Fiber is one of the skills that can launch your career into the stratosphere. Yet where do you find the training. We bring Sean Kelly RCDD, Technical Director at Light...
Author - Bowser RCDD TECH
With industry experience spanning back to 1982 Chuck Bowser has installed, tested, designed, estimated, and project managed information communications technology projects for small and large projects. He is a Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD) and BICSI Technician.
There is and probably always will be a adversarial relationship between field staff and project managers. Some of it is brought on by how we, the industry, seek...
Last week we discussed what it takes to be a good estimator. This week we discuss the mechanics of estimating. We cover ITB, RFQ, RFP, RFI. We also cover the types...
A common question I get is how to estimate projects. Well first you have to be a good estimator. What are the benefits and drawbacks to being an estimator? What skills...
All of the manufacturers have warranty programs. They also have steps to get into the programs and costs associated with the program. We discuss the good and bad...
Busisness, Codes and Standards, Copper Cable Plant, Estimation, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation, Leadership, Mentoring/Training, QA/QC
“Think Bigger” – Interview with Shelly Olmstead IES
We posted a comment in social media last week which asked ‘What is your biggest gripe about our industry. One common response was the poor quality of new...
Busisness, Codes and Standards, Estimation, Installation
Revit and How It Will Make Your Job Easier!
How can a drawing make your life easier as a Installer, Customer, or Engineer. Listen in as we discover what is Revit, what does it show, how it can help you find...
This week we talk about a controversial TikTok post from my account. We discuss who is responsible for poor quality work. We will look at it from a Technicians...
Shawn Repp produces some quality work that very few could challenge. He is also an avid TikToker who exhibits his work on social media with nearly 100k followers. We...
Many low voltage installers and companies shy away from AV work. They fear it is too complicated or needs a programmer. This week we bring in Kevin Davidson RCDD, talks...
This week I prepare to attend the Winter 2022 BICSI conference. Listen in as I cover ways you can invest in yourself to make more money or get that job you wanted! YOU...
Installation, Leadership, Mentoring/Training, Project Management, QA/QC, Safety
Industry Icon – Theresa Johnson
An Industry Icon is someone in the industry who through their career has mastered their trade and now is sharing and mentoring to benefit the Industry. Theresa Johnson...
Codes and Standards, Copper Cable Plant, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation, Mentoring/Training, Uncategorized
New 8th Edition ITSIMM Released!
Its out! BICSI released the new 8th edition of the ITSIMM. They have made some great changes. Listen in as we talk about what they changed, who should get this book, and...
Fiber skills will take you to the next level in your career and earnings. Yet many people don’t have them and fewer people are willing to teach you. Advancements...
Codes and Standards, Copper Cable Plant, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation, Safety
Are You the Best Technician in the Industry?
Are You the Best Technician in the Industry? I challenge you to prove it. Attend and win the BICSI Cable Skills Challenge. Listen in as we talk to Lee Renfroe RCDD, ESS...
Blake Urmos stops by to tell us all the new stuff going on at LVN like media platforms, fiber scholarships, and their key note speaker at BICSI! YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE...
One of the most frequent questions I get concerns about how to transition from the field to a PM role. Our industry is not great at creating them so education is a must...
Codes and Standards, Copper Cable Plant, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation
Whats New in the 606 and All the Standards.
We check in with Jonathan Jew about the new 606 standard recently revised. We also catch up on whats new with the all the other standards. We even cover why and how you...
Codes and Standards, Copper Cable Plant, Data Centers, Estimation, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation
How Is the Semiconductor Shortage Affecting Our Industry
I am sure you have heard about the semiconductor shortage and how it is affecting every industry. I bring in Tim Kuhlman PE RCDD to discuss how this is a good...
This week I tackle some cable myths. I compared cat 6 cable and connectors bought in a big box store vs a Tier 1 manufacture. Next I compare the performance differences...
This week I bring in a special guest. A BICSI Technician, not just any but my brother. Listen in as we talk about how his certifications has helped his career, and how...
I have had many job in this industry. By far the one I enjoyed the most and found most rewarding was QA inspector. As a QA inspector you are still in the field and you...
Cable installation & Maintenance each year has a competitive program to recognize innovative products, projects, and technologies. This year AEM won three for their...
What if I told you there are resources out there that will help you become a better installer, estimator, PM and these resources are free. Would you be interested...
Copper Cable Plant, Data Centers, Estimation, Fiber Cable Plant
Hyper Scale Data Center Series – Labeling
We continue our series on Hyper Scale Data Centers. This episodes we talk about the challenges you may face when it comes to labeling all the cables, racks, patch panels...
We are starting off a new series where we will talk to Industry Icons. People who through decades of work give us an insight of where the industry used to be, where they...
Codes and Standards, Copper Cable Plant, Data Centers, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation
Hyper-scale Data Centers Design & Installation Tips
Hyper-scale Data Centers are not just big data centers. They bring with them challenges for designers and installation crews. We bring back fan favorite Tim Kuhlman from...
There is no doubt that tools make our jobs easier. I interview an inventor who came up with a way to untwist pairs quickly and easily. Join me as we talk about his...
There is more than the cable you install inside of a building. There is OSP cabling. There are many considerations to figure out and which type will be best aerial...
In late July I was sent a picture and asked what was wrong with a cable that was excreting a white crystalized substance. The picture blew up my Linkedin profile with...
This week we bring on Brian Teague CFOT, MBA to talk about fiber cleaning, whats new with fiber connectors, and advice for someone looking to get into fiber termination...
Busisness, Copper Cable Plant, Estimation, Installation, Leadership, Mentoring/Training, Safety
Working Safely – – Hierarchy of Hazard Control
Are you fully protected with wearing PPE? No, There are five levels of safety and PPE is at the bottom and offers the least protection. Listen in as we cover those five...
Today we announce a new Expert Council Member Phillip Klingingsmith and also review Trend Networks new toner and probe model R810000. We discuss the packaging ,quality...
We continue our series on people who are flipping our industry on its ear. This episode we interview Maria Moreno. She is an electrical and instrumentation technician at...
Is a TR considered a ITE room, can you run riser cable under the raised floor in a data center if its plenum, what are the 6 requirements that make a room a ITE room? We...
Busisness, Installation, PoE
A Discussion about PoE – The Sinclair, Autograph Collection by Marriott
We dive deeper into PoE with Hanna Walker RCDD CCNA to talk about what is PoE, design and installation considerations, and we talk about the amazing project The...
years of experience in the ICT & Data Center industry she already has one certification and is now working towards not one but two more at the same time (RCDD and...
Busisness, Leadership, Mentoring/Training, Project Management
Contractor Highlight Series – Encompass Connect
We are starting a new series called Contractor Highlight Series. These episodes we will highlight a contractor and discuss business tips, how to hire, train, and develop...
The pandemic seems to be finally going away. Business are opening back up and we seem to be going back to normal. We touch base with Blake Urmos and Low Voltage...
Did you know there is a toner specifically for working on security and alarm cabling. This tool gives you the ability to do things that a normal toner can not. Join me...
Codes and Standards, Copper Cable Plant, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation
Discussion-Cabling Wet Locations
We will clarify all the confusion about installing cabling in wet locations. What is a wet location, are we exempt, what kind of cable should you use. We bring back a...
This week we cover the definition of a data center and also cover three common types (Enterprise, Internet, and Colocation). The equipment and information contained...
Busisness, Codes and Standards, Copper Cable Plant, Estimation, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation, Leadership, Mentoring/Training, Uncategorized
A Conversation with a Cable Dawg – Dan Munson, RCDD
This show we explore military Cable Dawgs, who are they, how is their job different, and transitioning into the civilian world. We discuss this with Dan Munson RCDD, a...
Busisness, Codes and Standards, Copper Cable Plant, Estimation, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation, Leadership, Mentoring/Training, Uncategorized
A Conversation with Patrick McLaughlin (Cable Installation & Maintenance Magazine)
I am super excited about this interview. I have used Cable Installation & Maintenance Magazine and webcasts for decades. I have a sit down with Patrick...
Codes and Standards, Copper Cable Plant, Estimation, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation
Free Access to NFPA Codes!
How many times have you wished you had access to the code to verify what an inspector is telling you or to make sure you are installing within the code. Purchasing your...
Busisness, Codes and Standards, Copper Cable Plant, Estimation, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation, Leadership, Mentoring/Training, Project Management
Who is BICSI
This week we interview Christopher Hobbs RCDD, RTPM, DCDC, OSP and we talk about who is BICSI and how he can help your career by certifications, volunteering, and...
This industry is the epitome of the “old boys” network. While it has made some progress we still have a ways to go. People like Halle Kane are a breath of...
We have a frank conversation with Tim Kuhlman PE RCDD, a code expert, on why we have a code book, how it is written, and which sections apply to the ICT industry. YOU...
Codes and Standards, Copper Cable Plant, Estimation, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation
Abandoned Cable 101 with 5 Tech Tips
If you have pulled cable for longer than a few days, sooner or later you will come across abandoned cable. Now what? Does it have to be removed? What are the benefits...
Many ICT installers eventually jump into computers. What is the first certification they should get? The CompTIA A+ certificate. We sit down with a young computer guy...
Copper Cable Plant, Installation, Transmission
Power Over Ethernet (PoE) Basics and Installation Tips
What if I told you that a single four pair cable can transmit both power and a voice/data signal simultaneously, Yep, its called power over ethernet or PoE. It can...
Codes and Standards, Copper Cable Plant, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation, Uncategorized
A Big Piece of Humble Pie
This past week I was served several pieces of humble pie this week. Not once but three times I realized and was humbled. Listen in to hear the impact! YOU CAN LISTEN TO...
Codes and Standards, Copper Cable Plant, Estimation, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation, Leadership, Mentoring/Training, Uncategorized
Coffee Chat – BICSI Winter Conference 2021 part 2
Well the BICSI Winter conference 2021 just came to a close. If you were like me you always hate to see the conferences close. This episode I interview the other...
Busisness, Codes and Standards, Estimation, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation, Leadership, Mentoring/Training, Project Management
Coffee Chat – BICSI Winter Conference 2021 part 1
Well the BICSI Winter conference 2021 just came to a close. If you were like me you always hate to see the conferences close. So I gathered some attendees to have a...
Copper Cable Plant, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation, Mentoring/Training
A Slippery Slope- Cable Pulling Lubricant
Why can’t you just use soap? We give little thought to cable pulling lubricant in our industry our but you should. If you pull to hard on a cable you will...
Busisness, Codes and Standards, Copper Cable Plant, Estimation, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation, QA/QC
MUTOA vs Consolidation Point – What’s the difference?
A lot of ICT installers and designer are confused to the differences between a MUTOA and a Consolidation Point. While they are similar they are different. Listen in as...
Busisness, Leadership, Mentoring/Training
A Guide to Better Business Decisions – The Power of Surprise
Today we interview Tania Luna from Life Labs Learning and author of Surprise: Embrace the Unpredictable and Engineer the Unexpected. This show was a result of some...
What is a telecommunications enclosure and how is it different from a telecommunications room? In this episode we discuss requirements for size, install, power...
Codes and Standards, Copper Cable Plant, Estimation, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation, Project Management, Transmission
What is a TDMM? (free limited study group)
The Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual or TDMM is the foundational document of our industry. Listen in as I talk about what is in it, how it is created, and...
Codes and Standards, Copper Cable Plant, Fiber Cable Plant, Installation
10 Tips for Buying & Installing Plywood for a TR/ER
The plywood is simply the foundation of the Telecommunications Room. Everything is attached to or hung off of it. If you have a shabby foundation you might have...
We all have either sat in or conducted meetings. They suck the life out of your day. In today’s episode we have 15 tips for you to hold highly effective meetings...
This final episode of the project management series we interview a certified PMP and I give my final thoughts of the RTPM vs the PMP. Which is better for your career...
You will find both of these certifications but which is better? Are they different? Which should I get? We finish our project management series by interviewing both a...
Let me ask you a simple question, is the project done when the last cable is tested and you crew leaves the site for the final time? Todays show we continue our project...
We continue with our Project Management Series. This fourth part we discuss what the execution, monitoring, and controlling phases of project management. We also cover...
We continue with our Project Management Series. This third part we discuss what a project lifecycle is and focus on the initiation and planning phases. We cover some...
Todays episode is about stakeholders. What is a stakeholder. What are the differences between internal and external stakeholders. Remember that Project Management is a...
So you want to become a Project Manager or become a better Project Manager. It is generally the next step of the career path for most field personnel. Let have a frank...
Taking a few moments to reflect on the blessings of 2020
Today on Episode 13 we tackle EMI like NEXT, FEXT, PSNEXT, PSFEXT, and AXT. Not sure that that is or how to fix it? Listen in. Also don’t forget to enter our...
Our industry has always been horrible at teaching the new people and mentoring. Blake Urmos of Low Voltage Nation has created a unique, forward leading, peer to peer...
We have all seen it, cables supported by the ceiling wire or laying on the grid. Is that right or wrong? What if its just three cables? Why can the electricians put...
This episode we cover a lot of content. Join Mike Bunning RCDD and I as we talk about how testers have evolved, the difference between certification and qualification...
What are three critical must haves to ensure a project is completed on budge. What iif I told you a 30 dollar tool could potentially save you thousands of dollars...
While the ICT industry is improving we still fail in mentoring, training, and exciting new and young people to get into this field. Several organization are spear...
The industry takes firestopping for granted. There is a difference between firestopping and fireproof. Many installers and designers are unaware of terms like listed...
This episode we conclude our 3 part series Megabits vs MegaHertz. We till the concepts from bits and bytes and sinusoidal wave to explain how that applies to cable. We...
We move to the second part of our three part series. Last week we discussed bits and bytes. Now we explain the sinusoidal wave and how those 1’s and 0’s are...
We launch a three part series to explain the differences between those category rated cables you hear about. What exactly are those ratings? What do they mean? What...
What are all those extra letters behind the person’s name you see all the time. They are industry certifications. There are many like RCDD, DCDC, OSP just to name...
Everybody has their opinion on what is and is not quality. The level of quality you perform is directly related to your knowledge, training, and attention to detail...
I must be a glutton for punishment as I take on a new project. You see I have a full time job, a homestead with garden beds, animals and have a YouTube channel for the...
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