Let's Talk Cabling!

Send us Fan Mail We pull back the curtain on consulting engineering in ICT, from how designs are born to how they survive construction. Paul shares career paths, tools like Revit, and why proactive thinking beats fire drills every time. • defining consulting engineering deliverables and value • mapping information flow between owner, architect, and engineer • career paths from field tech or colleg...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with Doug, a two‑time Cable Skills Challenge champion, about how disciplined practice, mental prep, and a service mindset led to back‑to‑back wins. He shares the drills, the mistakes, the fiber testing nerves, and why process beats polish when the clock is running. • recreating event stations with racks, 110 blocks, conduit, and 25‑pair  • judge feedback turned into checkl...

Send us Fan Mail We take a frank look at AI’s impact on low voltage and networking, from estimators and PMs to installers and engineers. Expect honest talk on what jobs change first, which skills pay off, and how to use AI without losing your edge. • near-term risk for estimators, PMs, customer support via AI efficiency • installers safer today yet exposed as robotics advances • standards, groundi...

Send us Fan Mail A candid walk inside the Cabling Innovators Awards reveals what really moves infrastructure forward: proof in the field, standards that prevent failures, and people who quietly solve hard problems. We honor fiber’s rise, copper’s purpose, fault managed power in use, and the character that keeps networks running. • Backstage moments and unfiltered voices • Fault managed power movin...

Send us Fan Mail We weigh the real trade-offs between apprenticeship and direct hire for limited energy careers, from pay ladders and benefits to training quality, certifications, and safety. Stories from BICSI, a content mishap, and a few shout-outs frame a focused guide on starting smart and growing fast. • union vs non-union structure and flexibility • predictable pay steps and benefits compare...

Send us Fan Mail We take a break this week and recover from BICSI and a cold.  Today we explore how BICSI’s PM 102 and the RTPM credential give ICT project managers practical tools they can use right away. From project charters and stakeholder risk to network diagrams and earned value, we focus on what speeds delivery and keeps budgets on track. • PM 101 vs PM 102 and who each serves • Project cha...

Send us Fan Mail We reveal AEM’s FibBlu, a compact, app-driven fiber certification kit designed to cut cost, extend battery life, and speed reporting while keeping accuracy on par with lab-grade tools. From GPS-tagged results to OCR label capture and open cloud storage, we show how moving certification to the phone reshapes field work. • sub‑$10k fiber certification focus and market gap • app‑driv...

Send us Fan Mail We unpack which certifications actually change pay, trust, and opportunity, and we cut through hype around vendor badges, resume padding, and guaranteed outcomes. Along the way we map real paths from field to office, share RCDD study strategy, and highlight future-focused certs worth the effort. • tech hiccups, conference updates, community shout‑outs • acronym challenge: PBB defi...

Send us Fan Mail We share a straight path to earning the RCDD, from eligibility and study plans to test-day tactics and career impact. The goal is simple: use standards, discipline, and community to turn design knowledge into better roles and higher pay. • why the RCDD is the design gold standard • where the credential unlocks bids and global work • how codes, standards, and best practices stack •...

Send us Fan Mail We share a practical playbook for breaking into low voltage with no experience, from finding real openings and calling companies, to standing out in interviews, succeeding in the first 90 days, and moving from helper to technician. Along the way, we talk BICSI, certifications, safety, and the mindset that wins. • mapping your drive radius and calling contractors directly • using L...

Send us Fan Mail We share how 65 volunteers rebuilt four Sojourner House facilities with secure networks, access control, and intercoms so staff and survivors feel safe. The result: reliable connectivity, better screening at the door, and a playbook any community can use to scale impact. • who TKW is and why TEksgiving exists • nomination and selection of Sojourner House • the mission and programs...

Send us Fan Mail We dig into the true cost of training and why a BICSI Authorized Training Facility can lift quality, win bids, and cut rework. Teresa Johnson shares what it takes to build one, from vendor‑agnostic walls to T3 prep, plus the mistakes to avoid. • what a BICSI ATF is and why it matters • differences between suitcase training and building in‑house • Teresa’s path from field tech to t...

Send us Fan Mail We dig into why outside plant is surging, how micro certifications work, and what designers and installers need to know to stay current and safe. Bob Herdling shares decades of insight on codes, methods, and the real‑world choices that make or break a build. • OSP as the backbone of ICT • Why broadband funding and BEAD drive demand • Misconceptions about wireless versus fiber back...

Send us Fan Mail We honor Phil Klingensmith and then dive into why standards make low-voltage work reliable, fast to service and future friendly. We unpack color codes, 568A vs 568B, fiber cleaning myths, splicer maintenance, MHz vs Mb, and encoding schemes with clear, practical advice. • roots of color codes in Bell system and why they still matter • 568A vs 568B framed by pins, pairs and channel...

Send us Fan Mail We honor our friend and industry icon, Phil Klingensmith RCDD, by replaying a defining interview that shows his humility, mastery, and deep commitment to teaching. From open wire lines to dense fiber, Phil’s wisdom ties legacy systems to the future of intelligent infrastructure. • why Phil’s work still shapes design, install, and certification • Navy-to-AT&T journey and outsid...

Send us Fan Mail We map a clean path from residential low-voltage work to professional-grade practice, tackling certifications, conduit fill math, reel verification, and the often-misunderstood NVP. Along the way, we flag cybersecurity risks in smart homes and share standards that save time and money. • choosing first certs for residential AV and networking • CEDIA vs BICSI strengths and how to co...

Send us Fan Mail We turn the “morning after” anxiety into a clear roadmap for what to do once you pass a major credential like the RCDD. We map next certifications, role pathways, and ways to pay it forward so the credential becomes a lever, not a finish line. • adopting a continuous learning mindset • choosing field certs that complement design • mapping 2, 5, and 10 year career goals • selecting...

Send us Fan Mail We unpack fiber fundamentals, smarter Wi‑Fi design, and the practical gear that makes field work safer and faster. We also cover tester calibration, useful labeling, and how to hire and keep technicians who grow with the company. • fiber core and cladding roles and refractive index • starter toolkits and personal PPE for installers • right-sizing home and data center Wi‑Fi with he...

Send us Fan Mail We break down the entrance facility as the building’s lifeline, explain demarcation and ownership, and show how bonding, grounding, and the 50‑foot rule protect uptime. We compare underground, direct buried, aerial, tunnel, and wireless entrances with clear pros, cons, and field tips. • what the entrance facility includes and where it lives • demarcation point meaning, color codin...

Send us Fan Mail We return with industry updates and a stack of field questions, then dig into failed tests, fiber versus copper, PoE planning, hospital retrofit estimating, and the QA habits that prevent rework. The throughline is simple: document, communicate, and draw a hard line at safety and code. • Saving original test files and reading diagnostics • Verifying calibration and retesting compa...

Send us Fan Mail We lay out how professionalism turns solid technical skills into trust, repeat work, and career growth. From credentials and background checks to site conduct, communication, and mentoring, we map the daily choices that build a reputation you can bank on. • defining professionalism as trust, consistency, and mindset • keeping credentials current and planning CECs • avoiding licens...

Send us Fan Mail We break down how terms and conditions protect budgets, timelines, and teams on low voltage projects and why the scope of work is not enough. Real clauses, field stories, and simple rules help you stop scope creep, avoid payment traps, and document your way to fewer disputes. • difference between scope and terms and conditions  • essential assumptions like 150‑foot averages and cl...

Send us Fan Mail We sit down with BICSI’s CEO to unpack why the fall conference is being rebuilt around immersive learning, real-time feedback, and six convergence-focused tracks. The goal is simple: stronger outcomes for installers, designers, and PMs who need practical tools for an AI-driven, wireless-first, data-hungry world. • Purpose and benefits of the BICSI Beyond redesign • From passive se...

Send us Fan Mail We bust five myths about BICSI conferences with concrete tactics for first-timers, field techs, and designers. From committee work to exhibit hall strategy, we show how to translate networking and standards into real jobsite wins and long-term career growth. • conferences not just for designers, clear entry points for technicians • why first-timers session and BICSI Village matter...

Send us Fan Mail We make the case for training as the fastest way to fix the low voltage talent gap and the surest path to mastery for working techs, leads, and managers. Practical tactics, field stories, and metrics show how to teach adults, keep attention, and prove ROI without a big budget. • why training creates mastery, credibility, and purpose • the trainer trifecta and adult learning princi...