As data electricians, the reliability and speed of your business network is very important to Voltora Industries. Today, we want to look at why common data network problems on business premises often stem from the physical cable infrastructure rather than IT configurations.
Industry analysis shows that a large proportion of recurring network faults originate at the physical layer, including cabling, connectors, power quality, and installation workmanship. Some estimates put it as high as 50-70%.
Common Physical Data Network Problems
Let’s take a look at what these problems actually look like on the ground – here are some of the more common physical network infrastructure problems we come across in business premises.
Under-Spec Cabling
Many older offices still have on Cat5 or early Cat5e cabling installed. The modern workplace needs more bandwidth than these cables can supply.
Cat5 cabling is typically limited to around 100 Mbps. Modern Cat6 and Cat6A cabling can support 1 to 10 Gbps, depending on the installation quality and the distances the cable can run.That could be the difference between a lightning-fast network and a slow, unreliable one. It doesn’t matter what internet plan you’re on; if you’re cabling isn’t delivering the data, you simply won’t get the speeds you’re after.
No Separation Between Power and Data
When power cables and data cables are setup too close to each other, you get electrical interference. This can lead to performance issues and internet dropouts.
These are tricky ones to diagnose, because nothing looks broken on the surface. It’ll take a data electrician to get to the bottom of it.
Inadequate Earthing of Racks and Cabinets
Proper earthing is fundamental to both electrical safety and network stability.
We regularly see:
- Racks not bonded to earth
- Patch panels floating electrically
- Network equipment powered from cheap or unprotected outlets
Without correct earthing, networks are more vulnerable and can experience faults and a shorter lifespan.
Physical Cable Damage Above Ceilings
Most business owners have no idea what’s going on in the roof of their premises. That’s where network issues can be hiding away out of sight. These can include:
- Cables crushed by other services
- Tight bend radiuses ignored
- Unsupported runs sagging over time
Damaged cabling degrades signal quality. It’s a fault that gets worse over time – so there will be a slow degrade in the quality of the network.
Inadequate Cable Pathways and Containment
If the data electricians have rushed through the initial premises fitout, cable pathways and containment may have been completed to an inferior standard. Our electricians often find this on job sites:
- Cables resting on ceiling tiles
- No trays or conduits
- No strain relief at termination points
When you have proper containment from the start, your cable integrity is preserved for the future. Compliance is also maintained, and you have a stronger platform for future expansion.
Messy Racks
We’ve seen some shockingly disorganised racks over the years. It’s not just about neatness – an untidy rack often translates to one that’s unreliable and has safety issues. It becomes a workmanship issue, not just an aesthetic one.
When you’ve got random patch lead lengths and unlabelled ports, it becomes difficult to figure out what is going on. Fault-finding is slow, and the risk of incidental outages and interference is high.
A neat, tidy and clearly labelled rack will go a long way to preventing this.
Poor Wi-Fi Access Point Installation
Wi-Fi complaints are often blamed on the internet connection, but industry assessments consistently show that most Wi-Fi performance issues are often caused by access point placement, interference or cabling.
From an installation perspective, common problems include:
- Incorrect mounting height
- Poor placement near concrete or steel
- Power and data run from unsuitable locations
Wi-Fi reliability depends heavily on correct physical installation. Your data electricians need to get this right for seamless network usage over time.
No Testing or Certification
A surprising amount of office cabling is never formally tested after installation. Before a business starts to use a network, its compliance and performance should be tested and confirmed.
It’s easier to identify and rectify issues directly after installation than it is down the track. For a start, this ensures the network works seamlessly once the team begins to use it. There will also be less disruption down the track, where access issues have to be navigated in order for a fix to take place.
Temporary Fixes That Became Permanent
A business premises evolves over time – desks are moved, patches and switches are added, unplanned extensions get added on.
The office network has to keep up, and often it does so with temporary fixes that work in the short-term – and then get forgotten about. These unmanaged changes add potential failure points that erode reliability over the long term. When businesses make changes to tide them through updates to the office, its best to get a data electrician on board to update them to a more permanent and reliable setup.
When to Call Your Data Electrician: A 10-Point Checklist
If one or more of the following apply, the issue is likely physical instead of software-related. This is where we suggest getting a licensed data electrician in.
- Network issues are intermittent
Dropouts, slowdowns or faults come and go. - Cabling looks improvised or temporary
Long patch leads, visible joins or extension-style cabling is used. - The age or type of cabling is unknown
No one can confirm whether the office is wired with Cat5, Cat5e or Cat6. - The comms rack is messy or unlabelled
Ports aren’t identified and fault-finding relies on trial and error. - Network gear is powered via power boards
Cheap, daisy-chained power outlets are in use. - Wi-Fi dead zones are consistent
The same areas of the office have poor signal. - Office changes triggered problems
Desks, teams or equipment were moved before issues appeared. - No cabling test results exist
There’s no record of certification, testing or compliance after installation. - Faults worsen during busy periods
Performance drops when staff numbers, calls or data usage increase.
Contact Brisbane Data Electricians Voltora Industries
Your Brisbane business needs a reliable and fast network. It’s essential in keeping your customers happy, and helping your staff get their work done. Never mind keeping up with your competitors!
Voltora Industries has a team of data electricians who are on hand to help keep your business premises network in standout condition. Whether you’re starting from scratch with your network or want to troubleshoot any performance issues, we’re here to help. Making sure the physical aspects of your network, from the cabling to the containment and testing, is all in order will stand you in good stead for future growth.
Get in touch now and let’s get your network firing!
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