Table of ContentsContentsDesignTraining for designers: staying on the cutting edgeGeneral knowledge of the entire infrastructure, strategic planning and expertise in your specialty are fundamental to being a good designer.
A Customers Perspective on TrainingLast May, Paul Kreager and Anthony Nuciforo, instructors from Level 0-1 (Pullman, WA), provided a combined training session for staff from the Information Management and Housing and Public Works departments at the United States Military Academy (West Point, NY). Colonel Frank J. Monaco, U.S. Army, and director of information management, provides some insight into the reasons for arranging this in-house design training session.
InstallationRestoring fiber-optic local area networksAs fiber-to-the-desk becomes increasingly common, maintainers of local area networks will be forced to confront a new challenge--restoring fiber-optic LANs following an outage.
Product UpdateLabeling systems can help meet EIA/TIA documentation requirementsThe TIA/EIA-606 administrative standard for the telecommunications infrastructure of commercial buildings requires the labeling of all cables, termination hardware, splices, pathways and spaces. In fact, many requests for proposals require documentation as part of the bid. To help the contractor complete this task, manufacturers have developed two types of labeling systems: stand-alone (benchtop) and handheld or portable (see Product Update tables on page 26).
Special ReportSpecial Report: Power Protection & ConditioningUninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, surge suppressors, grounding and bonding: They are all part of what you need to know about a technology--power protection and conditioning--crucial to the success of your business.
Answers to basic power-protection questionsThe basic equipment for power protection includes surge suppressors, backup power supplies and power conditioners. Here`s a primer of these three types of devices.
The four types of power-protection solutionsYou may need a different power-protection strategy--either a one-on-one approach, a clustered system, integrated protection, or floor-by-floor protection facility-wide--depending on the type of facility and kind of network.
Choose the UPS system that meets your needsThere are many types of UPS systems on the market today. It`s important to understand how the different devices operate as well as the strengths and weaknesses of each system.
Ground potentials and damage to LAN equipmentTo protect network equipment from damage, surge suppressors should be installed at network ports, or isolators can be used to break the copper path that carries the surge current.
Tracking interference from power-system harmonicsPower surges and failures aren`t the only threats to your telecommunications network. Harmonics can also cause problems. Here`s how to track them down.
StandardsBicsi launches Standards Update at annual workshopA well-attended feature of this year`s Bicsi Summer Workshop was a new Standards Update session, in which several technical experts fresh from the quarterly meeting of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA, Arlington, VA) brought workshop attendees up to speed on the latest changes to TIA building wiring standards.
Standards Are Not Enough--Training Is Also NeededThe family of premises distribution standards maintained by the Electronic Industries Association (EIA, Arlington, VA) and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA, Arlington, VA) provides the comprehensive requirements for a structured cabling system on the customer premises. However, this group of standards is just one-third of the equation.
TechnologyHandheld testers simplify Category 5 testingCategory 5 testing is the place to be in the 1990s. Driven by an industry-wide conversion to local area network-based client/server computing models and the emergence of new, high-speed LAN technologies, more than 30 million new Category 5 cable runs were installed worldwide last year. Analysts and vendors expect that number to jump to more than 100 million installations each year by the end of the decade.
Crosstalk & FeedbackAsk DonnaCable-pulling tensionQ: The TIA/EIA-568A standard calls for no more than 25 ft/lbs of pulling tension on Category 5 cable. I find this concept ambiguous and, as the training director for our company, difficult to teach to my crews. The dictionary defines "foot-pound" as a unit of work equal to the force of one pound acting through a distance of one foot in the direction of the force. As cable is pulled into a conduit, tray or any other raceway, the mass being moved increases, thereby causing the force to increase to
Calibrating handheld testersQ: I am concerned about calibration of handheld unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) test sets used by contractors. EIA/TIA TSB-67 does not address this issue. In laboratory test sets, a current calibration certification sticker must be attached to make any test results valid. Unless there is confidence in the calibration of these test sets, you really don`t know whether the test data is valid. Is any work being done within the TIA committees or Bicsi [Tampa, FL] to add a calibration-certification requ
EIA/TIA CommitteesQ: I would like to know more about the EIA/TIA committees and meetings. Although my practical experience in cabling systems is limited, I believe that becoming more involved in the standards-making bodies would be an excellent way to gain invaluable knowledge and to make contact with expert technical resources.
EditorialWatching wirelessAfter listening to a recent bicsi debate on optical fiber versus copper wiring, a cabling contractor commented: "While we`re arguing about these two media, a third medium, air, is going to replace them both."
Category 6: Change for changes sake?Category 6 is being heard throughout the industry -- at Bicsi, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) and in casual conversation. What does Category 6 represent; what does it mean for Category 5; and should cable system users be concerned about Category 6 when making decisions about cabling infrastructures?
To The Editor"Bad penny" doesnt help end-usersYour editorial on copper wire ("Is copper wire the proverbial bad penny?," June 1996, page 3) is full of quotation and proverb but lacks any real content in support of your conclusion to install fiber-to-the-desk. The references to the Telecommunications Industry Association`s activity on enhancements to copper-cabling specifications (the parade of technical issues) are also true of fiber-optic cabling. Presently, Ieee 802.3 is addressing the modal bandwidth performance of installed fiber-optic
Your new WWW pagesI just pointed my browser back to your [home] page for the first time in a couple of months, and I like the new look. I appreciate that we in the cabling business now have an interactive forum with an excellent publication and some of its writers and editors.
TIPS WATCHIn the Installer Tip by Ronald Petersen, July 1996, page 50, a formula was listed to approximate how much [cable] lubricant is needed for the job. What is the unit of measure for the answer to the formula?
ClarificationIn your July Product Update table, page 22, I would like to offer the following clarification for our company`s product: Dataclear EF/350 MHz, now known as Dataclear EF Gold cable, has a guaranteed attenuation-to-crosstalk ratio of 21 dB at 100 MHz and 10 dB at 200 MHz.
CorrectionYour July 1996 product update, page 22, is an excellent article; however I found an error in the table. The Belden S1700A is riser and the S1701A1 is plenum cable, not the other way around.
Products & ServicesIndustry SpotlightBelden introduces high-performance patch cablesRecently, Belden Wire & Cable Co. (Richmond, IN) unveiled the DataTwist 350, a stranded 350-megahertz patch cable that meets TIA/EIA-568A standards for Category 5 networks, according to company claims. Patent is pending.
Dont Worry About Your Patch CordsAt the March meeting of the TR41.8.1 committee of the Telecommunications Industry Association (Arlington, VA), information was presented on "environmental effects upon stranded patch cable." The test findings attempted to cast doubt on the long-term ability of all but the presenter`s brand of patch cable to retain Category 5 performance against the effects of extreme temperature and humidity.
Tool Hound software makes tool tracking easySoftware Integration Services Ltd. (Edmonton, AB, Canada) now offers a gold and platinum version of its Tool Hound for Windows. Tool Hound, a PC-based inventory-control package for tool cribs, uses bar-code technology to ensure that issues and returns of tools, supplies, and parts are handled quickly and accurately. Built-in bar-code readers give you the mobility to pick up and put away tools efficiently.
Cable Tray Institute offers newsletter and supportCable tray systems, which Article 318 of the National Electrical Code defines as support systems for cables and raceways, have increased in popularity because they provide easier access and greater adaptability than other methods of cable support. This increased interest has resulted in an array of system components and the need to monitor the continuing evolution of these systems.
Moves, Adds & ChangesThe Systems Audit Group Inc. (Newton, MA) has published the fifth edition of the Disaster Recovery Yellow Pages, a 290-page source book containing more than 2700 U.S. and Canadian vendors of recovery products and services spanning 300 subject categories. Covering restoration services, mobile buildings, computer and emergency equipment, planning and data recovery software, as well as training publications and videos, the loose-leaf book costs $98 plus $3 shipping. Regular updates are published. F
New ProductsStrain reliefsSnag-free strain reliefs for Category 5 patch cords protect the integrity of the modular connector and guarantee a snagless wire management system when
Surge protectorModel 27A protects all 24 signal lines of the industry standard DB-25 connector against lightning and power surges. Each of the lines contains 600W semiconductor protection circuits that dump
Telecommunications toolkitA telecommunications technician`s toolkit includes 21 of the most commonly used installation tools in a compact case. Part of the Vantage line,
Clamp-on digital multimetersThree clamp-on digital multimeters measure AC and DC current without disrupting circuitry or interrupting service. AC60 and AC65 have a quick continuity check function and measure AC current to 600 A, AC voltage to 600V, and resistance to 40K ohms. The AD105 is a Hall-effect ammeter that measures both AC and DC current to 1000 A and frequency to 10 kHz without interrupting the circuit. It also has a peak-hold feature to capture and hold peak measurements, which is convenient when testing and t
Fall-protection equipment brochureA new brochure describes fall-protection products available through a program called Miller Express. The program guarantees immediate availability of the most widely used products. The brochure covers Versalite 650 harnesses for construction applications. Other products include Manyard and Sofstop lanyards, cross-arm straps, retractable lifelines, and rebar chain assemblies. Information on training materials, compliance issues and product selection is provided.
UV-curable adhesiveThe UV10FL, a UV-curable adhesive, cures in 1 minute or less, depending on the intensity of the UV light. The adhesive is not oxygen-inhibited, so it does not require an inert atmosphere. This single-component, flexible adhesive has a service operating temperature range of -60 to +250F. UV10FL is a 100% solid system and releases no solvents or other volatiles during the curing process. The adhesive comes in 1/2-pint, pint, quart, gallon, 5-gallon, and 55-gallon containers.
LAN catalogA 150-page LAN order and reference catalog covers the mechanical components required by a network user for network hardware. The catalog covers Tempracks, Unirack aluminum racks, Doubleprorack wall-mounting enclosures, distribution components for copper cable and optical waveguides and a labeling system.
Cable assembly/wire harness brochureAn eight-page brochure of cable assembly and wire harness products highlights the company`s computer-aided design systems, advanced molding and tool-making capabilities and quality-testing programs. Products in the brochure are suitable for commercial, industrial and military applications. The company`s electromechanical contract manufacturing service is also described.
Wire management systemThe Walkercell Infloor Raceway System maximizes long-term wiring capabilities for reinforced concrete constructions. The wire management system features a large-capacity zinc die-cast preset to protect wires and cables, activations that provide a single point of service to the workstation, a three-cell-in-one configuration and triple-service aftersets.
AdaptersModel 68 Hybri-link adapters are designed for multimode and singlemode fiber-optic applications and can withstand temperatures ranging from -20 to +60C. Various flange styles and APC hybrid adapting sleeves are available.
Bandpass WDMThe eight-channel bandpass wavelength-division multiplexer is used for narrowband, high-capacity communications systems up to 20 Gbits. It is a cascaded eight-filter WDM with an epoxy-free optical path, suitable for dense WDM applications. The unit is bidirectional and can be used as a multiplexer or demultiplexer. Applications include WDM networks, optical amplifiers, cable TV and video dial tone.
Cable plant managementWiredoc is a relational database that runs on PCs and tracks every component in a network, including each piece of hardware, connection and test data history. The software can track up to 10 million records and generates reports on all components of the network. Applications for the software include designing the cable plant, bidding jobs, installing cables and testing and archiving data on cables. Wiredoc is available bundled with Fodoc, a database program for fiber-optic networks.
Monitoring systemThe microprocessor-based IPC 3300 series monitors and programs as many as 2000 ports remotely from one telephone line. This power management and monitoring system operates either as a stand-alone unit or as a master or slave in a local area network of up to 250 IPC units. By means of a modem, this system can remotely program the multiple time-delay power-up and power-down sequences of equipment connected to it.
Fiber-optic supplies catalogThis 52-page catalog covers fiber-optic communication supplies and equipment from 3M, AMP, Siecor, Molex, Methode, OCC, Northern Lights Cable and the company`s own patch cord assemblies, test equipment, tool kits and supplies. Products include fiber-optic training videos; ST, FC and SC connectors; breakout kits; test equipment; cable protection systems and interconnect boxes.
Crossconnect systemThe IC110 crossconnect system supports voice and high-speed data applications. It has horizontal index strips that secure 25 pairs of 22- to 26-AWG conductors divided into 5-pair increments. Blocks of 50-, 100- and 300-pair sizes with standoff legs are available for wall mounting. The system accommodates cable routing behind wiring blocks.
Stainless-steel clampsManufactured from nonmagnetic stainless steel, self-locking clamps are ideal for use in harsh environments. A low profile and smooth, round edges ensure safe, efficient handling. The clamps are available in 10 sizes, and since each size is adjustable, each clamp can accommodate many diameters. The clamps also feature minimum tensile unlocking strengths of 100 and 250 lbs. Two material choices are offered: Material 304 fulfills most requirements, while corrosion-resistant Material 316 is suited
DC power sourceThe Horizon Series are modular, lightweight DC power systems for central offices, remote terminals, outside-plant huts, controlled-environment vaults and remote cell sites. They feature hot-pluggable insertion of the company`s Vector Series rectifiers and +24V to -48V DC converter modules into an intelligent backplane that is connected to the system controller/monitor, simplifying installation. Total front access provides for easy installation and maintenance, and plug-in breakers and fuses can
Cable Installer TipsCalculate the right amount of cable lube for your fiber-optic pullIf you ask several field crews how much pulling lubricant they use on their fiber-optic cable pulls, the answer will vary--and possibly widely. Is there a right amount of lubricant to use so that you can do the job without waste? And if so, how do you determine it?
Distribute tensile load when pulling fiberThe glass fiber within optical-fiber cable is fragile and, although the cable has been designed to protect the fiber, it can be damaged from too much tension during the cable-pulling stage. Because most fiber-optic cable cannot handle high-impact loads, the pulling force on the cable must be kept uniform.
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This IssueNo Image Available Volume 4
Issue 9
September 1996
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