Everyone loves a good bargain. And there's nothing essentially wrong with that - unless it's when purchasing network cables. It can be tempting to cut back on your budget for cabling when you've spent a generous amount on your network's hardware, but this is a rather expensive faux pas. Cables are a key foundation to your network, whether they're patch cord or fly leads, and scrimping on them can ultimately cost you more in the long run, and cause your network to either run at a snail's pace, or to fail dismally (which results in delays and losses for your business).
Irrespective of how you look at it, there are a few key hazards posed by cheap network cabling that you should be aware of before you pounce on that bargain bin cable.
Pitfalls to Poor Quality Network Cabling
You're Getting Less Copper
Lower-cost copper cabling often has a less than standard diameter copper core. This causes signal loss and often results in imperfect signal propagation. It also causes greater interference when mated with standard copper core cabling.
It's More Prone to Breakages
Cheap cabling is more prone to breakage, due to the narrowed copper core diameters. If you've already installed budget cabling, and you're thinking, "Well, mine haven't broken yet", don't speak too soon. Narrower diameter cores are definitely weaker than standard cores, and they will fail, it's just a matter of time. They have a tendency to stretch and snap further over a prolonged period, so it's really a question of when they fail, not if.
Copper cabling is supposed to be designed to withstand a draw force of 110 Newtons, to allow it to be pulled during installation. Good quality cable manufacturers will test their cable to ensure it can withstand the installation process, while budget cabling is often not tested, but simply "made" and put out for sale.
Sub-standard Sheathing Leaves Much to Be Desired
When a cable has sub-standard sheathing, it's more susceptible to interference, and subsequently signal degradation. And you can bet your last pound that the cheaper the cable, the worse off the sheathing will be.
Choosing the right quality cabling is the difference between an excellent and sustainable network, and one which could fall apart at the seams. Don't be tempted to go cheap, as it's a certainty that before long, you'll have to get a professional in to redo your cabling, completely negating the supposed saving you had on the cabling. Instead invest in your network by buying good quality cabling. It'll not only save you money in the long run, but your network will work infinitely better as well.
