DiscoverLet's Talk Cabling!
Let's Talk Cabling!
Claim Ownership

Let's Talk Cabling!

Author: Chuck Bowser, RCDD, TECH

Subscribed: 31Played: 1,124
Share

Description

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  






377 Episodes
Reverse
Send a text We explore how women build careers across ICT—from field installation and union apprenticeship to BIM-driven design and executive leadership—and why mentorship and culture make or break growth. The conversation closes with practical steps for newcomers and companies to open doors. • why Women in Construction Week matters to ICT • three career paths across field, design, and leadership • first-day lessons and confidence under pressure • BIM and Revit as force multipliers for deliv...
Send a text 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 rat...
Acronyms, Decoded

Acronyms, Decoded

2026-02-2635:13

Send a text 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...
Send a text 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 includi...
Send a text 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 op...
Send a text 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 ...
Send a text 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 ...
Send a text 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 dista...
Send a text 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 mat...
Send a text 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 pa...
Send a text 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 testin...
Send a text We unpack which certifications actually change pay, trust, and opportunity, and we cut through hype around vendor badges, resume padding, and guaranteed outcomes. Along the way we map real paths from field to office, share RCDD study strategy, and highlight future-focused certs worth the effort. • tech hiccups, conference updates, community shout‑outs • acronym challenge: PBB defined as primary bonding busbar • why certifications matter when paired with standards • RCDD value, el...
Get Your RCDD Now

Get Your RCDD Now

2026-01-1332:32

Send a text We share a straight path to earning the RCDD, from eligibility and study plans to test-day tactics and career impact. The goal is simple: use standards, discipline, and community to turn design knowledge into better roles and higher pay. • why the RCDD is the design gold standard • where the credential unlocks bids and global work • how codes, standards, and best practices stack • who should pursue it across roles and titles • eligibility routes and resume focus on design • commo...
Send a text We share a practical playbook for breaking into low voltage with no experience, from finding real openings and calling companies, to standing out in interviews, succeeding in the first 90 days, and moving from helper to technician. Along the way, we talk BICSI, certifications, safety, and the mindset that wins. • mapping your drive radius and calling contractors directly • using LinkedIn, distributors and unions to find hidden jobs • choosing smart search keywords for entry-level...
Send a text We share how 65 volunteers rebuilt four Sojourner House facilities with secure networks, access control, and intercoms so staff and survivors feel safe. The result: reliable connectivity, better screening at the door, and a playbook any community can use to scale impact. • who TKW is and why TEksgiving exists • nomination and selection of Sojourner House • the mission and programs across four offices • pre‑upgrade pain points with keys and Wi‑Fi • full scope of cameras, intercoms...
Send a text We dig into the true cost of training and why a BICSI Authorized Training Facility can lift quality, win bids, and cut rework. Teresa Johnson shares what it takes to build one, from vendor‑agnostic walls to T3 prep, plus the mistakes to avoid. • what a BICSI ATF is and why it matters • differences between suitcase training and building in‑house • Teresa’s path from field tech to trainer • union and non‑union training strengths • cost drivers and how to lower them with partners • ...
Send a text We dig into why outside plant is surging, how micro certifications work, and what designers and installers need to know to stay current and safe. Bob Herdling shares decades of insight on codes, methods, and the real‑world choices that make or break a build. • OSP as the backbone of ICT • Why broadband funding and BEAD drive demand • Misconceptions about wireless versus fiber backbones • Safety, codes, and NESC as core constraints • Differences among aerial, underground, and dire...
Send a text We honor Phil Klingensmith and then dive into why standards make low-voltage work reliable, fast to service and future friendly. We unpack color codes, 568A vs 568B, fiber cleaning myths, splicer maintenance, MHz vs Mb, and encoding schemes with clear, practical advice. • roots of color codes in Bell system and why they still matter • 568A vs 568B framed by pins, pairs and channels • why pair splitting creates crosstalk and failures • USOC, tip and ring, and mnemonic aids • fiber...
Send a text We honor our friend and industry icon, Phil Klingensmith RCDD, by replaying a defining interview that shows his humility, mastery, and deep commitment to teaching. From open wire lines to dense fiber, Phil’s wisdom ties legacy systems to the future of intelligent infrastructure. • why Phil’s work still shapes design, install, and certification • Navy-to-AT&T journey and outside plant beginnings • legacy gear awareness to prevent outages • BICSI training, standards, and best p...
Send a text We map a clean path from residential low-voltage work to professional-grade practice, tackling certifications, conduit fill math, reel verification, and the often-misunderstood NVP. Along the way, we flag cybersecurity risks in smart homes and share standards that save time and money. • choosing first certs for residential AV and networking • CEDIA vs BICSI strengths and how to combine them • why fiber matters in large homes and crossovers • conduit fill realities, code vs standa...
loading
Comments 
loading