The standard
NetDay kit contains 2,000 feet of Category 5 cable (plenum
and non-plenum are available), a 24-port patch panel, and
12 RJ45 jacks. This is enough material to cable five adjacent
classrooms and a library, computer lab, or media center,
with two drops per room.
Who
pays for the NetDay kits?
A sponsor, a
school group, or a school itself can raise funds to pay for
each kit. A kit with non-plenum cable usually cost less than
$300, and NetDay continues to negotiate to reduce that cost
even further. See NetDay Kits for
details on kit contents, prices, and ordering.
Can
kits be customized?
Yes. Most of
the providers listed on our kits pages will customize the
kit to your needs. (You will have to negotiate your own price.)
In addition, many providers offer networking alternatives,
such as wireless and fiber. Contact one of the kit vendors
listed for details and a cost estimate.
What
is Category 5 cable?
Category 5 cable
consists of pairs of copper wires twisted around each other
in a manner that cancels out the interference typically caused
when an electrical current passes through wire. This reduction
in interference increases the data throughput of the wire.
Category 5 cable allows the transmission of more than 100
megabits per second for up to 328 feet (100 meters).
Who
is installing the cable? Is there one company or are
there many? How do we contact them?
The cable will
be installed by community volunteers supported by more technically
experienced volunteers. NetDay volunteers and organizers
are responsible for recruiting skilled technicians by contacting
local businesses or posting notices in the school newsletter
or local newspaper.
What
are the facility requirements? Will we have to dig at
the school?
Facility requirements
vary, but NetDay's initial focus is on installing cable in
five classrooms and a library or computer lab, to avoid complicated
installations, the need to penetrate exterior walls, and
the difficulty and cost of trenching between buildings or
stringing wire overhead from building to building.
It is important
to follow appropriate precautions and requirements, as well
as city, county, and state laws and guidelines, when dealing
with asbestos, lead paint, or other potential hazards.
Check with your
school and district for guidelines.
How
does the work get inspected?
At the end of
the day on NetDay, the same technical groups responsible
for the design of the installation will be responsible for
testing it and certifying that it meets Category 5 standards,
or identifying and correcting any problems that may exist.
We
want all our classrooms wired. Is that possible?
The number of
classrooms that schools can wire on NetDay is only limited
by a school's ability to organize its volunteers, partners,
and other resources. Be sure to set reasonable goals - don't
expect to wire an entire school in one day with just a few
volunteers. It is imperative that you purchase kits from
the same manufacturer if more than one kit is to be purchased
for a school.
I
can't find any information that defines the specific
requirements of the "site survey." Can you tell me what
specific information I need?
The site survey
should be completed well in advance of NetDay and should
be performed by a technical volunteer accompanied by the
school or district facilities manager or engineer and your
school's NetDay organizer. The survey team will identify
a location for the patch panel and decide what classrooms
will be wired, and they will specify the tools and equipment
that will be necessary to complete the cable installation
on NetDay. The site survey will act as a road map for the
technical volunteer as he or she organizes volunteers to
carry out specific tasks on NetDay.
See Site
Survey and Wiring Plan in the NetDay
How-To Guide for details.
. |
