Let's Talk Cabling!
Welcome to "Let's Talk Cabling" – the award-winning podcast that's your ultimate gateway to the dynamic world of information and communications technology (ICT). If you're aged 18 to 40 and thrive in the ICT industry or simply curious about it, this podcast is your must-listen destination! 🏆 Award-Winning Excellence: "Let's Talk Cabling" is proud to have earned recognition for its outstanding content and invaluable insights in the ICT field. Our commitment to educating and empowering individuals like you has garnered us a prestigious industry award, a testament to the quality of information you'll find here. 🌐 Explore the ICT Universe: Join us as we delve deep into the realm of designing, installing, certifying, estimating, and project managing low voltage projects across diverse industries. Whether you're an industry veteran or just starting your journey, our engaging discussions will enrich your knowledge and skills. 🎙️ Story-Driven Learning: We follow the captivating StoryBrand methodology to ensure every episode is not just informative but also captivating. Expect real-world anecdotes, expert interviews, and relatable narratives that make learning about cabling and ICT a fascinating experience. 🚀 Subscribe Today: Don't miss out on the power of knowledge! Hit that subscribe button and embark on an exciting journey with "Let's Talk Cabling." Whether you're on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Instagram, or your preferred podcast platform, we're here to educate, encourage, and enrich your ICT endeavors. Remember, in the world of ICT, knowledge is power, and we're here to empower you. Join our growing community of ICT enthusiasts today! #cbrcdd #rcdd #wiremonkey #BICSI
Episodes
We break down what makes an access control and fire alarm related panel build dependable when the power drops and the service calls start piling up. We share practical rules for battery backup, labeling, wire routing, ventilation, documentation, and the codes and certifications that shape life-safety work.
• planning battery backup time and enclosure space limits
• learning why repeated fire alarm ...
We move fast through the real-world questions that decide whether an ICT job runs smoothly or spirals into rework, delays, and budget surprises. We share practical field habits for project management, safety, grounding, and closeout that help crews finish clean and keep customers happy.
• acronym challenge and a retrofit versus new construction preference
• fiber optic cable manufacturing growt...
PART 1: We bring in access control specialist Mick from Trican Security to break down what really makes an access control system reliable, starting with the door and ending with the power math. We talk through the real-world choices that decide whether a system feels rock solid or becomes a constant service call.
• using the door schedule to confirm swing, handing, and hardware before design decisions ...
We take live questions from the low voltage and structured cabling world, from fiber deployment choices to real-life career moves that help you earn more without leaving the industry. We also share quick hits from the week’s ICT news and get practical about what works on jobsites and what quietly causes failures.
NEWS STORIES THIS WEEK
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We keep building out the podcast studio and use it to test a service low voltage contractors can add fast: anti-static flooring that protects network electronics from electrostatic discharge. We break down where ESD flooring actually makes sense, how to sell the protection instead of the product, and the simple steps to install and bond interlocking tiles to ground.
• why static electricity quietly dama...
We trade quick industry news with practical answers to the questions technicians and new project managers run into every week, from fiber expansion headlines to the details that keep installs clean and safe. We share what we do to reduce rework, tighten project communication, and stay ready for emergencies on site.
• live stream schedule changes and a new “pick one” opener
• NFPA meanin...
We run through 10 fast, field-tested questions that hit the problems installers and designers face when they need answers they can use right away. We connect rules of thumb to real design limits so you can plan cleaner pathways, protect signal quality, and avoid expensive rework.
• sizing underground conduit using cable OD plus pulling eye clearance
• planning pull points beyond the memorized 600-f...
We break down what fault managed power systems are and why Class 4 “digital electricity” is becoming a real requirement for cabling pros, not a niche curiosity. With Ronna Davis from VoltServer and the FMP Alliance, we connect the code, the cabling, and the jobsite reality so techs and PMs can prepare instead of getting left behind.
• fault managed power defined through NEC 2023 and UL 1400-...
We run through a rapid set of real-world low voltage questions, from multimeter cable length estimates to what your certifier’s “Level 3E” label really means. We also dig into the jobsite choices that quietly drive callbacks, disputes, downtime, and overheated equipment.
• estimating copper cable length with loop resistance and a multimeter, plus what impacts accuracy
• understandin...
We walk through the cable test results that look “fine” until you understand what the graphs are really saying, from split pairs that still link up to length readings that don’t match reality. Along the way, we share practical ways to spot water intrusion, validate extended distance copper, and avoid patch cord mistakes that can quietly break PoE.
• split pairs and transposed pairs causing cross...
We get hands-on with return loss, impedance, and wiremap faults to show how small physical choices in cable and connectors turn into measurable performance problems. We also share practical ways to use LinkWare and HDTDR diagnostics so you can stop guessing, pinpoint faults faster, and deliver results clients will actually accept.
• using certification testers proactively to validate jacks, patch panels, an...
We share major schedule changes, quick industry updates, and a rapid-fire Q&A that gets honest about what it really takes to pass BICSI exams. We break down what to study first, how the hands-on portion works, and the cabling fundamentals that separate confident techs from guesswork.
• podcast and livestream schedule flip starting October 1
• acronym challenge and what JCAHO stands for
We walk through what to do when a certification tester returns a fail and why guessing wastes the most time and money. Mike Pennacchi
joins us to break down near-end crosstalk results and show how to prove whether the issue is your settings, your connector, or the cable itself.
• why certification testing matters for manufacturer warranty work
• the three most common reasons a NEXT test fails, s...
Knowledge is power! Visit our webpage to find out ways you can support the show. Also if you would like to be a guest on the show, please complete the application.
Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD
We make the case that mentorship is the best free education in cabling, ICT, and the broader construction tech world, and we explain why it works better than most formal training. We also break down how companies can design mentoring programs that build trust, improve onboarding, and grow future leaders without forcing awkward pairings.
• defining mentorship beyond technical training
• qualities of...
We take rapid-fire questions on how AI data centers, Wi-Fi 7, and smart building demands are reshaping structured cabling, fiber, and day-to-day field expectations. We also get blunt about what protects your schedule, your margin, and your reputation when owners change their minds late and the job still has to ship.
• planning for higher density fiber counts and multi-fiber connectors in data centers&nb...
We challenge the “nobody wants to work” narrative and argue the real gap in low voltage is leadership and culture, not available talent. We break down how to hire for potential, build training that sticks, and create trust so good people choose to stay.
• hiring for teachability, integrity, accountability, and curiosity over perfect resumes
• why “potential is powerful” and ...
We talk through how counterfeit cabling really shows up on jobs and why it can turn into failed inspections, broken trust, and expensive rework. With cable engineer Matt Schumacher, we draw a clean line between legitimate UL or ETL listings and too-good-to-be-true cable like copper clad aluminum that never should have been in the box.
• what “counterfeit cable” means in the real world and wh...
We tackle the real-world problems that slow down low voltage projects: messy handoffs, unclear ownership, and customers whose expectations do not match the contract. We share practical systems for kickoff meetings, estimating, data center career moves, and the growing need for networking and security awareness as everything rides on the network.
• setting a sales to operations handoff standard with a kickof...
We cut through the noise around data centers by separating real community concerns from internet myths, then we talk about why most fights come down to bad communication and missing context. We also zoom out to the future of AI infrastructure and get practical about what techs should learn first if they want a solid career inside modern data centers.
• what local residents actually hear when a data center i...
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