Send us Fan Mail

We answer rapid-fire questions from the field on how structured cabling is changing as AI expectations, PoE power, and converged building systems reshape what “good design” means. We share practical guidance on Cat 6A decisions, fiber-first momentum, technician retention, and how to protect margins when budgets do not keep up with technology.
• designing AI-ready buildings by leaning on standards, best practices, and flexible infrastructure
• when Cat 6A is worth it for early adopters, Wi-Fi 7, and long-term life-cycle planning
• retaining technicians through paid training, clear career paths, mentorship, recognition, and pay
• why experienced techs fail credentialing tests, including moving standards and test-readiness habits
• PoE installation pitfalls, including bundle heat, power budgets, and proper testing
• handling cybersecurity responsibility as physical security systems merge onto the IT network
• what AI data centers change for field contractors, including precision, power, heat, and cable management
• habits that separate average installers, including curiosity, craftsmanship, and communication
• protecting estimating margins with documentation, gap spotting, and change management
Email Chuck at advertising at letstalkcabling.com and let's connect your brand to the right audience today.
Make sure you send your questions now.

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 chuck@letstalkcabling.com

Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD

Send us Fan Mail

We talk with Donald Sanders about how to squeeze real, job-ready value out of training and certification, from what to do before class to how to show up once you’re in the room. We share practical habits for learning structured cabling standards faster, testing better, and building a long-term career in the ICT industry without pretending you know everything.

• preparing for training by staying in your lane and building a foundation first
• using skills assessments so employers send techs to the right class
• learning telecom acronyms and vetting sources before you trust advice
• showing up on time, staying present, and keeping an open mind
• asking questions without fear and taking short, useful notes
• jumping into hands-on labs to learn from mistakes safely
• building relationships across companies and learning from peers
• slowing down on exams, reading questions fully, and using your time
• planning a career path before spending big money on credentials
• continuing education between major certifications to stay current
• representing credentials well by saying “I don’t know” and finding the right answer

If you're listening to the show on YouTube, would you mind hitting 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? Wednesday night, 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, what are you doing? You can schedule a 15-minute one-on-one call with me after hours, of course. Or you can even buy Let's Talk Cabling merchandise.

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 chuck@letstalkcabling.com

Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD

Send us Fan Mail

We answer rapid-fire questions from the field on AI estimating, fiber adoption, data center density, and what owners really notice when they walk a finished job. We keep coming back to the same edge that separates good technicians from great ones: communication, clean execution, and professional habits that protect profit and reputation.
• using AI for takeoffs and bills of material while still verifying counts and labor assumptions
• weighing speed vs accuracy in estimating and protecting margin with human judgment
• tracking optical LAN and fiber to the edge growth as bandwidth demand rises
• building a starter fiber toolkit with lighting, cleaning, cleavers, VFLs and realistic costs
• learning from early-career mistakes by listening, following instructions and improving cable management
• using mentorship to develop strong fundamentals and avoid inherited bad habits
• adapting to higher-density data centers with better routing plans and stronger documentation
• understanding what owners focus on during walkthroughs, from labels to clean telecom rooms and swept floors
• setting expectations early with kickoff meetings and improving closeout with customer surveys
• handling coworkers who don’t care without lowering your own standards
• choosing certifications plus experience, with communication as the biggest career multiplier
• preparing for cybersecurity demands, especially around network-connected cameras
• making smart buildings manageable by focusing on outcomes and simple operator interfaces
Make sure you tune in for that show, CTC

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 chuck@letstalkcabling.com

Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD

Send us Fan Mail

We talk with TJ Pate about what makes OPGW fiber splicing different, from calibration discipline to enclosure build quality that holds up for decades. We also get practical about tools, training paths, and the safety mindset required when fiber lives alongside power.

• splicing OPGW with a “right the first time” standard
• building clean trays for easier adds and troubleshooting
• why splicer readings can mislead without verification
• warm-up time and frequent arc calibration habits
• OPGW splice cases, heavy cans, and furcation workflows
• handling stainless steel buffer tubes without breaking fiber
• specialty tools like tube straighteners and grinding wheels
• using colored zip ties for durable tube identification
• adapting to 16-color fiber codes and mixed tube counts
• how to enter OPGW work through hands-on training
• improving OTDR setup skills beyond auto mode
• daily safety briefings, hydration, wildlife, and grounding checks
• how lockout tagout differs around utility power lines

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 chuck@letstalkcabling.com

Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD

Send us Fan Mail

We answer a rapid run of ICT project management questions, from BIM and digital twins to workforce risk, documentation overload, and coordination challenges on fast-moving builds. We push for practical balance: model what matters, plan for labor like a real constraint, and treat communication as a core construction tool.
• BIM detail levels that prevent clashes without creating busywork
• deciding whether BIM is for construction, operations, or both
• labor shortages and clearance hurdles as growing schedule risks
• building labor mitigation into estimating and risk planning
• submittals, as-builts, and closeout documentation as critical path drivers
• starting closeout during construction to avoid end-of-job delays
• capacity planning and future proofing without overbuilding costs
• coordinating shared pathways across telecom, AV, security, BAS, and electrical
• showing up to GC meetings to stay proactive and reduce change orders
Google ICT Terminology Handbook and download 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 chuck@letstalkcabling.com

Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD

Send us Fan Mail

We talk with TJ Pate from Florida Power and Light about OPGW optical ground wire and why installing fiber on transmission towers demands a different level of planning, safety, and precision. We break down how utility fiber gets built, tested, and repaired across massive distances, plus the skills that separate average troubleshooting from confident, fast problem solving.

• what OPGW is and how it replaces the static ground wire on transmission lines
• why utilities use OPGW for long-distance fiber to substations and rural sites
• how dark fiber and leased circuits can become a revenue stream
• safety steps around substations including transient voltage checks and bonding
• remote jobsite logistics including structure numbers, access roads, sand, and swamp conditions
• why OPGW is an exact-measurement workflow with limited slack and expensive rework
• how bucket truck work fits into enclosure placement while splicing stays ground-based
• why “one and done” depends on OLTS, OTDR, and IOLM testing before you leave
• how BICSI Cable Skills Challenge habits improve sequencing, speed awareness, and tool discipline
• how to find fiber cuts by reading true OTDR traces and pairing distance with maps
• what it means to “send a 2K tone” and how fiber identifier tools help in outside plant

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?
If you're listening 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, we 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, to help support the show.
Email Chuck at advertising at let's talkcabling.com and let's connect your brand to the right audience today.

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 chuck@letstalkcabling.com

Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD

Send us Fan Mail

We take live questions on copper and fiber, career growth, and what’s changing in ICT as AI, smart buildings, and data centers accelerate demand. We share hard-earned lessons on communication, planning, and why the “right” technical answer still fails if the business and people side is ignored.
• AFEXT explained and why far-end interference matters in the field
• technician versus project manager responsibilities and accountability
• solving problems versus doing the technical work as a PM
• business skills that protect margin, schedule, and customer trust
• school infrastructure choices under AI, cybersecurity, and bandwidth growth
• BIM value beyond 3D models, preventing conflicts and change orders
• converged AV, security, wireless, IoT ownership and cybersecurity risks
• AI-driven data center growth, fiber demand, speed, and skilled labor shortages
• pre-fab copper and fiber gains plus the design and logistics pitfalls
Remember, submit your questions for next week's show. And until then, everybody, remember knowledge is power.

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 chuck@letstalkcabling.com

Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD

Send us Fan Mail

InfoComm can sound like “an AV show,” but if you pull cable for a living, it’s really a massive showcase of where low voltage work is headed next. We sit down with Bob Neyens, VP at Vertical Cable and a long-time InfoComm regular, to translate the pro AV world into plain English and show exactly why structured cabling installers, project foremen, project managers, and designers can get real value from attending.

We talk about what you’ll actually find at InfoComm: professional audio video for commercial spaces like boardrooms, houses of worship, bars, stadiums, and even hospitals, with tons of crossover into IP networks and familiar infrastructure like Cat 6, Cat 6A, fiber, racks, and connectors. Bob shares practical exhibit hall tactics for first-timers, including how to avoid the most chaotic day, when to schedule booth conversations, and how manufacturer events and networking work after hours.

Then we get specific about skills and career growth: AVIXA training, CTS certifications like CTS-I and CTS-D, and why the show floor can teach you what a classroom can’t by letting you see complete systems running together. We also dig into tech that matters for 2026, including the move from Cat 6 to Cat 6A for higher bandwidth and distance, plus Power over Ethernet and why copper quality matters as current loads increase. If you want a new revenue stream that stays close to your current skill set, this is the roadmap.

Subscribe for more conversations that connect the low voltage community, and if this helps, share it with a tech who’s been curious about pro AV and leave us a rating or review.

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 chuck@letstalkcabling.com

Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH
#CBRCDD #RCDD