Cabling Installation & Maintenance articles from July 2006

Cabling Installation & Maintenance archives from July 2006

Finding 10GBase-T.(Editorial)
July 1, 2006... One of the best punchlines in the movie Finding Nemo comes at the very end, when the fish with whom Nemo spent quality time in an aquarium inside a dentist's office finally make their escape. Each is inside a plastic bag partially filled with...

300-meter fiber horizontal: the good, the bad, and the political.
July 1, 2006... There are basically ,two large camps on the issue of a possible 300-meter fiber horizontal, divided mostly along party lines--copper cabling manufacturers and fiber cabling manufacturers. And then there are the rest of us who try to discern...

Correction.(Correction notice)
July 1, 2006... Unfortunately, we goofed a few times in past several issues, and want to take this opportunity to clarify some points and acknowledge some oversights. In the March issue, a sidebar that accompanied the article "Fiber-optic adapters: More...

Campus upgrade delivers rock-solid technology; a massive network upgrade is enhancing student and faculty life at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania.
July 1, 2006... If you've ever heard of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, its unique name is pretty hard to forget. But what you might not know is that this 600-acre campus, located just 50 minutes north of Pittsburgh, has undergone a complete...

Evolving methods for tomorrow's technology: in the face of advanced technology and copper cabling's unwavering position in the marketplace, taking installation methods to a new level can provide benefits for all.
July 1, 2006... The cabling industry is abuzz over the development of the TIA/EIA Augmented Category 6 standard for 10-Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) transmissions over copper cabling. With the new standard buoying copper cabling's unwavering position in the...

Rising energy costs refueling building automation systems: no longer proprietary devices, systems that control HVAC, power and security are friendlier than ever to LAN convergence. The challenge is to plan for it in the design stage.
July 1, 2006... When the 2002 National Electrical Code (NEC) allowed for power-limited building automation systems (BAS) to share pathways and spaces with telecommunications infrastructures, many in the cabling industry saw the opportunity for converging...

Voice over WLAN: the realities and challenges: traditional and new network design methods have their pros and cons.(Voice over Wireless Fidelity )
July 1, 2006... Voice over Wireless Fidelity (VoWi-Fi) presents a difficult challenge because introducing such high-bandwidth wireless applications can cause wireless networks to suffer a loss of quality of service (QoS)--and, in many cases, fail. QoS is...

Suppliers agree with PoE market research: no more watching from the sidelines.(INDUSTRY spotlight)
July 1, 2006... A recent report from market research firm Venture Development Corp. (VDC; www.vdc-corp.com) contends that, since the inception of the IEEE's (www.ieee.org) 802.3af Power over Ethernet (POE) standard defining the ability to power network devices...

Mountain View, CA--the Ethernet Alliance (www. ethernetalliance.org) says it has formed subcommittees chartered to support IEEE 802.3 standards development.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA -- The Ethernet Alliance (www. ethernetalliance.org) says it has formed subcommittees chartered to support IEEE 802.3 standards development. The 10G EPON (10-Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network) subcommittee will support...

New York City--high-performance WLAN infrastructure developer Extricom (www.extricom.com) has unveiled its TrueReuse technology, designed to achieve 3x increase in channel capacity in a limited space.(Short runs ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... NEW YORK CITY -- High-performance WLAN infrastructure developer Extricom (www.extricom.com) has unveiled its TrueReuse technology, designed to achieve 3x increase in channel capacity in a limited space. It features the company's...

Sunnyvale, CA--using just a standard USB cable, PLX Technology (www.plxtech.com) says its USB Duet technology can transfer data between two or more computers at up to 480 Mbits/sec without the need of a network switch, hub, or router.(Short runs ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... SUNNYVALE, CA -- Using just a standard USB cable, PLX Technology (www.plxtech.com) says its USB Duet technology can transfer data between two or more computers at up to 480 Mbits/sec without the need of a network switch, hub, or router. The...

Basking Ridge, NJ--Avaya (www.avaya.com) has been named one of 10 companies to participate in a $4 billion U.S. Army project that will overhaul voice and data infrastructures of its bases worldwide.(Short runs ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... BASKING RIDGE, NJ -- Avaya (www.avaya.com) has been named one of 10 companies to participate in a $4 billion U.S. Army project that will overhaul voice and data infrastructures of its bases worldwide. The Infrastructure Modernization (IMOD)...

Brick, NJ--given a timetable of six weeks, security systems integrator North American Video (NAV; www.navcctv.com) recently completed an installation at the 650,000-square-foot Cummins Inc. distribution center in Memphis, TN.(Short runs ...)
July 1, 2006... BRICK, NJ -- Given a timetable of six weeks, security systems integrator North American Video (NAV; www.navcctv.com) recently completed an installation at the 650,O00-square-foot Cummins Inc. distribution center in Memphis, TN. The project...

Watertown, CT--Siemon (www.siemon.com) says that, according to recent certified third-part testing, its Category 7/Class F TERA end-to-end cabling system is the only copper cabling system to meet TEMPEST/EMSEC guidelines for use in high security classified networks.(Short runs ...)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... WATERTOWN, CT -- Siemon (www.siemon.com) says that, according to recent certified third-part testing, its Category 7/Class F TERA end-to-end cabling system is the only copper cabling system to meet TEMPEST/EMSEC guidelines for use in high...

Fiber connectivity awakens to a high-density world: the rise of data centers and other critical business installations have made choosing a connector more than just a matter of 'smaller is better.'.(product update)
July 1, 2006... The umbrella term known as FTTx for bringing fiber to the curb, home, or office, has often been thought of in terms of bringing high-speed services primarily to residential customers--especially those in new housing developments or...

Corning Cable Systems.(PRE-TERMINATED MODULE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The Plug & Play Universal System from Corning Cable Systems is a pre-terminated high-density fiber-optic cabling technology designed to streamline deployment of a fiber network infrastructure. The system features ribbon cabling and MTP...

Fiber Instrument Sales.(FIBER CONNECTOR ADAPTERS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Pre-assembled Bobtail fiber-optic adapters from Fiber Instrument Sales are designed to reduce termination time by up to 90%. According to the manufacturer, the Bobtails can turn many standard fiber-optic connectors into quick-termination...

Hubbell-Premise Wiring.(PRE-POLISHED CONNECTORS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... 2Click pre-polished connectors for singlemode and multimode fiber LAN and backbone applications, from Hubbell-Premise Wiring, incorporate a factory installed pre-polished fiber stub inside. SC and ST connectors are available with singlemode and...

Molex Premise Networks.(RoHS-COMPLIANT CONNECTORS)
July 1, 2006... Xpress Termination LC, SC and ST RoHS-compliant fiber connectors, from Molex Premise Networks, are available in multimode and singlemode designs, and built for 900-[micro]m buffered and cordage applications. The connectors feature a zirconia...

OFS.(Office Furnishings and Systems Inc)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The Optical Connectivity Group at OFS says it is expending development efforts on connector improvements, and research for new connector designs. Recent developments include the reduction in time required for field-installed connectors. OFS...

Panduit.(TERMINATION TOOL)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The OptiCam termination tool from Panduit is designed to simplify terminations of OptiCam pre-polished connectors. It features an integrated visual fault locator for indication of proper termination after the cam step has been completed....

Telescent LLC.(FIBER-TO-THE-DESK CONNECTIVITY)(introduces fiber-optic union adapters)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The SureConnect family of isolated fiber-optic union adapters, from Telescent LLC, feature a patent-pending technology that includes an integrated fiber stub designed to prevent direct contact between two connectorized fibers. The isolated...

Serial-to-Ethernet converter.(New Products)
July 1, 2006... The LS100 serial device server for LAN/ WAN classroom control application, remote monitoring, and maintenance of audio-visual equipment, is equipped with a RJ-45 Ethernet port and a 9-pin D-Sub serial port designed for simplified network...

Heavy-duty cable clamp.(Cablofil Inc. introduces cable tray)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... This cable clamp is designed for securing large- or small-diameter cables to a cable tray. The company says its heavy-duty clamps provide maximum grip, and are especially suited for such demanding applications as vertical plenums in high-rise...

Specialty cable ties.(Framatome Connectors International)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The Unirap line of cable ties now includes Tefxel and Halar, aerial support spacer, identification, Velcro, mounting bases, and military applications. A new catalog numbering system and packaging, plus lower prices, according to the company,...

10-GbE certification tool.(Fluke Networks introduces transmission cables)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The DTX 10 Gig solution is designed to certify link performance for high-speed transmissions over copper. According to the manufacturer, the device has been proven over recent months by hardware suppliers who are working to finalize the IEEE...

Pre-terminated Category 6 system.(Hellermann Tyton introduces copper cables)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... RapidNet Category 6 copper UTP solutions are designed especially for data centers and other high-performance requirements, including Gigabit Ethernet. This pre-terminated system features proprietary bundled cables terminated to patented...

Rack-mount keyboard and monitor.(Hewlett-Packard Co.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The TFT7600 rack-mount keyboard and monitor (RKM) is a 17-inch WXGA+ monitor and keyboard with touch pad in a 1U format, with room to mount a KVM switch behind it. The RKM provides PS2 and USB connectivity, and a USB port on the front of the...

Cable performance tester.(Ideal Industries Inc. (Rockville, Maryland) introduces cable testers)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The Signaltek cable performance tester is designed to verify that installed cabling will support voice, video and data applications (including Gigabit Ethernet). This handheld tester features a graphical interface, transmits 10/100/1000...

Converter adds NIDs.(Omnitron Systems Technology Inc. introduces network interface device )(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... New fiber-to-fiber hardware modules and software enhancements have been added to the iConverter system of media converters, iConverter 2FXM is a two-port Fast Ethernet Network Interface Device (NID) with integrated network management services,...

Ratcheting cable cutters.(Klein Tools Inc. introduces cable cutters)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Designed for confined work spaces, these large capacity ratcheting cable cutters are suitable for a variety of electrical and telecommunications installations, including outside plant. Maximum capacities include: No. 63600 copper and aluminum,...

Tiny wireless AP.(Ortronics Inc. introduces wireless access protocols)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The Wi-Jack Duo is billed as the industry's smallest dual band/dual radio wireless access point (WAP). The patent-pending technology fits into a standard wall box in the footprint of a standard faceplate, and extends 12-mm from the wall. The...

Labeling system.(Panduit Corp. introduces labeling software)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Easy-Mark labeling software features new market-specific labeling application tools that assist in making labels, signs and pipe markers for networking as well as premises and OSP installations. Features include an intuitive interface, data...

Multimedia compression assembly tools.(Ripley Co. introduces compression assembly tools )(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... A line of CAT-Multimedia compression assembly tools is designed for use on 59/6 F and manufacturer-specific RCA and BNC connectors. Based on the company's field-proven Cablematic CAT Series, these multimedia tools feature high-strength aluminum...

High-capacity cable tray.(cable tray introduced for power distribution)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The Mega Snake for overhead installations is designed to convey thousands of cables used in large cable runs. Featuring the Snake Rail built-in suspension system, Mega Snake requires no brackets and allows for random placement of the hanging...

Shielded fiber adapters.(Telescent LLC)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The SureConnect family of internally shielded fiber-optic union adapters are designed to enhance the reliability and reduce the maintenance cost of access networks. The patent-pending technology includes an internal length of optical fiber that...

Easy pipe bender.(BN Yanow and Company introduces anti corrosive coils)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The Pipe Viper is a coiled spring used to bend rigid PVC pipe without the need for other tools or heat. Available in sizes ranging from 1/2 inch to 44 inches, Pipe Viper also eliminates the need for pre fabricated elbows, special fittings, and...

Electrical, cabling products.(Waytek Inc. introduces cabling products)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The newest product catalog from Waytek features more than 5,000 in-stock electrical and cabling products, including terminals, connectors, cable ties, loom, wire and cable, fuses, circuit breakers, and LED lights. The catalog also includes...

Loading made easy.(William Frick and Co. introduces easy loading equipment)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Safe-T-Step is designed to help avoid serious injury while loading and unloading cabling equipment and materials from trucks and cargo vans. It features a removable handrail, 400 lb. weight capacity, and an attachable construction fitting for...

Mini cable manager.(New Products)
July 1, 2006... Snake Race is a bendable cable manager designed for tight spaces and small cable runs. It can mount horizontally, vertically, or angled, offers built-in mounting rings that are spaced to accommodate common stud spacing, and is designed to...

Low-loss splicer.(Corning Cable Systems introduces fiber splicing machinery)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The OptiSplice Premier M90i fusion splicer, says its maker, provides the lowest field-splice loss on the market. The Unit replaces the company's OptiSplice Premier iLID and M90 splicers, combining features of both into one unit. It features...

Enhanced test set.(EXFO introduces fiber optic testers)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The enhanced CoVALT handheld, battery-powered test set is designed for installation and maintenance applications on copper-based, triple play, and broadband access networks. The unit is used to install and troubleshoot DSL circuits that carry...

Triple-play NID.(New Products)(network interface devices)(TII Network Technologies)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Developed to complement existing network interface devices (NIDs) or act as a standalone intelligent NID, the OutRigger media access portal supports triple-play bundled services--digital telephone, broadband data, and video over broadband--over...