On new installs we do much the same, terminating the tails from the Phone system on to a dedicated 4 pin RJ45 Patch panel in a cabinet (we also mount the system in the cabinet)+ a tie to the Main Distribution Frame(as we call it in AUST)all internal cable is Cat5e to work stations.
we find that it is easier to sell this sort of set up when we explain to the customer that basic moves and changes can be done by there own people by simply changing patch leads (we also use different colored leads for voice ,data and special services
Hey I understand the concept of a patch panel but
as soon as you do that in a switchroom you will have
someone in there that should not be moving things
around and next thing you know they are doing all
there Moves tem self....
Most customers are adapted to moving a patch cable, we train them & sometimes end up walking them through it. The ones that are afraid will still call you in. It is not our responsibilty (we only recommend) to keep the customers telecom room secured from unauthorized persons except when administration or we are working in it. If they end up with a problem from that-believe me, heads will spin when they get a bill.
I have been installing patch panel solutions for the last 5 years without problems.
I here you and like I say it is a great concept.
and I can tell you that the biggest reason i switched
to 110 blocks back in the early 90's was that there
are more trunk slamers around and when one of them
sees a a 300 pair 110 block with no markings on them they run away usually and that is good!!!
Well I don't believe in not marking blocks. Customers are more technology savy, or have admin people that are supposed to handle slight in house moves for their voice & data.
The telecom room security has changed over the years.
I remember back in the 80's almost anybody could walk into a phone room. Even had cards stolen out of running PBX's.
I have been able to save customers from being down for hours on a telco line being down by having them plug the test phone into the line port & having them get a tech out instead of me going out of my way as an emergency to then tell them the line is dead from telco and having to charge them for my time.
It has also given me great referrals from those customers.
Hey as far as pluging in a test phone thats what
a network interface is for !! and as far as Admin
people laying hands on the equipment or my cabling
it instantly voids the warrantee!!
We just have different opinions of customer service & structured cabling.
I train my customers how to do it to save them money & be able to help them handle simple day to day business.
Someone unplugging a phone & moving it to another workstation location does not void any of my warranties & keeps all my ports straight.
If they did something wrong it is then a user error service call, they have to come clean (most will just say-Steve we screwed up can you come out)? because my records show what we did when installing.
They are not voiding my cabling warranties either by repatching a patch cable. The flexibility to make inhouse changes is what they paid extra for.
Steve I am not trying to get your goat
I totally agree with you on the way you do your
frames and I can tell you that the tda-50 is
actually made to be mounted in a 19 inch rack
and it all looks great if its done right
color coded patch cables wire management all of that
But I can also say that (I don't knowabout PA )
but here it is very competitive and you can not
tell me that it is more expensive to do things
the "right way" and a extra cost can mean not getting the
job am I right??
It is more expensive using Patch Panels & patch cables than just blocks. It also takes more time to stategically design & coordinate with the IT people to install.
You are selling the customer a value service that will save them more in a few separate moves.
"You install it once, you service it for life"
You must give (& more importantly get from the customer) an apple to apple comparison for bidding against others.
You question the customer as a standard block install compared to a patch panel solution-then explain the concept & let them understand the cost savings.
I have been given jobs, with the other bids just thrown out (I was higher in price) because the customer saw what I was trying to do save them money,trusted me & then was asking why the others did not even give them the options.
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