FOR PROFESSIONALS MANAGING THE CABLE AND WIRELESS

JUNE 2018 SYSTEMS THAT ENABLE CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS

CABLING REALITY GETS

AUGMENTED PAGE 29

INSTALLATION PAGE 5

The necessity of
fiber inspection
DESIGN PAGE 7

Rounding up field-
terminated plugs
TECHNOLOGY PAGE 21

Where does
multimode hand off
to singlemode?
w w w.c a b li n g i n s t a ll .c o m

1806CIM_C1 1 5/21/18 7:40 AM

 You say challenge.
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© 2018 Corning Optical Communications. LAN-2312-AEN / April 2018

1806CIM_C2 2 5/21/18 7:40 AM

 CONTENTS J U N E 2 018
vol. 26, no. 6

ABOUT THE COVER

CommScope plans to demonstrate
augmented reality (AR)
capabilities within its imVision
automtated infrastructure
management solution.
SEE ARTICLE ON PAGE 29.

Group Publisher Alan Bergstein

(603)-891-9447; alanb@pennwell.com
Chief Editor Patrick McLaughlin
(603) 891-9222; patrick@pennwell.com
Senior Editor Matt Vincent
(603) 891-9262; mattv@pennwell.com
Art Director Cindy Chamberlin
Production Director Mari Rodriguez
Senior Illustrator Dan Rodd
Marketing Manager Joni Montemagno

FEATURES
Audience Development Manager Debbie Bouley
Ad Traffic Manager Glenda Van Duyne

www.pennwell.com
5 INSTALLATION 18 DATA CENTER EDITORIAL OFFICES
Fiber cleaning and inspection: IBYC Ensure your multifiber cabling Cabling Installation & Maintenance
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BRIAN TEAGUE AND TYLER network runs smoothly Tel: (603) 891-0123, www.cablinginstall.com
VANDER PLOEG MIKE JONES CORPORATE OFFICERS
Chairman Robert F. Biolchini, 1939-2017

7 DESIGN
What you need to know about
direct attach connectors
TIM LEHOTSKY
14 WIRELESS
Wireless LANs are here to stay
JEANNA DEESE AND MATT MILLER
21 TECHNOLOGY
Multimode and singlemode
cabling options for data centers
PATRICK MCLAUGHLIN
Vice Chairman Frank T. Lauinger
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mark C. Wilmoth
Executive Vice President, Corporate Development
and Strategy Jayne A. Gilsinger
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Officer Brian Conway
TECHNOLOGY GROUP
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DEPARTMENTS
Cabling Installation & Maintenance ® (ISSN 1073-3108), Volume 26, No. 6.
Cabling Installation & Maintenance is published 12 times a year, monthly by

3 EDITORIAL 26 EDITOR’S PICKS

PennWell® Corporation, 1421 S. Sheridan, Tulsa, OK 74112. Periodicals postage
paid at Tulsa, OK 74112 and at additional mailing offices. SUBSCRIPTION
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32 INFRASTRUCTURE INSIGHTS
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subscriber list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and
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offers and/or information via direct mail, please let us know by contacting us at
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1806CIM_1 1 5/21/18 7:38 AM

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1806CIM_2 2 5/21/18 7:38 AM

 EDITORIAL

W H AT 'S N E W AT
www.cablinginstall.com
A WAP upside
the head
CABLE MANAGEMENT It's been drilled into all of us that the argument,
Cabling and enclosures for "That's the way we've always done it," isn't really
broadcast applications much of an argument at all, but more like an ad-
mission of defeat. When that's my only explana-
INTERNET OF THINGS tion for why I'm doing something a certain way,
Molex, Deco collaborate on I have lost. If the current method is still the best,
PoE lighting or is even still valid, then there's a better case
to be made for it than, "That's the way we've al-
PATRICK McLAUGHLIN ways done it."
patrick@pennwell.com This reality hit me recently when I was ques-
tioned about some terminology we use here in
Cabling Installation & Maintenance and on our website, cablinginstall.com.
Specifically, I got in the midst of a fun and spirited Twitter discussion (check us
out @cablingmag) about the use of the acronym WAP to mean wireless access
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS point. Tweeter @JenniferLucille stated, "They're not WAPs. Stop saying WAPs
ERICO, Caddy brands spin please" (hashtags excluded). When @TheGoldChain replied "Wireless Access
out as part of nVent Points," (emojis excluded), @JenniferLucille responded, "The word 'wireless' is
unnecessary. APs is the appropriate term" (emojis and other hashtag shenani-
gans excluded).
Then I got pulled in. @petergjones noted that we, along with others he knows
in the cabling trade, use the term "WAP" pretty consistently. Because I was
wearing my smarty pants that day, I said that if redundancy is the concern,
then we'll stop calling them "WAPs" when everyone stops using the term "NIC
DATA CENTER card." Network interface card card. Now there's some redundancy for you. But
Light-colored cabinet, when the discusson got real, I could not remember exactly why we began us-
accessories ing the term "WAP" rather than "AP" to mean wireless access point. More than
a decade ago, we put it to an audience vote. WAP won, and we've been using
the term since.
But now I don't remember why "WAP" came into favor in the first place. Why
did we even put it to a vote? I have this nagging vague memory that "AP" may
TESTING also have meant something other than "access point," and using "WAP" to mean
Fiber wireless access point avoided confusion. But you know what I am right now?
troubleshooter Confused. Furthermore, today WAP also stands for Wireless Access Protocol
blends power and Wireless Application Protocol. So maybe a more-than-a-decade-old online
meter, VFL poll isn't the best ground upon which to stand.
functions Please weigh in. Email me, Tweet us, or visit our Facebook or LinkedIn page
to let us know which term you use, and why. I promise you we'll listen to what
you have to say. That's the way we've always done it.

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance JUNE 2018 3

1806CIM_3 3 5/21/18 7:38 AM

 DON’T SCRUB
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 installation

Fiber cleaning and inspection:

Inspect before you connect
The first in a series of articles exploring of a simple process like IBYC is essential to
fiber inspection and cleaning implement as a best-practice procedure.
IBYC is a process that is easy to fol-
BY BRIAN TEAGUE, Sticklers Fiber Optic Cleaners and low and ensures perfectly clean fiber ev-
ery time to guarantee networks are run-
TYLER VANDER PLOEG, VIAVI Solutions ning efficiently.
How does IBYC work? It’s easy. First, in-
spect, then clean (if necessary), reinspect,
and finally connect. This simple process
Sticklers Fiber Optic Cleaners and VIAVI mated pair of optical connectors will cause should be the standard practice used by all
Solutions have combined our knowledge signal degradation and can lead to per- fiber technicians.
and experience to bring readers of Cabling manent defects like scratches and pits, So why is the procedure not always per-
Installation & Maintenance a series of in- which can damage both cable assemblies. formed by technicians? There are many
formative and comprehensive columns Because of this fact, the importance of the reasons the IBYC process is not done. We
looking at how network owners and fi- Inspect Before You Connect (IBYC) pro- have heard everything from, it takes too
ber technicians can maintain faultless cess is essential for anyone working in fi- long, or there are too many tools to carry,
networks. Based on the video series titled ber connectivity. through to, you don’t need to do it.
“Inspect Before You Connect,” in this arti- Guiding the fiber-optic industry are Contamination is the number-one
cle series we will discuss inspection and several benchmarks, for example the IEC threat to optical networks. For those who
cleaning processes and techniques to pre- 61300-3-35 standard for inspection and say they do not have time to inspect, we
vent endface contamination on optical cleaning fiber-optic connectors. Although ask, do they have time to go back if there is
connectors—one of the most common rea- there to help, some in the fiber industry do a contamination issue?
sons for fiber network failures. not have access or simply do not under- Contamination is a type of defect on
Contamination residing between a stand these standards. Therefore, the use the connector endface that can come from
many sources including lint, fingerprint,
oils, moisture or simply airborne dust. Most
contamination will be microscopic and
will obstruct the signal transmitted along
the fiber. The only way to know if an end-
face is truly clean is through inspection.
The goal is to eliminate any variability
in the process, and that’s where standards
like the IEC 61300-3-35 come in. This stan-
dard sets the inspection requirements for
connector quality and in determining re-
Most contamination will be microscopic, and will obstruct the signal transmitted placement or cleaning. A microscope spe-
along the fiber. cifically designed for fiber inspection is the

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance JUNE 2018 5

1806CIM_5 5 5/21/18 7:38 AM

 Fiber cleaning and inspection: Inspect before you connect continued

Inspect before you connect troubleshooting; it optimizes signal per-

Inspect formance and prevents network damage.
Is it clean

?
Proactively following the IBYC process
for both sides of a fiber connection is the
only way to ensure fiber connectors are
free of contamination.
In the next article in this series,
Inspect Sticklers Fiber Optic Cleaners and VIAVI
NO YES
Clean Connect will discuss the value of IBYC and why it
should be followed proactively. We will
also look at why all fiber connectors (even
new) should be cleaned and inspected. u

With more than 20 years of experience with

fiber-optic connectors and cable assemblies,
The IBYC—Inspect Before You Connect—process calls for technicians to 1)
Brian Teague is product manager for Sticklers
inspect, then 2) clean if necessary, 3) reinspect, then 4) connect. The simple Fiber Optic Cleaners.
process should be the standard practice used by all fiber technicians.
Tyler Vander Ploeg, RCDD is the fiber solu-
tions marketing manager at VIAVI Solutions. His
only way to determine, without a doubt, the proper tools, dirty connectors and slow 17 years of experience in the fiber-optic industry
whether connectors are clean before they networks can be a thing of the past. includes managing and developing new fiber-op-
are mated. If it is found that contamina- IBYC is a simple process that takes tic connectivity and test products and conducting
tion is present, with a few simple steps and seconds to do and reduces downtime and educational training in fiber connectivity and test.

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1806CIM_6 6 5/21/18 7:38 AM

 design
What you need to know about
direct attach connectors
The essential component of the modular plug terminated
link has characteristics you should know before using it.
BY TIM LEHOTSKY, WSP
The structured cabling industry refers
to a certain connector type as a “di-
rect-attach plug” or “field-terminated
plug.” Simply stated, it is a plug that is
installed at the end of a horizontal cable,
allowing the cable to be directly con-
nected to an end device (think camera
or wireless access point). On many oc-
casions I have heard clients ask, “What
do you mean I can’t crimp a connector
on the end of a horizontal cable and plug
it into my wireless access point?” Well,
now you can.
To clear up some possible confu-
sion, let’s first discuss the use of the
term “plug,” particularly as it is used
in the structured cabling industry.
Many people—and even some techni-
cal documents—will refer to the con-
nector at the end of a patch cord as an
“RJ-45 jack.” This article will not dis-
cuss why the term “RJ-45” is techni-
cally incorrect, but notice the use of
the term “jack.” “Jack” is a commonly
and broadly used term, but in our in-
dustry, the connector that is inserted
into a patch panel jack, a wireless ac-
cess point, or a computer’s network
interface card is technically referred
to as a plug.
www.cablinginstall.com
1806CIM_7 7
So now that
we under-
stand why it is
a field terminated
plug and not a jack,
what is wrong with a clear
plastic plug you could buy
from your favorite electron-
ics store and crimp onto the
end of a cable?
A while ago I helped a
friend build a peer-to-peer
network in his father’s office.
I did the cabling (Category 5
at the time), and he installed
the Novell Netware 3.12
(which should give you an idea of how
long ago this was). I didn’t know a patch
panel from a faceplate jack, from a J-hook.
I crimped on RJ-45s at both ends. As we
brought up each workstation, about half
did not work. Not only did I learn what
a link light does, I also learned how and
why those connectors are a bad idea. Yes,
I am certain there are technicians who
are fantastic at installing these connec-
tors, but there are inherent features of this
connector that will always make them
less reliable than that of a factory-in-
stalled connector. First, there’s no color
Cabling Installation & Maintenance
This is
Hubbell’s
direct attach
plug, which is
available in Category 6
and Category 6A performance.
A typical outlet faceplate,
like this one from Hubbell,
will have an identification
number for the entire
outlet.
coding on the connector, so
you need to memorize the
wiring pin-out. Second, if you
don’t use enough compres-
sion the wires will pull out
of the contacts or the sheath will pull out
of the strain relief. Third, what may visu-
ally appear (and even initially tested) as
a properly installed connector, may over
time fail if tension is applied to the cable,
thus loosening the strain relief and possi-
bly dislodging the connections between
the contacts in the connector and the
twisted-pair cable. The new generation of
field installed plugs described in this arti-
cle offer improvements such as color-cod-
ing, 110-style insulation displacement ter-
mination of conductors, and improved
cable strain relief.
JUNE 2018 7
5/21/18 7:38 AM
 What you need to know about direct attach connectors continued
A ceiling outlet assembly with one or
two ports—sometimes called a biscuit
box—is commonly used to support
a wireless access point. The use of a
field terminated plug allows for the
exclusion of such a device.
Where do we use it?
If you read the literature from the man-
ufacturers, you will notice that many
still recommend the traditional jack
and patch panel termination method.
However, they do recognize the practi-
cality and simplified installation of us-
ing this type of termination hardware. It
is also worth pointing out that the stan-
dards bodies now recognize their use and
there are conventional testing methods
to certify their installation. Additionally
the manufacturers will tell you these are
not a cost-effective way to produce patch
cords; their use is intended for the edge
device connection, not inside the telecom
room (for example from patch panel to
switch). Some of the common, non-end-
user applications where they are well-
suited include the following.
• IP surveillance cameras
• Wireless access points
• Room schedulers
• Audiovisual cameras
• IPTV
• HDBase-T
• PoE lighting
• IP-enabled sensors
8 JUNE 2018 Cabling Installation & Maintenance
1806CIM_8 8
Why do we use it?
Some of these examples will be obvious
to those who have installed these devices,
but for others who see the device only af-
ter it is installed, the benefits of the con-
nector may be less obvious. Sometimes
an end device (in this example a camera
or a room scheduler) will mount directly
onto the electrical box that is installed
within the wall cavity and has threaded
holes that end device will fasten to. In a
scenario such as this, it is not practical
to install a conventional wall outlet face-
plate and jack because this would conceal
the threaded holes inside the back box
and prevent the end device from mount-
ing to it. Furthermore, even if there had
been a way to anchor the device on top of
the faceplate, there would likely be insuf-
ficient space to install a short patch cord
between the jack in the faceplate and the
port in the end device. It is in this type of
example where the direct attached plug
becomes practical, and advantageous.
Here, a direct attached plug could be in-
stalled at the end of the horizontal cable
and be neatly coiled inside the back box,
so that it may be pulled out, connected
to the end device, and then the end de-
vice may be anchored to the back box.
(Note: If you do plan to coil a connector-
ized cable inside a back box, be certain to
factor in the length of the connector and
the bend radius of the cable.) Here, the
use of a direct attach plug greatly simpli-
fies the installation of the structured ca-
bling systems.
The room scheduler device at times
may create additional challenges. We are
seeing more and more of these devices;
it is a tiny touchscreen device that will
show if a conference room is in use and
may allow someone to reserve the room.
It is common to find these devices sur-
face-mounted on the vertical metal fram-
ing (mullion) that separates glass panes
when the conference room has a glass
wall. In this scenario, it is not possible
to install an electrical box, as there is no
wall cavity, it’s just glass and framing. In
the past, a standards-compliant struc-
tured cabling installation would dictate
a ceiling outlet and a patch cord that was
installed inside the mullion. With the use
of the field termination plug, that ceiling
outlet can be omitted.
Another example is an 802.11 wire-
less access point. These are often sup-
ported by the grid used for acoustical
tile ceiling (some wireless access point
devices will ship with these clips). The
conventional design we often see is a
small, plastic, plenum-rated box (some-
times called a biscuit box) with one or
two jacks; this will be installed above
the ceiling system and suspended from
a J-hook. This assembly is more com-
plex than you might think (two-piece
plastic box, jack, labels, etc.), especially
when compared to the simplicity of a
horizontal cable with a field termina-
tion plug. The use of the field termi-
nated plug allows for the exclusion of a
“biscuit box outlet” and provides a sim-
pler installation.
With Ethernet continuing to domi-
nate as the LAN standard for wired net-
works and the proliferation of smart
building sensors and other Internet of
Things (IoT) devices, we expect to see
increasing demand for the field ter-
minated plug.
Providers and specifications
Field terminated plugs were, initially,
slow to come to market due to con-
cerns over how to test their installation.
However, new designs and evolving test
procedures have resolved such issues,
kick-starting their introduction to the
market. At the time this document was
being written, at least one manufacturer
announced the introduction of a field ter-
minated plug. We expect that by the time
of publication in June 2018, additional
manufacturers will introduce products.
www.cablinginstall.com
5/21/18 7:38 AM
 What you need to know about direct attach connectors continued

TABLE 3.
The field terminated plugs included in 110-style ter-
this article are those we are familiar with mination hard- Manufacturer 110-style punch- Flush cutters Parallel Proprietary
and have worked with. The information ware. A few use down tool jaw pliers tool
in the tables comes directly from data tools specifically Belden No No No Yes
sheets and other literature produced by made for their CommScope No Yes Yes No
Hubbell No Yes No No
these manufacturers. Plugs from other termination
Leviton No Yes No No
manufacturers also are available. hardware, and
OCC No Yes Yes No
Not every connector is compati- in both those Ortronics Legrand No Yes Yes No
ble with every type of cable. Some work cases, the same Panduit No Yes Yes Yes

TABLE 1. tool would be used for ter- Ratings, listings, PoE

Category 6 Category 6A minating other connectors These connectors are listed for use
Manufacturer
UTP STP UTP STP from the same manufac- within a certain temperature range.
Belden RVAF-PUBK-S1 turer. Multiple manufac- Temperature rating may be a critical
CommScope 760235591 turers require the use of consideration when field terminated
Hubbell SP6 SP6 SP6A SP6A flush cutters and/or paral- plugs are installed within a ceiling re-
Leviton 6APLG-S6A 6APLG-S6A lel jaw pliers. turn air plenum or mechanical space.
OCC OCCUFP6A OCCS-FP6A Table 4 compares the Additionally, a plenum-rated plug is
Ortronics Legrand OR-FTPU-C6A
physical sizes of the plugs. needed when installing within a plenum
Panduit FP6X-88MTG
At least two things should environment and not all connectors are
be consid- TABLE 4.
only with solid conductors, while oth- ered when evaluating a di-
Manufacturer Width Height Length
ers will also work with stranded con- rect attach plug when it
(Dimension A) (Dimension B) (Dimension C)
ductors. Each manufacturer has a range comes to its physical size.
Belden 1.1 0.73 1.81
of conductor sizes and cable outside di- First, if the connector will CommScope N/A N/A N/A
ameters they will support. Some make be installed on a cable and Hubbell 0.56 0.62 1.74
a field terminated plug that is compat- then stored inside an elec- Leviton 0.54 0.6 1.59
ible with both shielded and unshielded trical box, look at the over- OCC 0.54 0.65 1.74
twisted-pair cable. It is also important all length of the connector Ortronics Legrand 0.55 0.5 1.79
to point out that not all of the plugs are (including the dust cap, if Panduit 0.53 0.62 1.82
plenum-rated. Additionally, consider the available) and the required
manufacturer’s extended warranty if bend radius of the cable it is connected Plug dimensions
that is applicable to your installation. to. Second, look at the spacing between A
The process for terminating the cable ports to confirm that two plugs will fit
onto these connectors varies from man- if they are seated in adjacent ports (for
ufacturer to manufacturer. Surprisingly, example a wireless access point with B
none of the connectors we evaluated use multiple Ethernet ports).
TABLE 2.
Front view
Manufacturer Cable sheath outer Individual conductor Solid/Stranded/ Shielded cable
diameter (inches) sizes (AWG) Both
Belden N/A N/A N/A No
CommScope All CommScope cables 22-26 Both No
Hubbell 0.236-0.315 23-26 Solid Yes C
Leviton 0.240-0.310 22-26 Both Yes Side view
OCC 0.216-0.335 22-24 N/A Yes
Ortronics Legrand N/A 22-26 (stranded) Both No Direct attach plugs differ in widths,
23-27 (solid) heights and lengths from manufacturer
Panduit 0.200-0.330 22-26 Both No to manufacturer.

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance JUNE 2018 9

1806CIM_9 9 5/21/18 7:38 AM

 What you need to know about direct attach connectors continued

TABLE 5.
However, in cases where wiring stan-
Manufacturer Temperature Plenum UL listings Front mating Reterminating dard T568A is used that may pres-
rating (deg. C) rated? cycles cycles ent a challenge because not all plugs
Belden N/A Yes 1863, 2043 750 20 we looked at are compatible with both
CommScope -10 to +60 Yes 1863, 2043 N/A 20 T568A and T568B.
Hubbell N/A No N/A N/A
Additionally, there is also a variety
Leviton N/A Yes 1863, 2043 N/A N/A
of ways these plugs provide strain re-
OCC -40 to +70 N/A 1863 750 N/A
Ortronics Legrand -40 to +75 No 1863 N/A 5 lief; some use a simple tie-wrap, others
Panduit -10 to +65 Yes 1863, 2043 2500 20 use compression where the cable is com-
pressed by two parallel pieces of mate-
plenum-rated. Some TABLE 6. rial. Some even use a form of compres-
manufacturers list the Manufacturer PoE compatibility (by stan- PoE compatibility sion that appears to uniformly compress
number of mating cy- dard) (in watts) the perimeter of the cable.
cles and the number Belden 100 Finally, we pointed out earlier that
of times a plug may CommScope IEEE 802.3af, 802.3at and some manufacturers identified how
be reterminated and proposed 802.3bt many times their field terminated plug
still meet the perfor- Hubbell Proposed IEEE 802.3bt, Type may be reused, but we found that while
3 and 4
mance criteria. some manufacturers do not specifi-
Leviton 100
An IP rating is de- cally identify how many times their
OCC IEEE 802.3at
fined by standard IEC Ortronics Legrand 100 plug may be reterminated, they do state
60529. It classifies the Panduit IEEE 802.3af, 802.3at, and in their product literature that they
degrees of protection proposed 802.3bt Type 3 and 4 may be reused.
provided against the in- Labeling and identification will con-
trusion of solid objects (including body manufacturers have included other tinue to necessitate some creativity with
parts like hands and fingers), such as dust, noteworthy features that are worth regards to field terminated plugs. An
accidental contact, and water. An IP rat- mentioning, including color options, outlet faceplate will often have an iden-
ing of 20 represents protection from fin- dust protection caps, and extended re- tification number for the entire out-
gers and solid objects greater than 12.5 lease hatches. let (e.g. 7A-101: floor 7, telecom room A,
mm, but carries no protection from the in- You also should consider some other outlet 101). While many applications
gress of water. features when reviewing your options. for the field terminated plug may con-
Power over Ethernet or PoE could be T568B is the dominant conductor pin- sist of only one terminated cable, con-
a topic of an article all by itself. If you go out assignment for jacks and plugs. sider the application where there may
back and look at the list of devices that
we expect these types of connectors to TABLE 7.
be used you’ll notice they are nearly all
Manufacturer Multiple colors Dust Extended release Strain relief
Wiring May be
PoE devices. The IEEE PoE standards are cap hatch standard reused?
evolving (IEEE 802.3af, 802.3at, 802.3bt). Belden N/A N/A N/A Compression T568A, N/A
Manufacturers list their PoE compatibility T568B
in different ways—some in terms of what CommScope Yes black, white N/A N/A Tie wrap N/A Yes
standard the connector is compatible Hubbell N/A Yes Yes Cylindrical T568A, Yes
with, others simply by listing a maximum compression T568B
Leviton N/A N/A Yes Cylindrical T568A, Yes
power in watts. Table 6 includes PoE com-
compression T568B
patibility information taken directly from
OCC N/A Yes Yes Cylindrical N/A N/A
the manufacturers’ respective data sheets. compression
Ortronics Legrand Yes clear, black, Yes Yes Tie wrap T568A, Yes
Other features and concerns blue T568B
Earlier we discussed some of these Panduit N/A Yes Yes Compression T568A, Yes
plugs’ technical specifications. Some T568B

10 JUNE 2018 Cabling Installation & Maintenance www.cablinginstall.com

1806CIM_10 10 5/21/18 7:38 AM

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 What you need to know about direct attach connectors continued

Standard-defined permanent link

Permanent link

Consolidation
Permanent link Permanent link
point cabling
test equipment test equipment
(optional) Horizontal cabling
cord cord

Test
T Telecomunications Horizontal T
Test
Consolidation
equipment outlet cross-connect equipment
point connector
(optional) or interconnect

The ANSI/TIA-568-C.2 standard, which defines the permanent link, does not recognize the direct attach plug. Rather, the
“C.2” standard requires that a horizontal cable is terminated onto a modular jack at the work area to provide flexible access
to the user.

be multiple cables. Multiple cables, ter-
minated on jacks set in a faceplate, are
easy to organize and identify as well as
label in compliance with TIA 606 stan-
dards. However, two or more cables with
field terminated plugs, coiled in a ceil-
ing, suspended from a J-hook, are not
grouped by a faceplate. Short of using
two different colored horizontal cables,
clearly distinguishing between the two
cables will take some forethought. This
is not a problem that cannot be over-
come, just something to point out. If the
field termination plugs were available in
multiple colors, this would help.
Dust infiltration during installation
is another concern. Often these cables
will be installed and tested and then left
to sit while the rest of the construction
is completed. This may mean that plugs
installed on cables either suspended
in the ceiling or coiled inside an elec-
trical box are exposed to particulates.
Protecting the metal contacts from dust
is an immediate worry. Some manufac-
turers include a dust cap that has a snug
fit, however will remain attached if the
connector get jarred. Perhaps a dust cap
with a tethered connection to the jack,
similar to the caps that are often found
on individual connectors, would be a
good improvement.
Warranty is another consideration,
particularly if you plan to use a connector
from a manufacturer that differs from
that of the rest of the structured ca-
bling system. Many manufacturers of-
fer a 25-year or lifetime performance
warranty. The introduction of another
manufacturer’s connector may present
a complication.
Testing
The ANSI/TIA-568 series is one of the
dominant structured cabling standards,
with the current version being ANSI/
TIA-568-C.2. Currently the direct at-
tached plug is not recognized by this
version of the standard, which requires
that a horizontal cable be terminated
onto a modular jack at the work area to
provide flexible access to the user. This
flexible access is provided by the use of
a work area patch cord. The absence of
the field terminated plug in the current
568-C.2 standard has up until now led
to challenges when it comes to testing.
Recent innovations by the structured
cabling manufacturers have largely re-
duced these challenges.
Structured cabling system are tested
to validate that the installation com-
plies with the performance requirement
of the cable and connectors. When hor-
izontal cables are certified they are of-
ten tested using the configuration pre-
scribed in the standard, defined as the
permanent link. Simply stated, this
test method does not incorporate the
patch cord at the work area outlet and
the patch cord in the telecom room.
Traditional test equipment setup will
include a field tester main unit at one
end of the link, and a remote unit at the
other end. This permanent link is de-
picted in the diagram.
The test equipment is connected to
the horizontal cable with permanent
link adapter test cables at both ends of
the horizontal cable. The test equipment
is calibrated to exclude any performance
data measured in the link adapter test
cables. This presents a problem when
field terminated plugs are introduced. If
the field terminated plug is connected
directly into the test equipment, the test
results will not be accurate. Most man-
ufacturers have published documents
prescribing the test procedures. At least
one manufacturer has provided their
own permanent link test adapter cable.
The test equipment manufacturers also
have provided instructions on how to
certify these connectors. As a result, an
effective means of testing direct attach
plugs, that yields accurate test results,
has been made readily available.
Much of this has been incorporated
into the soon-to-be ratified ANSI/TIA-
568.2-D standard. A number of other
manufacturers also have begun to pro-
duce their own adapter cables and

12 JUNE 2018 Cabling Installation & Maintenance www.cablinginstall.com

1806CIM_12 12 5/21/18 7:38 AM

 What you need to know about direct attach connectors continued

Permanent link test setup

Horizontal cross-connect
or interconnect Telecommunications
outlet
Horizontal cabling

Permanent link test Permanent link test

equipment cord -near end equipment cord - far (remote) end

Test
equipment Test
equipment

Main unit Remote unit

A permanent link test setup is shown here. The test equipment is calibrated to exclude any performance data measured in
the link adapter test cables, which presents a challenge when field terminated plugs are introduced. Most manufacturers
have published documents that prescribe test procedures for connections made using their field terminated plugs.

test documentation to simplify the
testing process.
What about standards?
As previously stated, the current ANSI/
TIA-568-C.2 standard does not recog-
nize the field terminated plug. Instead,
it requires that a horizontal cable be ter-
minated on a telecommunications out-
let to provide flexible access to the user.
There are current standards (such as
ANSI/TIA-862-B.1) that do currently rec-
ognize the use of field terminated plugs.
This should provide some peace of mind
and confidence to those designers and end
users who want to deploy them today.
However, good news for the industry
came last year when the TIA TR-42.7 sub-
committee agreed to include field termi-
nated modular plug (referred to as mod-
ular plug terminated links) within its
normative annex. This will be incorpo-
rated into the ANSI/TIA-568.2-D, cur-
rently in draft status.
It is common in the telecommunica-
tions industry for either the manufacturers
or the construction community to develop
a new product or installation method that
becomes a viable installation practice be-
fore it is adopted by the standards organi-
zation. The direct attach plug is another
example of this.
The opportunities to deploy a field
terminated plug are plentiful. Earlier we
discussed the obvious ones—WiFi ac-
cess points, room schedulers, surveil-
lance cameras and others. One other in-
teresting application we learned from
one manufacturer is using the field ter-
minated plug at the consolidation point.
The consolidation point, as defined by
ANSI/TIA-568, must be a mated connec-
tion, which makes the use of field termi-
nated plugs ideal. With the proliferation
of IP-enabled devices, we expect to see
new uses develop.
As with any new technology, caution
should be exercised when a new connec-
tor is first introduced. We learned from
one manufacturer, while the installation
process is not complex, failure to follow
the manufacturer’s instructions may
introduce transmission failures and in-
crease labor to correct the errors.
It probably hasn’t surprised anyone
that the standards bodies have now
accepted these connectors and are in
the process of formally recognizing
them. Additionally, concerns over how
to test field terminated plugs have
been addressed, making their effective
deployment easier. As a result we ex-
pect to see field terminated plug use
in the industry become common. As
we have pointed out, there are some
areas where we would like to see some
improvements (color coding, dust/
physical protection, administration),
but nonetheless we are excited to see
the field terminated plug become a vi-
able alternative to traditional con-
struction methods. u
Tim Lehotsky is vice president of building
technology systems for WSP USA (wsp.com).
WSP USA, formerly WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff,
is the United States operating company of the
global engineering and professional services
firm WSP.

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance JUNE 2018 13

1806CIM_13 13 5/21/18 7:38 AM

 wireless

Wireless LANs are here to stay

A single-architecture, unified network is the technology A wireless LAN architecture can re-
duce installation time by as much as
of today that will support tomorrow’s applications.
one-third when compared to tradi-
tional cable, and requires fewer sup-
BY JEANNA DEESE AND MATT MILLER, Corning port costs. Fewer and smaller interme-
diate distribution frames (IDFs) create

Traditional vs. unified infrastructure designs, costs

Wireless is becoming the dominant net-
work access technology, and signs of Typical network installation
WiFi
that trend diminishing are nowhere LAN

to be seen. The increasing breadth of Cat 1

5e/6
the Internet of Things—and number of
connected devices resulting from it—
is expansive. Today’s local area net- WiFi
12U
work (LAN) architectures and cabling
LAN
designs, which have remained essen- Fiber 6 MDF
~45 IDF closets
tially unchanged since the late 1990s, MDF IDF -------------------
TBD ft cabling
need a transformation that can ac- -------------------
>$13M
commodate this ever-expanding need
for network access across many differ-
ent applications. Convergence made simple
WiFi
So why change LAN architec- LAN
tures now? Apart from ensuring a fu- 1
ActiFi
Cat
ture-ready network that can support the composite cable 5e/6
direction of technology and applications WiFi
growth, there are financial advantages
LAN
to a wireless LAN. The installation of fi- Optical network
ber in both the vertical and the horizon- MDF terminal with
PoE
tal has the potential to lower installa-
tion cost when compared to traditional
6 MDF
cable designs, which has fiber in the 0 IDF closets
-------------------
riser but copper in the horizontal. In the TBD ft cabling
-------------------
example illustrated in this article—com- ONE™ Platform <$6M
paring a traditional architecture to an
architecture incorporating the Corning
ONE™ solution—the cost of installing a This schematic shows the architecture and costs of a traditional network
wireless LAN with fiber in both path- installation—with fiber in the vertical and coaxial and/or twisted-pair in
ways is significantly less than the tradi- the horizontal—compared to the architecture and costs of the fiber-rich
tional architecture. infrastructure supporting the Corning ONE™ platform.

14 JUNE 2018 Cabling Installation & Maintenance www.cablinginstall.com

1806CIM_14 14 5/21/18 7:38 AM

 an overall smaller footprint,
which opens up more phys-
ical space and therefore
more cost savings. (IDFs
sometimes are referred to
as intermediate crosscon-
nects or ICs).
While cost and conve-
niences—along with the ulti-
mate long-term benefits—are an
important factor in the decision-mak-
ing process, the transition to a wireless
LAN offers immediate benefits. The ar-
chitecture is scalable to meet various
degrees of network needs, and offers in-
creased LAN bandwidth that is particu-
larly crucial for MACs and edge devices.
With fewer ports exposed, the connec-
tivity is more secure than current ca-
bling architectures.
These benefits and capabilities,
however, are not exclusive to a certain
This software-defined access node
(ONT) is a component of the Corning
ONE™ (Optical Network Evolution)
Platform. The ONT delivers capacity
close to the user. Dedicated fiber links
from the headend to the ONT provide
bandwidth, location accuracy for
application support, and end-to-end
monitoring.
type of environment; the move
away from end-to-end copper in
the horizontal and toward com-
posite cable, made up of fiber and
copper, fits a range of facilities.
Hospitals, large venues such as
convention centers and stadiums,
hospitality, school campuses, var-
ious office spaces, and research labs
can all benefit—and should.
For example, Sullivan Park is the cen-
tral location for Corning’s own research
and development efforts, which includes
a global network of smaller laboratories
throughout Asia and Europe. The cam-
pus is home to some of the world’s lead-
ing experts in glass, material science,
optical physics, and process engineer-
ing with its employee base representing
more than 40 countries.
Most research-and-development
facilities—and most businesses as a

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 Wireless LANs are here to stay continued

whole—have a certain set of expec- video. Having wireless access for all is new and legacy lab systems, research
tations and self-defining traits in or- a necessary requirement. equipment of all kinds, and sensitive
der to be an innovative, successful or- Within this video environment is and critical control systems. The LAN
ganization. Collaboration across all high-speed, high-definition video con- architecture needs to be able to sup-
fronts, especially in today’s digital age, trol systems and high-performance port all aspects of different needs, and
is foundational to most business suc- computing modeling and simulation, enable a range of technologies from
cesses. At Sullivan Park in particular, which require dormant network ca- varying generations.
collaboration is achieved through elec- pacity demand. The facility itself is From an external business perspec-
tronic lab notebooks and interactive a complex environment with both tive, the facility provides tours for vis-
itors ranging from customers and sup-
pliers to national labs and universities.
The performance of showcase tech-
nologies and demos displayed for an
external audience can have a lasting
impact on impression and possibly af-
fect business. Sullivan Park had ex-
perienced generations of LAN cabling
technologies over the last few decades,
including thicknet and thinnet coax-
ial, twisted pair, and fiber to the desk,
s at
V isit u r lando and more recently, cellular wireless
O
C O Live!, 018
and WiFi. However, this trend of im-
C I S - 14, 2 plementing a twisted-pair network
10
June 1933 alongside separate cellular services
Boot h creates distance, capacity, space, and
cost challenges that ultimately will
not help Sullivan Park—or any other
organization looking to be collabora-
tive and high-performing—effectively
achieving goals.
A unified network that runs every-
thing from a single architecture is no lon-
ger the technology of tomorrow, but of to-

Manage with LISA

day. Inserting fiber in the vertical and the
horizontal, and including cabled networks
only where necessary, is today’s network
architecture for tomorrow’s technolo-
The Leading Interconnect System Approach LiSA provides gies. Whether a research-and-develop-
highest density cabling infrastructure for Data Centers.
ment facility like Sullivan Park, a hospital,
a university, an organization’s ability to
meet business expectations should be en-
abled by its LAN architecture, rather than
relegated. u
HUBER+SUHNER
8530 Steele Creek Place Drive Suite H
Charlotte, NC 28273 hubersuhner.com Jeanna Deese is enterprise marketing man-
ager and Matt Miller is manager of LAN
market development with Corning Optical
Communications.

16 JUNE 2018 Cabling Installation & Maintenance www.cablinginstall.com

1806CIM_16 16 5/21/18 7:38 AM

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1806CIM_17 17 5/21/18 7:38 AM

 data center

Ensure your multifiber cabling

network runs smoothly
Keeping MPO-based systems free from the contact zone of a mated connector
contamination is critical to its proper operation. pair it will interrupt the optical signal,
causing insertion loss and reflectance
BY MIKE JONES, MicroCare Corp. and can even damage connectors.
The importance of cleanliness be-
comes even more apparent with the use
of MPO connectors. With a larger sur-
Demand for new technology brings with extremely vulnerable to contamination. face area than a single fiber connec-
it the requirement for greater band- With the deployment of 40G and 100G tor, and the capacity to contain up to
width, and the need for increased con- systems, it is essential that connections 72 fibers across a single connector fer-
nectivity, putting pressure on the net- are reliable and efficient. Critical to a rule, the risk of contaminants finding
work architecture. To meet this growth, seamless network is the implementation their way to the fiber increases. Height
data centers and fiber network provid- of a successful fiber cleaning process. variation can also be problematic. On a
ers are choosing connectivity that gives high-performance MPO or MT (mechan-
them greater options and increases da- The importance of cleaning ical transfer) ferrule, the fiber’s geome-
ta-capacity options. Many are opting to Fiber connectors are crucial joining try can differ, with protrusion varying 1
use MPO (multifiber push-on) connec- points in any network, so if not cleaned to 3 µm. This increases the risk of the fi-
tors to help in this quest. MPO connec- correctly it will result in connection fail- ber not being cleaned equally. Finding a
tors have surged in popularity as they al- ure. It is key to remember that contam- dependable cleaning method to ensure
low more fiber to be easily installed into ination is the number-one threat to any faultless fiber cleanliness is essential.
existing equipment. However, they are fiber-optic network. If particulate is in
What contamination?
Inspect before you connect Let’s explore what contamination can
affect an MPO connector. There are
Replace assembly many sources of contamination, how-
ever dust particles are a particular en-
Permanent emy. Airborne dust can come from dead
skin, plant pollen, vehicle emissions,
Inspect None Connect cardboard boxes and even clothing lint.
Defects
endface assembly
Outgassed plasticizers from protective
dust caps, can also produce debris. The
Removable
very items used in a cleaning kit can be
problematic. Dust particulate can be
Clean assembly produced from foam cleaning swabs, pa-
per-based swabs, and cross-contami-
Always inspect a fiber endface, clean it if necessary, then reinspect to ensure its nated cleaning fluids.
cleanliness before connecting. The primary cause of dust-based

18 JUNE 2018 Cabling Installation & Maintenance www.cablinginstall.com

1806CIM_18 18 5/21/18 7:38 AM

 contamination, however, is connec- maintaining the signal. Earlier versions the operator to insert the cleaner into
tor “wear debris.” Wear debris dust is of MPO cleaning tools used the same de- the adapter in any position that keeps
caused by the contact friction when sign for cleaning angled polished single- the cleaning ribbon spools clear or floors,
connectors are mated. Examples: from mode MPO connectors. But in today’s ceilings, doors and cable routing features
the connector slider, the retention clips densely configured data centers, central on the panel.
in adapters and transceivers, and also offices and headends, there is a desire by
from the guide pins. The same strong network designers to combine more MPO How to successfully clean an MPO
contact force that holds pair mated ter- connections into the 1RU footprint. The Without tried and tested modern clean-
mini together, will also grind dust par- alignment key impedes this goal. Thanks ing methods in place, the increasing
ticles into the ferrule surface, resulting to advancements in cleaning tools, the pressures put on network providers and
in scratched, pitted or scarred endfaces. alignment key for controlling the flow technicians will only escalate as they try
This can cause backreflection, signal at- of the cleaning ribbon on angle polished to keep systems running efficiently.
tenuation, instability in the laser system MT ferrules is not required. The most practical thing a tech-
and even a complete system shutdown. Modern cleaning nician can do is to always in-
tools can easily be spect, clean and reinspect all
Be aware of the differences inserted in either the termini on both ends of a
MPO connectors are extremely vulnera- direction. This connector pair. The inspection
ble to contamination. Because they are enables processes help to visually iden-
difficult to clean, technicians of- tify problems like permanent
ten skip the cleaning step defects, for example scratches and
and hope the endface will pitting, and any contami-
be clean enough. Click-to-clean tools are an effective way to clean MPO connectors. nation that can interfere or
It is not the design of
the connector that is the problem; it is
the quantity of connectors that makes
the difference. In a big data center, there SIMPLIFIED INSTALLATION AND IMPROVED EXPERIENCE
may be thousands of MPO connectors
that need to be cleaned as networks are THE ALL NEW INFINIUM™ HD FIBER
ENCLOSURE BY LEGRAND ®
moved and reconfigured. This means
technicians need tools that give them fast
and reliable cleaning in seconds.
Although it is important to be aware
of the increased number of fibers within
an MPO connector, it is also worth not-
ing that fewer connectors are required
for the same job. This makes installa-
tion and maintenance simpler for tech-
nicians. It is easier and quicker to clean
an MPO with the correct tools than con-
centrating on many separate single-fi-
ber connectors.
A unique feature of an MPO is the in-
dicator on the side of the connector help- Discover more at:
ing technicians to line up cables and legrand.us/Infinium-HD
connectors to ensure polarity. The in-
dustry standard, IEC 61754-7, requires
the connectors to have an alignment key
on the MPO connector and adapter for

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance JUNE 2018 19

1806CIM_19 19 5/21/18 7:38 AM


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20 JUNE 2018 Cabling Installation & Maintenance
1806CIM_20 20
Ensure your multifiber cabling network runs smoothly continued
Shown here is the side view of a cleaning tip of a push-to-clean tool on an MPO
connector.
damage the surface of the optical termini.
Because no cleaning process is ever
fully guaranteed, it is important to visu-
ally inspect the termini for contamina-
tion; this helps to identify the possible
sources of the contamination. Steps can
then be taken to try to eliminate the root
problem. Inspection is also beneficial as
the technician will know when the termi-
nus surface is free of contamination and
ready for the connector pair to be mated.
The most effective method to elim-
inate all contamination is through
wet-dry cleaning. Use a specifically
developed fiber cleaning fluid that is
fast-drying, non-flammable, has a low
surface tension and dissipates static.
If you are using IPA alcohol, stop! Not
only is it highly flammable, but it also has
a slower evaporation rate when compared
to the modern chemistries that have been
engineered specifically for cleaning fi-
ber-optic connectors. IPA is highly hygro-
scopic and will attract water molecules
from the air, contaminating the cleaning
fluid and degrading its ability to clean.
Always use a specialized cleaning fluid
that is quick to dry so moisture does not
have time to draw into the fluid—a ma-
jor source of contamination. Another tip:
Make sure the cleaning fluid comes in her-
metically sealed containers as it prevents
cross-contamination and spills.
One of the best tools for the job is a
“click-to-clean” cleaning tool that is ex-
tremely convenient and quick to use. It
will effectively clean an MPO even with
its uneven geometry. The beauty of this
cleaning method is its ability to clean
connectors, whether male or female, in
any size and for any scale fiber-optic net-
work, while delivering the lowest cost per
cleaning. These MPO cleaning tools are
becoming more widely available, but it is
important to ensure the device is from
an established vendor that offers qual-
ity cleaning tools because a cheap, poorly
made tool will damage endfaces.
Start by selecting an optical-grade lint-
free wipe specifically engineered for clean-
ing fiber. Next, add the cleaning fluid to
the wipe. Dampen the tool by passing it
over the wipe. Do not saturate the tool as
this will only move the contamination
around. Insert the solvent-dampened de-
vice into the connector and simply push
down to clean. It is essential that both
ends of the connector pair are cleaned,
otherwise you will cross-contaminate.
To accomplish the dry portion of the
cleaning process, an additional activa-
tion of the device assures that any ex-
cess solvent has been removed. Finally,
reinspect to ensure the connector is
clean. Upon inspection, if the connector
is not clean after the first cleaning, the
process can be repeated.
Although not a new technology, MPO
connectors are a faster way to man-
age the increasing complexity required
for network connectivity. To guaran-
tee their stability and reliability, it is im-
portant to find a fiber cleaning method
that is affordable, quick, consistent and
effective. By introducing modern clean-
ing procedures, it will not only save time
and money, but also make a network
substantially more reliable, helping to
withstand the pressure on the network’s
increasing connectivity demands. u
Mike Jones is vice president of MicroCare
Corp., which offers Sticklers brand (www.stick-
lerscleaners.com) fiber cleaning solutions.
www.cablinginstall.com
5/21/18 7:38 AM
 technology
Multimode and singlemode
cabling options for data centers
It might boil down to one word: reach. But
along the way there’s a lot to consider.
BY PATRICK MCLAUGHLIN
Several considerations that go into
whether to deploy a multimode-fi-
ber-based, short-wavelength optical
network or a singlemode-fiber-based,
long-wavelength optical network in
a data center environment were dis-
cussed in an online seminar that took
place on April 5. Hosted by Cabling
Installation & Maintenance, the semi-
nar was titled “Optical Fiber Advances
and Capabilities.” It will be avail-
able for viewing on-demand until
October 5, 2018.
Presenters Tony Irujo, sales engineer
for optical fiber with OFS, and David J.
Asta, senior data center applications en-
gineer for Panduit, delivered informa-
tion about multimode fiber options and
singlemode fiber options, respectively.
Each presentation covered cabling tech-
nologies as well as standards activities
and other efforts by industry consortia
to develop solutions for high-speed opti-
cal networking in data centers.
Reach and other factors
The decision to use multimode/short-
wave or singlemode/long-wave infra-
structure could be boiled down to one
word: reach. If your optical links need to
www.cablinginstall.com
1806CIM_21 21
be only a certain distance, multimode is
the way to go; once that distance is ex-
ceeded, it’s singlemode. However, it’s a
bit more nuanced than that. And on the
way to finding that reach, data center
network planners must take into con-
sideration a number of other words and
The Next-Gen Multimode 200- and 400-Gbit/sec study group voted
down a physical layer specification that supports 200-Gbit/sec
operation over one pair of multimode fiber.
phrases, including multiplexing, paral-
lel, multisource agreements, leaf-and-
spine, insertion loss, and oh-by-the-way,
economics. The remainder of this ar-
ticle will draw primarily from the in-
formation Irujo and Asta delivered on
April 5, as well as from information pro-
duced by others.
“For many years multimode fiber has
served the industry well as a cost-ef-
fective solution for short reach,” Irujo
stated. “Today OM4 is a workhorse mul-
timode fiber, capable of 10-Gigabit reach
to about 600 meters and 40/100-Gigabit
transmission in the 300-meter range, de-
pending on the transceivers used.”
Irujo explained that OM3 and OM4
Cabling Installation & Maintenance
fiber “support transmission using a sin-
gle wavelength, primarily at 850 nano-
meters. To achieve higher data rates, you
can add fibers; these additional fibers al-
low you to aggregate to higher speeds”
through parallel optics. For example, one
iteration of 40-Gbit/sec Ethernet calls
for the use of eight multimode fibers,
in which four fibers each transmit 10
Gbits/sec, and four others each receive
10 Gbits/sec. The concept can “ratchet
up” to 100-Gbits, with each of four fibers
transmitting 25 Gbits/sec and the other
four each receiving 25G.
“Parallel or multifiber transmission
is a good way to increase data rates, but
just to a point,” Irujo noted. “When you
start talking about 32 fibers to support
400G, it gets unwieldy.”
An alternative to higher-fiber-count
multimode constructions is the use of
OM5 fiber and transceivers that facili-
tate wavelength-division multiplexing.
“OM5 allows you to transmit multiple
wavelengths on one fiber,” Irujo ex-
plained. He added that wavelength-divi-
sion multiplexing (WDM) is “a technol-
ogy that has been used with singlemode
fiber for many years. It’s called SWDM—
short-wavelength division multiplexing.
OM5 is designed for performance not
JUNE 2018 21
5/21/18 7:39 AM
 Multimode and singlemode cabling options for data centers continued
just at 850, but across the range from
850 to 953 nm,” he said.
“SWDM on OM5 fiber can provide
duplex 100G links and allow for 400G
operation using the same eight-fiber
technology that’s currently in use for 40
and 100G links,” according to Irujo.
Standards and specifications
On the standards front, OM5 is defined
in two standards—TIA-492AAAE and
IEC 60793-2-10 ed. 6. It also is referenced
in ANSI/TIA-568-3.D and ISO/IEC 11801-
1. As for applications standards that call
for the use of OM5, it’s a mixed bag. Irujo
pointed out that both IEEE activity as
well as an industry multisource agree-
ment (MSA) can advance the deploy-
ment of SWDM.
“A next-generation multimode fiber
study group within the IEEE has been
looking at more practical options for
400G data rates,” he said. “One option in-
volves four pairs of multimode fibers in
a parallel configuration, with each fi-
ber carrying two wavelengths and each
wavelength transmitting 50G. Another
option involves eight pairs of multimode
fibers, with each fiber using one wave-
length, carrying 50G. It’s worth noting
that this is the first time the IEEE has
looked at multiple wavelengths on mul-
timode fiber,” he emphasized. “This sets
the stage for future WDM solutions us-
ing multimode fiber.”
Furthermore, the SWDM Alliance
was established in 2015, and the SWDM
Multi-Source Agreement (SWDM MSA)
Group published two specifications in
March 2017. One spec defines SWDM-
based 40-Gbit/sec signals and the
other defines SWDM-based 100-Gbit/
sec signals.
During the April 5 seminar, Panduit’s
Asta explained that an MSA can be
characterized as “a consortium of com-
panies that put together multiple-source
agreements [MSAs] to design and
22 JUNE 2018 Cabling Installation & Maintenance
1806CIM_22 22
manufacture—in these cases—trans-
ceivers. While they are not part of the
IEEE, they follow the specifications for
Ethernet in the construction and design
of these transceivers. They are, however,
separate entities—not part of the IEEE.”
Historically, some but not all of the
work originated via MSAs has been ad-
opted in IEEE specifications.
While OFS’s Irujo pointed to SWDM-
based 400G activity within the IEEE, a
recent blog post by Leviton’s senior di-
rector of product management, Gary
Bernstein, reported on a 200G SWDM-
based effort that did not advance within
the IEEE. “At the March 7, 2018 IEEE
802.3 meeting, the Next-Gen Multimode
For many large facilities the
sweet spot is longer than the
distance where multimode
systems max out, and shorter
than the 10-plus-kilometer
reach of applications like
100GBase-LR4 and -ER4.
200- and 400-Gbit/sec study group voted
down a physical layer specification that
supports 200-Gbit/sec operation over
one pair of multimode fiber. This was
the second time the proposal was voted
down. The specification would have in-
cluded duplex OM3, OM4, and the poten-
tial for OM5, which supports SWDM.”
The post points out that a hurdle fac-
ing OM5/SWDM-based applications
is, “SWDM technology cannot be eas-
ily broken out at the servers, limiting it
to switch-to-switch topology. Yet most
installed multimode fiber links in data
centers—almost 50 percent according
to Leviton data—use breakout cables at
switch to server. This severely limits the
broad market potential for 200 Gbits/sec
over duplex multimode.”
Nonetheless, Irujo emphasized in his
April 5 presentation that cost consider-
ations favor SWDM and OM5 in many
cases, and particularly in short-reach
applications. “The cost of optics—the
transceivers—dominates the link,” he
said, adding that depending on the ap-
plication, singlemode optics can cost
anywhere from 2 to 5 to 12 times multi-
mode optics, when comparing average
street prices.
The singlemode solution
Panduit’s Asta pivoted the conversa-
tion toward the characteristics and ben-
efits of singlemode-based, long-wave-
length networking in data centers. The
conversation begins with a look at the
landscape of hyperscale facilities. “Not
long ago, if someone was talking about
a ‘large’ data center, you’d probably be
talking about a total of 250,000 square
feet. Today we’ve seen data centers grow
in size, to a 1.5-million-square-foot
Google data center, to [a facility located
in] Langfang, China, which is 6.3 million
square feet.
“How are we going to support data
centers that large? Singlemode ca-
bling helps us address these needs,”
Asta continued. “There’s a lot of leaf/
spine deployment. The concept is that
every leaf is connected to every spine,
and that consumes a lot of fiber.” In
a hyperscale facility—even one that
doesn’t quite incorporate 6.3 million
square feet—reach is a consideration
when a leaf/spine configuration is de-
ployed. “The spine and leaf may be
several hundred meters apart,” Asta
explained. “It’s not a matter of a leaf
residing in one cabinet and a spine
right next to it. These are applica-
tions where longer-reach solutions will
be advantageous.”
Asta pointed out that for many large
facilities the proverbial sweet spot for
reach is longer than the distance where
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5/21/18 7:39 AM
 Multimode and singlemode cabling options for data centers continued

short-wave/multimode systems max achieve 500-meter reach,” Asta noted. made during the seminar was that in
out, and shorter than the 10-plus-ki- This technology has been adopted by a conventional four-cassette 100G link
lometer reach of applications like the Facebook-led Open Compute Project. scenario, once a link reaches a spe-
100GBase-LR4 and -ER4. IEEE stan- The 100G CLR4 specification enables cific distance it becomes more eco-
dardization efforts as well as MSAs a 2-km reach of 100G over duplex sin- nomical to use singlemode/long-wave-
are addressing this need. Specifically, glemode fiber. length optics than to use multimode/
Asta pointed to projects specifying short-wavelength optics. That cross-
500 meters and 2 kilometers. They in- The tradeoff for lower-cost over point is at or near 650 meters.
clude IEEE 802.3cd 50GBase-FR (2 ki- Yet several 100G specifications pro-
singlemode/long-wavelength
lometers), 802.3ba 100GBase-DR (500 duced via MSAs and the IEEE focus on
meters), 802.3bs 200GBase-DR4 (500 systems is a tighter insertion- 500-meter reach. The emerging tech-
meters), 802.3bs 200GBase-SR4 (2 ki- loss requirement for the nology eSWDM4 extends the reach of
lometers), 802.3bs 400GBase-DR4 (500 100G over OM5 to 400 meters.
meters), and 802.3bs 400GBase-FR8 installed cabling plant—in the “Distance is a factor,” Irujo said
(2 kilometers) from the IEEE. range of 3 to 3.5 dB. during the April 5 seminar’s ques-
Additionally, several MSA consortia tion-and-answer period. “For multi-
have made efforts toward specifying Pinning down exactly when and mode, we’re looking at the few-hun-
100G singlemode, including the PSM4, where singlemode/long-wave is a bet- dred-meter range where economics
CWDM/CWDM4, and CLR4 groups. ter option than multimode/short- come into play.” u
Singlemode-based long-wavelength wave is not necessarily straightfor-
transceivers that achieve reduced reach ward. One of the final points Asta Patrick McLaughlin is our chief editor.
can be manufactured more economi-
cally than traditional 10-plus-km op-
tics can, thereby lowering costs per
link for the data center operator. The
tradeoff for this lower cost is a tighter
insertion-loss requirement for the in-
stalled cabling plant—in the range of
3 to 3.5 dB. “That’s do-able,” Asta ad-
vised, “but we have to be much more
cognizant of the connectivity that we’re
using in these applications. Go with
connectivity that will be optimized or
ultra-low-loss. It will pay dividends in
the long run.”
One application that fits this descrip-
tion is 100G PSM4—100-Gigabit paral- Enjoy industry insights, articles
lel singlemode using four lanes. Panduit and more with a subscription to
is a member of the PSM4 MSA that pub-
lished its specification in 2014. “An ad- our newsletters.
vantage is that it lends itself to a four-to-
one breakout,” Asta explained.
Other MSA-based 100G singlemode
solutions for the data center include a
coarse wavelength-division multiplex-
ing (CWDM) option that “allows you
to maintain duplex singlemode with- www.cablinginstall.com
out going to MPO [connectivity], and

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance JUNE 2018 23

1806CIM_23 23 5/21/18 7:39 AM

 PR

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T
LAN CABLE TESTERS

Softing’s FiberXpert OTDR 5000

Softing’s FiberXpert OTDR 5000 is compliant to the Tier 1 light source
and power meter (LSPM) and Tier 2 optical time domain reflectometer
(OTDR) specifications. The company says the tester has a high
dynamic range with an event dead zone less than 80 cm for measuring
and documenting short fiber links. Per Softing, “After a fiber optic
cable installation, wouldn’t it be nice to have an x-ray
device where you could see through walls and check bend
radius, splices, breaks, and connectors?” The FiberXpert
OTDR 5000 uses optical time domain reflectometry to Southwire’s M300P
send a light pulse through the fiber and then measure
the reflected signal profile to check bend radius, splices,
Professional VDV
breaks, and connectors. Components, fault types, and Cable Mapper
distance to fault are graphically displayed on the FiberXpert console. The M300P Professional VDV
Users can address the source of most fiber-optic network failures by Cable Mapper quickly tests
connecting the microscope to check and document cleanliness of fiber voice, data, and video cabling
ends and link end surfaces. The FiberXpert OTDR 5000 includes both for common wiring faults.
multimode 850/1300nm and singlemode 1310/1550nm capabilities. Easily test patch or installed
Softing, itnetworks.softing.com/us twisted-pair data cables with
RJ11 or RJ45 connectors by
plugging one end into the

Fluke Networks’ DSX-8000 tester and the other end into

the detachable remote. Test
Cat 8 CableAnalyzer coax in the same manner. The
Fluke Networks says the DSX-8000 Cat 8 CableAnalyzer tester will identify reversed or
enables testing and certification of twisted pair cabling for open connections, and shorts
up to 40 Gigabit Ethernet deployments and will handle any with two or more wires—or
cabling system whether it is a Cat 5e, 6, 6A, 8 or Class FA and with the shield. The tester also
I/II. According to the company, the DSX-8000 includes the first maps installed cable runs with
permanent link and channel adapters with a full 2 GHz range. included RJ45 and F-Connector
These adapters allow connection to installed links in the field, ID remotes. Expansion ID
which is required by contractors installing Cat 8 systems. Fluke remote kits are available. The
adds that the DSX-8000 is also the first tester to be endorsed by Cat 8 Southwire M300P is built to
cabling manufacturers. “One of the main reasons for certifying installed last with a rubberized, impact-
cabling is to obtain a manufacturer’s warranty. Without their endorsement, resistant housing, silicone
the certification is of no use for this purpose,” notes the company. Finally, port covers to protect from
Fluke says the DSX-8000 is the first tester independently verified to meet dust and debris, and cable
the ANSI/TIA-1152-A Level 2G requirements for measurement accuracy voltage warning and low
required for Cat 8 testers and test screen continuity along the path of the battery indicators.
cabling as required for Level 2G testers. Southwire Tools & Equipment,
Fluke Networks, flukenetworks.com southwire.com

24 JUNE 2018 Cabling Installation & Maintenance www.cablinginstall.com

1806CIM_24 24 5/21/18 7:39 AM

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NaviTEK NT
The updated NaviTEK NT from Ideal Networks launched in 2016 to help networking professionals quickly
pinpoint and solve issues for both copper and fiber-optic networks, the company said. Compact and flexible,
the handheld network troubleshooter fits into restrictive areas where important cabling is
often located far more easily than a laptop, helping technicians work more effectively, Ideal
Networks added.
“To save time, the network tester uses LLDP [Link Layer Discovery Protocol], CDP [Cisco
Discovery Protocol], and EDP [Endpoint Discovery Protocol] to show which switch and port the
cable is plugged into, and provides automatic virtual LAN ID detection for quick configuration.
It detects ISDN, POTS and PoE services, performs wiremapping including length measurement
and displays distance to fault, and enables Ethernet utilization to indicate broadcast network
traffic in real time. Other features include autotest, netscan, and network probe functions.
Test results can be saved as PDF reports and shared with colleagues or clients via the Ideal
AnyWARE app, which is free.
Ideal Networks, idealnetworks.net

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1806CIM_25 25 5/21/18 7:39 AM
 EDITOR’S PICKS
News, products and trends for the communications systems industry
PERSONNEL MOVE S
Carol Everett Oliver joins Siemon as network cabling specialist
Siemon recently announced Carol Everett Oliver, RCDD,
ESS joined the company as network cabling specialist for the
Southeast region of the U.S., to provide sales, technical sup-
port and training. She also will create new business opportu-
nities for the entire company.
“Oliver has more than 20 years of experience in the ICT
industry, which includes sales and customer training, techni-
cal support and marketing responsibilities,” the company said
when announcing the hire. “Most recently, she was the train-
ing and technology manager for Legrand Data Communication
Division North America, and was also an integral part of their
intelligent building strategic team. She spent nine years at
Berk-Tek, a Nexans Company. Prior to that she owned a mar-
keting consulting firm, Everett Communications for 10 years,
where she published more than 100 technical articles and
case studies, as well as coordinated advertising campaigns and
events for a variety of manufacturers in our industry.”
Oliver currently serves on BICSI’s board of directors as
the association’s Secretary. She also chairs BICSI’s Intelligent
SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
SES clears Latin America’s path to widespread satellite 4K Ultra
HD services
26 JUNE 2018 Cabling Installation & Maintenance
1806CIM_26 26
COMPILED BY
Matt Vincent
ci m @ pen n well . com
Building Standards Subcommittee, and is
vice-chair for BICSI ESS standards. She
served as BICSI’s U.S. Nor theast Region
Director from 2012 to 2016. In 2010 she
received the David K. Blythe/University of
Kentucky BICSI Member of the Year Award,
and in 2009 was recognized by BICSI as one
of the “Top 25 RCDD Changemakers.” Oliver holds a bach-
elor’s degree in marketing from San Jose State University
and resides in Cape Coral, FL.
Dave Valentukonis, RCDD/NTS, Siemon’s technical ser-
vices group leader for North America, commented, “Carol
will be an asset to our sales team with her technical knowl-
edge, but we are also excited that she will expand the com-
pany’s visibility beyond the Southeast, by supporting mar-
keting with her expertise in writing articles, as well as utiliz-
ing her experience as a seasoned speaker at technical events
and representing the company through industry initiatives and
committees.” u
Following major space and ground infrastructure investments
and the expansion of its Latin America video neighborhood,
this April SES announced the launch of its Ultra HD platform
into the region to accelerate commercial 4K rollouts among
leading cable, IPTV, and DTH providers across Latin America.
The SES-backed antenna program, which led to the installa-
tion of satellite antennas at pay TV distribution hubs through-
out Latin America, puts SES in a prime position to help cable,
IPTV and DTH providers reach 100 percent of the region’s
vast audiences with advanced HD and Ultra HD content.
SES is the among the world’s leading satellite operators
and the first to deliver a differentiated and scalable GEO-
MEO offering worldwide, with more than 50 satellites in
Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and 16 in Medium Earth
Orbit (MEO), the company said. SES focuses on value-added,
www.cablinginstall.com
5/21/18 7:39 AM
 end-to-end solutions in two key business
units: SES Video and SES Networks. The
company provides satellite communica-
tions services to broadcasters, content
and internet service providers, mobile
and fixed network operators, govern-
ments and institutions.
Per a company statement, “Many of
INTERNE T OF THINGS
ForceShield unveils plug-and-play gateway appliance to
secure industrial IoT and OT devices
ForceShield has unveiled its
GatewayShield, a dedicated plug-and-
play appliance that provides dynamic
security protection for Internet of
Things (IoT) devices and Operational
Technology (OT) networks. According
to the company, “GatewayShield
defends industrial networks from known
or unknown threats, and quarantines
compromised devices in the event of
attacks, offering protection in both
directions—from OT to IT, or IT to OT.”
Per a press release, “GatewayShield’s
function is to protect industrial net-
works from vulnerability threats,
password guessing, and botnet
attacks. Because it uses ForceShield’s
Dynamic Transformation Technology,
GatewayShield is able to secure net-
work-attached devices without installing
OUTSIDE PL ANT CABLING
Clearfield doubles ruggedized idle port splitter density
in FieldSmart fiber distribution cabinets
Clearfield, Inc. announced an enhance-
ment to its WaveSmart Ruggedized
Splitter that the company says dramat-
ically reduces the space needed for
deployment. Backwards-compatible
to Clearfield’s entire line of FieldSmart
fiber distribution cabinets, the addition
www.cablinginstall.com
1806CIM_27 27
Latin America’s leading pay TV provid-
ers are already testing SES’s new Ultra
HD solution, an all-in-one package of
preconfigured Ultra HD content, recep-
tion equipment, and satellite distribution
that will enable quick and easy Ultra HD
deployments over the region. The new
SES Latin America Ultra HD solution
an agent or upgrading firmware, limiting
risk of exposure from external threats.
Dynamic Transformation Technology
improves system resilience and increases
complexity and cost for attackers while
it limits exposure and opportunities
for attack.”
“As the number of OT devices con-
nected to the Internet rises, so does
of an optical staging plate feature now
provides the option to either reuse
existing space for placing the idle split-
ter legs or doubles the density of
that same area.
According to the company, “Designed
with performance in mind, the new,
Cabling Installation & Maintenance
will open with four Ultra HD channels,
including NASA TV UHD, produced by
Harmonic, as well as the SES Ultra HD
demo channel, an incubator for emerging
4K content producers. SES plans to add
new channels and content produced in
Brazil, Mexico, and other Latin American
countries in the future.” u
the threat of automated attacks,” notes
Yu-Min Lin, ForceShield’s cofounder and
CTO. “ForceShield is the only secu-
rity provider transcending the barri-
ers between IT, IoT, and OT. Dynamic
Transformation effectively changes the
security paradigm from reactive to pro-
active, even on industrial networks with
legacy devices.” u
highly dense WaveSmart Optical Staging
Plate allows for quick install and removal
of splitter legs using adapters that sup-
port quick ‘red-light’ port testing or
identification. The Clearfield WaveSmart
ruggedized optical splitters are designed
for hardened outside plant environments
JUNE 2018 27
5/21/18 7:39 AM
 EDITOR’S PICKS
and ship from the factory equipped with
either SC or LC connectors on the ends
of the splitter legs. The ruggedized split-
ters, available in 1:32, 1:16 or 1:8 config-
urations, are used in all FieldSmart PON
Cabinets, Wall Boxes, PON-in-a-Ped
and PON inserts.”
“Service providers today are looking
for options that increase fiber-optic den-
sity in cabinets of all types so that they
can have greater flexibility in deploy-
ment, enhancing their return on invest-
ment when deploying fiber in the outside
EDGE NE T WORKING
Vertiv identifies the 4 primary edge networking archetypes
Vertiv, formerly Emerson Network
Power, recently released “Defining Four
Edge Archetypes and their Technology
Requirements,” a global, research-
based analysis of network edge use
cases, resulting in the identification of
four main archetypes for edge applica-
tions and the technology required
to support them. For the analy-
sis, Vertiv edge experts, in con-
junction with an independent
third-party consulting firm, identi-
fied more than 100 use cases and
refined the initial list to 24 consid-
ered to have the greatest impact
on businesses and end users,
based on projected growth, criti-
cality and financial impact.
According to a press state-
ment, for the project Vertiv’s experts
identified data-centric sets of workload
requirements for each edge use case and
corresponding needs for performance,
availability and security. They exam-
ined specific performance requirements,
including latency, availability, scalabil-
ity and security, in conjunction with the
need for encryption, authentication and
regulatory compliance. They also looked
at the need to integrate with existing
or legacy applications and other data
28 JUNE 2018 Cabling Installation & Maintenance
1806CIM_28 28
plant,” comments Johnny
Hill, chief operating offi-
cer and cofounder,
Clearfield. “Consistent
with Clearfield’s long-
standing excellence in
ruggedized design, the
WaveSmart Ruggedized
splitter uniquely
addresses environmen-
tal and human han-
dling issues associated with outside plant
environments.”
sources, while considering the number of
edge locations in a given network.
“The primary goal in this analysis was
to help those involved with edge data
centers and hubs understand the needs
of the digital ecosystem by identifying
the characteristics and requirements
of the top edge use cases,” said Gary
Niederpruem, chief strategy and devel-
opment officer at Vertiv. “Recognizing
commonalities of the archetypes is a
step toward providing an optimized
infrastructure.”
According to Vertiv, the four edge
networking archetypes are as follows. 1)
Data intensive—This includes use cases
where the amount of data makes it
impractical to transfer over the network
directly to the cloud or from the cloud to
u
point-of-use due to data volume, cost or
bandwidth issues. Examples include smart
cities, smart factories, smart homes/build-
ings, high-definition content distribution,
high-performance computing, restricted
connectivity, virtual reality, and oil and
gas digitization. 2) Human-latency sensi-
tive—This archetype includes use
cases where services are optimized
for human consumption, and it is all
about speed. Delayed data delivery
negatively impacts a user’s technol-
ogy experience, potentially reduc-
ing a retailer’s sales and profitabil-
ity. Use cases include smart retail,
augmented reality, website optimi-
zation, and natural language pro-
cessing. 3) Machine-to-machine
latency sensitive—Speed also is
the defining characteristic of this arche-
type, which includes the arbitrage market,
smart grid, smart security, real-time ana-
lytics, low-latency content distribution,
and defense force simulation. 4) Life-
critical—This archetype encompasses use
cases that directly impact human health
and safety. Consequently, speed and reli-
ability are vital. Use cases include smart
transportation, digital health, connected/
autonomous cars, autonomous robots,
and drones. u
www.cablinginstall.com
5/21/18 7:39 AM

CABLE MANAGEMENT
Snake Tray’s multiple pocket cable manager takes aim at hospital,
healthcare IT
Snake Tray has announced the release
of its newest cable manager, featuring a
color-coded multiple pocket design that
is billed as an ideal solution for man-
aging cables in hospital and healthcare
environments.
AUTOMATED INFR A STRUC TURE MANAGEMENT
CommScope brings AR capabilities to imVision
automated infrastructure management system
CommScope announced that it will be
demonstrating new augmented real-
ity (AR) capabilities within its imVision
automated infrastructure management
solution, so customers soon will literally
be able to “see” what’s going on in their
local area networks. Per a company
statement, “The software-based imVi-
sion platform already enables IT manag-
ers to monitor and control every aspect
of their network infrastructure—from
tracking down a stranded switch port to
troubleshooting a connectivity issue in a
matter of minutes versus hours or days.
“Located in a data center or IT
closet, imVision can remotely show
where ports are located and how they
are connected back to the main loca-
tion,” adds CommScope. “Even with
 FIRSTNE T
Analyst: FirstNet boosts in-building wireless market,
but challenges remain
In its newly released report on public
safety, “DAS in the FirstNet Era,” ABI
Research examines the intersection of
the FirstNet/AT&T radio access network
with in-building wireless and distributed
antenna systems (DAS). As AT&T starts
www.cablinginstall.com
1806CIM_29 29
this information, however, users may
not be able to physically see the port
information or actual connection if it is
behind ceiling tiles or walls. That’s what
the new AR capabilities in imVision will
enable, speeding up troubleshooting and
provisioning.”
“What star ted as an application for
gamers and enter tainment has now
entered the business world, and orga-
nizations are beginning to see the value
that AR can bring to various industries,”
said Ernie Pickens, senior vice president
of enterprise solutions, CommScope.
“Coupling AR with intelligent infrastruc-
ture to ‘see’ cables and connections
behind walls and in ceilings is just the
first of many uses where we believe
customers will find value.”
its 5-year multi-billion-dollar National
Broadband Public Safety network build-
out, also known as FirstNet, in-build-
ing wireless is already receiving an
immediate boost.
“AT&T has already made its significant
Cabling Installation & Maintenance
EDITOR’S PICKS
Snake Tray’s new multiple pocket
cable manager provides up to 8 separate
color-coded pathways to manage and
identify a variety of cables. The cable
manager easily integrates with a cable
tray or mounts to a wall. u
CommScope adds that “there are
endless advantages to bringing the
power of AR to imVision. As par t
of a recent technology assessment,
CommScope collaborated with Joinpad
to develop several functional AR pro-
totypes based on use cases that are
typically performed during cabling
administration tasks. The tasks covered
implementation of moves/adds/changes,
troubleshooting cabling connectivity,
and maintenance work on cabling infra-
structure in the ceiling.” u
in-building resources consisting of more
than 6,000 distributed antenna systems
and 40,000 WiFi access points available
to the first responder community,” said
Nick Marshall, research director at ABI
Research. “AT&T has made priority and
JUNE 2018 29
5/21/18 7:39 AM
 EDITOR’S PICKS
pre-emption immediately available to
public safety users on these systems.”
Because more than 80 percent of
wireless traffic originates or terminates
indoors, ensuring that a strong signal is
available to first responders indoors in
emergency situations becomes a mis-
sion-critical—if not live-saving—service.
The new ABI Research report exam-
ines the features being implemented
by AT&T for FirstNet, discusses the
requirements for in-building FirstNet
wireless coverage and makes strategic
recommendations to building owners/
managers, equipment vendors, system
integrators, and neutral hosts. For
POWER OVER E THERNE T
CompuCom’s new digital campus HQ incorporates full PoE
interior lighting technology via Cat 6A, Cat 6 cabling
On April 9, CompuCom Systems, Inc.,
a provider of managed digital work-
place services that is now part of
Office Depot, Inc., officially opened a
151,000-square-foot digital campus/
global headquarters located in the
greater Charlotte, North Carolina
area of Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Designed to express CompuCom’s
vision of the digital workplace, the
Digital Campus rests in the middle of
a dynamic and diverse workforce and
provides access to a highly technical
labor market. The campus personifies
CompuCom’s “mission of leveraging
technology and innovation to drive col-
laboration, productivity and operational
efficiency.” According to the company,
“with plenty of room for expansion,
CompuCom’s Digital Campus hosts
corporate staff, contact center associ-
ates—product and service teams—and
expects to house up to 3,500 total per-
sonnel, in two buildings, over the next
five to seven years.”
30 JUNE 2018 Cabling Installation & Maintenance
1806CIM_30 30
example, early and frequent collabora-
tion with AT&T/FirstNet and the author-
ity having jurisdiction (AHJ) is essen-
tial to ensure successful indoor FirstNet
performance.
“Although the FirstNet buildout
has just been started by AT&T, the
requirements for in-building cover-
age have received little attention so far.
Overlooking FirstNet standards for in-
building public safety may, in fact, com-
promise the effectiveness of this mis-
sion-critical service. In addition, multiple
AHJs with differing standards for indoor
public safety wireless systems, system
ownership and funding are among the
Designed by LS3P Associates Limited
for CompuCom, the company says “the
campus is one of the first digital build-
ings in the world exclusively powered by
Power over Ethernet (PoE) interior light-
ing technology. This modern approach
helped builder Choate Construction
achieve breakneck speeds—’from trees
to keys’—in under 12 months. The
campus boasts a state-of-the-art health-
care clinic, modern gym, digital café,
firepit and a two-story digital video
wall. The building’s entrance leads to a
large decorative staircase designed to
challenges discussed in the report,”
Marshall added.
In its assessment of this market ABI
Research forecasts that public safety
system revenue for indoor wireless,
excluding signal sources, will reach $1.8
billion by 2021 growing at a compound
annual growth rate of 15.8 percent.
North America will represent the largest
market for indoor public safety equip-
ment growing by 1.5 times its 2017 value.
The indoor public safety equipment
market in the Asia Pacific region follows
North America in size but has the high-
est growth of all regions at 2.3 times its
2017 value. u
encourage engagement with the adjacent
CompuCom Solution Café, a center for
the incubation and advancement of dig-
ital workplace technology and services,”
added a press release.
According to CompuCom:
“Leveraging PoE technology eliminates the
need for electrical wiring to every fixture
and replaces that wiring with Category
6A cable for wireless access points and
Category 6 cable for all other cabling.
There are no light switches to be found
throughout the Campus since lights are
controlled through digital switches dis-
tributed throughout the facility, saving
CompuCom over $275,000 in electrical
labor and wiring. Additionally, eliminating
the need for batteries in sensors, alarms
and emergency exit signs reduces the total
cost of ownership (TCO) of the build-
ing. As a result, the campus is 16 percent
less expensive per square foot to operate
than CompuCom’s original Plano, Texas-
based headquarters, with significantly more
advanced technology.” u
www.cablinginstall.com
5/21/18 7:39 AM
 EDITOR’S PICKS
 CONNEC TIVIT Y

Rosenberger OSI unveils redundant fiber-optic LAN cabling system

for office, building Ethernet sector
As a LAN cabling extension to its and an innovative overall concept which dimensions for enterprise building and
PerCONNECT data center infrastruc- focuses on efficient and flexible new and office facilities are also reduced, notes
ture line, and representing “an innova- existing network installations.” the company.
tive redundant Ethernet cabling concept,” A central element in the new system “The system can be easily expanded
Rosenberger OSI recently unveiled its is the active consolidation point (ACP) and modified in any new or existing net-
EcoFlex’IT platform, aimed at the enter- technology, which is responsible for dis- works. In case of a move, the user has an
prise office and building sector. The plat- tributing the Ethernet data. According additional investment protection, as all
form is designed to enable an efficient to Rosenberger OSI, “The ACP is inte- active and almost all passive components
active and passive networking from a grated in the system’s backbone with of EcoFlex’IT can be reused again,” adds
single source. fiber optics and distributes in a close ter- Rosenberger OSI’s Wiener.
“As a cabling system, PerCONNECT tiary area (maximum 20 meters) based The company emphasizes that its
EcoFlex’IT integrates into any work envi- on copper trunks or patch cables. The PerCONNECT EcoFlex’IT system com-
ronment without the need of additional special feature of the system: As the prises a ring configuration that is redun-
space, can be taken out again at any time, ACPs will be installed in raised floors, dantly designed, and can therefore be
is easy to move, and is flexibly upgrade- ceilings or walls, the cabling system can retrofitted easily without interrupt-
able,” comments Stefan Wiener, product be integrated in any work environment ing any operations. “The complete con-
manager of Rosenberger OSI’s LAN port- without the need for additional space.” cept can be named as FTT ACP—fiber
folio. “EcoFlex’IT is the next step on from Due to less cabling being deployed, to the active consolidation point,” adds a
PerCONNECT, with active components fire risks, cable routing and firewall Rosenberger OSI press release. u

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
AFL .....................................................................4

ADVERTISING SALES OFFICES

Arlington Industries........................................... 2
MAIN OFFICE INTERNATIONAL
61 Spit Brook Road AUSTRIA, EUROPE, GERMANY,
Corning Optical Communications LLC...........C2 Suite 401, Nashua, NH 03060 NORTHERN SWITZERLAND
(603) 891-0123 Holger Gerisch
fax: (603) 891-9245 +49-(0)8847-6986656
Fiber Instrument Sales ...................................25 Fax: +49-(0)8801-9153792
GROUP PUBLISHER
holgerg@pennwell.com
Alan Bergstein
(603)-891-9447 ISRAEL
General Cable Company .................................C4
alanb@pennwell.com Dan Aronovic
NATIONAL SALES MANAGER
+972 9 899 5813
Huber+Suhner ................................................16 Susan Smith aronovic@actcom.co.il
(603) 891-9260 ASIA
fax: (603) 891-9245 Adonis Mak
ICC Premise Wiring .........................................11 susans@pennwell.com +852 2 838 6298; Fax: +852 2 838 2766
REPRINTS
adonism@actintl.com.hk
Susan Smith JAPAN
Multilink Inc. ....................................................20 (603) 891-9260 Masaki Mori
fax: (603) 891-9245 +81 3 3219 3561
susans@pennwell.com mori-masaki@ics-inc.co.jp
Ortronics Inc. ..................................................19
DIRECTOR, LIST RENTAL TAIWAN
Kelli Berry Ms. Rebecca Tsao
Siemon Company ..............................................6 (918) 831-9782 +886 2 23965128 ext.203
kellib@pennwell.com Fax: 886 2 23967816
rebecca@arco.com.tw
SignalBoosters................................................ 15
SHOULD YOU NEED ASSISTANCE CREATING YOUR AD, PLEASE CONTACT MARKETING SOLUTIONS
The index of advertisers is published as a service, and the VICE PRESIDENT Paul Andrews
publisher does not assume any liability for errors or omissions. 240.595.2352; pandrews@pennwell.com

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance JUNE 2018 31

1806CIM_31 31 5/21/18 7:39 AM

 INFRASTRUCTURE
INSIGHTS
With friends
like these …
The photos and comments on this
page were sent in by Yamill Garcia of
Telecom IT Network Corp., a Florida
company that provides information
technology (IT) and structured
cabling network services.
“Recently I was providing services
in a building that’s being renovated,
and saw a structured cabling job exe-
cuted by a single person—not a com-
pany—in a building with six floors,”
Garcia relays. “This person not only
pulled all the cables alone, but also
used copper-clad aluminum, bought
on eBay or Amazon, I assume.
“Sometimes pictures speak more
than words. From someone who
knows the standards and how to
perform a decent and professional
job, I really want to let it be known
that this was a big non-compliant
and non-standard structured cabling
installation.”
Truth be told, we ended up turn-
ing these pictures every which way
to try to figure out which side was
up. That's how badly out of order
everything is.
Garcia opined, “I think this lucky
guy is a good friend or family mem-
ber of the general contractor, or
someone who I assume didn’t know
any better.”
Thanks for sharing, Yamill.

Matt Vincent, Senior Editor

m at t v @ pe n n w el l . co m

32 JUNE 2108 Cabling Installation & Maintenance www.cablinginstall.com

1806CIM_32 32 5/21/18 7:39 AM

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1806CIM_C3 3 5/21/18 7:40 AM

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1806CIM_C4 4 5/21/18 7:40 AM