Technology basics of the new office market.The information revolution is rapidly changing the way companies do business and nowhere is this more evident than in the commercial real estate field. The explosive growth of telecommunications and the Internet is creating profound changes in the management and leasing of office properties. Today's tenants are looking for properties with the latest technology to handle their growing voice and data needs. In order to remain ahead of the technology curve, property managers/owners and commercial brokers need to know the basic language and terminology of office technology. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions: Q: What's a ballpark number for an average cabling job? A: $5 per square-foot for Cat 5e state-of-the-art cabling system and a basic security package (cameras, card readers, etc.). Q: What is a site survey and how much does it cost? A: Basically this is when a qualified business partner visits the site to survey existing situation, it probably runs about one percent of the ball park number Best of all, it should be 100 percent credited towards build out. Q: How can I find what's available at a particular building? A: Call the building manager or do a site survey. Q: What is Backbone Cabling? A: Backbone Cabling is cabling and connecting hardware that provides interconnections between telecommunications rooms, equipment rooms and entrance facilities. Q: What is a Cabling System? A: A Cabling System is a specific system of telecommunications cables, equipment/patch cords, connecting hardware and other components that is supplied as a single entity. Q: How many categories of cabling are there? A: Basically there are four: Voice or Low Speed Data: Category 3 - 100 ohm twisted-pair copper cable for transmissions up to 16 MHz. High Speed Data: Category 5e - 100 ohm twisted-pair copper for transmissions up to 100 MHz. Ultra High Speed: Category 6 - 100 ohm twisted-pair copper cable for transmissions up to 250 MHz. Blazing Speed: Category 7 - Must be shielded cable or fiber to the desk. 100 ohm twisted-pair copper cable for transmissions up to 600 MHZ. Publication of these requirements is pending. Q: What is Customer Premises Equipment See CPE. (CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) Communications equipment that resides on the customer's premises. CPE - Customer Premises Equipment )? A: Customer Premises Equipment is equipment residing on customer sites (e.g., PBX (Private Branch eXchange) An inhouse telephone switching system that interconnects telephone extensions to each other as well as to the outside telephone network (PSTN). systems, key systems, data sets, etc.). Q: What is Dark Fiber? A: Dark Fiber is fiber that is not in use and has no light transmitted. Excess fiber installed in anticipation of system expansion; may or may not be terminated. Q: What is a Digital Subscriber Line See DSL. (communications, protocol) Digital Subscriber Line - (DSL, or Digital Subscriber Loop, xDSL - see below) A family of digital telecommunications protocols designed to allow high speed data communication over the existing copper telephone lines between end-users and (DSL DSL in full Digital Subscriber Line Broadband digital communications connection that operates over standard copper telephone wires. It requires a DSL modem, which splits transmissions into two frequency bands: the lower frequencies for voice (ordinary )? A: A Digital Subscriber Line is a type of digital technology designed to use existing (legacy) cabling to support high data transfer rate applications. Q: What is Uninterruptible Power Supply See UPS. (hardware) Uninterruptible Power Supply - (UPS) A battery powered power supply unit that is guaranteed to provide power to a computer in the event of interruptions in the incoming mains electrical power. (UPS)? A: Uniterruptible Power Supply is a buffer between utility power or other power source and a load that requires continuous power. It is not always a power conditioner. Q: What is Fiber Optic Cable Noun 1. fiber optic cable - a cable made of optical fibers that can transmit large amounts of information at the speed of light fibre optic cable transmission line, cable, line - a conductor for transmitting electrical or optical signals or electric power ? A: Fiber Optic Cable is a cable containing one or more optical fibers. Other components of the cable usually include the sheath, strength members, and buffer. The purpose of these components is to protect the fiber or fibers from mechanical and environmental damage. Q: What is a CLEC (Competitive Local Exchange Carrier) An organization offering local telephone service that is not one of the traditional telephone companies. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 allowed competition to the incumbent telcos (ILECs), enabling new companies (CLECs) ? A: A CLEC is an Alternate Service Provider or Competitive Local Exchange Carrier; any telecommunications service provider A Telecommunications Service Provider or TSP is a type of Communications Service Provider that has traditionally provided telephone and similar services. This category includes ILECs, CLECs, and mobile wireless companies. other than the Incumbent local exchange carrier ILEC, short for incumbent local exchange carrier, is a local telephone company in the United States that was in existence at the time of the break up of AT&T into the Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) also known as the "Baby Bells". . Q: What does Collocation mean? A: Collocation is the process in which telecommunications service providers locate equipment in the same space. Collocation allows service providers to easily interconnect equipment and/or networks. Q: What is the Demarcation Point? A: A Demarcation Point is the point where the public network ends and the building or tenant network begins. Q: What is a Key System? A: A key system is a multi-line telephone that allows the user to view and select any line serving the premises. Q: What is an Internet Service Provider Internet service provider (ISP) Company that provides Internet connections and services to individuals and organizations. For a monthly fee, ISPs provide computer users with a connection to their site (see data transmission), as well as a log-in name and password. (ISP (1) See in-system programmable. (2) (Internet Service Provider) An organization that provides access to the Internet. Connection to the user is provided via dial-up, ISDN, cable, DSL and T1/T3 lines. )? A: An Internet Service Provider is any provider of Internet connectivity services. Q: What are Internet Connections? A: Internet Connections are: Dial up - Access to the Internet through a high-speed modem by use of a (typically local) dialed number. ISDN ISDN in full Integrated Services Digital Network Digital telecommunications network that operates over standard copper telephone wires or other media. - Digital connection from a computer to the Internet, having four to six times the capacity of a connection through a standard telephone line. May be dial up or dedicated. T-1- High capacity dedicated circuits for connecting LANs to the Internet. Q: What is a Local Area Network (LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. )? A: Local Area Network is a limited-distance network connecting individual computer terminals, typically within a single building. Q: What are Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS)? A: Plain Old Telephone Service is standard analog telephone lines using a twisted pair of copper wires. Q: What is Point-of-Presence (POP)? A: Point-of-Presence is a point where calls, data, or other electronic signals are transferred from one type of network to another. Q: What is Private Branch Exchange (PBX)? A: Private Branch Exchange is a system that allows for switching and routing of multiple lines without specific user knowledge or intervention. Q: What is a Riser? A: A Riser is a vertical or horizontal space used for utility distribution within the building. Joseph M. Corey is vice president of Technology Services for U.S. Information Systems, a technology services firm that designs, installs and services integrated voice, data video, audio and security infrastructure systems. |
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