Proudly Serving the Low Voltage Industry for 20 Years Volume 20 • Number 11 • 2010 Optical Network Connects CityCenter to the Future By Corning Cable Systems How to Choose and Use Fiber By Andrew Schmeltzer Building blocks for the entire data center. One company, every solution. Leviton products cover every area of the data center, from the entrance room and computer room to the TR and support offices. Pre-terminated copper and fiber solutions, fiber raceway cable management, power distribution units, and Opt-X Ultra® and Replicator™ Series Fiber Enclosures make up just a few of the smart data center solutions that keep businesses, government buildings, and cities running. Rely on our data center specialists for technical support, including design, layout, elevations, pathways, and specifications — customized to each installation. Email Leviton’s data center team at [email protected], or visit Leviton.com/datacenter. THE FUTURE IS ON *Qualifed Contractor CAT 6A installations only. © 2010 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. All rights reserved. contents 20 Optical Network Connects CityCenter to the Future By Corning Cable Systems It is a sleek, gleaming vision that rises amid the hustle and neon of The Strip, setting a new standard for what life and entertainment in Las Vegas could become. CityCenter, the largest privately funded development project in U.S. history, combines casino, hotel, condominium, retail and entertainment venues into a single, integrated and complex, launched in December 2009. 26 8 Rising Copper Prices Make Room for Innovative Business Strategies Fiber optic cable is one of the fastest-growing transmission mediums for both By Greg Greenwood new cabling installations and upgrades, including backbone, horizontal, and As copper increases to more than $4/ even desktop applications. It works very well in applications that need high lb, innovation is key to success. Unless bandwidth, long distances, and complete immunity to electrical interference. How to Choose and Use Fiber By Andrew Schmeltzer you’ve been living under a rock the past month, you’ve heard manufacturers and distributors announcing over the loud horn that cable prices are increasing. There’s no doubt about it; raw materials are going up. The question is how much of the price increase is actually due to the Products: Departments: 6 Award of Excellence 4 Terminology 4 Calendar of Events 30 Advertiser/ Web Index 6 Latest New Products cost of copper and other materials and how much is “opportunity” increases for the major players? Columns: 31 Network News www.cablingbusiness.com You need it. You want it. Now is the time to get it. Anyone who has used a DTX knows it’s the best. It’s the cable tester of choice for contractors and IT professionals alike because of its speed, accuracy, and ease-of-use. But what happens when you have more than one technician who needs to use it? Are you prepared to win new jobs? Now is the time to equip your crew with the essential tools they need. Get a cash rebate for up to $1200 when you buy a DTX CableAnalyzer this fall. $400 $400 No trade-in required! $400 Learn more at: www.flukenetworks.com/YouWantIt page 4 | departments editorial staff November/ December 2010 terminology CODEC (Coder/Decoder) Equipment used to transform analog voice signals to digital signals (coder) and digital signals to analog signals (decoder). May be in digital PABX or in the device/instrument itself. Volume 20 Number 10 Russell Paulov Editor in Chief/ Sales Manager [email protected] Coherent Light Parallel, narrow band of light of the same wavelength and phase. Rita Paulov Sales Associate [email protected] Coil Effect Harry Newton Associate Publisher Gerry Friesen Associate Publisher The inductive effect exhibited by a spiral-wrapped shield, especially above audio frequencies. Collapsed Backbone Magazine Design Caren Lane Red. a design group www.red-adesigngroup.com 817-439-2095 A local area network configuration wherein bridging and routing functions are located at the main cross-connect and accessed via concentrators at the horizontal cross-connects. Cabling Business Magazine (ISSN 1086-1823) is published monthly by Cabling Publications, Inc., 12035 Shiloh Road, Suite 350, Dallas, TX 75228. Subscriptions are issued without charge and distributed on the internet. For additional subscription information call 214-328-1717. The projected mailing date for Cabling Business Magazine is the third week of the issue month. An end user is a manager or administrator who recommends, specifies or authorizes the purchase of products for the cabling infrastructure in an organization or enterprise. An end user can also be described as an individual who uses telecommunications cabling for the purpose of designing, installing and maintaining a cabling system. A service provider is an owner, manager or administrator of a company that provides a variety of cabling services. These services include installing, maintaining, integrating, designing and engineering a cabling system. Articles, letters and press releases are gladly accepted for publication. However, no responsibility can be assumed for the return of unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, photographs or other material. All material becomes the property of Cabling Publications, Inc., which reserves the right to edit, alter, publish or otherwise use such material. Publishers of this magazine assume no responsibility for statements made by their advertisers in business competition, nor do they assume responsibility for statements and opinions expressed or implied in the columns or articles of the magazine. Permission to photocopy for internal or private use is granted by Cabling Publications, Inc. Have an idea for an article or an installation story to tell? Submit it to Cabling Business Magazine. Click here for more information. Color-Coded Cable Cable having color-coded insulation on the conductor to aid identification. Common Carrier A private communications utility company or a government regulated organization that furnishes services to the general public. It is typically licensed or regulated by a state or federal government agency. calendar of events January 9 – 12, 2011 ACUTA Winter 2011 Seminar Phoenix, Arizona www.acuta.org/wcm/acuta/ January 16 – 20, 2011 2011 BICSI Winter Conference & Exhibition Orlando, Florida, USA http://bicsi.org/winter/2011/event_overview. aspx?id=4818 January 29,2011 – February 2, 2011 ASHRAE 2011 Winter Conference Las Vegas, NV www.ashrae.org/events/ page/2650 blog at www.cablingbusiness.com/wordpress new products Flat Panel Articulating Wall Mounts award of excellence Security Conscious, Fully Assembled and Ready-to-Use Out-of-the-Box, and with 45 Degree Rotation and Up to 15 Degree Tilt Capabilities, the FP-MWAB Holds Most 24- to 37-Inch Flat Panels, and the “Extra Medium” FP-XMWAB Holds Most 32- to 52-Inch Flat Panels. For more FP-MWAB visit and information on FP-XMWAB, www.videomount.com the please or call (410) 643-6390 or toll free 877-281-2169. Internal Touch-tone Control Option Mini Control Module The ITTO (Internal Touch-tone Control Option) module can be installed in any of CPS AC power control products. When installed the AC power can be Controlled remotely over standard phone lines or DSL using only simple touch-tone commands. This expands the used of the power control products and provides a very affordable configuration for a verity of remote power control applications. As an example ITTO in an AC power strip for only 115.00 or Control three separate devices for $150.00. Additionally, ITTO has password protection and can transparently share the phone line with other telephone type devices at the remote site so a separate line is not required. For more information, go to www.cpscom.com/reboot. Paladin Tools Jack Terminator™ The new Jack Terminator™ is made from high-grade steel with rubber embedded grips for extra comfort. The ratcheted action ensures proper consistent termination and the new Jack Terminator™ has an adjustable feature for extra leverage applications. The patented spring-engaged blades terminate wires at the optimal stroke and the blades are concealed for added safety. For more information on this and other communication tools, visit www.greenlee.com or call Greenlee at 1-800-435-0786. www.cablingbusiness.com page 7 | new products Economy Laptop Carts Black Box® Economy Laptop Carts HDMI and IR Extender with HDshak Processing Cable Network Analyzer The DIGI-HD-IR2 employs Intelix field trademarked HDshak processing, which to 16 laptops and are a budget-friendly spectrum analyzer spans the entire 1000 guarantees HDMI signal integrity through alternative to other more expensive carts MHz bandwidth of network spectrum bandwidth limiting, dynamic key process- on the market. The ELTC16D secures in one screen, giving technicians a full ing, and EDID storing. The DIGI-HD-IR2, a computers with its keyed tambour door. picture of the network. In addition, the professional-grade extender which trans- Both carts are perfect for classrooms and CM3800 identifies network impairments mits HDMI and IR up to 300 feet over two training facilities. They’re guaranteed such as ingress that impact video, voice twisted pair cables. The DIGI-HD-IR2 trans- for life and made in the U.S. The carts and broadband data services with more mits 1080p video up to 150 feet, 720p and recharge computers overnight with their accuracy, giving technicians an effective 1080i video up to 300 feet, and 480i and built-in 16-outlet power strips. tool to reduce network outages and 480p video up to 300 feet. Built-in ESD pro- optimize service delivery. For more tection safeguards connected equipment information, visit www.sunrisetelecom. from power strikes and surges. Complete com/cm3800/pr. product information and specifications are (ELTC16D, ELTC16) store and transport up To learn more, call 888-433-5049 or visit www.blackbox.com/go/EconLap. The CM3800 advanced available on www.intelix.com. RHINO™ 5200 Backgrounder Designed for professional installers, the new Rhino 5200 is an advanced, easyto-use label printer that includes hot keys first introduced on Rhino products. “Hot key” technology saves users time by reducing the number of steps required to format a label. Users enjoy even more time savings with simple, advanced and simultaneous serializations, multi label views and over 122 common pre-programmed datacomm and electrical symbols for quick ESD-SAFE Cutters & Pliers Xuron® ESD-Safe Cutters & Pliers feature static dissipative hand grips with a surface resistivity of 106-109 ohms which conforms to ANSI/ESD.S20.20 and DODHDBK-263. The cutters all incorporate Xuron’s Micro-Shear® by-pass shear cutting action that produces a clean, square cut without spikes and the pliers come in 10 head styles for crimping, forming, and bending wires. For more information contact, www.xuron.com. WypAll Wipers with 40 Percent Post-Consumer Recycled Fiber Kimberly- Clark Professional has launched a new generation of environmentally responsible disposable wipers under the WypAll brand. Manufactured using 40 percent postconsumer recycled fiber, from sources including recycled cardboard boxes nd recycled office paper WypAll contain up to 35 percent more sheets than standard packaging. For more information, visit www.kcpreducetoday.com/us. and easy printing. For product information, please visit www.DYMO.com. blog at www.cablingbusiness.com/wordpress How to Choose and Use Fiber By Andrew Schmeltzer www.cablingbusiness.com page 10 | fiber optics cables contain several fibers, a strong central strength member, and one or more metal sheaths for mechanical protection. Some cables also include copper pairs for auxiliary applications. Figure 1. Fiber Optic Cable Construction Fiber optic cable is one of the fastest-growing transmission mediums for both new cabling installations and upgrades, including backbone, horizontal, and even desktop applications. It works very well in applications that need high bandwidth, long distances, and complete immunity to electrical interference. That makes it ideal for high-data-rate systems such as Gigabit Ethernet, multimedia, Fibre Channel, or any other network that requires the transfer of large, bandwidthconsuming data files, particularly over long distances. Fiber optic links offer far greater distances than copper links do. Conventional electrical data signals are converted into a modulated light beam, introduced into the fiber and transported via a very small diameter glass or plastic fiber to a receiver that converts the light back into electrical signals. Fiber Optic Cable Construction Because it’s usually made of glass, fiber optic cable cannot withstand sharp bending or longitudinal stress—even though it seems quite flexible. Therefore, when fiber is placed inside complete cables, special construction techniques are used to allow the fiber to move freely within a tube. Usually fiber optic Core – This is the physical medium that transports optical data signals from an attached light source to a receiving device. The core is a single continuous strand of glass or plastic that’s measured in microns (μm) by the size of its outer diameter. The larger the core, the more light the cable can carry. All fiber optic cable is sized according to its core’s outer diameter. Cladding – This is the thin layer that surrounds the fiber core and serves as a boundary that contains the light waves and causes the refraction, enabling data to travel throughout the length of the fiber segment. Coating – This is a layer of plastic that surrounds the core and cladding to reinforce and protect the fiber core. Coatings are measured in microns and can range from 250 to 900 microns. Strengthening fibers – These components help protect the core against crushing forces and excessive tension during installation. The materials can range from aramid yarn (Kevlar®) to wire strands to gelfilled sleeves. Cable jacket – This is the outer layer of any cable. For outdoor aerial and burial type cables, the jacket color is usually www.cablingbusiness.com black polyethelene for both multimode and single-mode cables. For indoor cables, the cable jacket may be any color, but the industry standard is orange for multimode and yellow for single-mode fibers. (Gray is an outdated color for multimode fiber.) Aqua usually signifies a 10-Gigabit, laseroptimized, 50-/125-micrometer multimode optical fiber. Fiber Optic Principles Fiber’s ability to carry light signals, with very low losses, is based on some fundamental physics associated with the refraction and reflection of light. Whenever a ray of light passes from one transparent medium to another, the light is affected by the interface between the two materials. This occurs because of the difference in speeds that the light can travel through different materials. Each material can be described in terms of its refractive index, which is the ratio of the speed of light in the material to its speed in free space. The relationship between these two refractive indices determines the critical angle of the interface between the two materials. Three things can happen when a ray of light hits an interface. Each depends on the angle of incidence of the ray of light with the interface. If the angle of incidence is less than the critical angle, the light ray will refract, bending toward the material with the higher refractive index. If the angle of incidence is exactly equal to the critical angles, the ray of light page 11 | fiber optics will travel along the surface of the interface. If the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, the ray of light will reflect. The refractive index of a vacuum is considered to be 1. Often, we consider the refractive index of air also to be 1 (although it is actually slightly higher). The refractive index of water is typically about 1.33. Glass, which is used in fiber cabling, has a refractive index in the range of 1.5, a value that can be manipulated by controlling the composition of the glass itself. Fiber Optic Characteristics Optical fibers allow data signals to propagate through them by ensuring that the light signal enters the fiber at an angle greater than the critical angle of the interface between two types of glass. The center core is composed of very pure glass with a refractive index of 1.5. Core dimensions are usually in the range of 8 to 62.5 μm. The surrounding glass, called cladding, is a slightly less pure glass with a refractive index of 1.45. The diameter of the core and cladding together is in the range of 125 to 440 μm. Surrounding the cladding is a coating, strengthening fibers, and a jacket. When light is introduced into the end of an optical fiber, any ray of light that hits the end of the fiber at an angle greater than the critical angle will propagate through the fiber. Each time it hits the interface between the core and the cladding it is Figure 2. Light Traveling Through a Fiber reflected back into the fiber. The angle of acceptance for the fiber is determined by the critical angle of the interface. If this angle is rotated, a cone is generated. Any light falling on the end of the fiber within this cone of acceptance will travel through the fiber. Once the light is inside the fiber, it “bounces” through the core, reflecting inward each time it hits the interface. Figure 2 illustrates how light rays travel through the fiber, reflecting off the interface. If the physical dimensions of the core are relatively large, individual rays of light will enter at slightly different angles and will reflect at different angles. Because they travel different paths through the fiber, the distance they travel also varies. As a result, they arrive at the receiver at different times. A pulse signal sent through the fiber will emerge wider than it was sent, deteriorating the quality of the signal. This is called modal dispersion. Another effect that causes deterioration of the signal is chromatic dispersion. Chromatic dispersion is caused by light rays of different wavelengths traveling at different speeds through the fiber. When a series of pulses is sent through the fiber, modal and chromatic dispersion can eventually cause the pulse to merge into one long pulse and the data signal is lost. Another characteristic of optical fiber is attenuation. Although the glass used in the core of optical fiber is extremely pure, it is not perfect. As a result, light can be absorbed within the cable. Other signal losses include bending and scattering losses as well as losses from poor connections. Connection losses can be caused by misalignment of the ends of the fiber or end surfaces that are not properly polished. Fiber Optic Ethernet Standards 10BASE-FL – 10-Mbps Ethernet over multimode fiber. 100BASE-SX – 100Mbps Ethernet over 850-nm multimode fiber. Maximum length is 300 meters. Longer distances are possible with single-mode fiber. Backwards compatible with 10BASE-FL. 100BASE-FX – 100-Mbps Ethernet (Fast Ethernet) over 1300-nm multimode fiber. Maximum length is 400 meters for half-duplex connections (to ensure collisions are detected) or 2 kilometers for fullduplex. Longer distances are possiblewith single-mode fiber. Not backwards compatible with 10BASE-FL. 100BASE-BX – 100-Mbps blog at www.cablingbusiness.com/wordpress page 12 | fiber optics Ethernet over single-mode fiber up to 100 kilometers. Ethernet over single-mode fiber. Unlike 100BASE-FX, which uses a pair of fibers, 100BASEBX uses a single strand of fiber and wavelength-division multiplexing, which splits the signal into transmit and receive wavelengths. The two wavelengths used for transmit and receive are either 1310 and 1550 nm or 1310 and 1490 nm. Distance is up to 10, 20, or 40 km. 1000BASE-SX – 1-Gbps Ethernet (Gigabit Ethernet) over 850-nm multimode fiber up to 550 meters, depending on the what micron cable is used. 1000BASE-LX – 1-Gbps Ethernet over 1300-nm multimode fiber up to 550 meters. Optimized for longer distances (up to 10 kilometers) over single-mode fiber. 1000BASE-LH – 1-Gbps 10GBASE-SR – 10-Gbps Ethernet (10-Gigabit Ethernet) over 850-nm multimode fiber. It has a range between 26 and 82 meters, depending on whether you’re using 50or 62.5 micron cable. It also supports 300 meters over 2000 MHz/km multimode fiber. 10GBASE-LX4 – 10-Gbps Ethernet over 1300-nm multimode fiber. Uses wavelength-division multiplexing to support up to 300 meters over multimode cabling. Also supports 10 kilometers over single-mode fiber. Multimode vs. SingleMode Cable Multimode, 50and 62.5-micron cableMultimode cable has a large-diameter core and multiple pathways of light. The two most commnon are 50 micron and 62.5 micron. Multimode fiber optic cable can be used for most general data and voice fiber applications, such as bringing fiber to the desktop, adding segments to an existing network, and in smaller applications such as alarm www.cablingbusiness.com systems. Both 50- and 62.5-micron cable feature the same cladding diameter of 125 microns, but 50-micron fiber cable features a smaller core (the light-carrying portion of the fiber). Also, both also use either LED or laser light sources. Although both can be used in the same way, 50-micron cable is recommended for premise applications (backbone, horizontal, and intrabuilding connections) and should be considered for any new construction and installations. The big difference between the two is that 50-micron cable provides longer link lengths and/ or higher speeds, particularly in the 850-nm wavelength. Single-mode, 8–10-micron cable Single-mode cable has a small 8–10-micron glass core and only one pathway of light. With only a single wavelength of light passing through its core, single-mode cable realigns the light toward the center of the core instead of simply bouncing it off the edge of the core as multimode does.Single-mode cable provides 50 times more page 13 | fiber optics distance than multimode cable does. Consequently, singlemode cable is typically used in high-bandwidth applications and in long-haul network connections spread out over extended areas, including cable television and campus backbone applications. Telcos use it for connections between switching offices. Single-mode cable also provides higher bandwidth, so you can use a pair of singlemode fiber strands full-duplex for up to twice the throughput of multimode fiber. PVC (Riser) vs. PlenumRated PVC cable (also called riserrated cable even though not all PVC cable is riser-rated) features an outer polyvinyl chloride jacket that gives off toxic fumes when it burns. It can be used for horizontal and vertical runs, but only if the building features a contained ventilation system. Plenum can replace riser, but riser cannot be used in plenum spaces. “Riser-rated” means that the jacket contains PVC. The cable carries a CMR (communications riser) rating and is not for use in plenums. Plenum cable has a special coating, such as Teflon® FEP, which doesn’t emit toxic fumes when it burns. A plenum is a space within the building designed for the movement of environmental air. In most office buildings, the space above the ceiling is used for the HVAC air return. If cable goes through that space, it must be “plenum-rated.” General-Purpose vs. Distribution-Style vs. Breakout-Style General-purpose fiber cable is constructed of buffered fibers, aramid yarn, and a PVC or plenum jacket. The fiber is surrounded with Kevlar® for tensile strength. Use the PVC cable for horizontal and backbone network runs. Use the plenum cable where fire ordinances require plenum. Distribution-style cables have several tight-buffered fibers bundled under the same jacket with Kevlar or fiberglass rod reinforcement. These cables are small in size and are used for short, dry and riser and plenum applications. Because each fiber is individually reinforced, these cables are easier to terminate, making breakout cable more economical over shorter distances. Indoor/Outdoor Cable Indoor/outdoor cable uses dry-block technology to seal ruptures against moisture seepage and gel-filled buffer tubes to halt moisture migration. Comprised of a ripcord, core binder, a flameretardant layer, overcoat, aramid yarn, and an outer jacket, it is designed for aerial, duct, tray, and riser applications. Figure 3. Types of Fiber conduit runs, in either riser or plenum applications. The fibers can be directly terminated, but because the fibers are not individually reinforced, these cables need to be broken out with a “breakout box” or terminated inside a patch panel or junction box. Breakout-style cables are made of several simplex cables bundled together, making a strong design that is larger than distribution cables. Breakout cables are suitable for conduit runs Interlocking Armored Cable This fiber cable is jacketed in aluminum interlocking armor so it can be run just about anywhere in a building. Ideal for harsh environments, it is rugged and rodent resistant. No conduit is needed, so it’s a labor- and money-saving alternative to using innerducts for fiber cable runs. Interlocking armored cable is lightweight and flexible but also extraordinarily strong. It is ideal for out-of-the-way premise links. blog at www.cablingbusiness.com/wordpress page 14 | fiber optics Laser-Optimized 10-Gigabit Cable Laser-optimized multimode fiber cable differs from standard multimode cable because it has graded refractive index profile fiber optic cable in each assembly. This means that the refractive index of the core glass decreases toward the outer cladding, so the paths of light towards the outer edge of the fiber travel quicker than the other paths. This increase in speed equalizes the travel time for both short and long light paths, ensuring accurate information transmission and receipt over much greater distances, up to 300 meters at 10 Gbps. Loose-Tube vs. TightBuffered Fiber Optic Cable There are two styles of fiber optic cable construction: loose tube and tight buffered. Both contain some type of strengthening member, such as aramid yarn, stainless steel wire strands, or even gel-filled sleeves. But each is designed for very different environments. Loose-tube cable is specifically designed for harsh outdoor environments. It protects the fiber core, cladding, and coating by enclosing everything within semi-rigid protective sleeves or tubes. Many loose-tube cables also have a water-resistant gel that surrounds the fibers. This Platinum Tools 1/4 Page ad Tone it! Track it! Test it! NEW! 4 MAPPER™ COAX TESTER EZ 1-button design The 4 MAPPER™ Coax Tester is designed to map up to 4 coax cables with the included color coded push-on F style remotes. Troubleshoot coax cable runs up to 3,000 feet. • Displays Pass, Open or Short. • Integrated tone generator. • Line voltage warning LED. • Made in the USA. Use for CATV, Satellite, Security & AV Installations. “We Make Connections EZ” Call today for a distributor near you. 800 749-5783 platinumtools.com www.cablingbusiness.com gel helps protect them from moisture, which makes loosetube cable great for harsh, highhumidity environments where water or condensation can be a problem. The gel-filled tubes can also expand and contract with temperature changes. But gel-filled loose-tube cable is not the best choice when cable needs to be routed around multiple bends, which is often true in indoor applications. Excess cable strain can force fibers to emerge from the gel. Tight-buffered cable, in contrast, is optimized for indoor applications. It’s easier to install, as well, because there’s no messy gel to clean up and it doesn’t require a fan-out kit for splicing page 15 | fiber optics or termination. You can install connectors directly to each fiber. For the best of both worlds, try a hybrid, breakout-style fiber optic cable, which combines tight-buffered cables within a loose-tube housing. The Ferrules: Ceramic or Composite? As a general rule, use ceramic ferrules for critical network connections such as backbone cables or for connections that will be moved frequently, like those in wiring closets. Ceramic ferrules are more precisely molded and fit closer to the fiber, which gives the fiber optic cables a lower optical loss. Use composite ferrules for connections that are less critical to the network’s overall operation and less frequently moved. Like their ceramic counterparts, composite ferrules are characterized by low loss, good quality, and a long life. However, they are not as precisely molded and slightly easier to damage, so they aren’t as well-suited for critical connections. Signal Sources and Detectors To use fiber optic cables for communications, electrical signals must be converted to light, transmitted, received, and converted back from light to electrical signals. This requires optical sources and detectors that can operate at the data rates of the communications system. There are two main categories of optical signal sources – light emitting diodes and infrared laser diodes. Light emitting diodes (Leds) are the lower-cost, lowerperformance source. They’re used in applications where lower data rates and/or shorter distances are acceptable. Infrared laser diodes operate at much higher speeds, dissipate higher power levels, and require temperature compensation or control to maintain specified performance levels. They are also more costly. Signal detectors also fall into two main categories – PIN photodiodes and avalanche photodiodes. Similar to sources, the two ECONOMICAL REMOTE AC POWER CONTROL Installers System Maintenance System Integrators from $2600 What is ITTO ? ITTO is an Internal Touch-Tone Option It results in the most economical method to remotely control AC power. On-OFF-RESET Install in any of the CPS power control products and control the AC power remotely over standard telephone lines or DSL using only Touch-Tones... “REBOOT and Save a Trip.” Line Sharing - Completely transparent to other telephone devices on the line. Only call it when you need it. Your customer will never know it is there. Also has a TT password for secure access. ITTO + an AC power strip for only $125.00 Control three separate devices for $150.00 Qty. discounts available. Computer Peripheral Systems Buford, GA 1-800-888-0051 www.cpscom.com/ reboot.htm blog at www.cablingbusiness.com/wordpress page 16 | fiber optics types provide much different cost/ performance ratios. PIN photodiodes are more commonly used, especially in less stringent applications. Avalanche photodiodes, on the other hand, are very sensitive and can be used where longer distances and higher data rates are involved. Splicing and Terminating Optical Fibers In practical situations, fiber optic cables exhibit signal power losses based on both the fiber and connections from the fiber to sensors or other fiber segments. Typically fiber losses run at about 10 decibels (dB) per kilometer. Whenever a fiber must be terminated, the goal is to produce a perfectly transparent end to the fiber. The end-face should be square, clear, and physically mated to the receiving optical device. In some cases, cables are permanently joined by splicing or gluing the ends of the fiber together. Others mechanically align the fibers and use a transparent gel to couple the ends of the fiber together. Early fiber optic connections involved cutting the fiber, epoxying a special connector, and polishing the end of the fiber. This operation required special tools and testing equipment to ensure a good connection. While this technique is still used, devices used to cleave, align, and join fibers have been improved and simplified. Connection losses vary, depending on the type of connection, but typically range from 0.2 to 1 dB. Planning a Fiber Optic Link The most important consideration in planning a fiber optic link is the power budget specification of the devices being connected. This value tells you the amount of loss in dB that can be present in the link between the two devices before the units fail to perform properly. This value will include inline attenuation as well as connector loss. Fiber attenuators are used with single-mode fiber optic devices and cable to filter the strength of the fiber optic signal. Depending on the type of attenuator attached to the devices at each end of the fiber optic cable, you can diminish the strength of the light signal a variable amount, measured in decibels (dB). Why would you want to filter the strength of the fiber www.cablingbusiness.com optic signal? Single-mode fiber is designed to carry a fiber optic signal long distances –as much as 70 kilometers (or 43.4 miles). Fiber devices send this signal with great force to ensure that the signal, and your data, arrive at the other end intact. But when two fiber devices connected with single-mode fiber cable are close to each other, the signal may be too strong. As a result, the light signal reflects back down the fiber cable. Data can be corrupted and transmissions can be faulty. A signal that istoo strong can even damage the attached equipment. Because it’s probably not feasible to move your fiber equipment farther apart, the easiest solution is to attach an attenuator to each fiber device. Just as sunglasses filter the strength of sunlight, attenuators filter the strength of the light signal transmitted along singlemode fiber cable. Within the attenuator, there’s doping that reduces the strength of the signal passing through the fiber connection and minute air gaps where the two fibers meet. Fiber grooves may also be intentionally misaligned by several microns – but only enough to slow the fiber page 17 | fiber optics optic signal to an acceptable rate as it travels down the cable. Before selecting an attenuator, you need to check the type of adapter on your fiber devices. Attenuators typically fit into any patch panel equipped with FC, SC, or LC adapters that contain either PC or APC contacts. In addition to the type of adapter, you also need to determine the necessary attenuation value, such as 5 or 10 dB. This value varies, depending on the strength of fiber optic signal desired. Testing and Certifying Fiber Optic Cable If you’re accustomed to certifying copper cable, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to certify fiber optic cable because it’s immune to electrical interference. You only need to check a few measurements. Attenuation (or decibel loss) – Measured in decibels/ kilometer (dB/km), this is the decrease of signal strength as it travels through the fiber cable. Generally, attenuation problems are more common on multimode fiber optic cables. Return loss – This is the amount of light reflected from the far end of the cable back to the source. The lower the number, the better. For example, a reading of -60 decibels is better than -20 decibels. Like attenuation, return loss is usually greater with multimode cable. Graded refractive index – This measures how the light is sent down the fiber. This is commonly measured at wavelengths of 850 and 1300 nanometers. Compared to other operating frequencies, these two ranges yield the lowest intrinsic power loss. Propagation delay – This is the time it takes a signal to travel from one point to another over a transmission channel. Optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) – This enables you to isolate cable faults by transmitting high-frequency pulses onto a cable and examining their reflections along the cable. With OTDR, you can also determine the length of a fiber optic cable because the OTDR value includes the distance the optic signal travels. There are many fiber optic testers on the market today. Basic fiber optic testers function by shining a light down one end of the cable. At the other end, there’s a receiver calibrated to the strength of the light source. With this test, you can measure how much light is going to the other end of the cable. Generally these testers give you the results in dB lost, which you then compare to the loss budget. If the measured loss is less than the number calculated by your loss budget, your installation is good. Newer fiber optic testers have an even broader range of capabilities. They can test both 850- and 1300-nanometer signals at the same time and can even check your cable for compliance with specific standards. Precautions to Take When Using Fiber A few properties particular to fiber optic cable can cause problems if you aren’t careful during installation: Intrinsic power loss – As the optic signal travels through the fiber core, the signal inevitably loses some speed through absorption, reflection, and scattering. This problem is easy to manage by making sure your splices are good and your connections are clean. Microbending – Microbends are minute deviations in fiber caused by excessive bends, pinches, and kinks. Using cable with reinforcing fibers and other special manufacturing techniques minimizes this problem. Connector loss – Connector loss occurs when two fiber segments are misaligned. This problem is commonly caused by poor splicing. Scratches and dirt introduced during the splicing process can also cause connector loss. Coupling loss – Similar to connector loss, coupling loss results in reduced signal power and is from poorly terminated connector couplings. Remember to be careful and use common sense when installing fiber cable. Use clean components. Keep dirt and dust to a minimum. Don’t pull the cable excessively or bend it too sharply around corners. blog at www.cablingbusiness.com/wordpress page 18 | fiber optics Advantages of Fiber Optic Cables Greater bandwidth – Fiber provides far greater bandwidth than copper and has standardized performance up to 10 Gbps. But fiber also gives network designers future-proofing insurance with speeds up to 40 Gbps or even 100 Gbps. Low attenuation and greater distance – Because the fiber optic signal is made of light, very little signal loss occurs during transmission, and data can move at higher speeds and greater distances. Fiber does not have the 100-meter (328-ft.) distance limitation that unshielded twisted-pair copper without a booster does. Fiber distances can range from 300 meters (984.2 ft.) to 70 kilometers (24.8 mi.), depending on the style of cable, wavelength, and network. (Fiber distances are typically measured in metric units.) Because fiber signals need less boosting than copper ones do, the cable performs better. Note thatsingle-mode cable offers far greater distance than either 62.5- or 50-micron multimode cable. Immunity and reliability – Fiber provides extremely reliable data transmission. It’s completely immune to many envi- ronmental factors that affect copper cable. Because the core is made of glass, which is an insulator, no electric current can flow through. It’s immune to electromagnetic interference and radio-frequency interference (EMI/RFI), crosstalk, impedance problems, and more. You can run fiber next to industrial equipment without worry. Fiber is also less susceptible to temperature fluctuations than copper is, and it can be submerged in water. In addition, fiber optic cable can carry more information with greater fidelity than copper wire can. That’s why telephone and CATV companies are converting to fiber. Security – Your data is safe We have Global Presence! Even though you’re across the world from us, you can stay connected! Go to our blog, Facebook fan page, Twitter page or just email! Talk to us! Tell us what you think! www.cablingbusiness.com page 19 | fiber optics with fiber cable. It doesn’t radiate signals and is extremely difficult to tap. If the cable is tapped, it’s very easy to monitor because the cable leaks light, causing the entire system to fail. If an attempt is made to break the physical security of your fiber system, you’ll know it. Fiber networks also enable you to put all your electronics and hardware in one central location, instead of having wiring closets with equipment throughout the building. Design and installation – Fiber is lightweight, thin, and more durable than copper cable. Plus, fiber optic cable has pulling specifications that are up to 10 times greater than copper cable’s. Its small size makes it easier to handle, and it takes up much less space in cabling ducts. Although fiber is still more difficult to terminate than copper, advancements in connectors are making termination easier. In addition, fiber is actually easier to test than copper cable. Migration – The proliferation and lower costs of media converters are making copper to fiber migration much easier. The converters provide seamless links and enable the use of existing hardware. Fiber can be incorporated into networks in planned upgrades. TIA/EIA-785, ratified in 2001, provides a costeffective migration path from 10-Mbps Ethernet to 100-Mbps Fast Ethernet over fiber (100BASESX). An addendum to the standard eliminates limitations in transceiver designs. In addition, in June 2002, the IEEE approved a 10-Gigabit Ethernet (10-GbE) standard. Costs – The cost for fiber cable, components, and hardware is steadily decreasing. Installation costs for fiber are higher than copper because of the skill needed for terminations, making fiber more expensive than copper in the short run, but it may actually be less expensive in the long run. Fiber typically costs less to maintain, has much less downtime, and requires less networking hardware. And fiber eliminates the need to recable for higher network performance. Andrew Schmeltzeri is Product Manager, Structured Cabling at Black Box Network Services. Andrew has been with Black Box for ten years and has been in the structured cabling business for over 25 years. blog at www.cablingbusiness.com/wordpress Optical Network Connects CityCenter to the Future It is a sleek, gleaming vision that rises amid the hustle and neon of The Strip, setting a new standard for what life and entertainment in Las Vegas could become. CityCenter, the largest privately funded development project in U.S. history, combines casino, hotel, condominium, retail and entertainment venues into a single, integrated complex, launched in December 2009. www.cablingbusiness.com page 21 | case study CityCenter at Night With startling architectural design, advanced technologies deployed throughout the complex (including its own energy-efficient power plant and Automatic People Mover system) and “green” LEED® certification for multiple buildings, CityCenter creates a whole new 21st century dynamic for Las Vegas; one designed to appeal to affluent visitors, shoppers and residents who expect world-class service and facilities that offer distinctive amenities on the cutting edge. The developers of the project recognized that they needed to make sure they could deliver on the vision to create a one-of-a-kind experience that would draw visitors and keep them coming back. They needed to build a communications and information delivery infrastructure able to support the most advanced applications available today, with enough capacity, stability and sophistication to “future-proof” virtually every endpoint across the 67-acre community. To secure that future-proof communications architecture, CityCenter chose the advanced fiber optics technology of Corning Cable Systems optical cabling solutions. CityCenter: A Vision for 21st Century Las Vegas CityCenter is a 16.7 million sq ft mixed-use, massive urban complex on 67 acres of the Las Vegas Strip. A joint development by MGM Resorts International and Infinity World Development Corp, a subsidiary of Dubai World, it is estimated to have cost $8.5 billion and is one of the most completely integrated entertainment, gaming, retail and residential developments ever created in Las Vegas. The conceptual master plan features seven buildings that include approximately 2,400 condominium and condo-hotel units and approximately 4,800 hotel rooms, distributed within several high-rise towers. The main complex structure includes: • The Crystals, an ultra highend retail and entertainment district with 500,000 sq ft of retail and entertainment businesses, including housing the first grocery store directly on the Strip • ARIA, a new 4,000-room hotel and casino • Mandarin Oriental, a 400- room boutique hotel with 227 residential condo units • Veer Towers, a purely residential building with a dramatic veering design • Vdara, a combination condo-hotel building Eight internationally acclaimed architects collaborated with the CityCenter developers to design a true community – a welcoming environment for people to gather, relax and enjoy. It employs over 12,000 people, and features nightclubs, spas, extensive meeting spaces, business amenities, world-class restaurants, as well as extensive public plazas and fine art installations. ARIA - Front Desk Maya Lin - Silver River This vision for a complete community with world-class amenities drove a crucial infrastructure design decision: the near-complete use of singlemode fiber optics to support blog at www.cablingbusiness.com/wordpress page 22 | case study Telecom Room: Overhead View of Single-mode Optical Cables virtually every CityCenter endpoint from hotel, office and condominium data ports, to casino gaming tables, slot machines and flat panel displays, to retailer and restaurant workstations, even wireless endpoints in parking garages and on people movers for mobile data and IP telephony services. Corning Fiber Optics Connects the Complex identify the optimum set of Corning products to handle individual endpoints, building trunks and the buildingto-building fiber connectivity that would integrate the entire community. One of the most significant concerns that the construction management team had was capacity. Corning Cable Systems supplied the materials, keeping to tight manufacturing and delivery schedules without compromising quality on any of the components. Network Design and Specification There are over twenty million feet of fiber optic cable and 180,000 fiber optic endpoints supported by Corning Cable Systems products throughout the seven major properties at CityCenter. Beginning in 2006, Corning Cable Systems worked with MGM Resorts International IT Infrastructure Engineering – Cable Plant Services to assess the fiber optic cabling requirements for the project and to Telecom Room: Corning Cable Systems Housings with Detailed Labeling and Cable Management www.cablingbusiness.com The master plan for the CityCenter fiber infrastructure is based on tying together 10 structures in an advanced highcapacity fiber ring. Each building features backbone fiber optic trunks and single-mode fiber endpoints to condos, hotel rooms, meeting spaces, dining and entertainment endpoints, and even fiber endpoints at each gaming table and into high-tech video poker and slot machines. Because the average fiber run was 900 ft, and since the throughput demands for the endpoints could potentially go as high as 10G, a strategic decision was made to use single-mode fiber for the endpoints. In runs under 800 ft, the hardware team utilized 50/125 micron multimode MIC® Riser cables. Corning Cable Systems supplied virtually all of the communications cabling components, including fiber optic connectors, Closet Connector page 23 | case study Housings, custom-configured Single-Panel Housings and significant amounts of network backbone cabling options: • Endpoint single-mode cables: MIC Riser Cables were excellent solutions for intrabuilding cable runs, configured in four-fiber endpoints with two active ports and two spares to ensure growth capacity. MIC Riser Cables utilize 900 _m TBII® Fibers surrounded by dielectric strength members with a flexible, flameretardant outer jacket. • Endpoint housings: At the gaming tables, Corning Cable Systems Single-Panel Housings provided a costeffective solution for storage, protection and termination of optical fibers. They were chosen for their compact size and small footprint and were custom-configured by Corning Cable Systems to support specific needs at the tables. • Endpoint connectors: Corning Anaerobic-Cure single mode connectors combine the quick-cure convenience of anaerobic adhesive with the performance of epoxy and polish connectors. • Rack-mountable housings: Corning Cable Systems Closet Connector Housings provided CityCenter with a great solution for interconnect or crossconnect capabilities between the outside plant, riser or distribution cables and the opto-electronics. The Telecom Room: Corning Cable Systems Housings with Detailed Labeling and Cable Management units are designed for rackmounting and are designed with an open top at the front of the housing to facilitate jumper routing when used in conjunction with the closet jumper management panel. • Trunk cabling: FREEDM® Loose Tube Gel-Free Cables are used throughout the CityCenter facilities to provide in-building backbones for the fiber network. They are flame-retardant, indoor/ outdoor, riser-rated cables, suitable for installation in aerial, duct and riser applications. Because of the riserrating, there is no need for a transition splice when entering/exiting the building. • Fiber ring: ALTOS® AllDielectric Gel-Free Cable provides stable performance over a wide temperature range and is compatible with any telecommunicationsgrade optical fiber. The fiber ring is tied together with single-mode fiber and features redundant paths to support the highest levels of reliability, ensuring that downtime is not a concern. Throughout the CityCenter site, the telecom closets are tied together with laser-optimized 50 µm OM3 multimode fiber and single-mode fiber. These products are proven in thousands of high-density fiber installations and provide the long-term performance, stability and flexibility needed to support the current and future uses anticipated by the residents and visitors to CityCenter. One of most important goals for the entire CityCenter project was environmental sensitivity. From the beginning, all of the major structures were designed to receive LEED® certification through extensive use of green technologies, such as using reclaimed water and an onsite power plant. Mandarin Oriental, ARIA and Vdara all received LEED certification in November 2009. At this time, fiber optic blog at www.cablingbusiness.com/wordpress page 24 | case study stay on schedule, to minimize rework and to ensure the highest quality installation. • Patch panels were laid out by floor to make troubleshooting easier. • Cable routing and installation was done in a highly consistent manner, labeling was complete -- all steps were taken to keep installation operating smoothly, and to ensure that long-term management of the network infrastructure follows standard recommended procedures. CityCenter is Ready for the Future One of CityCenter’s Energy-Efficient Data Centers products do not directly lead to credits for LEED green building certification. However, the ability of optical technology to save energy and environmental cooling costs, compared to using copper cabling for a building’s network, can help architects, developers and builders reduce energy use and environmental demands (i.e., air-conditioning). Operating power and cooling energy cost reductions can be achieved when deploying a high-density optical network versus a CAT 6A network for 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) applications. Corning analysis has shown that annual network and cooling energy cost reductions can range from 75 to 85 percent based on port counts of 48 to 288, making optical technology a significant tool for building designers to consider when seeking to achieve higher Energy and Atmosphere LEED points. Onsite Corning Cable Systems Support Enables Successful Fiber Installation To insure the fiber optic deliveries, installation and testing went as smoothly as possible, Corning Cable Systems provided onsite technical and project management support. All deliveries were on time, followed by impeccable product performance. For example: • Over 100 fiber optic cable installers received expert training in installing Corning Cable Systems’ AnaerobicCure single-mode connectors to help endpoint installation www.cablingbusiness.com CityCenter represents one of the most comprehensive fiber deployments ever created. The fundamental reason for creating this fiber environment was to future-proof the multibillion dollar investment: • Fiber optics delivers the quality and multi-Gigabit throughput capacity current applications demand – to each endpoint, and in the trunks that connect each building to the main network. • Fiber optics has the demonstrated capacity to handle future growth, more sophisticated throughput demands and expansion of the site’s facilities without the cost and complexity of tearing out cabling and replacing it with every new generation of applications. Article by Corning Cable Systems. Heard Our Proposal? We know where your stimulus money should be going do you? If you are a municipality or state government looking for cabling industry professionals, CBM can connect you to the right contractors to handle your Low Voltage or I.T. job! Run your RFP advertisement with Cabling Business Magazine and we’ll make sure you reach qualified professional contractors faster than ever before. Contact Russell Paulov at [email protected] for more information. Rising copper prices make room for innovative business strategies By Greg Greenwood As copper increases to more than $4/lb, innovation is key to success. Unless you’ve been living under a rock the past month, you’ve heard manufacturers and distributors announcing over the loud horn that cable prices are increasing. There’s no doubt about it, raw materials are going up. The question is how much of the price increase is actually due to the cost of copper and other materials and how much is “opportunity” increases for the major players? www.cablingbusiness.com page 27 | installation As cabling professionals, our choices include: continue feeding the cabling machine or forge our own path. History proves the power of innovation To prove our current opportunity for innovation, let’s go back in time. In 1976, a man at Palo Alto Research Centre, Bob Metcalfe, was attempting to connect a PC to a printer, incidentally inventing Ethernet. Then in 1984, IBM unleashed the power of computing with new and exciting platforms for all its computer users. Whether you were using 3270 controllers back to a mainframe or a system 34 or 36, this platform offered a tremendous advantage to information sharing. It was the Token Ring network along with the IBM Universal Cabling System. For those of us who have been around long enough to remember, this opened the gates of computing power, most notably personal computing. Networking wasn’t new, but now the giant of the industry, IBM, was running the show. Technology is a revolving door Neither IBM or Ethernet’s network technology was bullet-proof. Token Ring had it issues, sending “tokens” of information around to its nodes. And, Ethernet had the problem of bursting “packets” across its star topology, which caused collisions. The construction of the cable deployed for these two networks varied substantially. Token Ring networks used two pairs of 22 gauge wire, each individually shielded and surrounded with an aluminum shield and copper braid. This cable also had the option of having eight, 24 gauge wires for a telephone connection. Desktop and wiring closet patch cables were similar in size and used a proprietary black square connector, developed by IBM and one of its OEM partners. Ethernet networks used a central RG-8/U coax backbone cable that surrounded a 13 gauge center conductor. Desktop connection cables were made up of a RS232-type, 15 conductor, 24 gauge cable with D-Sub connectors on the ends. Times changes and so do the hands of power Fast forward 26 years ... Token Ring is gone. IBM is out of the cabling business and all their systems are connected to, well, you guessed it… an Ethernet network. Which begs the question, what major player won’t be in the cabling business in the future? In the past 26 years, which happens to be my exact tenure in this industry, the structured cabling market has evolved into arguably a $5 billion industry in the U.S. alone. This explosive growth has led to Telecommunications Industry Association standards (now EIA/ TIA), BICSI; an influx of new manufacturers; and the consolidation of numerous manufacturers, installation certifications and site warranties. Moreover, and most imperative given the state of the industry, this growth led to much smaller copper cables and a greater dependence on fiber optics for backbone and longhaul applications. You can’t control prices so control what you buy In recent years, the fluctuation in price and availability of raw materials in the construction of cable has become of great concern. Given the global appetite for growth and information technology, particularly in China, these raw materials have experienced unpredictable swings in availability and price driven by market forces outside the U.S. So, if you own or work with a low voltage installation firm and regularly bid, install and maintain your customer’s network infrastructure, take notethis is for you. YOU HAVE A CHOICE. Like Albert Einstein said, “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” It’s time to push back against the machine. What machine? The machine of consolidation. The marketing machine. Like Albert Einstein said, “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” blog at www.cablingbusiness.com/wordpress $0.829 0 $0.80 $0.76 page 28 | installation $1.24 $1.25 $1.32 Comcables saving percentage % more for competitors Price Comparison on 480 Station Job $35,000 $29,366 $31,228 $29,441 $30,000 $30,378 $23,592 $25,000 $20,000 $15,000 $10,000 $5,000 $- Brand A Brand A Brand B Lesser Brand C Brand B Brand C Known Lesser Known Brand Brand The critical mass machine. The machine that manufactures FUD – Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt. Need I say more? Dare to consider a different business model You have several choices, but the choice I’m talking about is significant. This choice will make a substantial impact on the outcome of your business, future and profitability. The choice is which brand of materials to install in your customers facilities. We work in a standards driven business, yet people still pay 25-40% more for big brand name products that perform at the same level as less known brands. Given the current state of the economy, most of us aren’t in a position to flush 40% of our profits down the drain. Over the past 26 years, structured cabling technology has come to the point where EIA/TIA, BICSI, UL, ETL/Intertek all “independently” verify the processes in which that cable Brand D Brand D and connectivity are manufactured. Yes, there are the black market companies the CCCA organization has uncovered, which is creating appropriate guard rails for all of us. But let’s assume no one reading this article wants to harm their reputation by installing inferior or fraudulent products. At the same time, let’s recognize that consolidation has left you, the contractor, very few choices. And, allowed a select few to become dangerously close to having a monopoly in the industry. U.S. pays more for the same products There is plenty of gross margin in products for everyone to get their piece of the pie. Over the past few months, we have spent countless hours surveying the global market for Category 5E, 6 and 6A cable, both onshore and offshore. The verdict: our U.S. cost is 3-5% more than the cost of UL listed and/or ETL/ Intertek manufactured cable in Taiwan, South Korean or www.cablingbusiness.com China. Even more noteworthy, despite the recent high in copper ($4.04/lb), our price was significantly less than our U.S. competitors even when copper was below $3.50/lb. See, we like many, assumed the best thing to do for our business was continue to do what we have always done. But, once we opened our eyes to new possibilities and challenged the norm, we were amazed by what was right in front of our face. Vision combined with commitment leads to success James Allen, wrote the book “As a man thinketh” over a hundred years ago, professing: As a man thinketh, so he becomes. It is quite simple, what we focus our thoughts on, grows stronger in our lives. My personal ‘Ah-Hah’ from reading Allen’s book is: We have a choice in what we focus our attention on. No matter the choice, if we commit our thoughts towards this intention, it grows stronger in our lives. In 1999, we had the opportunity to embrace this strategy within our company. We decided that given the heavy consolidation of both manufacturers and distributors, it was critical for our company to find and execute a fresh strategy in order to reach our future potential. We set our path, put our stake in the ground and embarked on our new strategy full-force. Brand 1 Lesser Known Brand Brand 2 Brand 3 Brand 4 5.62 5.55 7.25 6.25 5.87 5.58 6.19 7.06 6.93 7.84 3.98 5.94 3.68 4.9 7.48 page 28 29 | installation ETL Tested Performance Comparison 11 years later as I share our story with you, we are a testament that the power of intention backed by commitment can deliver business exactly what you envision. 18 16 14 Innovators prevail 12 So now it’s your turn. Do you dare challenge the standards set for you without your input? To push against the strength of the manufacturers and distributors that have chosen their partners and greatly reduced your ability to win and profit? 10 Brand 1 Lesser Known Brand Brand 2 Brand 3 Brand 4 8 6 4 2 0 NEXT Margin Your future depends on it. Let me give you one last analogy to help you understand what is available in the market today. Imagine rafting down a river. You put your water craft in the river in a still part of the water called an eddy. Then you paddle it out into the current. The water flow is consists of two types: downstream current and eddies. 80% of the water is flowing downstream, while 20% of the 16.5 17.06 16.3 16.37 16.68 PS NEXT Margin Insertion Loss Margin Return Loss Margin water is re-circulating to the banks in eddies. Your goal is to go downstream shooting the white water rapids and pull over into the eddies for a rest and lunch in the sun. Let’s imagine though, that you left something at a previous stop on the river and you can’t walk up banks to get it back. How do you get there? Dare to Win More Jobs & Make More Profits. The Pull Elbow™ cabling tool Allows you to pull around corners like pulling through conduit bends Mounts in seconds with beam clamps, screws, or large cable ties, and can be removed just as quickly when dressing cables Has no moving parts to pinch or cut cables, and keeps wiring up off the floor during the installation process Saves cable: Eliminates having to estimate how much more cable will be needed to complete the run, from mid-run corner locations. Eliminates loops of cable laid out on the floor! Preserves the integrity of your cable, eliminates kinks where “loops” of cables are pulled up into the ceiling Saves time: Allows you to work faster and more efficiently! Only $24.99 Made in the U.S.A. S T R U C T U R E D C A B L I N G S Y S T E M Direct to Contractors Top-quality performance at eye-opening prices. www.comcables.com blog at www.cablingbusiness.com/wordpress 866.302.3301 page 30 | installation You use the eddies. You exit an eddy with your device pointed upward and somewhat across the river. With the proper angle and momentum, you can actually paddle from eddy to eddy, back and forth up river. To do this, you must have the downstream current to produce eddies that give you the power to move across-stream, against the strong current that carries everything downstream. Copper is increasing in usage and price, so change your direction Yes, copper prices are going up. And, if you stay in downstream momentum, you’ll be subject to what the market decides for you. Yes, FEP is going up. And, if you use the eddy currents, you have the opportunity to view the market in a new light and consider new strategies to win more jobs and make more profit. Are you willing to use the market momentum to move your business against the current? With time comes change. After all, when is the last time you installed an IBM Cabling System? Greg Greenwood is President/CEO of comCables, a manufacturer of end-to-end structured cabling solutions and the industry’s first and only manufacturer to sell directly to its customers. Founding comCables in 1999, Greenwood has led the company to significant growth, profitability and expansion through innovate strategies and technology. comCables operates six facilities in the U.S. and Mexico, with plans for further expansion in 2011. ad index comCables 29 www.comcables.com Computer Peripheral Systems (CPS) 15 www.cps.com/reboot.htm Corning Cable Systems 9 www.corning.com/cablesystems/cbad2009 Creative Cabling Solutions 29 www.creativecabling.com CSTI IFC www.cstinstitute.com Energy Transformation Systems (ETS) 14 www.etslan.com Fluke Networks 3 www.flukenetworks.com/YouWantIt LEVITON 1 www.Leviton.com/datacenter Light Connection, The (TLC) 19 www.thelightconnection.com Live Wire & Cable 20 www.livew-c.com Platinum Tools 14 www.platinumtools.com R.J. Enterprises 19 www.rj-enterprises.com Server Technology, Inc. 5 www.servertech.com www.cablingbusiness.com page 31 | columns network news Energy Transformation Systems, Inc. announces appointment of Joseph Rosenberger to Vice President, Marketing and Sales Energy Transformation Systems, Inc., a Silicon Valley-based designer and manufacturer of signal-attenuated impedance-matching transformers and related devices, has announced the appointment of Joseph Rosenberger to the position of Vice President, Marketing and Sales. Mr. Rosenberger’s previous experience includes posts at such high-tech companies as The Panda Project, Silicon Bandwidth, Inc., and Parrot Learning, LTD. From 2000 to 2005, as Director of Corporate Communications at Silicon Bandwidth, Inc., Fremont, CA, he helped grow the company from startup to a multi-million dollar fabless semiconductor manufacturer. Commented company CEO Trudy Andresen, “ETS is pleased at having Mr. Rosenberger join our firm, as he brings with him not only extensive experience in marketing and sales, but in the highly technical area of signal integrity as well. As a key team member, he’ll help grow ETS into a global contender in this high-growth sector of the electronics industry.” Please contact [email protected] for more information. Black Box releases study of communications on college campuses Black Box Corporation (NASDAQ:BBOX) has released an independent study of how college administrators can communicate better with students on their campuses. The research study, Communication Effectiveness in Higher Education, looks at the various communications methods and technologies used by schools to inform and alert students. Prepared by the Platt Retail Institute (PRI), an industry-leading marketing research, consulting, and analytics firm, the detailed research report advances key findings about how to enhance the administrator-to-student communication process on campus. According to Steven Keith Platt, Director and Research Fellow at PRI, “This investigation into campus administrator-to-student communication is the first study that addresses the effectiveness of communication that considers different types of information being delivered via various channels.” “Our study found that digital channels that can be targeted to specific segments, such as digital signage, can maximize communication effectiveness due to their ability to deliver relevant messages,” Platt said. “This study confirms that students prefer to receive information through newer digital media channels, including text messages, digital signage, e-mail, and a school’s Web site,” he said. “Use of these channels is helpful when addressing another research finding, which is that universities often relay too much irrelevant information to students, with the unintended consequence that relevant, important messages tend to get crowded out.” To read the report, visit blackbox.com/go/UCreport. New CFHP Certification Custom Training Course The Light Brigade is pleased to announce that the new Certified Fiber-to-the-Home Professional (CFHP) certification program, which launched earlier this year, is now available on a custom basis to address client’s needs at their locations in North America and internationally. This course is specifically designed to certify professional competence in FTTH design, architecture, deployment, and administration technolo- blog at www.cablingbusiness.com/wordpress page 32 | columns network news gies. The CFHP content addresses active Ethernet and PON FTTH systems, physical network architecture options, video systems, Ethernet and IP networks, FTTH and FTTB designs, business and economic issues, and future migration considerations. When asked about his move to Allied, Snyder said, “I am extremely excited to join the AWC sales team, who are known for their professionalism and dedicated customer service.” For more information or to host this course at a location near you, please call Pam Wooten at (800) 451‑7128 or email [email protected]. Announcing Mockett’s New Concepts Supplemental Catalog Doug Mockett & Company is proud to announce the release of our new Sneak Preview catalog featuring all of our newest parts. As the leader in innovative furniture components, we strive to continually offer the finest in architectural hardware. We have added over 80 new parts to our product line that are sure to expand your creative horizons. Most are brand new parts, some are new designs and finish options on existing parts. Featuring the latest in Power and Communication Systems, an assortment of new Drawer Pulls, and the latest in Shelf Supports, Grommets, Wire Managers, and more! We are currently celebrating our 30th Year Anniversary, and our new catalog is a testament to our continued growth and expansion over the years. We are very excited about all of these new parts, and we think you will be too. We invite you to take a look at www.mockett.com. DAIKIN EXPANDS MARKETING DEPT. Daikin America announces the addition of two new people to its Marketing Department. Gary Stanitis, Director of Marketing at Daikin, says “This increase in staff results from Daikin’s desire to strengthen and expand markets that it currently serves, and to more rapidly identify and grow in emerging sectors such as renewable energy. Tony Gutowski joined Daikin in September as Senior Market Development Representative for the Oil and Gas sector. Tony brings to Daikin extensive experience in the Oil and Gas market. Tony has held memberships in a number of industry professional groups including the Energy Rubber Group where he served as Chemical Chairman, the Society of Plastics Engineers, The Rubber Roller Group, The American Chemical Society, and the Society of Petroleum Engineers. He comes to Daikin from Cri-Tech, a wholly owned subsidiary of Daikin America, Inc., where he was a Senior Sales Account Manager since 2008. Dan Kennefick joined Daikin in October as Market Development Manager. Dan’s responsibilities are focused on electrical and electronic markets and include wire and cable and energy storage applications. Dan’s background in electrical engineering, and extensive commercial experience in the plenum cable and PTFE coaxial cable markets make him ideally suited for this position at Daikin. For further information, please call 1-800-365-9570 or visit www.daikin-america.com. BROADBAND INFOVISION WINNERS ANNOUNCED AWARDS The Broadband InfoVision Awards have long been established as the industry’s leading awards event celebrating excellence within the broadband marketplace. Gavin Whitechurch, director of the Broadband World Forum, commented: “The InfoVision Awards are a tremendous opportunity to celebrate excellence in the broadband industry and the breadth and calibre of this year’s submissions was unprecedented with more than 145 entries. For more information on the InfoVision Awards winners please visit www.broadbandworldforum.com/latest_news2/20/press_pack_-_broadband_infovision_awards/_nocache. www.cablingbusiness.com E-Blasts are the explosive new way to get your message out in a fLash! Economical and green-inclined, e-blasts are an effective way to cut marketing costs, energize your presence and provide results faster than ever before! lf you have $500, then let the creative team at CBM help you get connected to your customers with a bang! Contact Russell at [email protected] or call our offIce at 214-328-1717 for more information. Cabling Business Magazine We Want you! Cabling Business Magazine Readers Enjoy: • Latest Technology News Updates • Current Installation Case Studies Relevant to Your Business • Up-to-the-Minute New Product Releases and Manufacturer Specials • Brand New Award of Excellence Every Month • Industry Events and Tradeshow Attendee Information – Vital to Stay On Top Of What’s Happening Around the Industry • Insider Industry Expert Columns Subscribe today! www.cablingbusiness.com For Advertising Information: Russell@ cablingbusiness.com. For Subscription Information, go to www.cablingbusiness.com Cabling Business Magazine 12035 Shiloh Road, Ste. 350, Dallas tX 75248 214-328-1717
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