Category: Fiber Optic Cables

When should i use OM5 Fiber

by http://www.fiber-mart.com

The need to sort through these permutations may partially explain the reportedly low number of OM5 deployments so far. Even cabling suppliers with OM5 in their portfolios note that most 40 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet links are likely to fall within the reach of OM4, making the extended reach of OM5 unnecessary.
For these reasons and others, some cabling suppliers have opted not to add OM5 to their lines. In a blog posted this past April, Gary Bernstein, senior director of product management for fiber and data center solutions at Leviton, described why his company doesn’t support OM5, stating:
The reach advantage of OM5 over OM4 is minimal.
OM5 won’t reduce costs. (OM5 fiber carries a cost premium, and 100-Gbps optics prices are in decline, reasons Bernstein).
It won’t enable higher port densities, since you can’t break out SWDM transmissions into their component parts the way you can with parallel fiber approaches.
A lot of large-scale data centers with a need for 40 or 100 Gigabit Ethernet have or will soon move to single-mode fiber anyway.
This is not to say that the fiber does not have its proponents, particularly for applications that require that extra bit of reach (see, for example, this whitepaper from CommScope). Meanwhile, there is an advantage beyond reach to OM5 and SWDM that could prove useful in future high-speed networks – the ability of one fiber to offer the transmission capacity that currently requires four in conventional use. At 40 or 100 Gbps, that ability could prove helpful when operating in space-constrained environments.
The need to sort through these permutations may partially explain the reportedly low number of OM5 deployments so far. Even cabling suppliers with OM5 in their portfolios note that most 40 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet links are likely to fall within the reach of OM4, making the extended reach of OM5 unnecessary.
For these reasons and others, some cabling suppliers have opted not to add OM5 to their lines. In a blog posted this past April, Gary Bernstein, senior director of product management for fiber and data center solutions at Leviton, described why his company doesn’t support OM5, stating:
The reach advantage of OM5 over OM4 is minimal.
OM5 won’t reduce costs. (OM5 fiber carries a cost premium, and 100-Gbps optics prices are in decline, reasons Bernstein).
It won’t enable higher port densities, since you can’t break out SWDM transmissions into their component parts the way you can with parallel fiber approaches.
A lot of large-scale data centers with a need for 40 or 100 Gigabit Ethernet have or will soon move to single-mode fiber anyway.
This is not to say that the fiber does not have its proponents, particularly for applications that require that extra bit of reach (see, for example, this whitepaper from CommScope). Meanwhile, there is an advantage beyond reach to OM5 and SWDM that could prove useful in future high-speed networks – the ability of one fiber to offer the transmission capacity that currently requires four in conventional use. At 40 or 100 Gbps, that ability could prove helpful when operating in space-constrained environments.

Application of MPO Cabling in High-Density Data Center

by http://www.fiber-mart.com

Fiber optic jumper applications in the data center are very extensive, and in recent years the data center fiber optic transmission system bandwidth demand shows a high growth trend, so the use of a new generation of fiber and optical modules can continue to explore the potential of fiber-optic network bandwidth growth. As the multimode fiber jumper in the cost of a great advantage, to promote its application in the data center.
With the continuous drive of the application and popularization of the network media in the cloud computing environment, the multimode fiber jumper is also developing, from OM1 to OM2, and from OM3 to OM4 to use the VCSEL laser optimization technology, the bandwidth demand is increasing. New OM4 Multi-mode jumper fiber standard EIA/TIA492AAAD is introduced, which provides a better transmission mode for multimode fiber in the future wide application. This article provides an ideal communication solution for your data center, servers, network switches, telecentres, and many other embedded applications that require high-speed data transmission.
In a transport port connection device in a 40G / 100G data transmission application, such as QSFP optical modules, regardless of Fiber Channel connections using several fiber connections, and regardless of the type of fiber connection, they are connected directly to the MTP / MPO connector. Because the 40G / 100G data transmission application channel and the device connection between the equipment need to form a special mode, so that the device’s transmitter and receiver channels corresponding to each other, which requires MTP / MPO connector to complete the connection.
The MPO/MTP fiber jumper can provide a wide range of applications for all networks and devices that require 100G modules. They use the high-density multimode fiber optic connector system MT series of casing design, MPO / MTP fiber jumper with UPC and APC polished end, and also supports multimode and single-mode applications. The 10G OM3 / OM4 MPO / MTP fiber jumpers provide 10 Gbps of data transfer rates in high-bandwidth applications, which are five times faster than the standard 50 μm fiber jumper.
At the same time, multi-mode MPO / MTP fiber jumpers are also the most economical choice for most of common optical fiber communication systems. Single-mode MPO / MTP fiber jumper is mainly used for long-distance data transmission system. The MPO / MTP trunk cable is designed for data center applications. Typically, single-mode and multi-mode MPO / MTP fiber jumpers are designed to be 3mm or 4.5mm round cable, and connectors at both ends of the cable are also referred to as MPO / MTP connectors.
The MPO / MTP high-density push-pull fiber jumpers are currently used in three areas: high-density cabling data centers, fiber-to-the-home, and connection applications with a splitter, 40G QSFP+ / 100G QSFP28, 10G SFP+ and other optical modules. Today, there are already a series of high-density parallel optical interconnect products that can accommodate optical fiber transmission in modern data centers, such as custom MPO / MTP fiber jumpers, multimode fiber loopers, and QSFP+ high-speed cable assemblies.
Server virtualization and the development of cloud computing, as well as the development trend of network convergence, bringing a faster and more efficient data center network development needs. At present, 48x 10G channel composed of 10G switches, mainly limited to the use of SFP+ module to achieve the connection. In order to meet the higher bandwidth requirements, users can use a high-density QSFP+ high-speed cable to complete the connection, by increasing the data transmission rate of each channel and increase the port density to meet customer’s high bandwidth requirements.

11 Common Networking Cable Mistakes

by http://www.fiber-mart.com

Network cabling is one of those things that seems easy on paper but ends up being hard once you apply it in the real world. Most people tend to ignore it but do not realize how much it will cost them in the long run. You could find yourself paying extra costs that were unnecessary in the first place, wasting time on running maintenance tests that never needed to be performed if the job was done right, poor network performance, and much more.
Close up of network cables connected to switch
The most surprising thing about networking cable mistakes is that there aren’t thousands of little mistakes that are being made. Many IT professionals agree only a few fundamental mistakes are responsible for the majority of the problems.
Here is a short list of the 11 most common networking cable mistakes that are seen in the IT industry:
1) No cable management. This is where it all starts. Forget testing and other things – you can’t expect solid network performance if you are not properly managing your cables. This means that you will have to do the necessary work of properly labeling your cables and organizing them in a way that they can be easily accessed. Whether you use a rack or some other means, it is important to get this crucial mistake out of the way. It will be far easier to manage the cables, and maintenance will take up less of your valuable time.
2) Failing to plan. Before you even begin to take your cables and start connecting them to every port in sight, you need to know how everything is going to be laid out. Planning out your cable organization in advance is the first step to properly setting up your network.
Network cable bundle
3) Ignoring the rules. The best cable setup in the world is meaningless if you are breaking the rules! There are certain laws, standards, and codes that you have to abide by at the local, state, and federal level. Read up on the standards that pertain to you and your company. It’s one thing to have a safety hazard because you ignored the rules and another thing to pay hefty fines!
4) Failing to control atmospheric temperature. The environment in which you set up your cables makes a huge difference. If the cables heat up too much, it could lead to the failure of the entire network. Likewise, moisture can also lead to network failure and compromise the safety of nearby workers. You need a system in place to keep all of your cables cool and dry. Cooling systems, air conditioning – whatever it takes to get the job done: Do it.
5) Ignoring distance limits. In general, 100 meters is the limit for the length of a cable. Keep in mind that this distance also includes path leads. Each cabling has its own limits, however, so you need to mindful of the cabling that is being used for your network.
6) Running cables near interference-causing devices. Believe it or not, there are many ways for interference to mess up your cabling setup. There are several types of interference (magnetic, electrical, etc.) that can be caused by seemingly harmless things like motors and fluorescent lighting. The pathway you set up for your cables should be free of these types of hazards.
7) No space for cable removal. The IT environment is dynamic in nature, and changes are going to be happening all the time. Adapting rapidly to change means that you should be able to easily remove cables at any time. If not, you are paving the way for operational hazards. When in doubt, always leave a little more space than you think is necessary.
8) Using separate cabling for data and voice. The traditional way of designing a cable network was to use separate set-ups for data and voice. Due to the different needs of the end user, this is no longer a viable option. Your best bet is to use twisted pair cabling.
9) Running cable parallel to electrical cables. This is a common mistake that usually leads to interference in data transmission from one point to the other. This can be remedied by crossing them in perpendicular instead of parallel.
10) Failing to test your network before activating it. Once everything has been set up, and you are happy with your layout, don’t forget to test your network before activating it. This will help you catch any errors you may have missed and address problems regarding data transmission and safety. Make sure to use the appropriate tools.
A bunch of network cables in a data center
11) Failing to ask for help. Sometimes, when all else fails, and you don’t know what to do, you need a second pair of eyes to look at what you have done. Call a licensed, experienced professional to help you set up your networking cable in a way that is safe and helps to transmit data efficiently.
Those are the 11 most common mistakes that you are going to see with networking cable. As long as you are aware of them and pay extra attention during the setup, you should be good to go on the first try! If not, look back at each mistake individually and check to make sure that you did not miss anything.

Uses for Ethernet Cable

by http://www.fiber-mart.com

Ethernet cables are standard wires that connect computers to a network. These cables are specifically designed to facilitate easy communication between disparate electronic equipment. These electronic devices can either be fax machines, printers, scanners, or personal computers.
An Ethernet cable facilitates communication between the internet servers and your personal computer. The cable provides stable internet connection. This means that you can work all day and download and upload your files without stress. Here are a few things you need to know about Ethernet cables:
How to connect Ethernet cables
An Ethernet cord can connect two devices using the Ethernet ports on each. The cable is locked into place by a modular plug. Connecting your device using these cables requires patience because modular plugs tend to break easily. The first thing that you need to do is to hold the cable firmly and then turn it so that the small plastic plug faces up. Insert the cord into your computer’s Ethernet port. A computer has several ports, but an Ethernet port is usually bigger than the other ports. Firmly push the cable into the port until the plug locks into the place. You need to be careful when pushing the cable to the port to make sure that you don’t break the modular plug.
After inserting your plug, you need to check whether the internet is working. If it is not working, you should check whether the cable was inserted well in your computer and in the internet port. This connection process will only take you less than 5 minutes and you are good to go. You can use the Internet to download and transfer large files without any interruptions.
Benefits
Installation simplicity
These cables are easy to install because they come in different sizes. So, you can choose the size that fits your needs. For example, if you buy a hub or a router from one of your local computer shops, you can easily insert the cables into each port on the hardware devices. Computers come pre-built with Ethernet network adapters. This means that you can easily insert cables into the computer even if you don’t have knowledge in network administration.
Speed
Contrary to what most people believe, an Ethernet network is fast. This means that you can use cables to connect several computers in your home and enjoy surfing at a reasonable speed. This cable network connection is fast enough to transfer large files within a short time. This speed is also reliable because cables are not subject to breakdowns such as the case with modems and other wireless devices.
Availability
Ethernet cables are readily available. The cables are also cheaper compared to other types of cables such as coax and fiber. You can easily find a replacement in our selection if you accidentally break your cable. FireFold is here to help if you have any questions!

How to Create a Cat 6 Patch Cable

by http://www.fiber-mart.com

Cat 6 cable (listed in the standard as Category 6) is a standardized cable for 1000GBASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet) that is backward compatible with Category 5/5E and Category 3. It is also suitable for 10GBASE-T (10-Gigabit Ethernet), 10BASE-T, and 100 BASE-TX (Fast Ethernet). New installations often specify Cat 6 cable. It is important for professional installers to understand the requirements of the newer standard and know how to create a standard cat 6 patch cable.
Differences With Cat 5 Cable
Whereas Cat5E cable is only characterized up to 350 MHz, Cat 6 allows up to 550 MHz operation. The greatest performance improvement for Category 6 cable is its increased immunity to alien crosstalk. This type of crosstalk is coupling between nearby connections. In some cases, users can hear other people’s conversations on their line, thus the term crosstalk. The biggest foil to crosstalk is that the 8 cable wires are matched in sets of 4 twisted pairs. Each pair is fed differentially, and common-mode signals (signals which are the same on both wires, such as crosstalk coupling) are rejected. A second technique for reducing crosstalk is to use digital signals, which are inherently resistant.
Physical Characteristics
It is easy to differentiate Category 6 cable by the printing on the side of the sheath. Connectors use either TIA standard T568A or T568B pin assignments. Some technicians get away with alternate configurations. This works as long as both ends of the cable are connected the same way. However, it is not a recommended practice in case another technician comes in to repair one end of the cable later.
Although Cat 6 connectors have the same 8P8C look as Cat 5E and other earlier versions, it is important to use cat 6 rated jacks, connectors, and cables, or the improved Category 6 performance will be degraded.
Installation Caveats
In order to meet Cat 6 specs, installation is everything. Make sure not to kink the cable. This can happen if the bend radius is less than four times the cable diameter. A common installation mistake is to strip the insulation back more than 0.5 in (12.7 mm). Another common problem is allowing the twisted pairs to unravel past the skin point, creating a crosstalk vulnerability point at the connector.
High EMI (electromagnetic interference) environments require special handling. This type of environment may occur when cabling is within a few feet of a power plant, a high power electric motor, high power switches, or other heavy EMI generators. Cable shielding preserves the Category 6 specs and is enhanced by connecting to a drain wire. This wire runs through the actual cable alongside the groups of twisted pairs.
According to Cat 6 directives, the cable shielding is connected to true ground at each cable end through jacks. Unfortunately, this violates the rule of only grounding one side of a shield in order to avoid creating a ground loop. Installers must be careful to place each cable to avoid having a voltage differential from one end of the cable to the other. If this happens, extraneous currents may be generated in the cable, increasing system noise.
How to Make a Patch Cable
Start by assembling the proper tools:
• Category 6 cutter/stripper
• Plugs – these are different for stranded or solid connectors. They are nearly impossible to differentiate visually, so be sure to keep them separate after you make the purchase.
• Crimper
• Boots (optional)
Cat6 Crimp ToolNow complete the following steps:
• Cut the cable to length and strip to 0.5”. Use the boots facing outwards, if desired.
• Carefully untwist the cable pairs – do not go further than the strip.
• Bend the center spine away from the conductor wires and cut at the strip.
• Bring the wires together and cut at a sharp angle.
• Bring the wires together and insert them into the loadbar. Use a 568B wiring diagram. (For a crossover cable, follow the 568A wiring diagram at one end only.)
• Check the wire order one more time, and then make a perfectly straight cut 0.25” past the loadbar.
• Place the connector onto the loadbar assembly. Make sure the copper connectors are up and the locking clip is facing down.
• Make the crimp, squeezing all the way down.
• Repeat the procedure at the other end.
Test the Assembly
Be sure to perform a continuity check religiously with each cable assembly. Consider using a high-quality four-pair tester. If the cable fails, try giving another crimp at each end. If necessary, check the wires by color for the proper positioning. Make sure each wire extends to the connector end and that the pins are pushed down fully. If it still does not work, clip off one connector and try again. If there is still a problem, repeat the examination, focusing in on the end with the original connector. Finally, high-performance 10GBASE-T will need to be tested in situ for alien crosstalk.
If we at FireFold can help in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us.

How to Keep Fiber Optic Cables in Premium Condition

by Fiber-MART.COM

In any discussion about telephone systems, cable TV, or the internet, you are likely to hear the term “fiber optic cables” thrown in at least a time or two. The reason that fiber optic cables are such a common topic is the sheer number of purposes they serve. These services range from enabling telephone, cable, and internet systems to function. As if that doesn’t cover enough ground, medical imaging, mechanical engineering inspection, and sewer line inspection are some of the many applications that also rely heavily on fiber optic cables.
What are fiber optic cables?
Fiber optic cables are long strands of optically pure glass with about the diameter of a human hair. These strands are arranged in bundles and used to transmit light signals that are capable of carrying digital information over long distances. Given their obvious value, it is particularly important for fiber optic cables to be maintained and kept in the best condition possible.
Fiber Optic Cable Care and Use
Fiber optic cables are durable, but if mishandled or not cared for properly, they will become worn and damaged over time and the quality of their performance will suffer. Sometimes, it’s just as important to know what you shouldn’t do as it is to know what you should do. With that in mind, here are a few of the main dos and don’ts when it comes to handling and maintaining fiber optic cables.
When removing the connector, do not pull or twist the cable. Pulling on the cable may cause the optical fiber inside the cable to break, or remove the cable sheath from the optical connector.
Be careful when bending, folding, or pinching the optical fiber cable. Much like pulling the cable, excessive bending, folding, or pinching can break the fiber optic inside the cable. An optical fiber cable should have a bend radius of 30 mm or more.
Avoid hitting the end of an optical connector against any hard surface. Hard surfaces are not by any means limited to brick and concrete. Whacking the end of a connector on your desk or the floor can damage the end of the connector, degrade the connection, or lose the connection altogether.
Do not hang anything using a cable. This may sound obvious, but it can’t be stressed enough that hanging something by a cable can severely damage the inside of the cable.
Do not touch the end of a broken fiber optic cable. If a cable is broken, touching the end of it will do no good and may cause an injury by piercing the skin.
Keep optical connectors assembled. Disassembling the connectors may cause a part to break or lead to diminishing performance.
How to Store Fiber Optic Cables
Ideally, fiber optic cables should be stored inside, protected from the elements. The reel tag that comes with the cable should be kept so the cable’s origin can be traced in the future, if necessary. Fiber optic cable reels should be stored standing by or supported on both flanges. Sitting it one flange surface will cause strands of cable to gravitate toward one end of the reel. When the cable gathers at one end of the reel, the odds of it being damaged during the unwinding process increase exponentially. If you band your rolls of cable to pallets, the band you use should be placed through the hole in the middle of the reel. The flanges, not the cable package, should come in contact with the pallet. As we discussed, contact with any hard surface can be damaging to the cables.
Respooling Requirements for Fiber Optic Cables
There are a few simple rules when it comes to respooling cable. When choosing a reel size, ensure that it does not exceed the minimum bend radius of the cable. Also, when respooling the cable, make sure that it is evenly distributed evenly throughout the reel. Respool from and to the top of the reel, ensuring that the cable is snug on the respooler drum and that the cable is not being twisted as it’s being reeling up. Once you’re done respooling, allow a minimum of a 1 to 2 inches between the flange edges and the last cable wrap.
Conclusion
Fiber optic cables play a major role in our everyday lives, so it’s crucial that they’re kept in premium condition. By following careful handling, proper storage, and meticulous respooling practices, this is easier than it might seem.