Short answer
Data cabling is the structured wiring that connects computers, phones, cameras, TVs and wireless access points: usually Cat6 network cable (or Cat5e and Cat6A where they fit), coax for cable TV and internet, and phone lines. You need it for a new office or home, an expansion, or when Wi-Fi alone isn't reliable. Select Electric installs phone, cable and data wiring in Midland, Bay and Saginaw Counties.
Networks are only as reliable as the cable they run on. Cables stapled tight, kinked, run beside power lines or crimped by hand without testing cause slow connections and dropouts that are hard to track down. Having an electrician run power and data together also means both are planned around the same furniture and equipment layout.
What We Install
Network (Data) Cabling
Cat6 runs from a central location (a network closet, rack or panel) to wall jacks, ceiling locations for wireless access points, cameras and equipment. Runs are kept within the 100 meter limit for Ethernet, kept away from power wiring and fluorescent ballasts that cause interference, and terminated on patch panels and jacks.
Coax
RG6 coax for cable TV and cable internet, run from the service entry to the rooms that need it.
Phone
Phone wiring for offices and homes that still use it, often run on the same category cable as data.
Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6A
- Cat5e: gigabit Ethernet up to 100 meters. Fine for many existing networks.
- Cat6: gigabit with more headroom, 10 gigabit on shorter runs, and good for Power over Ethernet devices. The usual choice for new work.
- Cat6A: 10 gigabit over the full 100 meters. Used where future speed matters.
Doing It Right the First Time
- Run more than you think you need. An extra run at each desk or TV location costs little during installation and a lot later.
- Plan the closet. Network equipment needs a dedicated receptacle, ventilation and room for a patch panel or small rack.
- Plan for Power over Ethernet. Cameras, access points and some phones are powered through the data cable, so their locations should be decided up front.
- Respect fire ratings. Plenum-rated cable is required in air-handling ceiling spaces, and cable passing through fire-rated walls needs those openings sealed.
When You Need It
- Moving into, building out or remodeling an office or shop.
- Adding workstations, printers, point-of-sale terminals or security cameras.
- Wi-Fi that drops out in parts of the building, where a wired access point would fix it.
- A new home, where it's far easier to run cable before drywall. See design-build.
- Old, unlabeled cabling nobody can trace.
How the Job Goes
- Plan. Where the network equipment lives, where each jack or device goes, and how many runs.
- Quote. Cable type, number of runs, terminations and any added power circuits.
- Install. Cable routed and supported properly, away from power where it needs to be.
- Terminate, label and test. Every run tested and labeled at both ends.
For businesses, we schedule work to limit disruption during business hours where possible.
What It Costs
This work is priced per job, because the building, the distances and what's already in the panel are different every time. Ask for a written quote that lists the materials and everything included. For what drives electrical prices in general, see what electrical work costs.
Local Detail: Offices, Shops and Homes Around Midland
Across Midland, Bay and Saginaw Counties, common situations include small offices in older buildings with decades of abandoned phone and network cable in the ceiling, shops that need cameras and wireless coverage across a large floor, and homes where the only wired connection is at the modem. Planning power and data together, including dedicated circuits and surge protection for network equipment, gives a system that works and can be maintained.
If an outlet in your network closet or office has stopped working, see outlet not working. For phone, cable or data wiring, call (989) 835-3587.
Common Questions
Should we use Cat5e or Cat6?
Cat5e supports gigabit Ethernet and is still adequate for many uses. Cat6 supports gigabit with more headroom and can carry 10 gigabit over shorter runs (up to about 55 meters), and it handles Power over Ethernet devices like cameras and wireless access points well. For new cabling that has to last, Cat6 is the common choice. Cat6A supports 10 gigabit over the full 100 meter channel.
Isn't Wi-Fi good enough?
For phones and laptops, often yes. But wireless access points themselves need a cable, and wired connections are faster and more reliable for desktop computers, printers, point-of-sale systems, security cameras, TVs and game consoles. A few well-placed cable runs usually make Wi-Fi better too.
What does it mean for cable to be tested?
Each run is tested after termination to confirm all conductors are connected in the right order with no opens or shorts. Labeling each run at both ends makes future troubleshooting much easier.
Can you run data cable in a finished house?
Usually, yes. Cable can often be fished through walls from an attic or basement, or run through closets. Planning the routes ahead of time limits the number of wall openings.
Do you run coax for TV and internet?
Yes. Phone, cable (coax) and data wiring are part of what we do. Call (989) 835-3587 to talk about your home or office.