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We dig into the cable combing debate with Henry Frank, separating myth from practice and explaining how modern Cat 6A design and standards testing changed the rules. Along the way, we talk PoE heating, short channels, culture clashes, and why neat work still wins trust.

• what cable combing actually is and why it matters
• where old randomization advice came from
• alien crosstalk explained clearly for installers
• manufacturer six-around-one worst-case testing
• PoE heat, LP ratings, and real-world bundle risk
• short channels and four-connector topologies
• when to comb for serviceability and pride
• why joining standards groups grows your career

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Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD

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We break down why acronyms help experts move fast and why they lock out newcomers. We map old and new ICT terms, show how meanings shift across trades, and share a free handbook and simple rules to write clear, usable documents.

• barriers created by acronym-heavy talk
• MDF and IDF history and current TR and ER terms
• bonding and grounding updates including TMGB to PBB and TBB IBC to BBC
• multiple-meaning acronyms like AP, CO, DAS, RFI, FTP
• documentation best practice: write full term, add acronym, then use
• efficiency vs inclusion when speaking to mixed audiences
• regional and cross-discipline differences and how to navigate them
• free resource: ICT Terminology Handbook and why to share it
• encouraging questions and private, kind corrections

Go to Google, type in ICT Terminology Handbook. Download it and send that web link to a peer, an installer, or an apprentice so they can learn it.

Support the show

Knowledge is power! Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling . Also if you would like to be a guest on the show or have a topic for discussion send me an email at [email protected]

Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD

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We sit down with outgoing TR-42 chair Henry Frank to unpack how standards are made, why contracts turn “voluntary” rules into must-do requirements, and what’s changing in cabling for extended reach, fiber polarity, and the 568 family. Clear takeaways for installers, designers, and owners on navigating codes, specs, and practical testing.

• codes vs standards vs specifications and how contracts make standards enforceable
• keeping references current and using “most current including addenda”
• what TR-42 covers across media, methods, and use cases
• consensus process, ballots, and public review
• consolidation of 568.0, 568.1, and 862 into one reference
• fiber polarity challenges for AI and high-density links
• extended reach over copper and the focus on field validation
• myths and marketing terms like Cat 6e and “industrial” categories
• why TIA does not use Cat 7 or 7A and how Cat 6A was right-sized
• design tradeoffs: room placement, channel limits, and real estate impact
• how to participate in TIA, ISO, and BICSI standards work

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Would you click on that QR code right there You can buy me a cup of coffee You can even schedule a 15-minute one-on-one call with me after hours, of course And you can even buy Let's Talk Cabling Merchandise
Wednesday nights, 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, what are you doing You know I do a live stream on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, and anywhere else I can figure out to send the live stream to where you get to ask your favorite RCDD

Support the show

Knowledge is power! Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling . Also if you would like to be a guest on the show or have a topic for discussion send me an email at [email protected]

Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD

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We pull back the curtain on consulting engineering in ICT, from how designs are born to how they survive construction. Paul shares career paths, tools like Revit, and why proactive thinking beats fire drills every time.

• defining consulting engineering deliverables and value
• mapping information flow between owner, architect, and engineer
• career paths from field tech or college into design
• proactive planning for phasing, pathways, and capacity
• using brand standards and open specs to guide choices
• debunking non-standard cable marketing like cat 6e
• future proofing with spare capacity and pathway design
• leveraging Revit and BIM for clash detection
• balancing detailed notes with field readability
• construction phase duties: RFIs, submittals, site visits
• measuring success by RFIs, repeat work, and user reviews
• advice for curious techs aiming at consulting roles

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Support the show

Knowledge is power! Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling . Also if you would like to be a guest on the show or have a topic for discussion send me an email at [email protected]

Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD

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We talk with Doug, a two‑time Cable Skills Challenge champion, about how disciplined practice, mental prep, and a service mindset led to back‑to‑back wins. He shares the drills, the mistakes, the fiber testing nerves, and why process beats polish when the clock is running.

• recreating event stations with racks, 110 blocks, conduit, and 25‑pair 
• judge feedback turned into checklists and step maps 
• OLTS and OTDR anxiety, tool familiarity, and Softing impressions 
• visualization before sleep and memorizing ITSIMM steps 
• speed over cosmetic quality under timed rules 
• staying calm to fix a wrong port termination 
• awards night signals and realizing the overall win 
• career impact, choosing to judge, and mentoring first‑timers 
• why you should apply for 2027 and how to prepare 
• family support and good luck charms that anchor focus

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Knowledge is power! Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling . Also if you would like to be a guest on the show or have a topic for discussion send me an email at [email protected]

Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD

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We take a frank look at AI’s impact on low voltage and networking, from estimators and PMs to installers and engineers. Expect honest talk on what jobs change first, which skills pay off, and how to use AI without losing your edge.

• near-term risk for estimators, PMs, customer support via AI efficiency
• installers safer today yet exposed as robotics advances
• standards, grounding, firestop, and transmission basics as career moat
• predictive troubleshooting reducing break-fix firefights
• labs, certifications, and layer 1 mastery still critical
• AI-guided installs, image checks, and documentation at scale
• blueprint takeoffs, BOMs, and bids improved by AI tools
• shipping, firmware, and QA workflows automated to cut DOA
• merging lines between installers and engineers under AI
• five-year view of top-tier pros using agents and live audits
• human communication as the standout skill

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Knowledge is power! Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling . Also if you would like to be a guest on the show or have a topic for discussion send me an email at [email protected]

Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD

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A candid walk inside the Cabling Innovators Awards reveals what really moves infrastructure forward: proof in the field, standards that prevent failures, and people who quietly solve hard problems. We honor fiber’s rise, copper’s purpose, fault managed power in use, and the character that keeps networks running.

• Backstage moments and unfiltered voices
• Fault managed power moving from theory to deployment
• Fiber’s growth with copper’s ongoing role
• Powering devices over distance with practical tools
• Testing that validates fiber, copper and Wi‑Fi
• Workforce gap and 3D interactive training
• Standards work reducing failures and conflicts
• Actual intelligence as the engine behind innovation
• Winner shout‑outs and case studies that prove value

If you're watching this show on YouTube, would you mind hitting the subscribe button and the bell button to be notified when new content's being created
If you listen to us on one of the audio podcast platforms, would you mind leaving us a five-star rating
If you find value in this content, when you click on that QR code right there, you can buy me a cup of coffee
You can even schedule a 15-minute one-on-one call with me after hours, of course
Share it with somebody who hasn't been in that room

Support the show

Knowledge is power! Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling . Also if you would like to be a guest on the show or have a topic for discussion send me an email at [email protected]

Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD

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We weigh the real trade-offs between apprenticeship and direct hire for limited energy careers, from pay ladders and benefits to training quality, certifications, and safety. Stories from BICSI, a content mishap, and a few shout-outs frame a focused guide on starting smart and growing fast.

• union vs non-union structure and flexibility
• predictable pay steps and benefits compared with variable raises
• mentorship quality and how to learn fast on a crew
• certifications that matter and who supports them
• avoiding grunt-work traps with clear pathways
• routes into project management and design
• small market realities and choosing culture
• fiber training, advanced skills, and promotion timing
• safety as a baseline and when to walk away

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Support the show

Knowledge is power! Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling . Also if you would like to be a guest on the show or have a topic for discussion send me an email at [email protected]

Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD

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We take a break this week and recover from BICSI and a cold.  Today we explore how BICSI’s PM 102 and the RTPM credential give ICT project managers practical tools they can use right away. From project charters and stakeholder risk to network diagrams and earned value, we focus on what speeds delivery and keeps budgets on track.

• PM 101 vs PM 102 and who each serves
• Project charter, stakeholder mapping, and risk planning
• Network diagrams and finding the true critical path
• Earned value management tied to measurable outputs
• Change control that protects margin and schedule
• Why RTPM fits ICT better than a generalist PMP
• Using PM 102 hours toward PMP requirements
• Virtual and in-person training options and tools
• RTPM exam process, Pearson VUE, and handbook
• Career path choices between RCDD and PM tracks
• Visual field communication and simple daily goals
• Hybrid conferences, global access, and learning culture

If you're watching this show on YouTube, would you mind hitting the subscribe button and the bell button to be notified when new content is being produced?
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Support the show

Knowledge is power! Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling . Also if you would like to be a guest on the show or have a topic for discussion send me an email at [email protected]

Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD

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We reveal AEM’s FibBlu, a compact, app-driven fiber certification kit designed to cut cost, extend battery life, and speed reporting while keeping accuracy on par with lab-grade tools. From GPS-tagged results to OCR label capture and open cloud storage, we show how moving certification to the phone reshapes field work.

• sub‑$10k fiber certification focus and market gap
• app‑driven control via Bluetooth with no onboard screen
• dual‑ended, bidirectional, and loopback loss testing
• open cloud choice with Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox
• owner and user roles with access keys for team control
• OCR label capture, GPS coordinates, instant PDF and CSV
• live two‑unit workflow for main and remote ends
• EMI shielding, calibration guidance, rugged form factor
• packaging options and adapter flexibility for SC, LC, FC, ST
• Blue series roadmap including upcoming copper qualifiers

If you're watching the show on YouTube, would you mind leaving us a five-star rating and sending the subscribe button and the bell button to be notified when new content is being produced?
If you're listening to us on one of the audio podcast platforms, would you mind leaving us a five-star rating there as well?
If you find value in this content, would you click on that QR button right there? You can schedule a 15-minute one-on-one call with me after hours, of course. You can even buy Let's Talk Cabling merchandise, like t-shirts and stuff like that.

Support the show

Knowledge is power! Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling . Also if you would like to be a guest on the show or have a topic for discussion send me an email at [email protected]

Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD