Let's Talk Cabling!

Send us Fan Mail Our industry is a male dominated industry.  While we are making strides towards a more diverse industry there is still more to do.  We bring on Carol Everette Oliver, BICSI President and CEO of CEO Communications. We talk about the challenges women face, how we can make a difference, even some unusual time management skills! Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop...

Send us Fan Mail This subject keeps coming back up. What is a Trunk Slammer definition, What are traits of a Trunk Slammer, Why you should avoid them.  Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling .  Also if you would like to be a guest on the show or have a topic for discussion send me an...

Send us Fan Mail This week we invited David Landphair from nVent to come on and discuss common pathway design and installation questions. We cover wire basket tray vs cable tray, beam clamps, j hooks, cable on ceiling tiles and much more.  Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling .  Als...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for the audio for our After Hours Live audio from 3/9 as we discussed the difference between Codes vs Standards vs Best Practices. We also cover what advice would I give the 18 year old Chuck if I could go back in time.  Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling...

Send us Fan Mail We talk to Eaton about Power Distribution Units (PDUs) and Uninterruptible Power Suppliers (UPS). We cover why you need them, what are some kind of things do you need to consider when designing and other power questions! Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling .  Also...

Send us Fan Mail I had a semi-viral post on TikTok. I responded to a video where someone placed a PoE hub in their attic. I responded that the attic was not a good location and quoted the "Half Life" rule. The internet trolls attacked!  That inspired me to seek someone smarter than me on the subject so to the internet I searched. I found Ross Wilcoxon, a mechanical engineer with a specia...

Send us Fan Mail As a company or individual in the ICT community, you should find ways to give back to your local community. We are starting a multipart series of low voltage installers and companies that are doing just that. We start off with Ray Cline of Libertas Consulting and Teknowledge World Wide to discuss why you should, how they are doing it, and how it has a positive affect on their comp...

Send us Fan Mail This week we discuss what is a MUTOA, MUTOA vs Consolidation Point, best way to splice ribbon fiber into a Corning Cassette, being paid for stand by time, high/low settings on punch tool and so much more  Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling .  Also if you would lik...

Send us Fan Mail This week we interview the BICSI 2023 Cable Skills Challenge winner. He won it not once but twice, putting him in a very exclusive club!  Thomas "TJ" Pate is a INSTC, INSTF, TECH and a shining star. We discuss his experience what what you can expect if you decide to challenge the best! Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup...

Send us Fan Mail Recently I received a ton of questions about how to muddle through hiring a new person for your team. Either we all have had to do this or you will have to at some point in your career. This episode I bring on Robleh Kierce, an industrial psychologist to answer your submitted questions.  Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coff...

Send us Fan Mail The low voltage industry has always lacked in good solid apprenticeship programs. The JATC has built a solid apprenticeship programs for electrical but what about us? We talk to Grant Shmelzer from IEC Chesapeake to talk about how they have built an apprenticeship program for low voltage.  Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of co...

Send us Fan Mail Many installers use Duct Seal to seal OSP conduit. This week I discuss an article I found about why this is not a good idea and in fact its not even designed for this purpose. We bring on Jake Jonnes from Polywater to talk about why not to use it, and some proper ways to seal OSP conduit.  Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of co...

Send us Fan Mail This week we cover best way to strip a cable, an evaluation of the Milwaukee Angler Fish Tape, Best low cost or free CEC courses, when to choose armored fiber, how to price removing abandoned cable, labeling "for future use".  Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalk...

Send us Fan Mail Part 2 of a two part series where we discuss with Ed The Old Tech Guy from TikTok on steps how to troubleshoot beyond cabling. We discuss how to inspire confidence with a customer as you tell them the problem is their equipment not the cable, where to find training on troubleshooting and other resources.  Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to bu...

Send us Fan Mail Part 1 of a two part series where we discuss with Ed The Old Tech Guy from TikTok on steps how to troubleshoot beyond cabling. We discuss tips for testing network equipment, WAPS, and even how to talk to the customer when its their equipment not the cabling! Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at http...

Send us Fan Mail We start off the 2023 After Hour Live tonight. In this episode we discuss going from a Foreman to PM, clear up the confusion on fill ratios, attaching J Hooks to threaded rod, sizing a CER, bend radius for coax and other cables, and dealing with a cable that failed propagation delay! Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee o...

Send us Fan Mail Its not PoE its Digital electricity.  We bring on Luke Getto from Volt Server to discuss what is digital electricity, is it safe, how will it affect the ICT industry, can a low voltage company/installer install it, is digital electricity in the NEC and much more! Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at...

Send us Fan Mail This week we covered why train from both an employers and employee perspective. What documents are required to close out a project?  How to calculate the number of sleeves in a building? What type of air to use in a direct buried splice enclosure? What is the smallest AWG?  Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support...

Send us Fan Mail Labeling, its one of the easiest and simplest things we can do, yet most ofter over looked. If a cable plant is not label correectly or in a confusing manner it will cost time and money for both the contractor and customer. In todays episode we talk to Todd Morse, host of BS with Todd,  about tips and tricks when it comes to labeling! Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sur...

Send us Fan Mail This week we did our After Hours Live different. I invited you, the audience member on as a guest. I had a blast. We talked about not using patch panels, sleeve quantities, and labeling! Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling .  Also if you would like to be a guest on...

Send us Fan Mail There is no dispute that fiber training is in high demand. It benefits the installer/technician as well as the company. There are many providers out there and today we look at Fiber Optic Association (FOT) and their CFOT class. We bring on special guest Blake Urmos, founder of Low Voltage Nation because not only did he just complete this class, LVN hosted a fiber class with free s...

Send us Fan Mail Here is the audio portion of the live stream broadcast on 12/1/2022. We answered. 1. What is future proofing 2. Why does a MUTOA need to be 49 feet from HC 3. Best Practices for pulling in J Hooks 4. WAP at the WA? 5. What height should floor penetrations be? 6. Calculating BTUs for TRs 7. Pulling cables in freezing temperatures.  Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to...

Send us Fan Mail Don't be a one trick pony or company. The more skills you have the more money you can make as a technician or company. Sound-masking is one of those opportunities that could do just that, bring you more money. Is it difficult? Can a Low Voltage contractor do this work? What type of customers are interested in sound-masking? These questions and more are discussed with Chris Ge...

Send us Fan Mail About a year ago I came across Jeff Beavers RCDD OSP at a BICSI conference. While I knew of him I had never met him. We talked and he agreed to be on the show. We talk about BBQ and NECA (who they are, benefits, etc).  Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling .  Also if...

Send us Fan Mail Happy Thanksgiving, what are you thankful for?  Support the show Knowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling .  Also if you would like to be a guest on the show or have a topic for discussion send me an email at chuck@letstalkcabling.com  Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH #CBRCDD #RCDD