Recommendations for Network Cabling Contractor

Does anyone have any recommendations for contractors to install network
cabling in the Hertfordshire (Hemel Hempstead) area?

Its a small network that requires around 8 Network Sockets.


Thanks

Ben

"Ben O" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:400d38d4$0$9388$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Does anyone have any recommendations for contractors to install network
> cabling in the Hertfordshire (Hemel Hempstead) area?
>
> Its a small network that requires around 8 Network Sockets.
>
>
> Thanks
>
> Ben
>

Perhaps you can give a bit more information about what you are wanting to
do/use
the network for.
It might be something you can quite easily do yourself if you're confident
enough to try.

"Ant C" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Perhaps you can give a bit more information about what you are wanting to
> do/use
> the network for.
> It might be something you can quite easily do yourself if you're
confident
> enough to try.

Its for a small company, It will have a hub/switch & router located near the
main telephone socket (with ADSL). All other sockets located around the
office will need to connect to this hub / switch.

I am familiar with setting up and managing networks but this job requires a
patch panel and wall plates something which I have never done before. I
would be more comfortable getting someone in to do it as I do not know the
best way of wiring and do not have all the tools.

The network will be used for internet access / email / file & printer
sharing.

Thanks

Ben

"Ben O" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:400d44d1$0$9388$(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Ant C" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Perhaps you can give a bit more information about what you are wanting
to
> > do/use
> > the network for.
> > It might be something you can quite easily do yourself if you're
> confident
> > enough to try.
>
> Its for a small company, It will have a hub/switch & router located near
the
> main telephone socket (with ADSL). All other sockets located around the
> office will need to connect to this hub / switch.
>
> I am familiar with setting up and managing networks but this job requires
a
> patch panel and wall plates something which I have never done before. I
> would be more comfortable getting someone in to do it as I do not know the
> best way of wiring and do not have all the tools.
>
> The network will be used for internet access / email / file & printer
> sharing.
>

How big is the building is it 1 floor or 2 ? You might be able to do it w/o
any drilling with 2 Wireless Access Points and 8 802.11b WLAN cards.
Probably get a good deal around £ 60 for the WAPS and £ 20 per card = £ 280.

Probably cheaper then getting someone to run cables round - 11mbit/s is
pretty ok for Internet Access/file & print.

On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 15:54:41 -0000, "Nick Le Lievre"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>How big is the building is it 1 floor or 2 ? You might be able to do it w/o
>any drilling with 2 Wireless Access Points and 8 802.11b WLAN cards.
>Probably get a good deal around £ 60 for the WAPS and £ 20 per card = £ 280.
>
>Probably cheaper then getting someone to run cables round - 11mbit/s is
>pretty ok for Internet Access/file & print.

But make sure you read up on wireless security if you go down this
path.

The equipment you need to install wall plates and patch panels is...a
punchdown tool. It really is simple to do yourself, but I can
understand why you may not want to

jay

Security is a must on Wifi.

See sites below.

http://www.techtv.com/news/computing...396517,00.html



http://www.wardriving.com/



"Jay" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 15:54:41 -0000, "Nick Le Lievre"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >How big is the building is it 1 floor or 2 ? You might be able to do it
w/o
> >any drilling with 2 Wireless Access Points and 8 802.11b WLAN cards.
> >Probably get a good deal around £ 60 for the WAPS and £ 20 per card = £
280.
> >
> >Probably cheaper then getting someone to run cables round - 11mbit/s is
> >pretty ok for Internet Access/file & print.
>
> But make sure you read up on wireless security if you go down this
> path.
>
> The equipment you need to install wall plates and patch panels is...a
> punchdown tool. It really is simple to do yourself, but I can
> understand why you may not want to
>
> jay
>

"Jay" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 15:54:41 -0000, "Nick Le Lievre"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >How big is the building is it 1 floor or 2 ? You might be able to do it
w/o
> >any drilling with 2 Wireless Access Points and 8 802.11b WLAN cards.
> >Probably get a good deal around £ 60 for the WAPS and £ 20 per card = £
280.
> >
> >Probably cheaper then getting someone to run cables round - 11mbit/s is
> >pretty ok for Internet Access/file & print.
>
> But make sure you read up on wireless security if you go down this
> path.
>
> The equipment you need to install wall plates and patch panels is...a
> punchdown tool. It really is simple to do yourself, but I can
> understand why you may not want to
>

Yeah look into it but don`t let it put you off - the standard security
provided by the cheaper wireless equipment I mentioned is sufficient to
prevent all but most determined. Its not as easy as some people would have
you believe get around it - it would take commitment and perhaps the ability
to camp around the exterior of your building or in the reception etc - they
may look a bit suspicious.

IMO its unlikely anyone will even know you have wireless equipment let alone
have the ability of determination to get past the security just to read some
crap on one of your employees shared folders or make use of your internet
connection. Unless you are targeted by al-queda.

Ben O wrote:
> Does anyone have any recommendations for contractors to install network
> cabling in the Hertfordshire (Hemel Hempstead) area?
>
> Its a small network that requires around 8 Network Sockets.

A company we use quite a lot are NDS. They are based in Northants, but
visit Herts quite often. Give 'em a bell:

<http://www.ndscabling.co.uk/>

No affiliation, just a very satisfied customer of about 8 years.

On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 19:17:44 +0000 (UTC), Jay
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>>Probably cheaper then getting someone to run cables round - 11mbit/s is
>>pretty ok for Internet Access/file & print.
>
>But make sure you read up on wireless security if you go down this
>path.

I've had only one practical experience of wi-fi in an office. It was
terrible - I was tearing what little hair I have left out over the
constant dropping of the network.

Was this just because it wasn't setup well, or is this really a
general problem with what is still an immature technology?

This customer is going back to bits of wire.

As to recommendations to the OP - we have used a company called KSS
based near Newport Pagnell. They are very good, but don't expect them
to be cheap. I can give you more details if you need them....

-Rob

"Rob" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 19:17:44 +0000 (UTC), Jay
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >>Probably cheaper then getting someone to run cables round - 11mbit/s is
> >>pretty ok for Internet Access/file & print.
> >
> >But make sure you read up on wireless security if you go down this
> >path.
>
> I've had only one practical experience of wi-fi in an office. It was
> terrible - I was tearing what little hair I have left out over the
> constant dropping of the network.
>
> Was this just because it wasn't setup well, or is this really a
> general problem with what is still an immature technology?
>
> This customer is going back to bits of wire.
>
> As to recommendations to the OP - we have used a company called KSS
> based near Newport Pagnell. They are very good, but don't expect them
> to be cheap. I can give you more details if you need them....
>
> -Rob

I think it was more to do with the setup. As long as you got decent
equipment ie a Wireless Access Point or 2 you can get decent coverage /
quality even with inexpensive kit. One thing tho that I think afflicts many
wireless newbies (that sort of thing that might put you off if you setup it
up yourself unaided and only test for a few hours) is using Windows XP and
the built in Zero Configuration Service.

With this Service running in services my connection would "drop" every
30secs or so and come right back saying wireless network detected -
disabling this service which basically configures the channels SSID etc
"automatically" and using the manufacturer supplied utility to do this makes
the world of difference.

Depends if you the type to embrace the technology or reject it based on the
comfort of cabling. Wireless is great for small networks hanging off larger
networks or small networks per se. It will be a long time if ever when every
bit of kit in your network is wireless.