More on how bad cables can affect your network's performance

You may think it’s strange but using the wrong type of cable is a common problem with networks. However, there are many installed networks running on low-grade, or even wrong, cable. Many networks were installed in offices where some sort of cabling already existed and, to cut corners, someone decided to use the existing cable, no matter what was recommended. The network may run on this cable, but not at its optimum level of performance and usually with intermittent errors.

Here’s the best advice: Don’t cut corners on your network cabling. Use high-quality cable that meets or exceeds the specifications for your network topology. Make sure you use data-grade cable, not inexpensive phone cable. You’ll see a big performance difference between the two.