Cabling Installation & Maintenance articles from October 2003

Cabling Installation & Maintenance archives from October 2003

The dynamics of our uncertain and fast-paced market.(Editorial)
October 1, 2003... For a few weeks late in the summer, this magazine conducted a survey among some of its subscribers who are classified as end users; they are individuals who manage, maintain, repair, or otherwise administer the cabling systems for their...

Pathways support organizational evolution and workspace design.(Perspective)
October 1, 2003... Forward-thinking managers want their employees to spend less time on process and more time concentrating, creating, and communicating. As a result, there is a relentless drive to reduce process through the application of technology. These...

The industry's foundation is always shifting.(Ask Donna)(telecommunications structured cabling)(Column)
October 1, 2003... Did you ever wonder why the "holy grail" for telecommunications structured cabling, TIA-568, always seems to be changing! Did you know that ANSI mandates that standards be revised, withdrawn or reaffirmed every five years? This review...

Media converters continue to extend budgets, networks: they're not just for conversion anymore.(design)(Transition Networks Inc. introduced a 10/100/1000 Mbits/sec media converter )
October 1, 2003... End users whose cable networks are straining at the leash are turning to contractors to install media converters so they can inexpensively extend fiber to remote locations. Low-cost media converters are being used to comfortably upgrade...

Casino upgrade proves a big winner: the deck was stacked in favor of training and support for an in-house installation crew.(installation)(Las Vegas Hilton Resort and Casino)
October 1, 2003... Upgrading critical systems is challenging under any circumstances, but in the Las Vegas entertainment industry, where slot machines are ringing and bright lights are flashing 24 hours a day, undertaking a major system overhaul can be a gamble....

Beyond category 6: what's the big deal? it may be that most customers perceive no compelling need for anything beyond category 6.(technology)
October 1, 2003... Have you ever tried the pick-up line: "Hey, I make copper cables for a living; what do you do?" I would not suggest it. And don't think substituting the word "fiber" for "copper" will get you any more respect--even that has lost its luster...

Biometric technology: it knows who you are: hand, face, signature recognition systems are as simple to use as they are to install.(security)
October 1, 2003... As government, public and private organizations search for more secure methods of controlling physical access, biometrics is receiving increased attention. According to TMC Research (www .tmcnet.com), physical access control will reach...

General Cable, Molex Premise Networks team up to make cable solution.(Industry spotlight)
October 1, 2003... General Cable (www.generalcable .com) and Molex Premise Networks (www.molexpn.com) are launching a strategic partnership to make enhanced Category 5e and 6 solutions. "Both our companies design and develop high-quality products, and the...

Tester manufacturer on the verge of emerging from bankruptcy protection.(Industry spotlight)(Acterna Corp.)
October 1, 2003... Acterna Corps (www.acterna.com) battle to emerge from Chapter 11 is just about over. The test equipment manufacturer has filed its proposed Plan of Reorganization and Disclosure Statement with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern...

WireTracks targets post-construction residential cabling market.(Industry spotlight)(WireTracks L.L.C.)
October 1, 2003... WireTracks (www.wiretracks.com), a Seattle-based company, has entered the residential cabling component market, promising existing homeowners and businesses that their low-voltage cables can be hidden from sight. The company is introducing...

Purchase of Levels XP program expands UL's cabling reach.(Industry spotlight)(Anixter Brothers Inc.)(intellectual property sold to Underwriters Laboratories Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Underwriters Laboratories' (UL; www.ul.com) purchase of the rights and intellectual property associated with the Levels XP program from Anixter (www.anixter.com) this past spring vaults the testing organization into a more-visible position...

Electrical-distributor survey shows heavy voice/data sales.(Industry spotlight)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED; www.naed.org) recently released the results of the 2003 TED Magazine voice/dataproducts survey. The survey examines current distributor involvement in this product area, and compares...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
October 1, 2003... In the article "Lower cost copper solutions may drive 10-Gigabit Ethernet" in our August issue (pages 24-28), we left you hanging at the very end by failing to print the last few lines of the article. The concluding sentences in that article...

Network management meets the physical layer: intelligent patching systems are positioned as viable options for physical-layer management.(product update)
October 1, 2003... The concept of "intelligent" patching systems that provide users with vision into--and management capability of--patching fields is not brand new. Yet while the concept has been around for several years, many of the intelligent-patching systems...

Lightweight, flexible raceway.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... The FieldMate CR series cable raceway is lightweight and flexible, designed for easy configuration and installation where cabling density and tight quarters require a versatile solution. With stringers made of 16-gauge high-tensile tubular...

Punch-down tool has guiding light.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... This 110 punch-down tool, designed to terminate 28-22 AWG solid or stranded wire on panels with 110-style IDC contacts, features a battery-operated, high-intensity light to illuminate panels in dark cabinets, work areas and closets. The...

Multi-use fiber connectors.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... Field-terminable optical-fiber connectors support campus and building backbones, horizontal cabling applications for LANs or SANs, device termination and data centers. ST series connectors feature a bayonet-type twist-lock for mounting; SC...

Cat 5e/coax combo comes home.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... The CatLink Dual Zip is a 24/4-pair Category 5e cable coupled with a quad-shield RG-6 coaxial cable (tested to 2.4 GHz). Third-party tested to exceed Cat 5e standards, Dual Zip offers performance to 200 MHz. A premium version of the dual cable...

Firestopping little plugger.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... To seal single or bunched cables in firewalls or floors, the CP 658 firestop plug is a flexible intumescent material designed for cored or round holes. Reusable and repenetrable, the plug offers a dust- and fiberfree solution for meeting...

Fiber connectors for high-end installations.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... Based on proven LC ceramic ferrules, the PHD optical-fiber connector series is designed for backlanes, switches, crossconnects, flex circuits, and high -performance parallel processing systems. The multi-fiber series, built for high-end telecom...

Coax simplifies video installation.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... XRJAX is a coax cable connector in a RJ-45 form factor, designed to eliminate having to untread a "F" connector or reach into a tight location for a BNC to disconnect the cable. Unplug as you would your phone jack. The connectors are...

Connectivity that stays or moves.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... Clarity Jak-Paks, available for Category 6 or Category 5e connectivity, are designed to provide a compact, flexible, multi-user solution that can be permanently mounted or used in temporary environments. Constructed of a high-impact,...

Rack-mounting when space is tight.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... Rack-it is a set of mounting brackets that lets you mount network equipment, patch panels and enclosures in areas where floor and wall space is at a premium. Universal hole spacing ensures compatibility with EIA-standard equipment and...

Audio distribution via Category 5.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... The AN-16/i Input Module, AN-16/o Output Module, and the A-16SB System Bridge work together to create a digital audio snake capable of digitally transferring high-quality, 24-bit audio over Category 5 cable. The manufacturer's proprietary A-Net...

Home, small office structured cabling.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... Home Network Science, a structured cabling system for residential, small office/home office (SOHO) and multi-dwelling installations, offers Category 5e and Category 6 performance for telephone, video and television distribution, whole-house...

Heavy-duty enclosure repels dust, water.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... The Industrial REbox is an impact-resistant, wall-mount enclosure designed for harsh environments. It is manufactured with a dust-free and watertight gasket built into the door, and the company says it is UL508-listed and NEMA Type 4, 12 and...

Angled faceplates.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... Series II angled faceplates allow angled positioning of the manufacturer's Clarity 6 and Clarity 5e Series II modules, as well as other 1-unit flat Series II modules. Angled positioning is designed to provide a lower profile workstation...

Surge protector fends off lightning.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... Designed for harsh environment installations to protect against direct lightning strikes, the DS250VG protection module for single and three-phase AC power line applications employs a hybrid circuit that combines brute force energy-handling...

Pipe grounding clamps.(Cabling Systems Expo New Products Showcase)
October 1, 2003... This series of universal pipe clamps includes a mechanical connector to connect ground conductors #6 through 250 MCM, and have a pipe range of 8 to 12 inches. Clamps can also be connected to ground conductors via exothermic connections or...

Cable support with installation flexibility.(Cabling Systems Expo New Products Showcase)
October 1, 2003... The Caddy CableCat CAT-CM is a cable-support system that offers installation flexibility and provides a convenient pathway for wires and cables in applications where cable tray is traditionally used. Specially designed U-hooks and double...

Double-hinged wall-mount cabinet.(Cabling Systems Expo New Products Showcase)
October 1, 2003... Designed for applications where security and accessibility are both required and floor space is at a premium, this cabinet can mount to a wall or a pole (with an optional polemounting kit). The cabinet can be left- or right-hinged and ships...

Teleconferencing hub.(Cabling Systems Expo New Products Showcase)
October 1, 2003... The V-Hub conference phone is a full-duplex, simultaneous, two-way communication conference , phone that provides clean, clear sound. It includes three omni-directional microphones, a recessed LCD display, 10-number speed dial, special calling...

Water-blocked tight-buffer I/O cables.(Cabling Systems Expo New Products Showcase)
October 1, 2003... The indoor/outdoor tight-buffer OFNR-rated line of optical-fiber cables now includes a dry water-blocking functionality. This new design complies with the Bellcore/Telcordia GR-20 requirements for water-blocking of outside plant cables, while...

EFM optical networking unit.(Cabling Systems Expo New Products Showcase)
October 1, 2003... The RA21 Optical Networking Unit is an Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM) product that enables reliable optical Ethernet services to business and residential users through a point-to-point fiber-based network infrastructure. It provides a...