Fiber Optic Cable

Why Fiber Optic Cable Should Be The Media of Choice In All Commercial Building Network Installations

noreply@blogger.com (fenol86) — Mon, 11 May 2009 10:04:12 PDT

As the demand for bandwidth increases it appears that common sense decreases at a proportional rate with regards to the installation of fiber optic cabling. There are those that continue to insist on installing Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Copper in lieu of fiber cabling in most installations. I had a contractor once tell me that he is aware that fiber is a better media and is less costly in the long run. However, he insists that if he installed fiber networks on a regular basis it would not be long before he would be out of business. He knew that it would take less time to install a fiber network which would mean less billable man hours and most importantly, he knew he would not have to go back to the job site for many years to upgrade, troubleshoot, or otherwise service the customer's network. As a matter of fact, once the fiber network was properly installed, terminated, and tested, he would probably never hear from that customer again. In order to upgrade the fiber cabling one would only have to change the active devices at both ends. Over the years he had relied on repeat business from each of his customers as that had been the normal history associated with installing UTP copper.

For the last 25 years, in order to upgrade a building's network one would have to re-cable the entire building to support the required bandwidth demand - cable and connectors. This has usually occurred every 3 - 5 years. Notwithstanding the fact that fiber has been around for years, UTP cooper became the media of choice even after it became apparent in the late 1990's that fiber in many cases was less expensive to install and maintain. So therefore the copper manufactures have continued to twist it tighter, make the conductor larger and put shielding around it to try and squeeze the final drop of bandwidth capability out of it. One can compare that to tightly twisting a wet wash cloth in an attempt to squeeze out all of the water. Of course one cannot squeeze out all of the water thus the rag must be hung out to dry - which is exactly what should be done with UTP copper. Even though UTP copper continues to falter on a regular basis when the demand for bandwidth increases, there are still those that insist on following the path of insanity which is, of course, continuing to do the same thing over and over again expecting different results. With regards to 10Gig Ethernet, UTP Copper continues to be installed even when the common maladies associated with UTP cabling continue to exist. And now the the "copperheads" are faced with a new problem - the now infamous Alien (UFO/Subterranean Crosstalk). Fiber cabling is immune to Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Radio Frequency interference (RFI) so it therefore has none of the problems commonly associated with copper cabling.

The issue of fiber being too fragile is nonsense. Optical fiber is not your typical kind of glass. It is made of ultra-pure silica, which is an extremely strong material that has the ability to handle exposure to temperature and pressure extremes. The tensile strength (resistance to pulling) of optical fiber exceeds 600,000 pounds per square inch which actually makes it stronger than copper or steel strands of the same diameter and easily surpassing the strength requirements of today's communications applications. At the time it is manufactured and cabled, it is usually joined with aramid (Kevlar) or fiberglass yarns and placed into various jacketing materials depending on its intended use thus making it even stronger. Therefore the use of expensive plenum innerduct is a waste of good money and time in most applications. Unless there are AH-1 Apache Helicopters or F-18 jets flying around in the overhead - don't use the stuff!

The myth that fiber's performance capabilities are unnecessary is another ridiculous statement. Fiber has proven time and time again that it can transmit information error-free over much greater distances than copper and support higher data rates at the same time. If a local area network is experiencing bottlenecks, high error rates, or slow throughput, an optical fiber solution will, in fact, fix the problem permanently and support a broader range of bandwidth capabilities, further supporting the fact that ALL computer networks should be fiber and not copper. Optical fiber itself is capable of supporting runs beyond the 100-meter limit for any grade of copper cabling available today. Standard 62.5-micron (µm) fiber can run effectively up to 300 meters at 100 Mbps, and LOF, 10Gig, 50- µm fiber can run up to 500 meters. With proper training and awareness, contractors will find that fiber networks are easier to install and test and offer outstanding opportunities for business growth.

Contractors and students alike continue to say, "fiber is difficult to install". This is far from the actual truth. Most fiber contractors today still insist on installing fiber and even copper networks without proper training. Receiving training from an old "salt" that has been doing it his way for years is not the correct method to learn to do anything. Also, training from a fiber optic training company using cirrculum written by individuals with little actual hands on experience is another mistake. Beware of some of the fiber optic training companies that have been around since the early 80's as they may be teaching outdated and useless installation techniques thus wasting your time and money. In fact, fiber cabling is much easier and less time consuming to install when compared to the installation of UTP copper. Even the fiber network test equipment is easier to use and much less expensive. Besides ease of installation, SFF connectors make fiber faster to install, as the connection time per connector is much quicker.

Another leading myth is that upgrading from copper to fiber is expensive and not worth the effort. This is so far from the truth that it borders on being absolutely silly. Fiber has already surpassed the cost parity with copper, even when considering installed first costs. Now, in many cases, fiber is actually a less expensive alternative for cabling than copper. Forget about using expensive optical switches initially. There are actually fewer switches required because the Telecom Room, as we know it, goes away. Use copper switches initially with small, inexpensive media converters at each end. Also a certification tester for a fiber network is around $1,200.00. The certification tester for a copper network starts at around $5,000.00. The Federal Court System installed fiber to the desk in 9 Federal courthouses in 7 South Texas cities. This action saved the taxpayer tons of money! No more unnecessary cabling upgrades, little if any network infrastructure maintenance, no more switch failure points in the telecom rooms, no more network slow downs due to high bandwidth requirements, and no more worries associated with copper networks. They got all of the data necessary about fiber vs. copper and made a knowledgeable decision instead of a decision based on myths and opinions.

Before you follow the path to insanity, get some good education and some exceptional hand-on training from a reputable fiber optic training company. Forget about attending those schools where the curriculum is written by college professors with little or no actual hands on experience. Pursue your knowledge of fiber optics networking with aggression and conviction. And by all means be sure you make a knowledgeable decision on the use of fiber optics in your network. Be sure to visit the BDI DataLynk web site and read the US Courts Fiber to the Desk Article. This article discusses the largest OM-3, 10Gig, FTTD project ever installed in the United States and it was all done by BDI DataLynk students who, before attending our fiber optic training programs, had little or no fiber optics network training.

Remember that installing copper is installing the past.

Bob Ballard, RCDD, CFOI, CFOT, and owner of BDI DataLynk, is a Registered Communication Distribution Designer appointed by BICSI, and is also recognized by the Fiber Optics Association as a Certified Fiber Optics Instructor. Bob has been actively involved in the telecommunications industry for over 20 years. His expertise in the area of fiber connectivity has made him a sought after consultant whenever problems arise. He speaks at Universities, Architectural Firms, Integrator Gatherings, and Conventions. He has performed fiber optics training for contractors all over the US and Mexico. He also has taught numerous fiber optic training sessions in the United States and Mexico on subjects ranging from Long-Haul Fiber Connectivity to Network Grounding. He is also responsible for one of the largest fiber to the desk installations in the US - the US Courts FTTD Project in Texas. For more information about installting and testing fiber optics networks, visit us at http://www.bdidatalynk.com

Fiber Optic Borescopes and Video Scopes - Auto Technicians Save Time

noreply@blogger.com (fenol86) — Mon, 11 May 2009 10:02:35 PDT

Fiber optic borescopes or fiber-scopes have been the preferred method used to look inside car engines through spark plug holes to inspect for valve damage after a timing belt breaks. The wand allows auto repair technicians inspect valves for damage without pulling the cylinder head. Fiber optic borescopes can be a little cumbersome to use, since the eyepiece has to be a certain distance from the eye and adjusting the focus can also be a bit tricky. Be that as it may after the user gets used to how to use a fiberscope much time is saved and many more uses are discovered for this tool saving the technician even more time and money.

Video Based Inspection Scopes

Video based inspection scopes have came along way in in recent years, design improvements and prices coming down have allowed video based scopes to provide a feasible alternative to fiber optic bore scopes. The Visual Optics inspection scope allows ease of use with automatic focusing and there is no awkward eyepiece to deal with. The Visual Optics Video Stik has a 2.5" color screen that makes viewing the subject very easy and also allows more than one person to view it at the same time unlike a fiber optic borescope with a tiny eyepiece. The Visual Optics Scope is also surprisingly enough, built in the USA!

Uses of the Video Inspection Scope

Auto technicians as mentioned before, have used this type of inspection method for sometime now. But now other industries are using the Video Stik to inspect things like boats (inside hulls) and houses (inside walls). Inspection for impact damage, plumbing, insects, presence of insulation, pipes or wiring in walls can be carried out easily. There is also an optional accessory called the Video Grabber, that can be used to capture the video onto a PC (Personal Computer). The video file can then be shared with the client showing before and after work is performed. Until now this ability was restricted to much more expensive video inspection scopes that could range into thousands of dollars.

Video Stik Features

2 1/2" color screen for easy viewing.
Available in 36" or 72" wands for the reach needed.
Water resistant camera at the end of the wand.
Magnet and mirror attachments included for increased function.
Foam lined carrying case for safe storage and transporting to jobs.
Optional Video Grabber that allows capturing and sharing video files.
Small enough camera that fits into a spark plug hole!
Uses common AA alkaline batteries.
Automatic focus is easy enough for a child to use.
Made in the United States.

How Awesome Are Fiber Optic Cables?

noreply@blogger.com (fenol86) — Mon, 11 May 2009 10:00:28 PDT

For a layman, Fiber optic cables or FOCs as they are often called, is a plastic or glass fiber which permits the transmission of communications over large distances and at higher rates. They have almost rendered metallic wires redundant, as they transmit the same but with lots of losses. These cables are unique as they are immune to electromagnetic interferences. Fibers used in these cables are used in carrying images.

Each of these cables cannot be bent beyond a permissible limit. The fiber optic cables are very secure and far more reliable compared to traditional copper wires. Most of these cables operate in high voltage environments. The assembly of a fiber cable includes a tube, a track and fasteners in addition to the regular fiber bundles. The cable tubes have both front and rear surfaces to it. These cables operate with the help of photons. These photons are transmitted to a second quantum dot which is placed between mirrors. These mirrors absorb the photons and bounce them back to the quantum dot until it absorbs it.

The fiber optic cables are used for carrying different services pertaining to data, voice, cable TV, and video. The fiber optic cables keeps the electronic equipments far away from environment that are subjected to high temperature, steam, dust, smoke and so on. The unique feature of these fiber optic cables is that stainless steel lens and fiber cables can be easily replaced without any further calibration.

For the installation of fiber optic cables, fiber optic cable blowers are designed. The unique feature of these optic fibers is that they carry information in the form of light. These cables are very useful in transporting both audio and video signals over short and long distances. If a fiber optic cable is broken, another cable has to be fitted in between the connectors rather than soldering or twisting them. Fiber optic technologies have found its place in many applications. They are widely used in telecommunications, CCTV security places, and local area networks and so on.

Glass fibers are made use of for fiber optic cabling. They hardly provide any change in the signals they carry over long distances. Engineers have found that by adding few additional chemicals to the existing silicon dioxide, they can alter the properties of the glass used in these cables. Although, both glass and plastic can be used for making cables, glass is the preferred one for making cables that are used for transmitting communications for long distances. Glasses use total internal reflection for transmission purposes.

A fiber optic cable consists of a core which is made of glass silica. Through this core, the light is guided. The core is covered with a material whose refractive index is slightly lower than that of the core. Two optical fibers are connected via mechanical splicing or fusion splicing. This process involves lots of skills as microscopic precision is required to align them.

Irrespective of the applications in which fiber optic cables are used, they are here to stay. Their unique features and capability of transmission have ensured they will be continued to be used widely in the communication sector for many years to come.

The Highly Specialized Fiber Optic Microscope

noreply@blogger.com (fenol86) — Mon, 11 May 2009 09:58:58 PDT

The standard microscope is a fixture in millions of school, medical, and research laboratories around the world. It is used by grammar school kids and Ph.D. researchers alike, and most of us have at least a rudimentary understanding of how it works.

But there’s another sort of microscope with which most of us are unfamiliar, simply because it is found only in the fiber optics industry. A fiber optic microscope is as specialized as the field in which it is used, and can only be used successfully by those who have been trained to do so.

Fiber optic microscopes are capable of achieving between one hundred and four hundred degrees of magnification, and the level of magnification will depend of the needs of the user. Fiber optic microscopes, because of their specialized nature, are not available from the same sources which provide regular or digital microscopes, and are usually bought by companies instead of individuals.

Kinds Of Fiber Optic Microscopes

Fiber optic microscopes come in several varieties; the simplest of them have eyepieces similar to those on compound microscopes through which their users look. A more sophisticated model of fiber optic microscope has its own video screen; this is the preferred technology for those who use a fiber optic microscope on a regular basis.

A fiber optic microscope is used to provide images of the endfaces of fiber optic connector ferrules, so that any problems with their transmission performance can be seen. The microscope will let its operator detect any dirt, debris, or scratches which may be interfering with the transmission. Most fiber optic microscopes are handheld units, operating for up to forty hours on three or four AAA batteries.

Features Of Fiber Optic Microscopes

If you’re thinking about buying a fiber optic microscope should look for models which include connectors to secure the fiber optic cables; otherwise you’ll find yourself having to struggle to hold the cable steady with one hand and hold the microscope still with the other. The microscopes with cable holders will cost more than those without them, but the time you’ll save inspecting the cables will more than make up for the difference in cost.

There are both optical and electronic fiber optic microscopes; and some of the more expensive models will display the image of the cables on a monitor to spare you from having to look at it through an eyepiece. They are capable of magnifying a three millimeter cable to tennis ball dimensions.

One fiber optic microscope from Prior Scientific is actually software controlled. Because the software is programmed to search for certain characteristics in the microscopic image and pass or fail the cable based on them.

Fiber Optic Connectors

noreply@blogger.com (fenol86) — Mon, 11 May 2009 09:57:11 PDT

Compared to even a few decades back, communication has become a vital part of our lives. The world's social, economic and political system is dependent upon its ability to communicate and transmit both voice and data information. Networks of optical fiber span continents and circle the globe making this communication possible.

Rapid advances in fiber optics technology have made traditional wiring obsolete and unsuited for transferring complex data like images. Fiber optical connectors have replaced them, as they are small and transparent. They are as thin as wires and are able to transfer data via beams of light.

Fiber optic connectors comprise of a ferrule, connector body, cable and coupling device. The end of the fiber is mounted on the end of ferrule. It is bored through the center thus cladding the fiber. This often induces scratches on the fiber. Some types of fiber optic connectors are biconic D4, ESCON, FC, FDDI, LC, loopback, MTP, RJ, MU, SC, SMAand ST.

Fiber optic connectors can be installed by various methods depending on the connector types. While connecting, one has to make sure that the ends have a smooth finish and is free from defects such as hackles and fractures. It is essential to remove the coating of the fiber and connect the connector by applying epoxy or by crimping. Subsequently, the fiber end has to be given a good optical finish by cleaving and polishing. Any impurities such as dirt change the geometrical propagation patterns of light and cause scattering.

Fiber optics connectors are considered safe, as they are not affected by electromagnetic fields. They are low weight and have high electrical resistance. These connectors are cost effective and are usable even by untrained personnel.

Fiber optics connectors have low data losses over long distances and have a high transmission capacity. It is no wonder that the era of telecommunications and networking has extensively adopted fiber optic connectors. The primary market for fiber optic connectors is the optical network application. Optical networks transmit voice and data across the country and around the world. The rapid expansion in the use of the Internet drives the optical market, including fiber-optic connectors.

Verizon Internet Service & FiOS Promotions - Fiber Optic TV and Internet Connection in One Package

noreply@blogger.com (fenol86) — Mon, 11 May 2009 09:55:41 PDT

Verizon internet service & FiOS promotions provide state-of-the-art internet services in the market. One of the main reasons why Verizon is able to provide such fast broadband connectivity is because they use fiber-optic network. Even though, many broadband providers use fiber-optic network for their main lines, what sets Verizon apart from other Internet providers is the fact that they use fiber-optic network all the way to your home. As a result what you get is high speed and quality service.

FiOS Connection

Verizon's fast broadband service is known as FiOS. Installation of Verizon FiOS is free. You also get a free wireless router if you sign up online. When you choose Verizon FiOS you get:

Speed of upto 50 Mbps
Unlimited browsing
A FiOS connection that can be shared across multiple computers
9 free email accounts
10 Megabytes of free web space to help you build and host your very own website
24/7 customer service
30 day money back guarantee

You can check out Verizon internet service and FiOS promotions for fiber optic television package deals.

You can also go for Verizon DSL service. There are a number of advantages that you enjoy with Verizon DSL. If you select a Verizon's DSL plan, you do not require another phone line. You do not even need to pay extra for a modem. Verizon provides you with one.

DSL Internet Connection

With DSL connection you get:

A personalized homepage where you get all the daily news and information that you want
A free router to connect multiple computers
24/7 customer support
9 free email accounts with lots of storage space
4 GB of free web space
30 day money back guarantee
Easy to understand self-installation kit

Comparing Various Service Providers

Making the right choice is very essential when it comes to choosing a service provider. That is why highspeed-internet-providers.com provides you with the latest information on all the service providers. You can compare their speed and rates to locate the provider that offers the best deal.

You can find out more about FiOS promotions on highspeed-internet-providers.com. Scout all the great promotions offered by Verizon internet service and FiOS promotions to find the one that fits your budget.

If you sign online, you can save even more. For instance, if you sign online, you will not have to pay $34.99 as activation fee. You also get $5 off every month if you order online. Yes, you can now enjoy great savings and a high speed net connection, all in one package!

Advantages of Fiber Optic Cable Over Copper Wire

noreply@blogger.com (fenol86) — Mon, 11 May 2009 09:54:06 PDT

When dealing with data transmission you have two basic options: fiber or copper. The final choice depends on a wide variety of variables but ultimately fiber optic cable will be the data transmission of choice for your new network as well as the replacement of old configurations. Fiber optic cable is becoming one of the fastest growing transmission mediums for a variety of applications. Some of the more favorable applications include high band width, long distances and complete immunity to electrical interference. One of the most common applications is as a network backbone, where large amounts of data are transferred.

Other features include the use of singlemode and multimode cables. One singlemode fiber can replace a metal cable that is a thousand times larger and heavier. Multimode cables on the other hand have a larger diameter and are used to carry signals over shorter distances. Other advantages of fiber optic cable include a longer life expectancy, low system cost, no shock hazard, no sparks if cut and low attenuation. Fibers are also used for illumination and are wrapped in bundles so they can be used to carry images, thus allowing viewing in tight spaces.

To make a long story short, fiber optic cable is the future and copper wiring is one of the oldest transmission channels in use today. Some of the main disadvantages of copper are the high costs and the susceptibility to corrosion and rain. Due to the advantages of fiber and the disadvantages of copper, telecommunication companies around the world are using nothing but fiber optic cables and are replacing all of their older cable systems with fiber.

Riley Higgins is the editor of FiberOne Connectivity. FiberOne Connectivity designs and distributes cost-effective fiber optic products and integrated modules that increase the bandwidth and flexibility of today's communication networks. Custom assemblies are available upon request.

The Tremendous Applications of Fiber Optics

noreply@blogger.com (fenol86) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:52:26 PST

The use of fiber optic systems is expanding at a amazing rate. Only in the past 10 years, fiber optic communications systems have replaced almost all coaxial and twisted pair cables especially in network backbones. This is especially true in any long distance communication links.

Why? This can be explained simply. Fiber optic cables are easier to install, are lighter than traditional copper cables, are much smaller than their electronic counterparts, and most importantly, they have much more bandwidth!

Because fiber optic cables are lighter, they are easier to pull through existing ducts and cable raceways. Other big advantages of fiber cables including their immunity to electromagnetic interference, longer repeater distances, lower power requirements, and higher flexibility.

All the above pros make fiber optic cables very attractive and most important of all, very cost effective.

The unstoppable trend for fiber optic applications are the move from the long haul (long distance) to our desk, our house, and our office. The terms include FTTC ( fiber to the curb), FTTD (fiber to the desk), FTTH (fiber to the home) and FTTB( fiber to the building).

Fiber optic cables enable our dream of integrating all our phone, Internet and TV services. Fiber's wide bandwidth makes this possible. It provides more than enough capacity to meet all our voice, data and video requirements.

The transformation from copper to fiber is greatly accelerated by the invention of optical fiber amplifiers. Optical fiber amplifiers enable optical signal transmission over very long distances without the expensive process of conversion to electronic signals, electronic amplification and the conversion back to optical signal again as in traditional regenerators.

Today most of the network traffic switching are still performed by electronic switches such as those from Cisco. But tremendous interest and effort of using all-optical devices for all network switching are accumulating in the industry. The most important characteristic of all-optical switching lies in its almost unlimited transmission capacity.

However, it is still in the prototype stage for controlling light with light, so optical switch circuits are still controlled by electronic circuits at this moment. The switching matrix may be optical circuits but the control are still done by electronic circuits.

Optical fiber is almost the ideal medium for signal transmission available today and in the foreseeable future. The excellent characteristic of optical fiber is its immunity to electromagnetic interference. Optical circuits can be crossed in a common space without cross interference among them.

But there are problems which are impeding the speed of all-optical system development. The most obvious and basic reason is the compatibility requirements with legacy fiber optic systems.

Another big advantage of optical fiber lies in the ability to multiplex its capacity via WDM (wavelength division multiplexer). WDM modulates each of several data streams into a different part of the light spectrum. WDM is the optical equivalent of FDM (frequency division multiplexer). The use of WDM can increase the capacity of a single channel fiber optic communication system by hundreds of times.

In additional to communication systems, fiber optic technologies are also widely used in medicine, illumination, sensing, endoscopy, industry control and more.

by Colin Yao and learn more about Corning cable

What Are OFNP, OFNR, OFNG And OFCG? Understanding Fiber Optic Cable Fire Ratings

noreply@blogger.com (fenol86) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:28:00 PDT

Just like copper cables, NEC (National Electrical Code) requires indoor fiber optic cables be marked with their fire and smoking ratings. NEC requires all indoor fiber cables be marked correctly and installed properly for its intended use.

According to NEC, a building's inside area is divided into three types of sections: plenums, risers and general purpose areas.

:: What is a Plenum area?

A Plenum area is a building space used for air flow or air distribution system. In most buildings, the area above a drop ceiling or under a raised floor is used as the air return (source of air) for the air conditioning. Those drop ceiling and raised floors are also where fiber cables are often installed. If those cables were burning, they would give off toxic fumes and the fumes would be fed to the rest of the building by the air conditioner. As a result, people could be injured even though they are a long way from the fire.

:: What is a Riser area?

A Riser area is a floor opening, shaft or duct that runs vertically through one or more floors

:: What is General Purpose area?

All other area that is not plenum or riser and on the same floor is a general purpose area.

:: Fiber Optic Cable Fire and Smoking Rating Markings

OFNP Cables:

OFNP stands for Optical Fiber Nonconductive Plenum. OFNP cables have fire-resistance and low smoke production characteristics. They can be installed in ducts, plenums and other spaces used for building airflow. This is the highest fire rating fiber cable and no other cable types can be used as substitutes.

OFCP Cables:

OFCP stands for Optical Fiber Conductive Plenum. OFCP cables have the same fire and smoking rating as OFNP cables but they have a conducting armor or central strength member which is usually steel. OFCP cables must be properly grounded at both ends. As a result, OFCP cables can not be installed in the same cable tray or conduit as power cables.

OFNR Cables:

OFNR stands for Optical Fiber Nonconductive Riser. OFNR cables are used in Riser areas which are building vertical shafts or runs from one floor to another floor. OFNR cables can not be installed in plenum areas since they do not have the required fire and smoking rating as Plenum rated cables. OFNP plenum cables can be used as substitutes for OFNR cables.

OFCR Cables:

OFCR stands for Optical Fiber Conductive Riser. OFCR cables have the same fire rating characteristics as OFNR cables but they have conducting armor or central strength member which is usually steel. OFCR cables should also be properly grounded at both ends. OFCP cables can be used as substitutes for OFCR cables. OFCR cables can not be installed in the same cable trays or conduits as power cables.

OFNG Cables:

OFNG stands for Optical Fiber Nonconductive General-Purpose. They are typically used in horizontal cabling, single floor applications. OFNG cables can not be used in plenums or risers. OFNP and OFNR cables both can be used as substitutes for OFNG cables.

OFCG Cables:

OFCG stands for Optical Fiber Conductive General-Purpose. They have the same fire characteristics as OFNG cables but they have conducting armor or central strength members which is typically steel. OFCG cables should be properly grounded at both ends. They should not be installed in the same cable tray or conduits as power cables.

by Colin Yao

6 Things You Must Know About Fiber Optic Cable Materials

noreply@blogger.com (fenol86) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:25:00 PDT

Environment requirement on outdoor fiber optic cables

Outdoor fiber cables must endure harsh environment factors such as UV radiation from sunlight, storms, snows and 80 mph wind, so outdoor cables must be strong, weatherproof and UV resistant. The outdoor cable should also be able to endure the wild temperature variations both during installation and throughout its life span.

These factors determine the materials used for the cable construction. Various materials are used to suit the installation environment.

Outdoor cable jacket is treated to prevent UV light from penetrating inside the cable and damaging the internal glass fibers. Extra UV protection specification can be specified if needed.

:: Environment requirement on indoor fiber optic cables

Indoor fiber cables should be strong and flexible for easy pulling and installation. They should also possess NEC required fire and smoke ratings. As a industry standard practice, single mode fiber jacket is yellow and multimode fiber jacket is orange.

:: Popular cable materials in fiber optic cable construction

1. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

Features:

1) Good resistance to environmental effects. Some formulations are rated for -55°C to +55°C.

2) Good flame retardant properties. Can be used for both outdoor and indoor fiber optic cables.

3) PVC is less flexible than PE (Polyethylene)

2. PE (Polyethylene)

Features:

1) Popular cable jacket material for outdoor fiber cables

2) Very good moisture and weather resistance properties

3) Very good insulator

4) Can be very stiff in colder temperatures

5) If treated with proper chemicals, PE can be flame retardant

3. Fluoropolymers

Features:

1) Good flame-resistance properties

2) Low smoke properties

3) Good flexibility

4) Most often used for indoor fiber cables

4. Kevlar (Aramid Yarn)

Aramid yarn is the yellow fiber type material found inside cable jacket surrounding the fibers. It can also be used as central strength members.

Features:

1) Aramid yarn is very strong and is used in bundle to protect the fibers

2) Kevlar is a brand of aramid yarn. Kevlar is often used as the central strength member on fiber cables which must withstand high pulling tension during installation

3) When Kevlar is placed surrounding the entire cable interior, it provides additional protection for the fibers from the environment

5. Steel Armor

Steel armor jacket is often used on direct burial outdoor cables and it provides excellent crush resistance and is truly rodent-proof. Since steel is a conductor, steel armored cables have to be properly grounded and loss fiber optic cable's dielectric advantage.

Applications:

1) Outdoor direct burial cables

2) Fiber cables used for industrial environment where cables are installed without conduits or cable tray protection

Features:

1) Provides excellent crush resistance for outdoor direct burial cables

2) Protects cables from rodent biting

3) Decreases water ingress into the fiber which prolongs the fiber cable's life expectancy

6. Central Strength Member

For large fiber count cables, a central strength member is often used. The central strength member provides strength and support to the cable. During fiber optic cable installation, pulling eyes should always be attached to the central strength member and never to the fibers. On fiber splice enclosure and patch panel installations, the cable central strength member should be attached to the strength member anchor on the enclosure or patch panel.

The Secret of Successful Fiber Optic Cable Management

noreply@blogger.com (fenol86) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:23:32 PDT

Why is proper fiber optic cable management so critical?

Service providers have deployed more and more fiber optic cables for their high bandwidth, low costs, greater reliability and flexibility. But just deploying is not enough; a successful fiber network also requires a solid infrastructure based on a cable management system.

Cable management affects a network's reliability, performance, cost and maintenance. It provides the ability to reconfigure network, restore service and implement new services quickly.

Four goals to achieve

Protect fiber optic cable from microbends and macrobends loss

Microbends are small deformities in the optical fiber and macrobends are larger bends of the fiber cable. Fiber bends beyond the specified minimum bending radius can cause signal loss or even break the fiber, causing service disruption.

As a rule of thumb, the minimum bending radius should be bigger than ten times the outer diameter of the fiber cable. Telcordia recommends a minimum 38mm bending radius for 3mm fiber optic patch cords.

Fiber cable management system should provide bend radius protection at all points where a fiber optic cable makes a bend. This helps ensure the network's long-term reliability; thus reduces the network operation cost by reducing network down time.

Well defined cable routing paths

The leading cause of fiber optic cable minimum bend radius violation is improper routing of fibers by fiber installation technicians.

In a proper cable management system, routing paths are clearly defined and easy to follow; such that the technician has no other option but to route the cables properly.

Well defined routing paths reduce the training time required for technicians and increase the uniformity of work done. It also makes accessing individual fibers easier, quicker and safer.

Easy access to installed optical fibers

Allowing easy access to installed fibers is critical in maintaining proper bend radius protection. The system should be designed to ensure that individual fibers can be installed or removed without inducing a macrobend on an adjacent fiber. Accessibility is critical during network reconfiguration.

Physical protection of installed optical fibers

Well defined fiber optic cable management system physically protects the fibers from accidental damage by technicians and equipment throughout the network.

Procurement

When making the decision on purchasing your cable management system, the goal is getting the most cost-effective system that provides the best cable management, flexibility, and growth capabilities.

Going with the cheapest approaches can cost more money in the long run. A strong fiber cable management system will enable you to extract the maximum value from your installed optical fiber networks.

by Fiber Optics For Sale Co

The Secret Of A Successful Underground Fiber Optic Cable Installation

noreply@blogger.com (fenol86) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:22:37 PDT

The two most common outdoor fiber optic cable installations are pole line aerial installation and underground cable installation. Underground cable installation can be buried directly underground or placed into a buried duct.

Direct burial installation:

Direct burial installations are most common for long cross-country installations. The cables are plowed in or buried in a trench; the installation process can be very quick. The most common cables used for direct burial are steel armored outdoor fiber cables.

Underground duct installation:

Fiber optic cables can also be pulled through underground ducts, which protect the cables from harsh environment. Underground duct installation also provides opportunity for future expansion without the need to dig. This is the most common practice in urban areas. Another benefit is that fiber cables without armor can be used which makes the installation even easier.

Preparation before underground cable installation:

1. Obtain proper right-of-way permits
2. Identify existing underground utilities such as buried cables, pipes
3. Investigate the soil condition in order to determine the installation depth, whether duct should be used, the type of fiber cable should be used and plowing equipment needed

Cable Burial techniques:

1. Plowed under

Plowing in a fiber cable is faster than trenched. But this process has to be carefully monitored to prevent from damaging the cable.

2. Trenched

The fiber cable can also be trenched. This process is slower than plowing in; however, it allows a much more controlled cable installation. Trenches can be dug by hand or by machine.

3. Directional boring

Directional boring technique is used where the surface cannot be worked on such as high, railway crossings, etc. Instead, a boring machine is used to bore a several inches diameter hole underneath the surface, a duct is pulling through the hole and then fiber cables pulled into the duct.

Important factors:

1. Cable installation depth: up to 40 inches

The depth that fiber cables should be buried is determined by the soil conditions and surface usage. In colder areas, fiber cables are typically buried below the frost line to prevent the cables from being damaged by ground frost heaves.

2. Keep the trenches as straight as possible

Fiber cable trenches should be straight, and the trench bottom should be flat and level. Backfill can also be used to distribute the cable load evenly and protect the cables.

3. Fiber cable warning labels should be buried directly above the cable

Fiber optic warning cables are typically buried directly above the cables to warn future digging operations. Or concrete slabs can be buried below the warning label but above the cables to provide even more protection.

4. Whenever conducting armored fiber cables are used, they should be properly grounded

In direct burial installations, steel armored fiber cables are often chosen for their strength and protection from rodent bites. A very important thing to keep in mind is to properly ground the cables. They should be grounded at all termination points, splices and building entrances. The cable steel armor should be connected to a ground wire using a compression-type clamp. The cable ground wire is then bolted to a nearby ground terminal strip.

5. Fiber optic cable minimum bending radius should always be observed during installation.

Find more about fiber distribution cable

By Colin Yao

Aerial Fiber Optic Cable Installation

noreply@blogger.com (fenol86) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 21:47:41 PDT

Understanding The Basic Terms

-Dead end pole: Dead end pole is a utility pole on which self-supporting figure 8 aerial cable or a steel messenger is tensioned and terminated into a dead-end fixture.

-Messenger span: Messenger span refers to the length of continuous steel messenger tensioned between two dead-end poles.

-Intermediate poles: Intermediate poles are all the poles between two dead-end poles.

Planning

-Careful planning and preparation are necessary before any aerial cable installations. During the cable route survey, representatives from all necessary parties including utilities, street depart, etc should be present. Before even detailed planning begins, approval should be get from all involved parties. Sufficient clearance for new cable along the right of way should be confirmed during the route survey.

-Existing poles should be used whenever possible in order to save cost.

-Where on a pole to place the aerial fiber optic cable? Fiber optic cables weigh less than equivalent copper cables and also sag less, so fiber optic cables should occupy the uppermost available communications space on a pole.

-Sufficient clearances must be maintained between fiber optic cables and electrical power cables on joint-use poles. You need to refer to current National Electrical Safety Code for the proper clearances.

-Existing dead-end pole must be evaluated to see whether they can withstand the stresses during aerial cable installation. You have to evaluate whether temporary guying is needed in order to relieve the temporary unbalanced loading during cable installation.

-Splice locations. Splice locations are usually selected during the cable route survey. They are chosen to allow for the longest possible continuous cable spans and a minimum number of splices. They should be easily accessible to a splicing vehicle.

-Aerial installation should never be done in wet conditions. And make sure all personnel are properly trained for pole line work.

-Fiber optic cables (including all dielectric cables) should be properly grounded when installed in the vicinity of high-voltage power cables.

Installation:

Fiber optic cable aerial installation can be done in two ways

Lashing a fiber optic cable to a steel messenger

A steel messenger is first installed between the poles. Then a cable reel trailer and truck are used to pull the cable along the messenger. A cable guide and cable lasher are used to wrap around both the messenger and the fiber cable to secure the fiber cable to the messenger. Following the cable lasher is an aerial bucket truck which makes necessary adjustments.

At each pole, the fiber optic cable forms an expansion loop to allow for expansion of the messenger. The expansion loop's sizes have both a length and a depth, its length should be larger than twice its depth. The fiber cable should also maintain its minimum bending radius at all times.

Direct installation of self-supporting figure 8 aerial fiber optic cables

Self-supporting (Figure-8) optical fiber cables greatly simplifies the task of placing fiber optic cables onto a aerial plant. The self-supporting figure-8 cable incorporates both a steel messenger and the fiber cable into a single jacket of Figure-8 cross section.

The combination of strand and optical fiber into a single cable allows rapid one-step installation and results in a more durable aerial plant.

by Colin

Why Fiber Optic Cable Should Be The Media of Choice In All Commercial Building Network Installations

noreply@blogger.com (fenol86) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:20:22 PDT

For the last 25 years, in order to upgrade a building's network one would have to re-cable the entire building to support the required bandwidth demand - cable and connectors. This has usually occurred every 3 - 5 years. Notwithstanding the fact that fiber has been around for years, UTP cooper became the media of choice even after it became apparent in the late 1990's that fiber in many cases was less expensive to install and maintain. So therefore the copper manufactures have continued to twist it tighter, make the conductor larger and put shielding around it to try and squeeze the final drop of bandwidth capability out of it. One can compare that to tightly twisting a wet wash cloth in an attempt to squeeze out all of the water. Of course one cannot squeeze out all of the water thus the rag must be hung out to dry - which is exactly what should be done with UTP copper.

Even though UTP copper continues to falter on a regular basis when the demand for bandwidth increases, there are still those that insist on following the path of insanity which is, of course, continuing to do the same thing over and over again expecting different results. With regards to 10Gig Ethernet, UTP Copper continues to be installed even when the common maladies associated with UTP cabling continue to exist. And now the the "copperheads" are faced with a new problem - the now infamous Alien (UFO/Subterranean Crosstalk). Fiber cabling is immune to Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Radio Frequency interference (RFI) so it therefore has none of the problems commonly associated with copper cabling.

Remember that installing copper is installing the past.