Too many unidentified wiring drops
The worst question you can ask someone who takes care of a computer network: Where does “that” jack terminate? Despite our efforts to put order in the octopus, the number at one end isn’t always reflected at the other end (of the wire). And we don’t know why!
My building (an converted elementary school) has about one humdred drops. Back about four years ago, I spent a memorable couple of days, crawling under desks and pulling filing cabinets out, in an effort to identify and list the beginning and end of each individual drop. Four years later, and with the effort of several other technicians, the list is meaningless.
On the wall behind the main patch panel, a printed list, showing two different identification numbers for almost every drop. And, most of the numbers fail to match up with what is actually in place. I tracked down my list from ’09… no better. We’re facing the fact that when our projected infrastructure renewal begins, we’re going back to humble beginnings. As for the other twenty sites in the school board; don’t go there. I won’t, you shouldn’t. Maybe if nobody touches anything, we can endure until the next big thing. And as for the “twenty five years” we hoped for, that dream has sailed.
Enough nattering about the joys of the workplace. Tomorrow, four years of heavy road construction comes to an end. My ride home should be faster, what with some additional reserved bus lanes opening. It will be nice to get home before bedtime. Today was average: ninety minutes from “door to door”.
