Often the forgotten component of any network design, your computer network cabling infrastructure can become your biggest headache.  Designing and planning a structured cable plant design for your building or office simplifies management of moves, adds and changes, which comprise a majority of your day-to-day administration headaches and provides you with a reliable infrastructure for data transport.  Having designed and implemented systems for clients throughout Central California, our expertise will help you in implementing a "transparent", structured cabling system that allows you to concentrate on more important issues, such as running your network.

VNS designs, installs, and maintains structured voice, data (computer network cabling, ie: Ethernet) and fiber-optic cabling systems (single and multi-mode fiber optic) based upon the specific needs of your company or business.  Our structured cabling system designs:

• Allow for adds, moves, and changes (MACs) quickly and easily.
• Allow growth with minimal incremental cost.
• Accommodate a wide variety of hardware configurations and network topologies
• Integrate with any computer and telephone system to allow for maximum interchangeability and flexibility.
• Utilize high-quality, industry-leading components with stringent manufacturer warranties.
• Are guaranteed to be certified to industry-standard specifications, such as TIA/EIA-568-B Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard.

Installation services include implementation of any cabling design and our maintenance service extends to providing support for any of our installations as well as non-VNS installations.  Considering that a typical Ethernet infrastructure will be in place for 20-30 years, and that critical technologies such as voice/telephone (VoIP), and video surveillance (IP-based video), that have traditionally been installed on separate copper and coaxial networks are now becoming part of the LAN network infrastructure, we feel that it's more critical than it ever has been to select the right infrastructure partner from the start.

One of the biggest advantages of working with VNS on your next voice or data cabling or fiber project is that we are a one-stop solution, our expertise doesn't end at the wall jack.  Once we have completed your cabling or fiber project, we won't leave you hanging when you ask us about power, cooling, networking or telephony issues.  Why?  Because VNS is the only locally-owned APC Certified InfraStruXure partner in Central California, and we are experts in the design, integration, installation and support of highly scalable power and cooling solutions.  We are a Cisco Premier Certified Partner specializing in Unified Communications (VoIP), wireless, routing, switching, and security.  We've supported Avaya, Mitel and Covad/GoBeam systems as well.  Additionally, we are the only  Panduit Certified Systems Integrator in this region.  What this all means to you is that this consolidated training and expertise allows us to bring a complete solution to the table because we understand the data center from the copper and fiber, to the metals, racks and cable raceway, to the power and cooling needs, to the final integration with your voice and data systems, wireless infrastructure and VoIP systems.  We strive to provide our customers with comprehensive solutions.  And that doesn't mean that you have to be huge to call us, we're happy to work on small projects for customers only needing a drop or two, all the way up to multi-story, multi-faceted datacenters.   Every customer is important and appreciated here!

Testing And Certification

Many people "install" network cabling, but fail to actually test and certify it.  There is a difference.  Simply installing cabling and then running a "tester" on it is not the same as certifying that the voice and data cabling will actually meet the rated speed that you're paying for.  Devices may light up at both ends of the connection, but how do you really know that you're getting 100Mb, and maybe not 10Mb?  When network problems arise, do you really want to have to worry about the wiring being suspect?

Because of the demanding requirements of today's network infrastructure, the only true way to confirm that your cable infrastructure actually meets the specifications and quality level that you've purchased is to test and certify it.  We test and certify all twisted-pair cabling for Category 5/5e/6 compliance (where applicable), including continuity, proper polarity, crossed-pairs, NEXT, and shorts with an industry-standard Fluke DTX Level IV cable certifier, or equivalent.  We also test and certify all our fiber optic cabling installations.  Once VNS completes an infrastructure installation, you can be assured that your physical infrastructure meets the specs that you paid for.  We also maintain an archive copy of your cable/fiber scans on site, so that they can be provided in the future if you've lost your copy.

Our voice and data cabling technicians are certified too.  We do not hire the lowest cost personnel that we can find or subcontract our work out to someone else.  We look for high quality, professional, trained and certified full-time employees, and then continue to train them to stay abreast of the latest industry standards and performance requirements from BICSI, EIA/TIA, CompTIA, etc.  We take great pride in the high quality of the workmanship that we provide and we back it up with a Lifetime Workmanship Warranty.

VNS is a State of California C7 Licensed Contractor, and we carry full liability and workman's compensation insurance, in addition to being a certified small business.

Graphically Document Network And Cabling Systems

Network and cabling system documentation is generated graphically using Microsoft Visio or AutoCAD.  We can produce professional full color illustrations and documentation. These services include logical network design, cable routing, punch block layout, and patch panel systems for any network.  This is in addition to our cable and fiber optic certification scan reports which are provided upon completion of every job.

High Quality Materials

Our infrastructure solutions primarily use industry-leading Panduit and General Cable solutions, which, when installed together, provide the customer with a 25-year product warranty.  However, we have installed most major vendors products and can accommodate any specific vendor requests, including, but not limited to: Panduit, AllenTel, AT&T/Lucent, Belden, Berk-Tek, Cablofil, Chatsworth, General Cable, Hubbell, Krone, Leviton, Mohawk/CDT, Nordx/CDT, Ortronics, Siemon and Wiremold.

Warranty Information

Valley Network Solutions stands behind our work with a unique Lifetime Warranty, which states that we warrant the workmanship of our computer cabling for the lifetime of it’s installation.  Materials are warranted for one (1) year, or the duration of the manufacturer's warranty whichever is longer.

• Lifetime Cabling Warranty

Quality and the True Cost of Ownership

These extra levels of detail are part of the reason why there can be such a variance in cabling installation costs.  Many customers mistakenly presume that "cabling is cabling" and hire non-qualified, or lowest-cost personnel, without the proper tools or training to install sensitive network infrastructure.  Data infrastructure requires entirely different installation processes than electrical or simple telephone wiring, and we believe that we provide a superior solution that allows the customer to not worry about their cabling infrastructure once it's been installed.

Computer Room & Data Center Design

VNS has the design expertise to develop programming information and specifications for Computer Rooms, Data Centers, Telecommunications Rooms, and Equipment Closets.

We can provide the following services: Inventory and documentation of existing client equipment. Documentation of existing voice and data circuits and facilities. Coordination with equipment vendors. Space planning and design development for new equipment rooms. Comprehensive specifications for raised floors and overhead cable management.  Complete equipment matrix detailing power, HVAC, loading, and space requirements. Visio/CAD drawings showing layout of equipment rooms, and equipment racks. Design of in-room fiber and copper cabling for complete equipment connectivity.

Categories of Copper Cabling

Customers often ask what the differences are between the various types of cable (ie: Cat3, Cat5, etc.).  In a nutshell, the higher the number, the better the performance, and accordingly, the higher the price tag.  The most common types of cabling are Category 3 (used primarily for voice today), Category 5E (the most common type of cabling, used for both voice and data, and also supports Gigabit Ethernet), and Category 6.  Customers sometimes request Category 6 because they think it's a requirement for Gigabit Ethernet, which isn't quite correct.  Gigabit Ethernet can run on Category 5 cabling, however, Category 6 will perform better.  The key is the bandwidth the cable supports. 

Category 6 is rated at 250Mhz (and the newest Category 6a specifies 500Mhz), whereas Category 5E is rated at 100Mhz.  The higher megahertz support allows cabling to handle the greater amount of noise and crosstalk that occurs on a wire when faster (ie: gigabit and 10G) connections are running on that wire.  When signals are run at a higher frequency that the cabling is not rated for, it can cause errors and anomalies.

So what are the cost variances?  Generally speaking, you can expect to pay a 20% price premium between Cat6 and Cat5E, and a 50% price premium between Cat 5E and Cat 6a.

What our Customers Say About Us

"Your guys were friendly, and talked with our people to get everything correct before beginning the job. They got to work immediately and worked hard, quickly, and consistently the entire time here.

And to my complete amazement they brought in their own vacuum cleaner and vacuumed up all the stuff that dropped to the floor from the open ceiling tiles! ! ! ! ! Wow! That has to be a "first"!

When they were finished, they came in and to explain everything they had done. They were so efficient and professional.

The property owner for our building complex came in while they were here asked for the name of the company because he was doing some remodeling and needed some wires run, so I was happy to give him VNS's name and number."

What Next?

We'll be happy to come out and walk your site, and provide you with a customized estimate and scope of work for your next voice or data cabling and/or fiber project.

If you'd like more information or have additional questions, please contact us at sales@vns.net, or you can reach us at (559) 650-2600, Option 2.  VNS has been providing infrastructure solutions to our Fresno, Clovis, Madera, Visalia and Oakhurst customers since 1996.