In my 40 years in this industry, I have come to the conclusion that many system problems and technician frustrations come from the installation and testing of network cabling jacks and plugs. Whereas in the old days we just had to get the right wire under the correct screw and torque it down, now technicians working on IP devices must properly terminate all eight conductors in a Cat5e or 6 cable, while making sure that only a minimum distance of the paired conductors are untwisted so as to minimize the potential for EMI/RFI and crosstalk between the pairs.
As electronic security industry professionals it is easy to become overwhelmed with the advances in hardware and software being provided by our manufacturers.
From salespeople to technicians, the blizzard of IP devices and options can create confusion and uncertainty, which will likely result in lost sales, lost profit and customer dissatisfaction with the systems that they have obtained.
Throughout the past four decades in the electronic security, business technicians have often had to rely on testers and tools that were not specifically designed for our industry’s needs.
With mounting pressure from huge cable and telephone companies and the explosion of DIY IP cameras and alarm systems, the cold reality is that if we do not change our product and service offerings, our share of the low-end residential and light commercial alarm market is going to shrink if not disappear within the next 10 years.
I will admit it; I work in a pretty sloppy fashion. While the “bills to be paid” and the “bills to be sent” always get top priority, other items in my business and personal life seem to get magically piled up around my desk and workspace, only to be addressed when desperation occurs.
Back in 1980, Mr. Alan Higgins (now sales manager for ADI – Florida and points south) and I were a two-man operation running an alarm equipment distribution outlet in beautiful Cincinnati, Ohio.
If you read the kind of stuff that I do, you cannot help but be amazed at the explosive growth of the Internet of Things, IoT for short. With the costs of Wi-Fi interfaces dropping into the range of $1 per device in large volume, more and more “things” are getting connected to LAN networks and the Internet.
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