Cabling Installation & Maintenance articles from June 2006

Cabling Installation & Maintenance archives from June 2006

Why I don't like 37.(EDITORIAL)
June 1, 2006... Recently, I found out that after conducting a series of tests, members of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE; www.ieee.org) 802.3an working group--the individuals hammering out the final details of the 10-Gigabit...

Is structured cabling getting a bad case of the "whys"?(Ask DONNA)
June 1, 2006... There is a certain stage in a young child's life when no matter what is said to them, they ask, "Why?" And users and owners of structured cabling systems in general, and standards-compliant structured cabling in particular, have reached a...

Make homes future-ready with Category 6 cabling: residential networks can benefit from the many features of UTP cabling.(analysis of telecommunications networks)
June 1, 2006... The telecommunications cabling in a modern home supports a large and growing number of applications, including voice telephony, data networking (including personal computers, printers, Internet access, and other applications), entertainment...

Getting buff: hardened OSP connectors: in fiber-to-the-building networks, connectors should exhibit three traits: ruggedness, ruggedness, and ruggedness.(case studies)
June 1, 2006... Fiber-optic connector designs available just a few years ago were qualified under light-duty loading typically found in an indoor environment, and often were restricted from use under harsh outdoor conditions because of instability at...

A standards-based design in the data center: a TIA standard simplifies design and management of much-needed structured cabling systems inside data centers.(market research)
June 1, 2006... Data centers and storage area networks (SANs) are among the fastest growing areas of information technology (IT). It is generally believed, and a 2004 study by Yankee Group indicates, that data creation and retention requirements in large...

Finding a single solution for security access control: if the promise of IP-based convergence comes to fruition, how will security applications like access control fit in?(security)(Editorial)
June 1, 2006... "Convergence" is a term that's used widely in today's networking environment. But what does it mean? According to Rich Anderson, president of Phare Consulting (www.phareconsulting.com), a management consulting firm serving high-tech...

Choosing the right WLAN architecture: lightweight and autonomous systems each provide benefits and merit consideration.(wireless)(Wireless local area networks)
June 1, 2006... Wireless local area networks (WLANs) are often implemented as an overlay to the wired LAN. The two distinct WLAN architectures in use are lightweight and autonomous, each having varied impact on the wired network infrastructure. Selection...

In commercial buildings, cable sharing makes cents: this approach allows cost reduction, simplified cable management, and application convergence on twisted-pair media.(cable sharing)
June 1, 2006... Although the concept of cable sharing is clearly accepted by telecommunications professionals, it is now only starting to become a recognized practice for reducing costs, simplifying cable management, and converging applications onto one media...

Manufacturers showcase products designed to fight thermal problems in data centers.(INDUSTRY spotlight)
June 1, 2006... Manufacturers are coming up with modular integrated solutions designed to tackle the ongoing problem of heat and power density in today's data centers. Thermal problems in the data center continue to rise due to constantly increasing packing...

Glenview, IL--"Designing and Managing Today's Data Center," the focus of Anixter's (www.anixter.com) seventh annual National Seminar Series, will run in 17 cities nationwide through November.(Short runs ...)
June 1, 2006... GLENVIEW, IL -- "Designing and Managing Today's Data Center," the focus of Anixter's (www.anixter.com) seventh annual National Seminar Series, will run in 17 cities nationwide through November. Keynote presentations will be presented by IBM....

Washington, DC--The Fiber-to-the-Home Council (www. ftthcouneil.org) and Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA; www.tiaonline.org) have released an updated list of "U.S.(Short runs ...)
June 1, 2006... WASHINGTON, DC -- The Fiber-to-the-Home Council (www. ftthcouneil.org) and Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA; www.tiaonline.org) have released an updated list of "U.S. Optical Fiber Communities," showing a total of 936 such...

Cincinnati, OH--A new non-profit professional society has been Founded, based on the technology and application of structured cabling.(Structured Cabling Association)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... CINCINNATI, OH -- A new non-profit professional society has been Founded, based on the technology and application of structured cabling. The Structured Cabling Association (SCA: www.scausa. org) is chartered to promote structured cabling...

Richardson, TX--SYSTIMAX Solutions (www.systimax.com) provided some of its enterprise connectivity solutions to connect the InteropNet network at last month's Interop show in Las Vegas.(Short runs ...)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... RICHARDSON, TX -- SYSTIMAX Solutions (www.systimax.com) provided some of its enterprise connectivity solutions to connect the InteropNet network at last month's Interop show in Las Vegas. Exhibitors and show management used the copper and fiber...

Pleasanton, CA--Network software solutions provider AdventNet (www.adventnet.com) is integrating ManageEngine OpManager products from American Power Conversion (www.apcc.com) to monitor uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) included in APC's InfraStruXure systems in the same way they manage their networking infrastructure.(Short runs ...)
June 1, 2006... PLEASANTON, CA -- Network software solutions provider AdventNet (www.adventnet.com) is integrating ManageEngine OpManager products from American Power Conversion (www. apcc.com) to monitor uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) included in APC's...

San Francisco, CA--The promise of an entirely wireless home may be accelerated by Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology, according to a recent report--"Ultra Wideband: Market Analysis and Forecasts 2006-2010"--by telecommunications research firm Visiongain (www.visiongain.com).(Short runs ...)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- The promise of an entirely wireless home may be accelerated by Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology, according to a recent report--"Ultra Wideband: Market Analysis and Forecasts 2006-2010"--by telecommunications research firm...

Spokane Valley, WA--The city of North Kansas City, MO is utilizing its existing fiber-optic network, new fiber installation, and World Wide Packets' (www.worldwidepackets.com) LightningEdge Gigabit Ethernet solution to provide citywide Gigabit-to-the-Premises broadband access.(Short runs ...)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... SPOKANE VALLEY, WA -- The city of North Kansas City, MO is utilizing its existing fiber-optic network, new fiber installation, and World Wide Packets' (www.worldwidepackets.com) LightningEdge Gigabit Ethernet solution to provide citywide...

San Diego, CA--Commercial ship builder Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Inc., is deploying LightPointe's (www.lightpointe.com) FlightLite 100E optical wireless link to connect a vital warehouse operation to its corporate network.(Short runs ...)(LightPointe Communications Inc.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO, CA -- Commercial ship builder Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Inc., is deploying LightPointe's (www.lightpointe.com) FlightLite 100E optical wireless link to connect a vital warehouse operation to its corporate network. To streamline...

Broadband access test company adds home networking.(JDS Uniphase Corp. (San Jose, California))( Test-Um )
June 1, 2006... JDSU (www.jdsu.com), a Milpitas, CA maker of field test instruments for broadband access networks, is acquiring home network test instrument maker Test-Um (www.testum.com) for an undisclosed financial arrangement. The acquisition, which...

Fiber Optics LAN Section elects officers; 3M's Harman is new leader.(appointment of Dan Harman)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The Fiber Optics LAN Section (FOLS; www.fols.org) of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA; www. tiaonline.org) has elected its slate of officers for 2006. Dan Harman, applications engineer at 3M, has been elected as section...

Fiber-cable manufacturing facility going up in PA.(Pennsylvania)
June 1, 2006... United States Congressman Marty Meehan, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, recently announced an agreement between kSARIA (www.ksaria.com) of Meehan's home state of Massachusetts, and DRS Laurel Technologies (www.drs.com) of...

Cooling, power issues dominate gathering of data center professionals.
June 1, 2006... Power consumption and cooling of mission-critical information-technology (IT) facilities remain key concerns, according to professionals who attended the recent DatacenterDynamics New York (www.datacentredynamics.com). The event, which provides...

Essential fiber strippers shift into multi-functional gear: though often more expensive than popular single-use tools, newer multi-use strippers are designed to offer more functionality and more reliable stripping.(product update)
June 1, 2006... Before the connector or splicer gets involved, and even before the cleaver takes action, the fiber-termination process begins with the fiber stripper, While they are not the most glorious or most expensive tools in fiber-optic cabling,...

Wireless video system.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... The IntelliViewer wireless video monitoring platform, driven by the manufacturer's proprietary software, lets your security customers remotely access, monitor and control security systems from virtually any manufacturer, using any off-the-shelf...

Fixed dome network camera.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... The AXIS 216FD fixed dome network camera is especially suited for retail and education security installations. Featuring simultaneous Motion JPEG and MPEG-4 video streams to optimize image quality and bandwidth efficiency, the network camera...

Hybrid IP suite.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... Virtual Allegiant Satellite Application (VASA), part of the manufacturer's hybrid IP software suite, gives security managers a comprehensive view of hybrid systems by integrating existing analog components with new IP-based components....

Portable labeling tool.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... Recently reduced to $99, the ID PAL labeling tool is a handheld label printer designed for industrial labeling applications, including cable marking, patch panels, control panel and component marking, workstation labels, and field service and...

Video/data fiber link.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... Designed for surveillance, intelligent transportation systems and traffic monitoring, the DVM-3500 12-bit video and 4-channel data fiber-optic transport system provides point-to-point fiber transport capability and will soon be fully compatible...

Back-lit label display.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... Designed for installations in dark and poorly lit areas, the PT-2700 labeling system features a back-lit display for clear viewing in virtually any environment, an angled keytop designed for more accurate typing, automatic tape cutter, and...

Wet environment boxes.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... CN Series NEMA-rated, die-cast aluminum junction box enclosures are designed especially for wet and dirty industrial installations, and in wash-down environments. Optional mounting flanges are molded to the base of the enclosure rather than to...

Pick-a-size thermal cabinet.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... The TeraFrame cabinet system can be personalized to meet specific data center needs, and is designed to solve thermal issues while lessening the need for cooling equipment. The system is available in three different widths (600, 700 and...

Plug-and-play OSP system.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... Built for fast outside plant (OSP) LAN deployment, the Plug & Play OSP System consists of an optical cable pre-installed with network access points at customer-specified intervals, and a tethered, environmentally-hardened MT connector. The MT...

Quicky field cleaver.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... Performing thousands of cleaves for about two cents per cleave, according to the manufacturer, this field tool is designed especially for quick mechanical splices and connector termination. A ceramic blade performs more than 6,000 cleaves...

Ethernet analyzer.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... The updated EtherScope network assistant is a wired/wireless LAN analyzer tool for Gigabit Ethernet-speed networks that now can "see" into all wireless networks (802.11/a/b/g). The portable device helps you quickly isolate urgent problems, as...

Powered panel system.(New Products)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The PowerTrac powered infrastructure panel system is a 24-port, 802.3af mid-span designed to support maximum, sustained, and simultaneous Power over Ethernet (PoE) power on all ports. The system, which integrates PoE and asset management in a...

Insulated cable cutter.(New Products)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The insulated Klein-Kurve is a multiple function stripper/cutter with curved handles, designed to cut, strip, loop and gauge both solid and stranded wire while providing double-layer protection against shock from energized sources up to 1,000...

Bend-friendly fiber.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... AllWave FLEX ZWP singlemode fiber is a Zero Water Peak G.652D media designed to offer superior bend performance for fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), enterprise networks, or other installations where small bend diameters may be encountered. The fiber...

Steady tool holster.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... The GripPack tool holster is designed to firmly hold your essential tools used to install or maintain data networks and for cabling installations. A form-fitted PVC material ensures that tools won't fall out, even if upside down. The belt clip...

Four-post rack system.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... This four-post rack system is built to support data center network equipment, combining the stability of a cabinet with the accessibility of an open rack to provide flexibility of network layout design and installation. The company's...

Cable restraint system.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... For high-density data center and telecom installations, the KIT-CABLERES-01 universal cable restraint system is designed to secure interconnections and organize cables. The system provides two functions in one device, replacing plug/connector...

Integrated access point.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... The DDC36g integrated high-powered wireless access point (WAP) incorporates access point, amplifier, network switch, and antenna into a single component. The WAP features two Power over Ethernet-enabled data ports, designed to allow devices to...

Wireless IP camera.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... The EZ Connect g Wireless IP camera (SMCWIPCAM-G) is designed to turn a wireless network into a Web-accessible wireless security system. With wireless coverage reaching up to 300 meters indoors, the camera has built-in motion-detection features...

Zero-downtime UPS.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... The 5000 VA and 6000 VA SmartOnline hot-swappable modular UPS systems are designed for server networking racks where space is limited. According to the company, the UPS promises zero downtime for connected server, storage and networking...

Shielded cable assemblies.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... Designed for military/aerospace communications systems, the MDM Octopus is a multi-interconnect shielded cable assembly that features the manufacturer's twinax or triax RF connectors terminated on one end, and a single MDM (microminiature D...

Fiber-optic design guide.(New Products)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The sixth edition of the LANscape Solutions Fiber Optic Design Guide features information on emerging technologies and standards development, and emphasizes data center design, planning, and implementation. Updated in concert with the...

Data center products.(New Products)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Wright Line has introduced a free data center accessories catalog that features its full line of products that work in concert with the company's Paramount and Vantage $2 enclosure platforms. With more than 100 pages of full color information,...

Fiber-optic cameras.(New Products)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Available in multiple fiber modes, these vandal-resistant security video cameras are designed to transmit up to 8 km without re-amplification. They feature built-in transmitter, camera mount, receiver, 3.5 to 8-mm vari-focal auto-iris lens, sun...

Network service module.(New Products)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... A new network service module for the company's DTX CableAnalyzer series is designed for cable certification as well as to verify and document link connectivity. The module lets you follow industry best practices, which recommend verifying the...

Pre-polished time savers.(New Products)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The OptiCam termination tool is designed to provide easy terminations of OptiCam pre-polished connectors. The tool features an integrated visual fault locator for visual indication of proper termination after the cam step has been completed....

Industrial label system.(New Products)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... A range of full-color asset identification labels designed for industrial use, such as identifying data center and network equipment, are manufactured to any size or format in a wide range of material and adhesive combinations--including...

Four-port outlet.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... This four-port modular furniture outlet is designed to accept any single-position module, including DataGate jacks. The module fits into any cut-out size measuring 1.345 to 1.405 inches x 2.93 to 2.99 inches. A labeling area with clean-hinged...

OSP splitter.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... Designed especially for fiber protection, management and maintenance in outside plant (OSP) Fiber-to-the-x (FTTx) applications, this ruggedized splitter features a "one-touch turn-up" design, allowing output legs to be handled only during...

Fiber-optic (and copper) tools.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... The 119-page 2006 Product Catalog from Fiber Instrument Sales includes an expanded copper cabling section as well as color photos and descriptions of fiber-optic tools and equipment, such as connectors, test equipment, fusion splicers, outside...

OTDR: oughta try doin' it right.(PERSPECTIVE)(optical time-domain reflectometers)
June 1, 2006... An article on the topic of optical time-domain reflectometers (OTDRs) that appeared in the April issue of this magazine correctly noted, "Bad connectors and too tight bends can be masked by other good connections" when an optical-loss test set...