3 things to know about hotel cabling
Hotels continue to upgrade their technology to meet brand standards, operational reporting or to enhance staff productivity. Cabling standards change over time to enhance speed, reduce cross talk and improve overall performance. The quality of the cabling also plays a critical role for systems to operate at peak performance. For existing properties, many require upgrading from Cat 5 to Cat 5e or Cat 6/ 6a. The different categories and their capabilities are listed at the bottom of this article.
Tip 1: Cat 5 cabling or earlier is obsolete. The updated standards from the major brands are Cat 5e for existing properties and Cat 6/6a for new builds. For Cat 6/6a, jacks and connectors need to be compatible.
Tip 2: The cabling runs from the main distribution frame to the intermediate distribution frames should be fiber. Cables and patch panel assignment should be labeled. Cabling runs need to remain under 328 feet or 100 meters. Certification of the cable runs is required to document specifications are being meet.
Tip 3: Today’s television sets can use Ethernet to avoid the cost of coax. Your sets should be double checked for the Ethernet connection.
| Category | Speed | Use |
| 5 | 100 Mbps (2 pair) | 100BaseT Ethernet |
| 1000 Mbps (4 pair) | Gigabit Ethernet | |
| 5e | 1,000 Mbps | Gigabit Ethernet |
| 6 | 10,000 Mbps | Gigabit Ethernet |
*Categories of Unshielded Twisted Pair Courtesy of HowToGeek.com
For more information or assistance in obtaining cable quotes, please contact; Terry Mueller at Tmueller@RTM-Inc.com or direct at 407-998-8028.