BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS

1. BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS WAO (WORK AREA OUTLET)

2. Telecom Cabling • What do we plug our patch cords into? • At the PC or telephone end, they are plugged into a W.A.O. or Work Area Outlet.

3. Telecom Cabling • The W.A.O. is composed of a faceplate or block fastened to the wall using screws, anchors, boxes, or low voltage rings. • The faceplate contains the jacks which serve as the interface between two cables. In our case, the patch cord and the cable (UTP, STP, COAX, etc.).

4. Telecom Cabling • There are many styles, colors, and configurations for faceplates. However, there are two main sizes: Single gang and dual gang. Single Gang Dual Gang

5. Telecom Cabling • On a single gang faceplate the maximum number of outlets we use are 6. On a dual gang, the number doubles to 12. • We call the outlets jacks or “ports”. So we might order a single gang, 3 port faceplate. One single gang faceplate with 3 jacks or ports. How many ports are on the faceplate to the right?

6. Telecom Cabling • Faceplates also come in a variety of colors and in some cases we use stainless steel faceplates. Colors are normally ivory, telco ivory, and white. • There are also different styles for the jacks we insert. Most are snap-in modular style.

7. Telecom Cabling • In many instances telecom jacks are not mounted into a faceplate, but are instead surface-mounted. The jacks are put into a box that is then affixed to the surface of a wall or cubicle.

8. Telecom Cabling • There are also several styles of jacks we can insert. Tel/data, F-style for coax, VGA, RCA, S-video, and even fiber outlets.

9. Telecom Cabling • If we are connecting a faceplate to a sheetrock wall, we must cut a hole in the wall at a code specified height and install either a box or ring to hold the faceplate in place.

10. Telecom Cabling • Low Voltage Rings Single Gang Plastic Single Gang Metal (MPLS)

11. Telecom Cabling • Low Voltage rings and boxes. plastic mud ring metal mud rings

12. Telecom Cabling

13. Telecom Cabling • When we install a faceplate we must follow NEC code requirements. Today we install faceplates at 18” O.C., A.F.F. • That means 18” on center (the center of the faceplate), above finished floor. • We use our jab saw to cut the hole in the sheetrock.

14. Telecom Cabling • The jab saw – CAREFUL it has sharp edges!

15. Telecom Cabling • The process is as follows: • IMPORTANT: use a stud finder or your eyes to locate any studs. You cannot install a ring on a stud!!! 1- Use your tape measure to measure 18” A.F.F. 2-With a PENCIL, make a light mark at that point. 3-Place the low voltage ring on the wall and use your level to level it.

16. Telecom Cabling • The process continued: 4-Use your PENCIL to make light marks in each of the inside corners of the low voltage ring. 5-If there is wallpaper on the wall, use your razor knife to cut away the paper. 6-Place a piece of paper on the floor beneath where you will be cutting to catch the dust that will come down.

17. Telecom Cabling • The process continued: 7-Take your jab saw and make a HORIZONTAL CUT first (in case you hit a stud) to minimize damage. 8-Make your next horizontal cut, then your 2 vertical cuts and viola, you have a hole. 9- Insert your ring and secure with screws.

18. Telecom Cabling • Since the number one customer complaint about technicians is that they leave a mess…..never forget the next step....... 10-CLEAN-UP YOUR MESS and move on.

19. Telecom Cabling • There are other faceplates as well such as decora faceplates which are slightly upscale and involve an insert for the ports.

20. Telecom Cabling • Sometimes we place outlets flush to the floor in a device we call a “poke-thru”. Note that the cables come from the floor below.

21. Telecom Cabling • QUESTION FOR TODAY!!!!!!! What do we call the box we use to mount the faceplate to some type of surface?