Should it take this long to punch down wiring for24 new station ports?

[klmnop]

We get our maintenance through a company, who outsources the work. We added on office space in our current building, and had another company run the cabling from the new space to our data center. I'm questioning how long it is taking the telco guy who was sent today, to do the wiring. Would appreciate feedback.

Here was scope of work:
"24 cable Runs (all cable to be designated) and six 110 cross connect blocks to be located in the phone/data room. Cable will be terminated on one end with RJ45 jacks. The other end will be terminated (punch down) on the 110 blocks parts provided. The RJ45 jack of each cable will be applied to the patch panel (client provided) in place. Punched down on a 110 terminal block, supply six 110 terminal blocks, cables will be plugged in a 24 port patch panel."

So in summary: Plug in qty 24 - 18 foot patch cord to patch panel, run it over to the wall and hard terminate on a 110 block.

The tech got here at 10:15. It's 2:45 now. He mounted 6 - 110 blocks to the wall (i.e., screwed in), then has spent the interim time connecting one end of the 24 patch cables to 24 ports on the 110 blocks. Now, he's realized that he is not able to connect the C-Clips and is off to buy the right tool.

I'd like a reality check on this, before I complain. I feel that the process should have taken max two hours.

Thanks!

 

[gabber4858]

Not really knowing how hard it was to run the cables from point A to Point be, it might be hard to say (you could have 20 foot vaulted ceilings for all anyone knows.) That being said, I remember my boss used quote cable at 1/2 an hour per drop (I was never actually the cable installer). I did do some installs, but mainly terminated switch tails in the MDF.

I personnel could terminate a 50 pair cable in about 15 minutes, and do a
CAT5e cable in less than a minute. Now considering we used to dress it in (cigarette pack the cables) and Velcro in nice bundles for the rack, I could see a couple of hours (it would look mint).

As for a special tool…..I used to use my punch tool and smack it in the middle of the 4 or 5 pin c-clip. No need for a 5 punch, it takes the same amount of energy and I already have the tool in my hand. Try and stay calm, and ask it the cost is going to exceed the original quote.

Good luck

 

[klmnop]

Thanks grabber, actually he didn't have to run any cables. These were purchased 18foot patch cables, which we're just going to tie down nicely and run up and over and down ourselves. This is in our data center. He's been involved in simply terminating these cables to 110 blocks.

Update -he thinks we have defective 110 blocks, because he is unable to get the c-clips to attach. Deep breaths....

 

[gabber4858]

Tell him to make sure the nubs are facing the right way on the clips and to hit it harder.....his little hands should tingle a little LOL.

 

[letman2]

is he using cat 5 or cat six 110 blocks. They use different c-clips.

 

[gblucas]

Patch cables have stranded wire in them and they won't punchdown easily and correctly to a 110 block. You need to have solid cable to do it correctly.

 

[klmnop]

gblucas/letman2 -- that was exactly the issue!

We had another guy come in (our normal tech), who immediately spotted the problem. He redid all the work in less than two hours.

 

[sekitori]

> Patch cables have stranded wire in them and they won't punchdown
> easily and correctly to a 110 block. You need to have solid
> cable to do it correctly.

Some telco-guy once explained to me that that is the difference between 'wire' and 'cable'.....

Sekitori