Table of ContentsCrosstalk & FeedbackAsk DonnaColor-coding cablingQ: I work in the Telecommunications Department at Louisiana State University and have several questions. Let`s presume I have two Buildings, A and B. The service provider`s demarcation point is in Building A, which contains a private branch exchange (PBX). A 100-pair cable connects the two buildings. Within Building B, a 50-pair cable connects the first floor to the second.
Use appropriate cable for home wiringDonna, I read your column every month and consider yours one of the voices of sanity amidst the chaos. But, I would suggest an addendum to the last question in your April 1999 column (see "Home telecom wiring," page 12). You appropriately noted that the reader should be concerned not only with Category 5 and the tia/eia-568a standard but also with coaxial-cable specifications of the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE--Exton, PA). But home wiring extends far beyond these choices.
Update on plenum-rated ground wireAnsi/tia/eia-607, the Commercial Building Grounding and Bonding Requirements for Telecommunications standard, was published in August 1994. Section 5.3.4 regarding bonding and sizing the telecommunications bonding busbar (TBB) states: "A TBB shall be an insulated copper conductor"...and the quest began. In my very first "Ask Donna" column (see January 1994, page 45), I was asked where to find a plenum-rated ground wire. There wasn`t any then, and there isn`t any now. But in the most recent commi
EditorialGone fishinHow many ways are there to fish a wall? A lot--and we`ve covered many of them in the pages of Cabling Installation & Maintenance, mostly in our Cabling Installer Tips` section.
EndfaceOpportunities for everyone in the cabling industryAbsolutely! There are a lot of opportunities out there for cabling. Just think of all the construction and relocation the Fortune 500 companies are doing. If these companies can find somebody knowledgeable in the cabling arena, they will hire them to make sure their in-house cabling systems are laid out and implemented the way they`re supposed to be. The counties, the private sector build all the time. There`s tremendous opportunity.
Get OnlineNot just some ordinary JoeAugust`s featured personality from the cabling industry is Joe O`Brien, product manager with Nelson Firestop Products (Tulsa, OK). O`Brien started Nelson Firestop literally from the back of his vehicle more than 30 years ago and has been instrumental in the organization`s growth since then. A graduate of Cornell University and World War II veteran, O`Brien lends insights on life issues that go far deeper than simply firestopping a building.
Go 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 matter because what you hear through the grapevine and on the street is most often not complete. Check it out at www.cable-install.com.
Web Site Spotlight: Cablefloor systemGroup editorial director Arlyn S. Powell, Jr., will introduce the Cablefloor system in this month`s Web site spotlight. Manufactured by FlexSpace (Seattle, WA), the product addresses many of the thorny cabling issues that remain unresolved by modular open-office furnishings.
Stand up and be counted!The 74 entries have arrived, the decision-making will soon commence, and the finalists will be on the voting block. That`s when you, our readers, will get to choose this year`s winners of the Readers` Choice IQ Awards, an event hosted by Cabling Product News, a quarterly supplement of Cabling Installation & Maintenance. Visit www.cable-install.com to learn the different categories for which we present awards, and find information on how you can be heard by voting for your favorite products and s
ContentsDesignOptimizing network architecture with media convertersThinking that any network will be static is unrealistic. Not only is there constant demand for added connections and physical expansion, but computer hardware, software, and network technology are all changing as well. All these changes strain the network, and network managers are under constant pressure to make the network faster, more secure, and more reliable. Accomplishing all of those objectives without replacing the network infrastructure can be a challenge, but accommodating legacy system
The shake on seismic bracingSeismic bracing against the wrath of earthquakes is an increasing concern for today`s data-communications and telecommunications cable installer, and efforts to minimize the damage they can do to datacom and telecom infrastructures date back more than 50 years.
Wireless LANs head into the mainstreamIs this the beginning of a populist era for the wireless LAN? If wireless inbuilding equipment can leapfrog to Ethernet speeds and beyond, at prices users can afford, wireless LANs may well be headed toward enterprise-wide acceptance early in the next century.
Fiber training propels technicians to head of the classNo one can deny that the outside plant is a place of change. Not only are fiber-optic networks and capabilities growing and changing, but the people who install and maintain the networks are changing in profile as well. Ensuring that competent, up-to-date technicians are available to keep fiber-optic plant up and running depends on their levels of knowledge and skill. This is where training comes in.
Space-saving cable management at Hewlett-PackardWith office space at a premium, the amount of square footage companies are willing to allot to telecommunications closets, main crossconnects, and data centers is often less than optimum from the perspective of the network designer or cabling-installation contractor. Often, more and more equipment has to be squeezed into smaller and smaller spaces. The challenge for those designing the hardware that will become the transition point between the outside-plant, riser, or distribution cables and the
Getting to the core of Category 6 cablePick up an unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cable that is designed to comply with the forthcoming Category 6 cabling specifications and chances are you`ll see more than just four pairs of conductors within the outer sheath. Most cable manufacturers delving into the Category 6 arena are including pair-isolating center members--referred to by many as splines--in their products.
Products & ServicesIndustry SpotlightA star is bornHe has graced the front covers of our magazine and went nameless for several months, but it wasn`t long after Rodney Radius got his name that he and his creators got the recognition they deserved.
New ProductsStainless-steel cable tiesThe band-lok cable ties are constructed from a single piece of Type 201 stainless steel. The devices feature a 400-pound loop-tensile strength for single-wrapped clamps and a free-end design to accommodate a wide range of outside diameters. The 5/16-inch-wide cable ties can be applied with a variety of tools, including the band-lok portable hand tool, Pok-It II Tool, Thriftool, as well as a pair of needle-nose pliers. Lengths are available from 10 to 34 inches.
Wall-mount termination boxesThe 12-port wall-mount termination boxes provide point-to-point termination for fiber and Category 5 cable. Each box contains two 6-port modules. Fiber modules include both singlemode and multimode, while Category 5 modules provide 110 punchdown termination blocks.
Optical time-domain reflectometerThe cma8800 optical time-domain reflectometer (otdr) has all the features of a mainframe otdr in a rugged, field-portable unit. It has a gpib interface for remote testing, a 12-port optical switch to test multiple fibers, and a built-in printer to print results in the field. The device has a test range of 21 to 46 decibels, deadzones as short as 2.5 meters, and is compatible with all existing and anticipated cma4000 optical modules.
Beam clampsThe BC26 and 300 Series beam clamps attach to either top or bottom flange and require only a wrench for installation. The BC26 clamp directly attaches to services or suspension by threaded rod or bridle ring. It installs to steel members up to 3/4 inch thick. The heavy-duty malleable iron construction with electrogalvanized finish is corrosion-resistant. The 300 Series suspends heavy loads and services with threaded rod from steel beams, purlin, channel, or angle. The clamp is available for thre
End-to-end fiber management moduleFiberLinX gives information-systems managers the ability to deploy copper-based switch products into fiber-based infrastructures, while preserving complete end-to-end fiber connection integrity and security. The module includes a 10-megabit-per-second fiber uplink port, a 10Base-T simple network management protocol (SNMP) port, and a 10Base-T downlink port that carries traffic from both the uplink port and SNMP port. Two chassis host the FiberLinX modules: The PowerChassis/12 is suited for centr
Link testerThe LanMaster 20 link tester tests for 100Base-TX Fast Ethernet and 10Base-T standard Ethernet. The unit can be placed into a hub, switch, network interface card, or wall outlet or attached to a cable with an RJ-45 coupler. The LanMaster decodes the link signals and displays the exact configuration of the equipment connected to the link. The device verifies link connectivity to the far end, tests for reported faults, and determines polarity of the outlet or cable. An RJ-45 coupler and 9-volt bat
Fiber-optic connectorsEnvironmentally sealed fiber-optic connectors for singlemode or multimode fibers include both male and female configurations. The interface is moisture-proof, and the cable attachment design permits weatherproof sealing. Insertion loss is 0.5 decibel maximum, and return loss of -65 dB can be achieved.
Enhanced cabling system digestThe Graybar Digest features end-to-end cabling-system solutions from companies such as 3M, amp, Berk-Tek, an Alcatel company, CommScope, Leviton Telcom, Microtest, Panduit, and The Siemon Co. The digest describes fiber apparatus solutions, high-speed cable, Gigabit Ethernet, channel solutions, test equipment, fiber-duplex data networks, fiber-to-the-desk, unshielded twisted-pair cable, and copper cabling.
Ratchet cuttersHard Cable Ratchet Cutters feature heavy-duty blades and short-length handles. The 1.6-inch capacity cutter has an alignment bar and blades that can cut a variety of telecommunications and cable-TV cables. The device also cuts aluminum conductor, steel-reinforced power cable up to 0.556 inches. The 18-inch-long cutter weighs 43/8 pounds. The 3/4-inch-capacity hard cable ratchet cutter is 93/4 inches long and features a high-leverage ratchet that enables single-handed operation. The unit weighs 1
Gigabit interface convertersGigabit interface converters (gbics) for optical-fiber-based networks are hot-pluggable and compliant with gbic specifications for optical links. Equipped with a plastic optical subassembly and a chromate-coated zinc aluminum case, the converters incorporate automatic power control for stable output. They come in both 850-nanometer-multimode and 1300-nm-singlemode versions configured for Gigabit Ethernet or Fibre Channel installations. The 850-nm model uses a vertical-cavity surface-emitting las
Heat-shrinkable markersHeat-shrinkable markers feature permanent and smear-proof imprints. Available in cut lengths packaged or kiss-cut on rolls, the markers can be produced from a variety of materials, providing a 2:1 or 3:1 typical shrink ratio with hot-stamped or thermal-transfer printing of customer-supplied artwork, part numbers, or sequential numbering. They can be fabricated from polyolefin, pvc, Teflon, Kynar, neoprene, and Viton in sizes ranging from 3/6- to 4-inch inside diameter.
Duplex adapterssc-st and sc-sc duplex adapters feature durable metal housing with a choice of zirconia or phosphor bronze alignment sleeves. The units can be grounded to the equipment chassis, minimizing electromagnetic interference emission. They are suitable for singlemode and multimode applications in local area network and telecommunications markets. The devices have a metal clip for snap-mount installations or two mounting holes for flange-mount installation.
Master catalogThe 1999 Master Catalog 1.0 lists data, video, voice, and radio-frequency connectivity products. The 144-page catalog offers more than 4000 products, including 250 new items.
RF connectorsQuick-connect RF connectors have type C and SC interfaces and positive locking rather than screw threads. Featuring a spring-loaded sleeve on the male that draws back to let three integral balls seat into a corresponding groove on the female and slide forward when released, the connectors mate securely without tools. The devices have a red band to indicate proper mating and provide 50-ohm impedance, operate from DC to 11 gigahertz, and are rated for 1500 vrms.
Cable-assembly and cord-control strapsOne-Wrap cable-assembly and cord-control straps can be imprinted with promotional messages, contact information, and product identification. They come in 11 standard colors and in eight configurations. Customer messages can be printed in one of five colors--blue, red, white, black, or yellow.
Cable tieThe Safe-Ty cable tie forms a snug fit around wire bundles, facilitating the addition of cables in tight spaces. The contoured head with its safe-guard wall prevents the installers` exposure to sharp edges after installation. The cable tie is made from nylon and is available in different colors and sizes.
Plug-and-jack brochureHigh-performance modular plugs and jacks designed for Category 5 applications are featured in Stewart Connector`s full-color brochure. The publication includes detailed specifications for form factors, footprints, and test results for 37 Series plugs and 71 Series jacks. The brochure is available at no charge or can be downloaded from www.stewartcon nector.com.
Enclosure cabinetThe Discovery Enclosure organizes data, communications, and computer equipment. Front and back doors are reversible for right or left opening and feature slammed snap locks. Side panels have splash-proof louvered doors and inside locks. Frames are designed to bay together when placed side-by-side. Options include a slide-out keyboard with mouse tray and an in-cabinet overhead light. Users can choose either solid or louvered 24-inch-deep slide-out or fixed shelves that can each hold up to 100 or
Premier ProductsCabling- and network- management softwareThe crimp Enterprise Server 5.0 software package is a 32-bit application that uses relational database software and computer-aided design (CAD) graphics technology to help information-technology professionals document and manage networks. The package can be used for voice systems and local-area and wide-area networks, including structured cabling systems and active networking equipment like hubs and routers.
LAN cable testerThe WireScope 350 Category 6 cable tester also has the capability to test fiber installations. Providing a 350-megahertz test frequency range and accuracy that exceeds the proposed Level III specification, the tester features a color touch screen that the company says simplifies menu navigation and improves comprehension of test results. Color diagrams highlight fault sources, and cabling color codes are designed to improve operator efficiency and reduce training requirements.
0250-MHz modular cordMC6 cords, part of the System 6 structured cabling system, incorporate stranded patch cable and modular plug-design features. The plug features the manufacturer`s patent-pending internal KeyBar technology, staggered contacts, and insert-molded strain relief. Together, these features arrange and maintain conductor positions for optimum performance. The insert-molded strain relief provides improved plug-to-cable retention over traditional cords and prevents disturbance of the cable geometry by eli
Cable Installer TipsSpiral wrap protects and tidies up loose-tube optical fiberFragile loose-tube fiber-optic cables are exposed and unprotected at the patch-panel telecommunications closet.
Save time and be safer by using a fiberglass rod to feed cableRouting cable through suspended ceilings or floors can be time-consuming and create a huge mess with the removal of tiles. It can also pose safety hazards should an installer overreach. The installer can knock over a ladder, fall through a ceiling when he is passing cable to assistants, or lose his balance on a floor without tiles.
Use one patch panel to save closet space and cost of MACsRun at least four Category 5 cables, fiber-optic cable, or both types of cable to all end-user locations and terminate them in the closet to one patch panel. Cable drops can then be used for either voice or data applications because patch cords in the closet can be rerouted. This method also reduces customer costs associated with moves, adds, and changes.
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Issue 8
August 1999
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