factors that will determine the size of the system you need are the number of lines and the number of extensions you will need. Lines are the number of outside phone lines your phone system can simultaneously connect to. Extensions are needed for every handset or other device that the company needs to connect to the phone system. Knowing both can give you an idea of which phone system is right for your business.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
An effective way to earn money for your company leading to greater future financial success
As supervisor of a large company, one of my greatest concerns is to limit expenses as much as possible to ensure further company success. It remains a constant part of my job responsibility to lower costs and always be thinking of cost-effective ways to continue business in my department. After my boss purchased a complete new phone system, I decided that we should sell our old AT&T equipment back to the company we purchased the new one from.
Coming up with effective ways to begin back money within your company can add future financial success to your company. This innovative way of thinking will make you more valuable to your company. Ultimately, encouraging the owner or whomever is in charge of expenses, to continue to invest in more equipment that will not only help you but other employees.
By implementing more effective systems within one’s company, it allows for the company to remain on the forefront for upcoming technology and also allows for greater success for employees. Their workload can significantly be eased by the installation of a new phone system. Customer service representatives’ greatest concern is the needs of your customers. If their needs are not met, your revenues are affected.
Making the right decision on a new phone system could be the determinant of your business success. This new equipment will allow employees to work more efficiently and with less stress. It has been proven that less stress allows for more productivity. For example, by purchasing a complete new phone system with multiple lines, employees can be more specified in work responsibility.
In my printing company, customer service representatives are each assigned separate responsibility concerning orders received by mail, email or fax. By having multiple lines, the receptionist can easily transfer customers to their specialized representative to better suit their needs.
The installation of this new equipment has my business running at its best. After this investment, I am actively seeking out additional ones that will continue to secure my future financial success. Staying updated with one’s equipment allows for greater work flow and happier customers.
Coming up with effective ways to begin back money within your company can add future financial success to your company. This innovative way of thinking will make you more valuable to your company. Ultimately, encouraging the owner or whomever is in charge of expenses, to continue to invest in more equipment that will not only help you but other employees.
By implementing more effective systems within one’s company, it allows for the company to remain on the forefront for upcoming technology and also allows for greater success for employees. Their workload can significantly be eased by the installation of a new phone system. Customer service representatives’ greatest concern is the needs of your customers. If their needs are not met, your revenues are affected.
Making the right decision on a new phone system could be the determinant of your business success. This new equipment will allow employees to work more efficiently and with less stress. It has been proven that less stress allows for more productivity. For example, by purchasing a complete new phone system with multiple lines, employees can be more specified in work responsibility.
In my printing company, customer service representatives are each assigned separate responsibility concerning orders received by mail, email or fax. By having multiple lines, the receptionist can easily transfer customers to their specialized representative to better suit their needs.
The installation of this new equipment has my business running at its best. After this investment, I am actively seeking out additional ones that will continue to secure my future financial success. Staying updated with one’s equipment allows for greater work flow and happier customers.
A Look At Cordless Phones
Cordless phones, also known as portable telephones, use a wireless handset in order to communicate with the phone’s base, which is connected to a telephone landline. In order for cordless phones to function properly, they must be used within a specified proximity to the base. Most individuals find that they can use their cordless phones throughout the house or in the yard without interruption.
In their earliest days, rotary telephones were common and required nothing more than a connection to a landline. Cordless phones require the same, along with an electrical outlet in order to charge the internal battery. This function is what allows the telephone to operate when away from the base and these batteries are automatically recharged when the phone is not in use. After years of use, the battery may need to be replaced. This can often be difficult on older models, but a compatible battery can sometimes be purchased directly from the manufacturer. In some cases, it may be less expensive to purchase a whole new phone than to replace a battery in the old model.
Years ago, there was growing concern about the privacy related to using cordless phones. The potential for conversations to be picked up by nearby baby monitors, radios and other devices was troubling to many. However, the manufacturers of cordless phones have stepped up to increase their security. In order to receive the best privacy, a 900mhz or better cordless phones are recommended.
The convenience of cordless phones is undeniable. With their invention, it is now possible to have the telephone with you literally wherever you go. This is especially valuable to elderly people who live alone and need to have a telephone nearby. Anyone who needs to have quick access to a phone will find great comfort in the presence of cordless phones. In addition, the clarity is much greater than the previous rotary models. With a clear conversation and the ultimate convenience, cordless phones have quickly become a staple in every household.
Many individuals are selecting the double handset models, which only require one telephone line but allow for two different bases to be located throughout the house. This is especially desirable for the household with only one landline connection, but has the desire for more than one telephone. A dual handset is like having two telephones, but only requires one hookup. With prices starting at $10.00 for basic cordless phones or $50.00 for a dual handset, there is an option for every budget.
In their earliest days, rotary telephones were common and required nothing more than a connection to a landline. Cordless phones require the same, along with an electrical outlet in order to charge the internal battery. This function is what allows the telephone to operate when away from the base and these batteries are automatically recharged when the phone is not in use. After years of use, the battery may need to be replaced. This can often be difficult on older models, but a compatible battery can sometimes be purchased directly from the manufacturer. In some cases, it may be less expensive to purchase a whole new phone than to replace a battery in the old model.
Years ago, there was growing concern about the privacy related to using cordless phones. The potential for conversations to be picked up by nearby baby monitors, radios and other devices was troubling to many. However, the manufacturers of cordless phones have stepped up to increase their security. In order to receive the best privacy, a 900mhz or better cordless phones are recommended.
The convenience of cordless phones is undeniable. With their invention, it is now possible to have the telephone with you literally wherever you go. This is especially valuable to elderly people who live alone and need to have a telephone nearby. Anyone who needs to have quick access to a phone will find great comfort in the presence of cordless phones. In addition, the clarity is much greater than the previous rotary models. With a clear conversation and the ultimate convenience, cordless phones have quickly become a staple in every household.
Many individuals are selecting the double handset models, which only require one telephone line but allow for two different bases to be located throughout the house. This is especially desirable for the household with only one landline connection, but has the desire for more than one telephone. A dual handset is like having two telephones, but only requires one hookup. With prices starting at $10.00 for basic cordless phones or $50.00 for a dual handset, there is an option for every budget.
A Line for Every Extension
I recently replaced the business phone systems in the company I own to accommodate the needs of my staff. I wish I could say that it was to accommodate the needs of our customers, but sadly, that isn't the case. You see, our old phone system had many more extensions than we had lines for. It was built with the assumption that inter-office communications would be utilized more than incoming and outgoing calls. Since my company deals primarily with internet business and doesn't do much in the way of transactions over the phone, the system I put in place in the late 90's had served us well until very recently. As of late, I have had vendors who had traditionally reached me by phone sending me e-mails. They were complaining that it's often impossible to get through to me. I looked into the matter and this is what I found… Most of my employees were spending a great deal of time talking on the phone. They weren't talking to vendors, customers, service providers or other business entities. Instead, they were utilizing the phone for personal reasons.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not the type of boss who thinks it's never acceptable to talk on the phone. I understand that during the workday, things are inevitably bound to come up which require an employees' attention. We've all been there. Perhaps a child is sick or the car is in the shop needing repairs. I understand that these things often require time spent on the phone. Judging from the traffic on my lines and the astronomical phone bills I was receiving, however, this was way beyond what I think any employer would consider acceptable.
So, I decided to replace the old phone system. The new system has a line for every extension, including mine, so that vendors or anyone else will be able to reach me at any time. Since the new phone system also offers increased functionality, I had an additional feature programmed in.
Now, whenever someone makes an outgoing call, they must dial in their own code so that both the number they call and the times spent are recorded. These records are matched to the phone bill and all employees are required to mark the non-business related calls they make each month. Since the calls bear their code, they cannot say it wasn't them who made the call. Of course, they must pay for these calls. I have noticed that phone times (and my phone bills) have decreased substantially.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not the type of boss who thinks it's never acceptable to talk on the phone. I understand that during the workday, things are inevitably bound to come up which require an employees' attention. We've all been there. Perhaps a child is sick or the car is in the shop needing repairs. I understand that these things often require time spent on the phone. Judging from the traffic on my lines and the astronomical phone bills I was receiving, however, this was way beyond what I think any employer would consider acceptable.
So, I decided to replace the old phone system. The new system has a line for every extension, including mine, so that vendors or anyone else will be able to reach me at any time. Since the new phone system also offers increased functionality, I had an additional feature programmed in.
Now, whenever someone makes an outgoing call, they must dial in their own code so that both the number they call and the times spent are recorded. These records are matched to the phone bill and all employees are required to mark the non-business related calls they make each month. Since the calls bear their code, they cannot say it wasn't them who made the call. Of course, they must pay for these calls. I have noticed that phone times (and my phone bills) have decreased substantially.
A Line for Every Extension
I recently replaced the business phone systems in the company I own to accommodate the needs of my staff. I wish I could say that it was to accommodate the needs of our customers, but sadly, that isn't the case. You see, our old phone system had many more extensions than we had lines for. It was built with the assumption that inter-office communications would be utilized more than incoming and outgoing calls. Since my company deals primarily with internet business and doesn't do much in the way of transactions over the phone, the system I put in place in the late 90's had served us well until very recently. As of late, I have had vendors who had traditionally reached me by phone sending me e-mails. They were complaining that it's often impossible to get through to me. I looked into the matter and this is what I found… Most of my employees were spending a great deal of time talking on the phone. They weren't talking to vendors, customers, service providers or other business entities. Instead, they were utilizing the phone for personal reasons.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not the type of boss who thinks it's never acceptable to talk on the phone. I understand that during the workday, things are inevitably bound to come up which require an employees' attention. We've all been there. Perhaps a child is sick or the car is in the shop needing repairs. I understand that these things often require time spent on the phone. Judging from the traffic on my lines and the astronomical phone bills I was receiving, however, this was way beyond what I think any employer would consider acceptable.
So, I decided to replace the old phone system. The new system has a line for every extension, including mine, so that vendors or anyone else will be able to reach me at any time. Since the new phone system also offers increased functionality, I had an additional feature programmed in.
Now, whenever someone makes an outgoing call, they must dial in their own code so that both the number they call and the times spent are recorded. These records are matched to the phone bill and all employees are required to mark the non-business related calls they make each month. Since the calls bear their code, they cannot say it wasn't them who made the call. Of course, they must pay for these calls. I have noticed that phone times (and my phone bills) have decreased substantially.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not the type of boss who thinks it's never acceptable to talk on the phone. I understand that during the workday, things are inevitably bound to come up which require an employees' attention. We've all been there. Perhaps a child is sick or the car is in the shop needing repairs. I understand that these things often require time spent on the phone. Judging from the traffic on my lines and the astronomical phone bills I was receiving, however, this was way beyond what I think any employer would consider acceptable.
So, I decided to replace the old phone system. The new system has a line for every extension, including mine, so that vendors or anyone else will be able to reach me at any time. Since the new phone system also offers increased functionality, I had an additional feature programmed in.
Now, whenever someone makes an outgoing call, they must dial in their own code so that both the number they call and the times spent are recorded. These records are matched to the phone bill and all employees are required to mark the non-business related calls they make each month. Since the calls bear their code, they cannot say it wasn't them who made the call. Of course, they must pay for these calls. I have noticed that phone times (and my phone bills) have decreased substantially.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
3 Mobile Launch Skypephone
3 Mobile have teamed up with Skype to offer free calls across the Internet using their new Skypephone. The Skype network has, within a very short space of time, become hugely popular for making free Internet calls through handsets that are attached to your PC and has built up a large customer base that recently prompted a buyout by eBay. If popular, this brave step by 3 could prompt an end of pay as you talk tariffs and push other mobile phone networks into action to try and offer similar competitive deals.
The new Skypephone from 3 has all the functionality you would expect from a modern day mobile phone including 3G, a 2-megapixel camera, mp3 player, mobile TV and internet plus the handset looks stylish and comes in either black or white with pink or blue trims. The Skypephone includes 16MB internal memory and comes with a 256MB micro SD memory card which is also expandable up to 1GB. The large Skype button in the center of the handset allows for quick and easy access to the Skype menu where you can simply make a free call or write a text message to people within your friends list.
The biggest challenge for the 3 Skypephone is encouraging people who are not already signed up with Skype, or whose friends are not members of Skype, to buy the phone. If this hurdle can be cleared then it could create a domino effect which would push all other mobile phone networks to provide a similar service and may make Skype a major player in the world of telecommunications. Once you are signed up to Skype you will not only be able to call people using the 3 Skypephone but also talk to friends connected to Skype through their PC.
3 Mobile offer the Skypephone on either pay as you go or monthly contract deals. The payg deal currently costs £49.99 for the Skypephone handset and requires you to top up your phone with at least £10 credit for standard voice calls and texts. The contract deals start from £12 per month with a minimum tie-in of 18 months.
The Skype deal from 3 is also available with other compatible mobile phones such as the Nokia N95 or the Sony Ericsson W910i which makes the offer a lot more flexible and doesn’t tie customers to a single handset. For none 3 Mobile customers Skype is also compatible with mobile phones that run the Windows Mobile operating system, plus it is possible to connect to Skype using Fring (a third party mobile VoIP application that enables free mobile internet calls and live chat to other fringsters and PC-based services including Skype, Google Talk, ICQ, MSN Messenger and Twitter) through a mobile phone with the Symbian operating system.
This fantastic offer could help encourage a reduction in prices of mobile phone calls and it is likely that other mobile phone networks will be keeping a close eye on how the collaboration develops. Flexibility is the key and by allowing customers to choose whether they make calls through Skype or through normal network services, the Skypephone should be a huge success.
The new Skypephone from 3 has all the functionality you would expect from a modern day mobile phone including 3G, a 2-megapixel camera, mp3 player, mobile TV and internet plus the handset looks stylish and comes in either black or white with pink or blue trims. The Skypephone includes 16MB internal memory and comes with a 256MB micro SD memory card which is also expandable up to 1GB. The large Skype button in the center of the handset allows for quick and easy access to the Skype menu where you can simply make a free call or write a text message to people within your friends list.
The biggest challenge for the 3 Skypephone is encouraging people who are not already signed up with Skype, or whose friends are not members of Skype, to buy the phone. If this hurdle can be cleared then it could create a domino effect which would push all other mobile phone networks to provide a similar service and may make Skype a major player in the world of telecommunications. Once you are signed up to Skype you will not only be able to call people using the 3 Skypephone but also talk to friends connected to Skype through their PC.
3 Mobile offer the Skypephone on either pay as you go or monthly contract deals. The payg deal currently costs £49.99 for the Skypephone handset and requires you to top up your phone with at least £10 credit for standard voice calls and texts. The contract deals start from £12 per month with a minimum tie-in of 18 months.
The Skype deal from 3 is also available with other compatible mobile phones such as the Nokia N95 or the Sony Ericsson W910i which makes the offer a lot more flexible and doesn’t tie customers to a single handset. For none 3 Mobile customers Skype is also compatible with mobile phones that run the Windows Mobile operating system, plus it is possible to connect to Skype using Fring (a third party mobile VoIP application that enables free mobile internet calls and live chat to other fringsters and PC-based services including Skype, Google Talk, ICQ, MSN Messenger and Twitter) through a mobile phone with the Symbian operating system.
This fantastic offer could help encourage a reduction in prices of mobile phone calls and it is likely that other mobile phone networks will be keeping a close eye on how the collaboration develops. Flexibility is the key and by allowing customers to choose whether they make calls through Skype or through normal network services, the Skypephone should be a huge success.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Cisco CCNA Certification Exam Tutorial: Configuring Dialer Profiles
The most common method of configuring ISDN is with dialer maps, but dial information can also be configured on a logical interface. To pass the CCNA exam, you must know how to configure and troubleshoot both dialer maps and dialer profiles.
Dialer Profiles allow different dialing information to be configured onto logical interfaces. The logical interfaces may have different dialing destinations, different remote router names, etc., but they’ll be using the same physical interface.
Dialer strings are used on dialer profiles. Note that each logical interface has a different IP address, a different remote router to dial, and a different dialer string, but they will be using the same physical interface to dial out. The commands dialer pool and dialer pool-member are used to link the logical and physical interfaces. The number following each command must match for the logical interface to correctly bind to the physical interface.
R1(config)#interface dialer0
R1(config-if)#ip address 172.16.1.1 255.255.255.0
R1(config-if)#encapsulation ppp
<. The encapsulation type is placed on both the logical and physical interfaces. >
R1(config-if)#dialer remote-name Remote0
R1(config-if)#dialer pool 1
< places logical interface into dialer pool >
R1(config-if)#dialer string 5551212
< number dialed to contact router Remote0 >
R1(config-if)#dialer-group 1
< links logical interface to dialer-list 1 >
R1(config)#interface dialer1
R1(config-if)#ip address 172.16.1.2 255.255.255.0
R1(config-if)#encapsulation ppp
R1(config-if)#dialer remote-name Remote1
R1(config-if)#dialer pool 1
R1(config-if)#dialer string 5551234
R1(config-if)#dialer-group 1
R1(config)#interface bri0
R1(config-if)#no ip address
< With dialer profiles, IP addresses are assigned to logical interfaces. >
R1(config-if)#encapsulation ppp
< The encapsulation type is place on both the logical and physical interfaces.>
R1(config-if)#dialer pool-member 1
< The number associated with this command should match the number configured with the dialer pool number on the logical dialer interfaces. >
R1(config-if)#isdn spid1 0835866101
R1(config-if)#isdn spid2 0835866301
When configuring dialer profiles, the encapsulation type should be placed on both the physical BRI interface and the logical dialer interfaces. The SPIDs are configured on the physical interface as well.
Configuring dialer profiles can be a little tricky at first, and the best way to master this skill is to get real hands-on practice in your own CCNA / CCNP home lab or a rack rental service. Either way, hands-on is the best practice. Best of luck in your CCNA studies!
Dialer Profiles allow different dialing information to be configured onto logical interfaces. The logical interfaces may have different dialing destinations, different remote router names, etc., but they’ll be using the same physical interface.
Dialer strings are used on dialer profiles. Note that each logical interface has a different IP address, a different remote router to dial, and a different dialer string, but they will be using the same physical interface to dial out. The commands dialer pool and dialer pool-member are used to link the logical and physical interfaces. The number following each command must match for the logical interface to correctly bind to the physical interface.
R1(config)#interface dialer0
R1(config-if)#ip address 172.16.1.1 255.255.255.0
R1(config-if)#encapsulation ppp
<. The encapsulation type is placed on both the logical and physical interfaces. >
R1(config-if)#dialer remote-name Remote0
R1(config-if)#dialer pool 1
< places logical interface into dialer pool >
R1(config-if)#dialer string 5551212
< number dialed to contact router Remote0 >
R1(config-if)#dialer-group 1
< links logical interface to dialer-list 1 >
R1(config)#interface dialer1
R1(config-if)#ip address 172.16.1.2 255.255.255.0
R1(config-if)#encapsulation ppp
R1(config-if)#dialer remote-name Remote1
R1(config-if)#dialer pool 1
R1(config-if)#dialer string 5551234
R1(config-if)#dialer-group 1
R1(config)#interface bri0
R1(config-if)#no ip address
< With dialer profiles, IP addresses are assigned to logical interfaces. >
R1(config-if)#encapsulation ppp
< The encapsulation type is place on both the logical and physical interfaces.>
R1(config-if)#dialer pool-member 1
< The number associated with this command should match the number configured with the dialer pool number on the logical dialer interfaces. >
R1(config-if)#isdn spid1 0835866101
R1(config-if)#isdn spid2 0835866301
When configuring dialer profiles, the encapsulation type should be placed on both the physical BRI interface and the logical dialer interfaces. The SPIDs are configured on the physical interface as well.
Configuring dialer profiles can be a little tricky at first, and the best way to master this skill is to get real hands-on practice in your own CCNA / CCNP home lab or a rack rental service. Either way, hands-on is the best practice. Best of luck in your CCNA studies!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Cabling your home for computer network - still a requirement?
Cabling your home for computer network - still a requirement?
With proliferation of wireless networking and communication equipment it is oh-so-tempting to cut the cord and save a significant sum of money in the process. But is everything that a regular computer networking user needs can be done using just wireless network? Let’s take a look at some pros and contras:
1. One important advantage of having a cabled network is the available bandwidth or simply speed. At the present point in time the speed of connection via a simple and inexpensive CAT5E cable can be 1000Mbit/sec, whereas the best that IEEE802.11g (one of the many flavors of Wi-Fi) can offer is only 54Mbit/sec. It may not seem so significant if you think you are only browsing Internet, and the DSL speed available to you is 1.5Mbit/sec. However, if you need to print via your network connection on a remote printer, you should realize that the print jobs, depending on the amount of graphic data in them, can easily reach dozens and even hundreds megabytes. Since 1Byte=8bit one 100MByte print job will take 15 seconds (and in reality this time can be much longer) to transmit via a Wi-Fi wireless connection, and this time shrinks to mere 1 sec or less on wired 1000MBit/s Ethernet connection. Same principal applies to transferring files, backing up files on other computers in the network etc.
2. It is not possible today and with all probability will not be possible in the future to transmit power needed for your networking device via the wireless link. Unless, of course, you would be willing to be subjected to very high levels of microwave radiation. Thus a device that was marketed to you as “un-tethered” will in fact be very much tethered via the power cord or will have to be re-charged every so often. The power requirements are increasingly important for devices that are expected to be always online, such as phone sets. Therefore it is best to have it connected via a cable that can deliver both power and the communication signal at the same time.
3. Wireless communications are very much proprietary and require whole gamut of conversion equipment to transmit multi-media signals. The same CAT5E cable can without any modification support phone, computer network, balanced line level audio signal, baseband video signal as well as host of other, more specialized, control applications’ signals. With inexpensive adapters called “baluns” the same cable can carry significant number of channels of broadband television or carry a baseband video, such as security camera output, through great distances. All of those applications, except the computer network of course, will require specialized expensive conversion equipment if they needed to be transmitted via a Wi-Fi link.
4. The cost benefit of not running wires around the house is not as simple as issue as it seems. Having installed a wireless network at home you have only eliminated the need to wire for a single application – computer network. A modern home, however, requires all kinds of wiring to run even without regard to computers. The power and phones are obvious examples, as well as thermostats and security systems. Pre-wired speakers are common and most homes today have intercom systems as a desirable option, and those also require extensive wiring. It is very likely that the same contractor running the intercom or security cables is qualified to run computer cables – CAT5E or better. If you are building a home, you should definitely check if computer cabling option is available in your new home, and our advice is to go ahead and purchase it before the walls close. It is going to be a pretty involved and expensive procedure to install the cables later. As an added cost benefit of a wired computer network you will find that all modern computers ship with wired Ethernet network interface card included, and the latest models ship with 1000MBit/sec cards that are essentially free for the computer’s owner.
There are multiple sources of information available on proper planning and design of a residential cabling for voice, data, audio, video and other applications. One of the best sources is the TIA/EIA-570B standard, most resent release of which has been published in 2004. The standard outlines recommended types of the cables, principals of cable distribution in a single- and multi-dwelling units as well as recommended amount of cables to be installed based on the size of the house.
In conclusion, cutting the wire seems like a step forward, some sort of liberation of computer from the bonds of the infrastructure. I would caution the reader, however, to take a more balanced and informed approach before joining the wireless revolution. There are still (and will remain in foreseen future) sound reasons to include properly designed cabling system into the list of your dream home options.
With proliferation of wireless networking and communication equipment it is oh-so-tempting to cut the cord and save a significant sum of money in the process. But is everything that a regular computer networking user needs can be done using just wireless network? Let’s take a look at some pros and contras:
1. One important advantage of having a cabled network is the available bandwidth or simply speed. At the present point in time the speed of connection via a simple and inexpensive CAT5E cable can be 1000Mbit/sec, whereas the best that IEEE802.11g (one of the many flavors of Wi-Fi) can offer is only 54Mbit/sec. It may not seem so significant if you think you are only browsing Internet, and the DSL speed available to you is 1.5Mbit/sec. However, if you need to print via your network connection on a remote printer, you should realize that the print jobs, depending on the amount of graphic data in them, can easily reach dozens and even hundreds megabytes. Since 1Byte=8bit one 100MByte print job will take 15 seconds (and in reality this time can be much longer) to transmit via a Wi-Fi wireless connection, and this time shrinks to mere 1 sec or less on wired 1000MBit/s Ethernet connection. Same principal applies to transferring files, backing up files on other computers in the network etc.
2. It is not possible today and with all probability will not be possible in the future to transmit power needed for your networking device via the wireless link. Unless, of course, you would be willing to be subjected to very high levels of microwave radiation. Thus a device that was marketed to you as “un-tethered” will in fact be very much tethered via the power cord or will have to be re-charged every so often. The power requirements are increasingly important for devices that are expected to be always online, such as phone sets. Therefore it is best to have it connected via a cable that can deliver both power and the communication signal at the same time.
3. Wireless communications are very much proprietary and require whole gamut of conversion equipment to transmit multi-media signals. The same CAT5E cable can without any modification support phone, computer network, balanced line level audio signal, baseband video signal as well as host of other, more specialized, control applications’ signals. With inexpensive adapters called “baluns” the same cable can carry significant number of channels of broadband television or carry a baseband video, such as security camera output, through great distances. All of those applications, except the computer network of course, will require specialized expensive conversion equipment if they needed to be transmitted via a Wi-Fi link.
4. The cost benefit of not running wires around the house is not as simple as issue as it seems. Having installed a wireless network at home you have only eliminated the need to wire for a single application – computer network. A modern home, however, requires all kinds of wiring to run even without regard to computers. The power and phones are obvious examples, as well as thermostats and security systems. Pre-wired speakers are common and most homes today have intercom systems as a desirable option, and those also require extensive wiring. It is very likely that the same contractor running the intercom or security cables is qualified to run computer cables – CAT5E or better. If you are building a home, you should definitely check if computer cabling option is available in your new home, and our advice is to go ahead and purchase it before the walls close. It is going to be a pretty involved and expensive procedure to install the cables later. As an added cost benefit of a wired computer network you will find that all modern computers ship with wired Ethernet network interface card included, and the latest models ship with 1000MBit/sec cards that are essentially free for the computer’s owner.
There are multiple sources of information available on proper planning and design of a residential cabling for voice, data, audio, video and other applications. One of the best sources is the TIA/EIA-570B standard, most resent release of which has been published in 2004. The standard outlines recommended types of the cables, principals of cable distribution in a single- and multi-dwelling units as well as recommended amount of cables to be installed based on the size of the house.
In conclusion, cutting the wire seems like a step forward, some sort of liberation of computer from the bonds of the infrastructure. I would caution the reader, however, to take a more balanced and informed approach before joining the wireless revolution. There are still (and will remain in foreseen future) sound reasons to include properly designed cabling system into the list of your dream home options.
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