Cabling Installation & Maintenance articles from November 2008

Cabling Installation & Maintenance archives from November 2008

Thanks.(Editorial)
November 1, 2008... The first weekend in October, had a family party for my niece s 13th birthday. As is the case most years, Courtney's birthday party was also the setting in which my sister-in-law said, "We need to figure out what we're going to do, and where,...

Optical fiber testing to the last nanometer: an interferometer can provide the most accurate, detailed testing of connectors, and is also an effective in-the-field troubleshooting tool.(installation)
November 1, 2008... When viewing an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) trace, you encounter high attenuation at a connected pair--a fault. You may also encounter a ghost, which is a large reflective event at a point in the passive fiber link where there is a...

Twisted-pair connectors continue technological evolution: improvements have advanced the ubiquitous interface from Category 3 to today's Category 6A, and innovation designs go even further.(technology)(Cover story)
November 1, 2008... The twisted-pair connector interface, often referred to as an RJ-45, is an 8-position, 8-contact (8P8C) modular plug and jack that was originally patented in 1975 by Western Electric Company, the manufacturing arm of AT&T. Since that time, many...

Benefits of iSCSI and virtual servers: iSCSI SANs provide a solid foundation for virtual servers.(data center)(Small Computer System Interface)(storage area network)
November 1, 2008... Server virtualization is one of the hottest trends to emerge in the computer industry over the past few years, at both ends of the server spectrum--from mainframes to high-volume x86-based servers. This article focuses on the volume server...

Integrated security brings order to the court: billed as the most secure court facility in North America, the Calgary Courts Centre required careful integration of two court systems from five different buildings.(security)
November 1, 2008... Judges and jurors. Prosecutors and prisoners. Clerks and complainants. Barristers and bailiffs. Day in and day out, thousands of people move through the striking Calgary Courts Centre in Alberta, Canada. This technologically advanced building...

Super speeds on the horizon: what will skew do? The IEEE is working to weigh all factors affecting delay skew in 40- and 100-Gbits/sec transmission before a standard is finalized.(cabling)(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
November 1, 2008... The IEEE 802.3ba Task Force is well underway in developing the next higher speed transmission rates for Ether net network communications. On the heels of 10 Gigabit Ethernet, it is remarkable to think that within two years we'll be seeing...

For some, professional achievement is a personal quest.(INDUSTRY spotlight)(Don Wilkison )
November 1, 2008... Don Wilkison was anticipating a couple of anxiety-filled days ahead as he stood in line to board his flight home. After spending nearly a week in Las Vegas, he was about to head back to the Sacramento, CA area, unsure whether he had...

BICSI appoints new executive director, seeks LEED credits for members.(INDUSTRY spotlight)(appointment of John D. Clark, Jr., )
November 1, 2008... John D. Clark, Jr., most recently president and CEO of the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers, has been appointed executive director/CEO of BICSI (www.bicsi.org) by its board of directors. Clark is a Certified Association...

Northborough, MA--Spencer Technologies (www.spencertech.com) has consolidated its point-of-sale data networking and consulting business with its recently acquired structured cabling operation in the company's new 30,000-square-foot headquarters.(Short runs ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... NORTHBOROUGH, MA -- Spencer Technologies (www.spencertech.com) has consolidated its point-of-sale data networking and consulting business with its recently acquired structured cabling operation in the company's new 30,000-square-foot...

Burlington, MA/New London, CT--wireless and enterprise mobility solution provider Bluesocket, Inc. (www.bluesocket. com) and Ortronics/Legrand (ww.ortronics.com) have entered a joint marketing agreement to address market demand for greater security and flexibility in wireless solutions.(Short runs ...)
November 1, 2008... BURLINGTON, MA/NEW LONDON, CT -- Wireless and enterprise mobility solution provider Bluesocket, Inc. (www.bluesocket. com) and Ortronics/Legrand (ww.ortronics.com) have entered a joint marketing agreement to address market demand for greater...

Santa Fe, NM--APC by Schneider Electric (www.apc.com), a provider of integrated critical power and cooling services, is partnering with Upsite Technologies (www.upsite.com) to distribute Upsite's KoldLok family of cable sealing solutions to data centers throughout the world.(Short runs ...)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... SANTA FE, NM -- APC by Schneider Electric (www.apc.com), a provider of integrated critical power and cooling services, is partnering with Upsite Technologies (www.upsite.com) to distribute Upsite's KoldLok family of cable sealing solutions to...

Guaranteed-for-life tool.(Product Focus: punchdown tools)
November 1, 2008... This no-slip punchdown tool with 110-style blade is designed with finger grips and cushioned sides for fast, comfortable punches. Guaranteed for life, the tool comes with one blade and provides blade storage. It accepts all twist-and-lock style...

Twisted-pair field terminator.(Product Focus: punchdown tools)
November 1, 2008... The Punchmaster II punchdown tool is engineered for field termination of twisted-pair conductors commonly deployed in telephone and network installations. Featuring a proprietary Turn-Lock style blade-holding system, the Punchmaster II is...

Multi-purpose termination solution.(Product Focus: punchdown tools)
November 1, 2008... The redesigned JackRapid termination tool lets you install Category 3, 5, 5e and 6 jacks up to eight times faster than with traditional punchdown tools. Terminate and trim all eight wires in a jack at once, and with one squeeze. The...

Automatic impact tool.(Product Focus: punchdown tools)
November 1, 2008... The PDT-66/110 spring-loaded adjustable, automatic impact tool is used for terminating wires on 110/88 or 66-type connecting blocks. Precision hardened and interchangeable blades spread the termination prongs to allow fast and simplified...

Internal impact spring mechanism.(Product Focus: punchdown tools)
November 1, 2008... The Impact punchdown tool with internal impact spring mechanism is designed for more efficient and uniform connections with less effort. The tool has an adjustable-force thumb wheel that lets you select an optimal punchdown setting. This...

End-to-end category 6A components.(New Products)
November 1, 2008... ETL-verified CAT6a cabling solutions are designed to enable 10-Gbit/sec connectivity in the data center and throughout a structured cabling system. These CAT6a end-to-end solutions pass all TIA/ EIA-568-B.2-10 requirements in both "channel" and...

Raised floor sealer.(New Products)
November 1, 2008... The KoldLok Mini Raised Floor Grommet is designed to seal smaller cable holes, reduce bypass airflow and increase energy efficiency. Featuring brush closures that surround and protect cables, the KoldLok Mini Raised Floor is designed to...

Media distribution system.(New Products)
November 1, 2008... This media distribution system is designed for voice, video, and data for commercial or residential deployments. Combining space savings, service flexibility, and aesthetics, this media distribution system consolidates all incoming...

Integrated system for data centers.(New Products)
November 1, 2008... VersaPOD data center solution integrates bayed data center cabinets with high density zero U vertical patching and cable management. It is available with a variety of integrated zero U vertical patch panels (VPP) for support of copper and fiber...