Table of ContentsCrosstalk & FeedbackAsk DonnaSubstitute for protector panelThe University of Texas at Austin has been installing Lucent Technologies (previously AT&T) 188B1-100 multipair protector panels from 1988--until now. I am all for innovation but not to the point of total abandonment of the customers who require additional materials for expansion of existing cabling systems.
Determining adequate grounding protectionQ: I`ve seen a chart that listed sizes of grounding conductors to telecommunications systems by length. I cannot seem to locate this chart anymore. I`ve searched BICSI`s Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual, TIA/EIA standards, and the National Electrical Code (NEC). None of these documents seems to deal with sizing of the conductor by length.
Grounding shielded backbone cableQ: At a Veterans Administration Hospital in Helena, MT, we ran a 24-AWG, 1800-pair copper backbone shielded cable. Should both ends on the cable be bonded to ground? This riser cable is installed in a 4-inch steel conduit from closet to closet, and the conduit is grounded at both ends. We grounded only one end of the cable shield.
Basics of grounding and bonding infrastructureThe telecommunications grounding and bonding infrastructure originates with a connection to the service equipment (or power) ground and extends throughout the building, interconnecting all the telecom spaces throughout the building via the telecom pathways.
EditorialThe thrust of multinational businessTelecommunications is a network industry. Its customers demand a global scope. They must reach their clients or friends or relatives throughout the world. No local telecommunications carrier can survive or prosper without a connection to the global network."
EndfaceHow patch cords affect your networks performanceWhile testing a large sample of patch cords recently, I was surprised by the degree to which performance varied from one patch cord to another. With my curiosity piqued, I tested those same patch cords in the channel--the sequence of cable and connections from hub to workstation--and found roughly the same degree of variability in overall channel performance as that which I had observed when testing the patch cords independently. The quality of the patch cord, it seemed, played a key role in det
To The EditorSalary survey long overdueI wish to thank you for the article about salaries in the September issue (see "How does your salary measure up?" Sept. 1999, page 59).
Get OnlineGo to the sourceWith the continuous changes and innovations in the cabling industry, finding a source of complete news can be tough. Stay informed with Cabling News. How and where you get industry news is important because what you hear through the grapevine and on the street is most often not complete. Check it out at www.cable-install.com.
Website Spotlight: Salary surveyAs an adjunct to the Salary Survey that appeared in the September issue of Cabling Installation & Maintenance, we will publish the complete set of responses to our survey on our Website. The listing will include respondents` title, years of experience, number of employees they supervise, education, and salary.
Stay tuned for the IQ Award winners!The voting has ended, and we`re busy tallying all the ballots. Stay tuned, because in December, we`ll announce the winners of the second annual Readers` Choice IQ Awards contest. The readership response to this year`s contest was impressive, and most of the races are pretty tight. That just goes to prove that many high-quality, innovative products were introduced into the cabling industry over the past year. In December, we`ll let you know which of those products our readers chose as tops in the
Mazaris views cabling industry from all anglesFrom tip-and-ring to Telecommunications Industry Association engineering committees, Dennis Mazaris has experienced just about every dimension of the voice- and data-cabling trade. He has been an installer; he has earned the registered communications distribution designer designation; he has owned an installation company; he founded and runs a consulting company; and he developed and now manufactures a product.
Plan your yearGet instant access to a year`s worth of events, from cabling industry conferences to training activities, with the Calendar Section of Cabling Installation & Maintenance`s Website.
Hey, you wanna buy some cable?Comparing Category 5, multimode, or other products, use the 1999 Cabling Installation & Maintenance Buyer`s Guide issue to narrow your choices. You can peruse it online at www.cable-install.com.
Contractors A to ZAre you listed in the Cabling Installation & Maintenance Contractors Directory? Find out how you can get your company listed. Contractors listed are searchable by company name, geographic region where a contractor works, and individual subspecialties.
Instant info on new productsCheck out www.cable-install.com to learn more about Fotec`s fiber-optic test kits along with dozens of other cabling tools of the trade. Cabling Installation & Maintenance gives online readers the most timely and comprehensive product information possible, helping you make informed purchasing choices and stay in touch with the newest technologies and products.
ContentsDesignNASAs GSFC upgrades network with dual-cabling designIn May 1996, NASA`s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC--Greenbelt, MD) began a three-year overhaul of its extensive communications infrastructure. A major part of this work involved replacing coaxial Ethernet cables in the flight-center buildings--60 spread over 1121 acres--with fiber-optic and Category 5 unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) copper cables as well as installing new interbuilding fiber-optic cable. The fiber-optic backbone and Category 5 structured cable to the desktop in each building pr
Enterprise management mandates modern networkA fiber-optic and Category 5E local area network gives this Pennsylvania lumber mill a competitive edge.
Connecting blocks adapt to meet emerging requirementsAs the specifications for high-frequency Category 6 cabling systems develop, much attention focuses on the 8-pin modular plug-and-jack interface. Because the Category 6 standard will specify positive attenuation-to-crosstalk ratio (ACR) at 200 megahertz and call for testing installed systems to 250 MHz, product developers have paid specific attention to controlling crosstalk performance.
Field-testing copper cabling for data communicationsTransmission requirements for GbE over copper have given rise to a new set of transmission performance parameters.
FAA and Bostons MassPort give fiber the nodOfficials at one of the busiest airports in the country upgrade the communications network with fiber.
Arizonas Lewis Prison installs fiber to the cellUnfortunately, building prisons is a growing business. We are filling them as fast as we can build them," states James McFadden, warden of Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis (ASPC-Lewis). "During the last 10 years, the Department of Corrections has added more than 12,000 beds, doubling the state`s inmate capacity to nearly 26,000. Arizona has one of the highest inmates-per-capita population in the United States," he adds.
Loose-tube vs. tight-buffered cable: the big pictureApplication, ease of use, installation environment, size, and cost should be criteria for selecting basic cable design.
Optical-loss test sets: the baseline fiber-optic testerFiber-optic test equipment has been in constant change over the last decade as it has sought its place in the premises/ campus marketplace. High-end (and expensive) optical time-domain reflectometers (OTDRs), the mainstay of long-haul telecommunications service providers, have been stripped down to appeal to a more cost-conscious contractor audience in the form of mini-OTDRs. Even more basic are optical-fiber identifiers and visual fault locators, the former using the OTDR principle to locate th
Products & ServicesIndustry SpotlightPennWell launches European cabling magazineHigh-technology information provider PennWell Advanced Technology Div. (Nashua, NH) recently announced that it will be launching a European cabling magazine in January 2000. The details of Cabling Installation & Maintenance Europe were unveiled at a press event at Cabling Systems Europe in Paris, Oct. 6.
TIA to re-evaluate SFF connectorsIn a reversal of its 1998 decision to let the market decide which small-form-factor (SFF) connector would become the de facto standard, the Telecommunications Industry Association and the Electronic Industries Alliance (TIA/EIA-- Arlington, VA) have reopened the issue of standardizing one of the connectors.
Lucent develops multimode system for 10-Gbit speedsWhile the world of cabling and communications is just getting its collective hands around 1000-megabit-per-second Gigabit Ethernet, the drivers of technological change are thinking about speeds 10 times as fast. That desire for faster speeds was evident at the recent BICSI (Tampa, FL) conference in Reno, NV, when Lucent Technologies (Murray Hill, NJ) introduced the newest addition to the Systimax Structured Connectivity Solutions line--LazrSPEED.
New ProductsModular crimperThe ratcheting telemaster modular crimper by IDEAL cuts, strips, and crimps six and eight modular plugs onto flat telephone cables. The device will also crimp onto round cables and features all-steel construction and a smooth, repeatable, ratchet-controlled crimp style. No secondary strain-relief crimp is needed, making it universal with all types of plugs, including combed Category 5 plugs.
Fiber-optic light sourcesThree CE-compliant fiber-optic light sources include the GN-6150, GN-6250, and GN-6260. The GN-6150 is a dual-wavelength 850/1300-nanometer multimode light-emitting-diode light source, while the GN-6250 and GN-6260 are dual-wavelength singlemode laser light sources operating at 1310/ 1550 and 1550/1625 nm, respectively. Each light source is capable of continuous-wave or 2-kilohertz modulation and comes with AC charger, soft transit case, and operating manual.
Termination boxThe Studbox termination box replaces single- and double-gang junction boxes used in today`s office and home terminations. The device is used during new construction and provides proper bend radius of mixed media types, including fiber, copper, and coaxial cable. The unit is designed to use previously empty spaces. It is flush-mounted and can service two rooms simultaneously.
Box/conduit hanger assemblyThe B18 Series of combination box/conduit hangers now includes the B18CO hanger, which supports multiple runs of conduit on either side of the junction box. The device eliminates conduit bending and the use of extra fasteners in beam applications. It features a preriveted conduit clip in the center hole and two additional slotted holes, allowing conduit clips to be added as needed. Field installation to a beam requires only a hammer. The unit is suitable for beam, drop wire or rod, threaded rod
CCTV reference guideThe closed-circuit-television reference guide lists multiplexers, quads, and observation systems as well as patented covert cameras. The guide also highlights seven new items, including camera mounts, video switchers, and 21-inch color video monitors. Almost a dozen product categories are included.
Coaxial cableThe RGX Series of coaxial cable is physically and electrically compatible with 50-ohm types such as RG-142, RG-316, and RG-400. The cable contains modified polyolefin dielectric material instead of Teflon to withstand soldering and temperatures up to 260oC. It also features tin- or silver-plated copper-shield construction. A suitable replacement for RG-58 or RG-142 for short antenna feeder runs, the WCX Series of coaxial cable includes WCX 195, which exhibits less than 11.3-decibel attenuation a
Fixed-port information outletsThe Nevada Western line of fixed-port information outlets now includes UL- and CSA-approved outlets. The devices accept any Nevada Western jack or cable adapter for unshielded twisted-pair, fiber, and coaxial cables. They are available in a large number of port and angled configurations and include a matching identification icon log, ensuring easy use following installation.
Cable-preparation-tool catalogThe Wire & Cable Tools to Connect the World catalog features tools used in the power transmission and distribution, telecommunications, and electrical industries. The 64-page catalog features Utility Tool brand products that remove insulation and end-prep cable for splicing and termination and tools for midspan stripping and insulation shaping. Also included are Miller tools with precision-formed, hardened, tempered, and ground-cutting surfaces. The publication contains photographs, descriptions
Dual-output fiber-optic test sourceThe FS370 Smart Source light-emitting-diode (LED) fiber-optic test source offers dual simultaneous outputs designed for faster loss testing of duplex multimode fiber-optic links. The unit has two LEDs at 850 and 1300 nanometers. The outputs are coupled into two fiber outputs that have the same calibrated power level for testing. If the source is set to 850 nm, both outputs will be 850 nm, and when it is changed to 1300 nm, both outputs will be 1300 nm. The device can be used with Fotec`s FM310 S
RS-232 voice adapterThe Quick-Talk RS-232 voice adapter can turn a fiber-optic data network into a voice network by plugging a handset or telephone into an RJ-11 connector. The Intercom version is currently shipping, while the private-branch-exchange-compatible version is scheduled to be available late 1999. Quick-Talk Intercom is priced at $750; pricing for the PBX version will be determined at a later date.
Butt-in test setThe Nautilus line includes the DigAlert 360 butt-in test set, which sounds an alarm when digital circuits are contacted. The unit comes standard with digital lockout overrride and a high-voltage alarm at 140 volts for safety and span-power detection. A hands-free speakerphone and a monitor speaker model are available.
Single-use sealsSterling Senior One-Shot Seal locks like a padlock and can replace a lock costing up to 10 times more, according to the company. The single-use seal snaps shut, and only a bolt cutter is needed for removal. The device has a 5/16-inch diameter shackle and an overall outside diameter of 23/8 inches. Zinc plating on steel aids resistance to corrosion. Options include serializing, color-coding, date-stamping, and hardened shackles.
Foil twisted-pair cableThe LANmark-350 Series of cable now includes foil twisted-pair that offers more isolation against noise than that provided by enhanced unshielded twisted-pair cable. The cable has a flexible aluminum/ polyester tape shield with a tin-coated stranded copper drain for easy grounding. This construction is suitable for installations that may be subjected to higher than normal external electromagnetic noise interference.
Custom enclosuresCustom enclosures are now being manufactured for the fiber-optics industry. The company produces steel, aluminum, or stainless-steel enclosures. Single or multibay units are manufactured in types and finishes tailored to suit specific requirements or images.
Premier ProductsFiber-termination breakout kitsThe new indoor/outdoor buffer-tube breakout kits are designed for field termination of any loose-tube cable with field-installable connectors. The kits offer a small, simple, cost-effective solution for users who want to field-terminate connectors. They require no additional hardware or space than that needed for terminating tight-buffered cable.
Clear cable-pulling lubricantClearGlide is a polymer-based clear cable-pulling lubricant designed for use on all types of cable. According to the manufacturer, the lubricant is pure, nonstaining, and easy to clean up. It can be used for rewiring and installation of additional services in existing buildings. The lubricant`s silicon-glycol additive provides its lubricity, says the manufacturer, making cable pulling easier with less tension and allowing greater pull lengths without exceeding pulling-tension restrictions.
Angled modular jackThe AngleJack series of copper-based modular jacks provides a 45o angled design to increase accessibility and lower stress on the attached cables. Designed for typical wallplate and patch-panel installations, the jacks use a standard footprint for drop-in replacement into existing board designs. The jacks meet Category 5 performance specifications and, according to the manufacturer, do not require multilayer printed-circuit-board compensation.
Flexible conduitMade to organize wire and cable routing, this extruded-thermoplastic urethane conduit includes an external wear strip. It resists abrasion, temperature extremes, oils, and other chemicals while maintaining the flexibility to allow tight routing in confined spaces. The conduit features a smooth interior to accommodate cable pass-through; it can be cut to length for a precise fit. The transparent design allows users to identify cables. Diameters from 11/2 to 16 inches are available, and the manufa
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Issue 11
November 1999
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