Frequently Asked Questions About Structured Cabling in San Antonio
What is structured cabling?
Structured cabling is the organized system of cabling, patch panels, and hardware that connects all the phones, computers, Wi-Fi, and devices in a building. Instead of a tangle of one-off wires, it is a standardized network that is easier to manage, troubleshoot, and expand. Rx Technology designs and installs structured cabling for San Antonio offices, warehouses, and healthcare facilities.
Cat6, Cat6a, or fiber: which does my business need?
Cat6 handles up to 1 Gbps for typical offices; Cat6a supports 10 Gbps over longer runs for higher-demand networks; and fiber delivers the highest bandwidth over the longest distances, ideal for backbones and multi-floor buildings. Rx Technology recommends the right mix based on your speed needs today and your growth over the next 5 to 10 years.
How much does structured cabling cost for an office?
Cost depends mainly on the number of drops (cable runs), the cable category, building conditions, and whether a fiber backbone is needed, not a flat per-foot price. Rx Technology reviews your building plans and conducts a site survey to scope the job accurately, then provides a fixed quote, so you know the full cost before any work begins.
What do you need from us to quote a structured cabling project?
To scope the job accurately, Rx Technology asks for up-to-date building plans and, in most cases, performs an on-site survey. This lets us map cable pathways, drop locations, and counts precisely before quoting, so the price reflects your actual building rather than a rough estimate.
How long does a structured cabling installation take?
A small office of 20 to 30 drops typically takes one to three days including testing; larger build-outs and multi-floor jobs take longer. Rx Technology gives you a firm schedule up front and coordinates around your operations to keep downtime minimal.
Do you test and certify every cable run?
Yes. Rx Technology is BICSI-certified and tests and certifies every cable run after installation, then hands you the documentation. Certification proves each run meets performance standards, which is the difference between cabling that works on day one and cabling that causes mystery outages later.
Do you offer a warranty on structured cabling?
Yes. Rx Technology’s professional installations are backed by a workmanship warranty, and when installed with certified components, many runs also qualify for an extended manufacturer performance warranty covering the cabling for years.
Can you handle a new office build-out or an office move?
Yes. Rx Technology handles new-construction cabling, office relocations, and expansions, including site surveys, cable pathways, patch panels, and labeling. Because a structured system uses patch panels, adding or moving a connection later takes seconds instead of rewiring.
Do you install fiber optic cabling?
Yes. Rx Technology installs fiber optic cabling for high-bandwidth backbones, connections between buildings, and runs that exceed copper’s roughly 100-meter limit. Fiber is the most future-ready option when you expect growth or move large amounts of data.
Why hire a professional instead of running the cable ourselves?
Professional cabling includes a site survey, the correct plenum-rated or shielded cable, certified testing, and labeled documentation, the things that make a network reliable and code-compliant. DIY cabling often passes at first, then causes slow speeds and dropped connections that are expensive to trace. Rx Technology has done this for San Antonio businesses since 1995.
Do you use plenum-rated cable for our building?
Yes, where code requires it. Rx Technology uses plenum-rated cable in air-handling spaces, such as open ceilings that circulate air, and the correct shielded or conduit-protected cable in exposed areas, so your installation meets fire and building codes.
