Networks Europe Mar-Apr 2016 | Page 36

36 CASE STUDY Even well-ordered cables benefit from more than a visual check. Ideal efficiency: profitable projects Select Property Care explains how their use of The case for selecting the ideal network tester SignalTEK NT from IDEAL Networks transformed a large-scale wireless access point project. Bad practice increases costs and makes the outcome uncertain. Based in Florida, Select Property Care is a small installer operating in the hospitality sector. They specialise in providing high speed guest internet access for large US hotels. Tasked with installing 760 wireless access points and 50 HP switches into a 1400 room, four-star hotel in Philadelphia using a two-man team, Select Property Care needed to execute efficiently so as to minimise network downtime and guest disruption. As a fixed rate job it was also important for the installation to be efficient and accurate to protect profit. Previously, this type of work would be undertaken using a laptop, tone and probe and basic test equipment. In order to test cabling one installer would be based in the intermediate distribution frame (IDF) closet to visually confirm when lights went off or to tone the jacks out. But with 800 access points and complex cabling mixed IP TVs going to all hotel rooms, this manual method would not provide the required results. Additionally guest disruption would www.networkseuropemagazine.com