Cabling Installation & Maintenance articles from May 2006

Cabling Installation & Maintenance archives from May 2006

A monologue on a monorail.(CTIA Wireless)(future of wireless networking )(Editorial)
May 1, 2006... Last month, the city of Las Vegas was the site of two events that, in some ways, peered into the future of the structured cabling industry. One was ISC West, which is aimed at dealers, system integrators, and users of security systems. The...

There's wiring behind that wireless LAN.(Ask DONNA)
May 1, 2006... As part of our ongoing efforts to bring you practical information on the development of wireless local area networks, we decided to revisit Donna Ballast's previously published observations on the importance of conducting a site survey. Cabling...

Why grounding is critical to data center uptime: you can gain a competitive edge with your customers by understanding and then offering network grounding/bonding expertise.(design)
May 1, 2006... Data centers need to achieve unprecedented levels of uptime to keep pace with modern business demands To achieve these uptime goals, data center managers are paying increased attention to facility infrastructure issues, including the network...

Open racks are cool choice for data centers: despite the influx of upmarket cabinets, open racks continue to be a better fit for some applications.(installation)
May 1, 2006... When it comes to choosing the racks and cabinets that will house expensive network equipment, data center managers are challenged with providing the cooling, security, space, and manageability needed to ensure reliability, uptime, and future...

10-Gig-ready cabling at Kennedy Space Center: NASA's 190,000-square-foot Operations Support Building II defies the notion that "it's not rocket science.".(technology)(National Aeronautics and Space Administration upgrades its communications network)
May 1, 2006... When the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA; www. nasa.gov) decided to up grade the communications network in its Operations Support Building II at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, FL, performance, reliability,...

Cabling vendors embrace a wireless future: providers of wiring infrastructure have expanded their offerings as widespread wireless LAN deployment appears inevitable.(wireless)
May 1, 2006... As wireless increasingly infiltrates the "wired" world, people everywhere are working where they want with access to the information they need. Through new standards and technologies, the growth of wireless LANs (WLANs) in the premises...

Alternative triple-play technologies hope to score interoperability at home.(INDUSTRY spotlight)(UTP copper and fiber cable have received challenges from alternative technologies )
May 1, 2006... Mainstream UTP copper and fiber cable have received challenges recently to the home installation marketplace from alternative technologies that are banking on the merits of already-installed media. The Universal Powerline Association (UPA;...

BICSI Link Workshops to focus on data centers, security, and wireless networks.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... BICSI (www.bicsi.org) has lined up 42 presentations for its first-ever BICSI Link Workshops at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers (June 25-28), where the predominant topics will be data-center infrastructure administration, security, and...

Training that's good-to-go.(INDUSTRY spotlight)
May 1, 2006... Pursuing a new generation of cabling installers, Training Reels (www. trainingdept.com) is now offering its four video training products in an iPod edition. Each course is supplied as MP4 files on a data DVD, which can then be dropped into...

AFL opens new R&D facility.(INDUSTRY spotlight)
May 1, 2006... In collaboration with parent company Fujikura Ltd. of Japan, AFL Telecommunications (www.AFLtele.com) has opened a research and development center in Spartanburg, SC to develop new products and invest in new markets beyond the company's...

Online cabinet configuration tool gets upgrade.(INDUSTRY spotlight)
May 1, 2006... Following a more than one-year online maiden voyage, Hoffman's (www.hoffman.com) datacom cabinet configuration tool has been relaunched with features that the company says will better serve its buyers. The Configurator is a design and...

Fiber cleavers couple simplicity with accuracy: the all-important cleave is getting a little easier, and not much more expensive.(optical fiber cleavers)
May 1, 2006... Consistency. Reliability. Accuracy. These traits are what technicians are seeking in today's optical-fiber cleavers. Technicians are looking for a fiber cleaver that will produce a good cleave, one that is affordable, and can do the job...

Universal marking system.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... The updated EZ-Mark universal marking system can print labels that will fit most manufacturers' terminal blocks, make wire markers (both wrap-around adhesive type and tube-insert type), and produce panel and push-button nameplates. The enclosed...

Grounding system.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... The Hyground irreversible compression grounding system for telecommunications and other mission-critical applications consists of connectors for cross-grid connections, taps, splices, cable-to-ground rod, ground plates, and terminations. With...

Premises security cable.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... FREEDM fan-out cables, designed for premises security applications, feature flame-retardant 900-[micro]m buffered fiber sub-units surrounded by water-resistant, dielectric strength members, and protected by a flexible, flame-retardant,...

Fiber connector cleaner.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... This fiber-optic connector cleaner cartridge uses cleanroom-grade cleaning media to remove dirt, dust, oil, grease, and debris from connector endfaces. A rubber pad beneath the cleaning surface prevents scratches, and a sliding cover protects...

Fiber verification kits.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... Four new SimpliFiber optical loss test kits contain tools for measuring loss and power levels, locating faults and polarity issues, inspecting connector endfaces, and other tasks faced by technicians and contractors. The Complete Fiber...

Low-profile fusion splicer.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... The FITEL 8122 is a handheld fusion splicer designed for installers of all experience levels. Featuring high-end ribbon splicing technology, the S122 weighs 2.3 pounds with battery and measures 1.85 inches high at the keypad (compared to 2.8...

Filler foam.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... The CF 810 Crack and Joint Pro is billed as a high-performance, high-yield foam for filling around penetrations and general gap/crack applications, such as insulating around cable penetrations, HVAC ducts, and outlet boxes. Compliant with the...

Termination kit.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... Xpress termination tool kits were developed to support all Xpress termination LC, SC, and ST connectors. The 86000-3200 kit includes all tools required to terminate connectors designed for installation onto 900-[micro]m buffered fiber, while...

Data cabinets with thermal management.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... The Proline series of data cabinets now provide options for passive or active thermal management, in conjunction with random or hot/cold aisle configurations. The company's FloTek and ConnecTek packages include models that have been tested to...

Cabling systems catalog.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... Molex Premise Networks' 128-page 2006 Product & Applications Guide features the latest information on the company's cabling solutions, as well as up-to-date specifications and reference materials. New additions include the company's ScTP...

Rechargeable batteries.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... The AGM and Power Guard series of long-life rechargeable batteries are designed for telecommunications and uninterruptible power supply applications. The AGM group of 6-V and 12-V batteries are designed for a 10-year life in standby...

Thermal transfer printer.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... Featuring a cut-to-length functionality designed to eliminate label waste and trimming labor, the Panther LS8 handheld thermal transfer printer is built to produce industrial labels on a wide variety of materials. The printer uses label...

Dual-heater splicer.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... The Type-39 FastCat core alignment fusion splicer features a built-in dual heating system that, according to the manufacturer, reduces heater waiting time by 88%. With an individual heater cycle time of 30 seconds (60-mm fiber protection...

Fiber-to-the-desk connectors.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... The SureConnect family of isolated fiber-optic union adapters feature a patent-pending technology that includes an integrated fiber stub that prevents direct contact between two connectorized fibers. The isolated union adapter is designed to...

Long-length tie dispenser.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... The Ty-Rap Tote 11-14 combination cable tie dispenser is designed to hold ties up to 14 inches long. The dispenser is designed to clip onto a belt or tool pouch for hands free installation. It is constructed of a durable polyester exterior and...

Handheld fiber prep.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... The FPU-Polymide handheld fiber preparation unit is designed to address the task of removing polymide, metallic, and carbon-coated fibers without harsh chemicals. The unit's patented IECP (Ion Enhanced Cold Plasma) stripping technology ionizes...

Ribbon cable assembly.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... Designed for harsh environment installation, this stainless steel ribbon fiber cable is constructed of a crush-, abrasion-, and chemical-resistant stainless steel jacketing, plus MT ribbon fiber connectors. The assemblies are suitable for such...

Rack-mount PDUs.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... The ValueLine of rack-mount power distribution units (PDUs) are available in 8-, 10-, or 12-socket configurations, include 2- and 4-pole EMI noise filtering, and offer the highest level of protection from power line surges. All models include a...

Web-enabled switch.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... The iBoot DC is a single-circuit power switch that lets you reboot or power-control remote telecommunications and electronics equipment over an IP network via a Web browser interface. According to the company, you can connect any DC...

Extreme temperature wiring duct.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... With two-point contact design, Ty-Duct wiring duct is UL94-recognized for use in temperatures up to 122[degrees]F. Triple restricted slots assist in installation and in wire retention in the duct. A universal mounting clip lets you snap the...

3-phase PDU.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... The VPC2864 series of 3-phase vertical power distribution units (PDU) include current metering on each phase, designed to properly balance and load the system. The 3-phase power input provides high power density, allowing 48 amps of continuous...

10-GbE/Cat 5e transceiver.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... 10-Gigabit Ethernet (10-GbE) XENPAK copper transceiver enables 10-Gbits/sec connections by using Category 5e cabling and RJ-45 connectors to reach up to 10 meters. According to the company, you can quickly deploy full-duplex 10-GbE...

Teleprotection tester.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... The SunSetMTT-45 Module is designed to assist technicians in turning up a network or when working to isolate problems on an existing network using teleprotection and multiplexer technology. The unit is built to address the IEEE C37.94 standard,...

Handheld OTDR.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... The Noyes M200 handheld OTDR, available in three models, offers fiber-optic test and troubleshooting capabilities in an under-2 pounds package. The M200-MM (850/1300-nm multimode) and M200-Quad (85/ 1300-nm multimode plus 1310/ 1550-nm...

Serial-to-Ethernet converter.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... Designed especially for process control LANs, SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition), and manufacturing networks, the TC3420 serial-to-Ethernet converter converts RS-232, RS-422 or RS-485 asynchronous data to packets for poll/response...

Augmented Cat 6 patch cords.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... The 10G 6A UTP BladePatch and MC Augmented Category 6 patch cords are designed to achieve optimum alien crosstalk performance through a patent-pending dual-jacket design. The layered outer jacket configuration protects from crosstalk noise or...

Cable tray locking tabs.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... Built-in locking tabs in the redesigned FASLOCK splices are intended to help you quickly build sweeps and bends in wire cable tray. To install and lock in place, you bend the tabs with a standard pair of pliers. FASLOCK S splice is designed for...

Cable management catalog.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... A new catalog from HellermannTyton features products for bundling and securing, clamping, routing and protecting, and identifying wire, cable, and components. The 216-page catalog includes full specification information in U.S. and metric...

Enterprise wireless AP.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... The newest EliteConnect Wireless Access Points (AP) add QoS for VoIP networks, SNMP v.3 for integration into enterprise wired networks, and high-power output designed to cover wider areas with fewer access points. The SMC2555W-AG2 (pictured)...