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NetSco_CIM_1712 1 11/15/17 4:27 PM

FOR PROFESSIONALS MANAGING THE CABLE AND WIRELESS
DECEMBER 2017 SYSTEMS THAT ENABLE CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS
CONNECTING DEVICES
IN THE OUTSIDE PLANT PAGE 13
INSTALLATION PAGE 16
Advanced WiFi
troubleshooting
TECHNOLOGY PAGE 19
Zooming in on
video compression
INFRASTRUCTURE INSIGHTS PAGE 32
Fiber-optic sensing:
U.S. lags behind
w w w.c a b li n g i n s t a ll .c o m
1712cim_C1 1 11/22/17 11:19 AM

The Evolution of Easy
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includes binder-free buffer tubes to enable faster and potentially safer cable preparation. Now you can access fibers
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visit www.corning.com/minixtend/cim or check out our ALTOS® cables with binderless FastAccess technology at
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construction through the manufacturing process, eliminating the use of binder yarns and waterblocking tapes.
© 2017 Corning Optical Communications. LAN-2189-AEN / December 2017
1712cim_C2 2 11/22/17 11:19 AM

CONTENTS D EC EM B ER 2 017
vol. 25, no. 12
ABOUT THE COVER

IP-based surveillance cameras
mounted on a building's
exterior require outside plant
cabling capable of holding
up in that environment.
SEE ARTICLE ON PAGE 13.
Group Publisher Alan Bergstein

(603)-891-9447; [email protected]
Chief Editor Patrick McLaughlin
(603) 891-9222; [email protected]
Senior Editor Matt Vincent
(603) 891-9262; [email protected]
Art Director Cindy Chamberlin
Production Director Mari Rodriguez
Senior Illustrator Dan Rodd
Marketing Manager Joni Montemagno
FEATURES Audience Development Manager Debbie Bouley

Ad Traffic Manager Glenda Van Duyne
7 PERSPECTIVE 19 TECHNOLOGY www.pennwell.com
Maximizing the MTP's advantages Video compression formats EDITORIAL OFFICES

DAVID KIEL, DAVID KOZISCHEK, RYAN ZATOLOKIN Cabling Installation & Maintenance
61 Spit Brook Road, Suite 401, Nashua, NH 03060
MIKE HUGHES
21 NETWORK CABLE
Tel: (603) 891-0123, Fax: (603) 891-9245
www.cablinginstall.com
13 DESIGN Clarifying misperceptions CORPORATE OFFICERS

Chairman Robert F. Biolchini
OSP cabling: Make sure about PoE and cable losses Vice Chairman Frank T. Lauinger
President and Chief Executive Officer
you get it right DAVID TREMBLAY, Mark C. Wilmoth
Executive Vice President, Corporate Development
RON TELLAS LENNART YSEBOODT
and Strategy Jayne A. Gilsinger
Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial
16 INSTALLATION Officer Brian Conway
TECHNOLOGY GROUP
Troubleshooting WiFi Senior Vice President & Publishing Director
connection problems Christine A. Shaw
JULIO PETROVITCH FOR SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES:

Tel: (800) 869-6882; Fax: (866) 658-6156
www.cim-subscribe.com; e-mail: [email protected]
DEPARTMENTS
3 EDITORIAL 24 EDITOR’S PICKS Cabling Installation & Maintenance® (ISSN 1073-3108), Volume 25,
No. 12 Cabling Installation & Maintenance is published 12 times a year,
monthly by PennWell® Corporation, 1421 S. Sheridan, Tulsa, OK 74112.
Standards are everywhere
32 INFRASTRUCTURE INSIGHTS Periodicals postage paid at Tulsa, OK 74112 and at additional mailing offices.
SUBSCRIPTION PRICES: USA $84 1yr., $120 2 yr.; Canada/Mexico
$96 1 yr., $140 2 yr.; International $118 1 yr., $170 2 yr. POSTMASTER:
4 TO THE EDITOR U.S. lags in FO sensing installs

Send address corrections to Cabling Installation & Maintenance, P.O. Box 47570,
Plymouth, MN 55447. Cabling Installation & Maintenance is a registered trade-
mark. © PennWell Corporation 2017. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole
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1712cim_Rev_1 1 11/28/17 2:11 PM

1712cim_2 2 11/22/17 11:13 AM
EDITORIAL
W H AT 'S N E W AT
www.cablinginstall.com
Standards are
NETWORK CABLE everywhere (and
Cat 6A UTP OSP cable
that's a good thing)
TESTING
InspiRain Like many issues of Cabling Installation &
acquired by Maintenance, this one includes several references to
AEM Holdings standards and standards-making organizations. For
example, Ron Tellas mentions ANSI/TIA-758-B in
his article on outside plant cabling. BICSI's new intel-
POWER OVER ETHERNET ligent building design standard, ANSI/BICSI 007, is
Bigger PoE bundles? Testing part of our news coverage. And we discuss the merger
says yes of the Telecommunications Industry Association
PATRICK McLAUGHLIN (TIA) and QuEST Forum in this issue as well.
[email protected]
In addition, I recently learned of an accolade
that didn't make it into any other part of the mag-
azine, but I want to share with you here. Masood Shariff, a senior principal en-
gineer at CommScope and a stalwart member of the TIA's TR-42 Engineering
Committee, received the Edward Lohse Information Technology Medal from
the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) this year. ANSI explained
the medal "honors an individual who has participated in the development of in-
NETWORK formation technology standards both at the national and international levels,
GEAR demonstrated leadership in the promotion of such standards within the infor-
PoE-enabled mation technology standards community, and fostered cooperation among the
switches for bodies involved in global standardization."
industrial, Shariff has authored and contributed to countless articles, presentations,
enterprise technical papers and other information sources not just about standards,
networks but also about the technologies they address. We at Cabling Installation &
Maintenance are just one of many information outlets that Shariff has enriched
by providing knowledge and insight, and we are grateful for it.
TRAINING We often have asserted that standards are the bedrock upon which many ca-
CNCI numbers grow in U.S. bling and communications systems are built. Standards' importance to the ev-
eryday responsibilities of industry professionals can't be overstated. I'll end this
column and end this year with a preview of some news for which we'll have
more detail in the months ahead. Cabling Installation & Maintenance will team
up with the TIA in 2018 to bring the industry a full-day meeting devoted to the
standards that shape our industry, and that take their shape from our industry.
We are excited to partner with the TIA on this endeavor, and are just as excited
to offer this educational opportunity to the industry.
When detailed information is available, you'll see it here and at our website,
cablinginstall.com. We're looking forward to bringing that detail to you soon.
www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance DECEMBER 2017 3
1712cim_3 3 11/22/17 11:13 AM

TO THE EDITOR
Another look at splice- installer needs to install to recover As a fourth example, low link loss
on connectors the cost of the splicer. If that number is essential to link operation. This
I write this letter in response to is very high, 20,000 connectors, and reason, included in this article, is
“Fusion splicing for critical low-loss the installer expects to install 2,000 critical in data centers, in which the
applications” (October 2017). I like connectors per year, SOCs may not links are established, but not neces-
splice-on connectors (SOCs). I agree be the best choice. sarily permanent. Low loss provides
with many of the statements in this The third step in the decision is de- the maximum flexibility for future
article. However, I see another side termination of how many fusion splic- rearrangement of links without re-
of the story. ers will the installer need. A single sulting in excessive link loss.
SOCs require a fusion splicer. installer requires a splicer. If the com- However, for initial installations,
While the price of the splicers has pletion time for jobs is short, multi- there is an alternative that can result
dropped considerably in the past 10 ple splicers may be required. In such in TIC lower than that of SOCs: pig-
years, for many installers, the price a situation, the total number of con- tail splicing. There are several factors
is significant. Is the use of a fusion nectors that must be installed to re- that favor pigtail splicing. The first is
splicer and SOCs the best choice? cover the cost of multiple fusion splic- cost; pigtails range in cost from ap-
The answer is my favorite: It de- ers increases. proximately $5 to $10 per end, while
pends on the total installed cost (TIC). At this time, there are splicer and SOCs range in cost from approxi-
To be a logical business decision, the SOC combinations that have TICs that mately $7 to $18. Even adding the cost
TIC of using SOCs should be lower are both higher and lower than alter- of a splice tray, at <$1/end, the TIC
than the cost of alternative connector native methods. for pigtail splicing can be lower than
installation methods. If the TIC of the Of course, there are situations in that of SOCs.
SOCs method is lower than that of al- which other factors predominate the The second factor is the yield of
ternative methods, the savings pay for decision to use SOCs. As a first ex- pigtail splicing, which is 100 per-
the splicer. ample, the activity is replacement of cent. If the first splice is unaccept-
This analysis is more connectors in an enclosure that has able, the installer can re-splice the
complicated than it may appear, as no space for splice trays to be used pigtail. Conversations I have had indi-
it requires several steps. The first in pigtail splicing. In this situation, cate that SOCs have acceptable yield,
step is consideration of: connector SOCs are the best choice. but not 100 percent. The splicer influ-
cost, process yield, labor cost, and As a second example, an activity ences SOC yield; sometimes the fusion
labor utilization. Labor utilization may require connector replacement splicer “burps,” resulting in a gas bub-
is the ratio of time spent in the in an enclosure with hundreds of pig- ble or high loss.
activity of connector installation tailed connectors. Replacement of As I said in the beginning of this
to the total time required for the the pigtails would require removing letter, I like SOCs and recommend
connector installation. If the rate and replacing old pigtails with new them to clients in certain situations.
of installation by any method is 15/ pigtails. Such replacement may take But cost considerations do not always
man-hour, but time spent in travel more time than replacing connec- favor their choice.
to site, setup and cleanup consumes tors with SOCs. Eric R. Pearson, CFOS/T/C/S/I
25 percent of total time, the actual As a third example, the installa- President, Pearson Technologies Inc.
rate per man-hour is 15x0.75, or tion organization intends to perform ptnowire.com
11.25/man-hour. midspan splicing. Thus, it will have a
The second step in the decision splicer. In this situation, several activ- PoE to the desktop? Really?
to use SOCs is the determination of ities justify purchase of a splicer capa- The article “PoE-enabled computing:
the number of connectors that the ble of installing SOCs. The next step in the digital building”
4 DECEMBER 2017 Cabling Installation & Maintenance www.cablinginstall.com
1712cim_4 4 11/22/17 11:13 AM

RUGGED RJ45 SOLUTIONS
(September 2017) made me wonder if it
was April Fool’s Day.
Consider this.
Can PoE provide the power? The low-
est-power normal PCs use 30-100W
power and a 21-inch LCD display uses
about 90W for 120-190W total. A 21-
inch iMac with the low-res LCD uses
about 75W, but the retina display ver-
sion uses 161W. Can these people con-
vince PC manufacturers to build such
computers? Will companies buy them
instead of laptops?
Practically all workers today use lap-
TM
tops, not desktop computers. Typical us-
ers of desktops are power users doing en-
gineering or graphics on workstations that
SealJack
require really high power. This idea could Cable Applied Configuration
work for laptops that use lower power, I
suppose because most are within the 90W
limit. But most modern laptops do not
have a jack for Cat 5—none of ours do!
Practically all of those laptops people
use are connecting to the network using
WiFi, or maybe cellular wireless.
Because of building codes, wherever
a worker sits will have AC outlets.
Perhaps it’s just another sign that the Sealable cap for protection
“Cat 5” community is really grasping
for something to do with all that cop- IP67 Rated Connector
per wire in their warehouses. Just like
the plan to run LED lighting off all those Supports 10/100 Base-T, 1G Base-T,
small conductors. All these proposals 2.5G Base-T, & 5G Base-T Ethernet
have also brought PoE to the attention of
the people writing electrical codes, be- For More Information Visit
cause the high power heats up the cables belfuse.com/stewart-connector
sufficiently to be a potential hazard.
Jim Hayes
President, The Fiber Optic Association
thefoa.org
Editor’s note: Jim Hayes’s letter is de-
rived from an item in The Fiber Optic
Association’s October 2017 newsletter.
1712cim_5 5 11/22/17 11:13 AM

1712cim_6 6 11/22/17 11:13 AM
DAVID KIEL is senior
director of applications
PERSPECTIVE marketing at Corning Optical

Communications. DAVID
KOZISCHEK is marketing
manager for enterprise
networks with Corning
Optical Communications.
MIKE HUGHES is director of
product management at US
Conec Ltd.
Maximizing the solutions that came with their own sets

of challenges.
advantages of the Fortunately, those days are long

gone—thanks in large part to the
emergence of the multifiber push-on
MTP connector (MPO) connector. The MPO format

dramatically reduced the amount of
time, effort, and space required to in-
stall and deploy network technol-
Serving networks since 1996, the MTP multifiber connector ogies, particularly in parallel optic
applications.
is poised to serve higher speeds well into the future.
Even beyond its value in the par-
allel optics space, a closer look at the
BY DAVID KIEL, Corning Optical Communications
MPO format reveals the full scope of
DAVID KOZISCHEK, Corning Optical Communications
its applications. To get a better un-
MIKE HUGHES, US Conec
derstanding of big picture and true
value of MPOs, we must start
Editor’s note: This article details MTP connector at the most logical place:
the history and performance ca- MTP the beginning.
connector
pabilities of the MTP connector. Key up
MTP is a trademarked brand of Multiple fibers mean more

MTP
multifiber push-on (MPO) con- adapter challenges
nector. The article is authored by Pins At the heart of the MPO con-
technical experts from Corning MTP nector lies mechanical transfer
connector
Optical Communications and US (MT) ferrule technology, orig-
No pins
Conec—the two companies that inated by a leading Japanese
jointly developed, offer, and con- telecom company in the mid-
Key down
tinue to refine the MTP connec- 1980s for use in its consumer
tor. In our Perspective column, The MTP connector is a multifiber push-on (MPO) telephone service. This MT fer-
we welcome contributions that style connector that includes the mechanical rule technology became the ba-
are opinion-based or technolo- transfer (MT) ferrule, which was originated by a sis for the first MPO connector,
gy-specific in nature. Japanese telecom company in the mid-1980s. introduced in the early 1990s.
Seasoned industry profession- The timing couldn’t have
als may recall the excruciating, pains- and even thousands of single- and two-fi- been better. Networks were tasked
taking days of installing and connect- ber connector solutions. To accommo- with transmitting more data, more
ing countless fibers, one at a time. As the date the high volume of connectors quickly. As the need for bandwidth
number of data centers grew exponen- within ever-tighter space constraints, in- increased, the industry began mov-
tially in the 2000s, designers and install- stallers and designers were forced to cre- ing toward networks and cabling with
ers were tasked with managing hundreds ate more-elaborate storage and routing higher fiber densities—the multilane
1712cim_7 7 11/22/17 11:14 AM

PERSPECTIVE continued
highway of data transmission. This SM MTP Elite random intermate

Frequency Cumulative (%)
heralded the beginning of what is
180 120
known today as parallel optics, or op-
tical transmission using multiple fi- 160
100
bers. Because of the increase in “lanes” 140
Channel cumulative
used with parallel optics—the number
120 80
of fibers moving data back and forth—
an efficient, high-density interconnect 100
60
was needed. The MPO connector for- 80
mat succeeded in establishing a com-
60 40
pact means to efficiently couple and
decouple the high-density MT ferrule 40 Channel frequency
20
format via a bulkhead-mounted cou- 20
pler. More fibers, however, also meant
0 0
more installation considerations.
0
2
4
6
8
0
2
4
6
8
0
2
4
6
8
0
2
4
6
8
0
2
4
6
8
0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.3
.3
.3
.3
.3
.4
.4
.4
.4
.4
.5
Insertion loss (dB)
Addressing the challenge This graph illustrates the insertion-loss performance of singlemode MTP
To remedy the installation challenge Elite connector components, which were introduced in 1999. Developers
presented by ever-increasing quan- have improved the MTP’s insertion-loss performance since then.
tities of fibers, Corning joined forces
with US Conec. In 1996, the MTP simplified. Revolutionary at the time, MTP format is more than a niche con-
connector brand—a family of ad- these advancements introduced by the nector, with advantages that translate
vanced MPO connectors designed for MTP connector eventually became the across a wide range of technologies be-
4-, 8-, and 12-fiber ribbon applica- industry standard. yond parallel optics. Since their launch,
tions—was released to the U.S. mar- Faster deployment was one thing. MTP connectors have undergone con-
ket. That same year, the MPO format But installers also needed a way to tinual improvements that make them
was standardized by the International fit more fibers into smaller spaces. the ideal multifiber connector choice
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) MTP connectors addressed this chal- for any data center, of any size.
and embraced by an industry thirsty lenge as well. Even before parallel op- Highly adaptable and flexible, MTP
for a better way to install, deploy, and tics gained popularity, installers were connectors have continued to evolve
manage high-density fiber networks. struggling to provision high-density to meet the emerging needs of install-
Before the MTP connector came to applications. MTP connectors made it ers, data centers, and the organiza-
market, it typically took two installers easier to do exactly that. In place of a tions that rely on them. Let’s take a
a full day to terminate and test 144 fi- 1U housing with duplex connections brief tour of the key advancements
bers. With MTP connectors, suddenly holding 144 fibers, the MTP housing we’ve seen in the MTP format over the
installers had the ability to rapidly was capable of holding 864 fibers—six past 20 years.
connect 8 to 12 fibers at a time with times the capacity. This fiber den- In 1999, US Conec introduced
the snap of a tool, or using a pretermi- sity made MTP connectors especially low-insertion-loss MTP Elite connec-
nated plug-and-play cable, trimming a well-suited for data centers with seri- tor components. Corning was then
daylong job to just a few hours. To en- ous space constraints and/or massive able to build on this technology to in-
sure seamless connections, the MTP amounts of cables. troduce industry-leading, low-loss,
connector was the first MPO connec- high-density cabling solutions that de-
tor to be factory-verified and pre-engi- Good technology gets even better livered premier optical performance
neered to proper lengths for the cable With the increasing prevalence of plug- and reliable signal power. Since then,
plant. This meant that less skill was and-play solutions, MTP connectors MTP insertion loss rates have contin-
required for installation, while future quickly became the format of choice ued to improve, now rivaling loss rates
updates, additions, and changes to the for data centers, offering an alterna- that single-fiber connectors saw just a
structured cabling were dramatically tive to LC and SC connectors. But the few years ago.
1712cim_8 8 11/22/17 11:14 AM

1712cim_9 9 11/22/17 11:14 AM
MTP connector timeline re-plugging the

MTP brand connector family 4, 8 and 12 72F and 24F MT ferrules and connector multi-
Fiber ribbon applications is introduced as MTP hardware introduced
the premier MPO
ple times. In addi-
tion, the internal
Low-loss MTP-16 1 × 16 and 2 × 16 connector compo-
Thermoset Epoxy based single-mode MT multimode solutions introduced.
singlemode MT ferrule ferrule and MTP TIA 604-18 intermatebility nents were rede-
technology established Elite solution standard published
by NTT laboratories released signed to ensure
perfectly centered
MPO connector format QSFP MSA Round cable MTP
established by NTT for MPO solutions and term- normal forces be-
laboratories based ination methodologies tween the mat-
Tx/Rx introduced
ing ferrules, en-
1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 suring physical
TIA sanctions
contact of all pol-
NTT releases MT ferrules as Major advance to
pre-engineered splice into thermosplastic MPO for data ished fiber tips
commercial subscriber injection molded center use in
MT ferrules TIA-942 in the ferrule.
lines
Finally, install-
Low-loss multimode MT MTP-161x16 and ers had a connec-
IEC MPO intermateability standard
ferrule and MTP Elite 2x16 SM APC
published: IEC 61754-7 tion that actually
solution released introduced
stayed connected.
Enhanced MTP design optimized for direct coupling to
parallel Tx/Rx modules. Other enhancements during 24F MTP Elite: introduced higher spring The MTP repu-
2000–2003 include elliptical pin tip, removable housing, force format optimized for low-loss
improved spring force centering 24 fiber applications tation for perfor-
mance continues.
With a history of more than 20 years, the MTP connector’s latest versions are designed to work not only with
Used in a variety
true fiber-to-fiber connections, but also with a host of other technology and electronics the industry has
adopted.
of applications, to-
day’s MTP connec-
Stability improvements to the precision of MTP tors meet stringent Telcordia (formerly
Simply put, installers need their con- connector components resulted in in- Bellcore) standards for carrier-grade
nectors to work. The earliest versions creased stability and boosted dura- demands and decades of use. Millions
of the MPO connector format could bility performance while continuing of MTP connectors installed in the
plug in without problem, but acciden- to enhance the connectors’ overall re- field continue to perform as they did
tal bumps to the cable could result in liability. Through empirical studies, when they were first built in the ca-
signal instability. Installers welcomed engineers optimized the lead-in on ble-assembly factory.
the introduction of the floating ferrule the precision alignment guide pins
in the MTP connector. The innovative to an elliptical shape. This signifi- Simpler to make and use
design allowed the ferrules to stay in cantly reduced the wear and tear and In 2002, US Conec migrated MTP’s
contact while the connector housings debris generation from plugging and original thermosetting ferrule
rotated relative to each other. This ma-
Table 1. Ethernet Optical Transceiver Roadmap
jor step in the MTP connector’s evolu-
tion allowed multifiber connectors to Solution Number Connector Reach 40G 100G 400G
provide even more consistent, reliable of fibers type
Duplex OM3/4 2F LC duplex Short BiDi SWDM4 BiDi SWDM4 Unknown
performance. The floating ferrule fea-
Parallel OM3/4 32F MTP Gen1: SR16 16x25G
ture was particularly important for ap-
Parallel OM3/4 20F MTP Gen1: SR10 10x10G
plications in which the cable plugs di- Parallel OM3/4 16F MTP Gen2: SR8 8x50G
rectly into an active Tx/Rx device, and Parallel OM3/4 8F MTP SR4/eSR4 Gen2: SR4 4x25G Gen3: SR4 4x100G
was a primary reason the MTP became 4x10G
the connector of choice for emerging Duplex SM 2F LC duplex Long LR4 (10km) LR4 (10km) CWDM4 WDM (10km) WDM
parallel optics Tx/Rx applications. LRL4 (2km) (2km) (2km)
Between 2000 and 2002, additional Parallel SM 8F MTP Mid PLR4 PSM4 PSM4 4x100G
1712cim_10 10 11/22/17 11:14 AM

Time travel with the MTP

The MTP continues to evolve and improve, as it has for more than a decade.
2004—Engineers increase the MTP connector’s fiber count, packing up to 72 fibers into one format.
2005—The multimode MTP Elite connector is released, enabling fast installation of systems with lower-cost transceivers.
2007—A lower-insertion-loss version of the multimode MTP Elite is released.
2010—A multimode version is introduced, allowing up to 24 fibers in one connector.
2012—Standards bodies sanction the MTP format for data centers.
2013—Industry standards bodies accept the MTP format for transceivers.
2015—The MTP 16 format is introduced, accommodating up to 16 fiber connections in a single row.
Soon—A new MTP 16 will be made available in a singlemode version.
technology to polyphenylene sulfide MTP brand isn’t built just for the me- transmit, but also receive. These is-
(PPS) thermoplastic injection mold- ga-cloud, big data, and hyperscale sues can delay deployment and rack up
ing, which is much less susceptible to computing. The latest versions of MTP hours on the job.
moisture absorption—a key culprit connectors are designed to work not The latest generation of the MTP
in degraded connector performance. only with true fiber-to-fiber connec- connector brings novel features and
The adoption of thermoplastic injec- tions, but with a host of other technol- functionality that simplify field con-
tion moldings also made it possible to ogy and electronics across all vertical figurability. Don’t have the right male
quickly scale up production to meet industries—financial, medical, educa- or female end on hand? Not a prob-
high-volume demand, while also im- tional, colocation and more. lem. The new MTP connectors make it
proving control over ferrule endface So whether you’re working with easy to change gender and polarity in
geometry during the polishing to im- duplex, 8-, or 16-fiber transmissions, the field, without requiring a special-
prove connector performance. the MTP connector scales to what- ized skill set or a connector engineer.
Design improvements to the MTP ever technology you’re using—includ- Along with optimized field configu-
Elite housing components also made ing new parallel applications such as rability, the connectors also feature
it easier to install, take out, clean, and 400-Gbit Ethernet capable of running environmentally friendly performance
return to service. This set the stage for across 32, 16, and 8 fibers. With their enhancements that improve the feel of
future innovations poised to simplify robust engineering, MTP connectors plugging and unplugging.
life for installers even more. also perform in a wide range of oper- Since 1996, installers have relied
We have come a long way since the ating environments, including those on MTP connectors to speed deploy-
initial MT ferrule technology used in with high humidity, extreme heat and ment of data center installations. Now
Japanese telecom networks. But the cold, and fluctuating temperatures. we’ve seen that the advantages of MTP
MTP format is just getting started. go much further. With their 20-plus-
Today, the challenge we face is hyper- The next-generation MTP year history of performance, ongoing
scale, big data, and cloud data centers: With its usefulness in so many differ- improvements, and the next genera-
How do we provision, add, and support ent applications with so many differ- tion of advancements soon to come,
high-density, bandwidth-greedy appli- ent technologies, the MTP connector MTP connectors still deliver excep-
cations that require massive space to offers versatility that is definitely an tional value for a vast range of net-
accommodate a massive number of ca- advantage for installers. But this ver- work technologies. Regardless of the
bles? With its ever-improving inser- satility also has presented some chal- technology you’re working with, make
tion loss, fiber density, and ease of in- lenges. Installers struggle with not MTP connectors part of your data cen-
stallation, and its time-tested stability, knowing whether they need a male or ter buildout. And take full advantage
the MTP connector is ready to meet a female end, or with managing po- of the time savings, space efficiencies,
those demands. larity when they’re dealing with thou- and simplicity synonymous with the
But it’s important to note that the sands of fibers that not only have to MTP brand. u
1712cim_11 11 11/22/17 11:14 AM

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1712cim_12 12 11/22/17 11:14 AM

design
Outside plant cabling: Making

sure you get it right
Ensure your campus connectivity is
Conduit in a concrete slab
up to the rigors of the outdoors.
Concrete
BY RON TELLAS, Belden
Conduit
How can you expand the reach of your its intended use: usu-
cabling systems and enterprise net- ally CM, CMR or CMX.
works? By using outside plant (OSP) ca- A listed OSP ca-
ble to run infrastructure underground ble can extend beyond
or overhead, you can extend your net- the 15-m/50-ft limita- Soil
works to the outdoors, reaching across a tion, and can also be

large campus. used within enterprise
With outdoor ratings, OSP ca- buildings in other ap- Placing plastic or metal conduit inside a concrete slab is a
ble stands out from traditional in- plications where the common approach on campuses such as assisted-living
door-rated copper or fiber cable for its characteristics of communities. Project teams should not assume that
ability to maintain performance despite OSP cabling are of indoor-rated cabling can be placed inside such a conduit.
harsh conditions. It’s designed to with- great benefit.
stand flooding, moisture and high and One common application that calls 1. The project team assumes that nor-
low temperatures, and resists abrasion for OSP cable involves conduit in con- mal, indoor-rated cabling will per-
and tearing. crete slab. In many of today’s new assist- form well in outdoor applications as
ed-living facilities being built around long as it’s protected.
Where OSP cable should be used the country, for example, you may notice 2. The project team assumes that con-
Usually, OSP cabling extends between the conduit (either plastic PVC or metal duit is enough of a protector for in-
separate structures. The National Fire EMT) that sticks up out of the concrete door-rated cable.
Protection Association (NFPA) requires slab during construction or renovation As any contractor or building owner
that unlisted OSP cabling be terminated projects. The conduit often used in these will tell you, structures move and crack
within 15 meters (50 feet) from its point applications is designed to run wires as they age and settle. Eventually, as the
of entry into the building, either through and cabling from a centralized location ground and concrete shift, conduit can
a wall or through the flooring. At this to many specific locations or endpoints. be damaged. If the conduit cracks, water
termination, the structured cabling But oftentimes inside this conduit, can infiltrate the conduit. If the cables
transitions to listed cabling and contin- you’ll find indoor-rated cable—a typical inside that conduit are indoor-rated,
ues to connect the enterprise network. Category 6 cable, for example. we’ve got bad news: They’re not de-
A listed cable is one that is certified by This situation represents two com- signed to handle any moisture, so the
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for spe- mon mistakes made in applications cables won’t be able to maintain perfor-
cific flammability ratings and listed for where listed OSP cabling is better suited. mance. The result? Network downtime,
1712cim_13 13 11/22/17 11:14 AM

Outside plant cabling: Making sure you get it right continued
damaged cables and the Conduit ingrade beneath concrete The use of security surveillance
need to rip up and replace cameras over Internet Protocol is
cabling infrastructure becoming more widespread, espe-
and conduit. Concrete cially due to the ease of deployment
Differential tempera- using Power over Ethernet. Listed
tures can also cause dam- OSP cabling can help in these types
age to indoor-rated ca- of situations as well. Installing a
bles installed in conduit. camera on the exterior of a build-
When ground tempera- Conduit
ing and directly connecting it to
tures are cold, but above- the enterprise network is possi-
ground temperatures are ble with an OSP cable that resists
warmer, a differential-pres- sunlight and wind exposure, and
Soil
sure environment is created is able to handle colder tempera-
where air can be sucked in. tures. A CMX outdoor-rated OSP
Typically, warmer air has Conduit placed below a concrete slab poses challenges. cable has a cold impact listing to
a higher moisture content. Specifically, the conduit can be subject to water ingress -20 degrees Celsius and the ability
When this warm, moist air from natural or manmade mishaps. If indoor-rated cable to enter the building through the
meets the colder tempera- is placed in the conduit, it can be subjected to water wall and continue to the central-
tures below the concrete, ingress and fail. ized equipment room or consoli-
condensation occurs, creat- dation point.
ing moisture. The moisture can collect indoor-rated cable in a conduit is to seal
inside the conduit; if the cables inside and pressurize the conduit. With a sen-
that conduit are indoor-rated, damage sor to monitor the pounds-per-square-
to the cable will occur—even if the con- inch (PSI) rating, you can be notified of
duit itself isn’t damaged in any way. decreases and have time to investigate
Let’s consider a possible scenario that a potential problem early on; however,
may or may not be caused by nature, a pressurized system is not practical or
where the conduit rises from the slab at cost effective for a typical enterprise.
the lowest point of the building. What Most people won’t realize that the un-
if this lowest point is in the basement, derground conduit has water and is
and flooding occurs from excessive rain, damaging the indoor-rated cabling
a burst pipe or a toilet overflow? What within until it’s too late—and network
if the flooding was high enough that it performance problems are obvious.
flowed into the top of the conduit? As Conduit in-grade below the concrete
the rain subsides, or the plumbing fail- slab poses a similar challenge. Once
ure is fixed, the flood water would be re- contractors lay the conduit, rocks are
moved from the floor of the basement placed on top and the slab is placed on
through a pumping system or Shop-Vac, top of that. Especially in geographic re-
but not from the conduit. Water would gions where rain is rare, or tempera-
remain in the conduit; if the cables in- tures are fairly mild, many people take
side that conduit are indoor-rated, they chances and run indoor-rated cable in
will be damaged over time. conduit. But heavy rains do occur, even
But how will you ever know if there’s in locations that don’t often experience
a break, crack, or water in the con- rain. Even flooding due to manmade di-
duit in the first place? During construc- sasters, such as plumbing mishaps, can Using an outside-plant cable makes
tion, it is buried and hidden—once it’s cause water ingress into the conduit and it possible to install a camera on a
placed underground, you’ll likely never expose the indoor-rated cable to outdoor building’s exterior wall and directly
see it again. One way to protect an elements that it isn’t designed to handle. connect it to the enterprise network.
1712cim_14 14 11/22/17 11:14 AM

Outside plant cabling: Making sure you get it right continued
What standards say Selecting an OSP cable performance, ensuring consistent

Not all OSP cables are the same. Each When searching for the right OSP cable, impedance and insertion loss for
type is designed for a specific pur- consider the following factors. the life of the product. Gel-filled ca-
pose, so there are many standards to • National Electrical Code ratings like bles can be difficult to work with,
consider when selecting OSP cabling. CM or CMR allow the cable run to however, so ensure that the gel is
When designing a network that needs exceed the NFPA 50-foot maximum user-friendly and clean to install,
OSP cabling, a good guide to use is transition length and run long and requires minimal prep time.
ANSI/TIA-758-B, the Customer-Owned lengths within your building. • PoE compatibility is recommended
Outside Plant Telecommunications • Performance stability can ensure for outdoor cables with digital
Infrastructure Standard, developed that the cable will continue to per- buildings moving to the forefront.
by the Telecommunications Industry form mechanically and electrically OSP cables that support power and
Association (TIA). It references all the even if the surrounding environ- data over a single cable, make in-
relevant standards for cabling in a ment subjects the cable to poten- stallations easier and faster. PoE
harsh environment, and also references tially damaging forces. cable in OSP applications can also
relevant performance standards. It also • Ultraviolet resistance prevents the be used to reach outside cameras
specifies the minimum requirements sun’s rays from embrittling and/or without having to run electricity or
for customer-owned OSP telecommuni- fading the cable’s outer jacket. conduit to the camera, or requiring
cations facilities in a campus environ- • A wide temperature range will al- a nearby electrical outlet. u
ment, and specifies the cabling, path- low the cable to weather tem-
ways and spaces needed to support perature extremes. Gel filling Ron Tellas is technology and applications man-
the cabling, no matter the population keeps moisture out of the cable’s ager for enterprise networks with Belden (www.
type or size. core, maintaining its electrical belden.com).
Join over 70,000 structured

cabling professionals! Get the
latest cabling news delivered
straight to your inbox.
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1712cim_15 15 11/22/17 11:14 AM

installation
Troubleshooting WiFi
connection problems
Resolving connectivity issues in enterprise WiFi networks also need to take into consideration cli-
requires some knowledge and the right tools. ent device signal coverage. After all, if
the access point can’t hear responses
BY JULIO PETROVITCH, NetScout from a client device, then communica-
tion will fail.
• Access point coverage—This is the sig-
nal strength of an access point from
As IT professionals we’ve all encoun- signal propagates throughout the envi- a client device perspective. A strong
tered them—the dreaded “WiFi is not ronment, and thus can create coverage signal is required to ensure that the
working” complaints. Figuring out the problems. These are just a few consider- client devices can hear the messages
root cause of this common wireless net- ations to make when determining your sent by the access points.
work problem can be very time-consum- signal coverage. • Client device coverage—This is the
ing and sometimes difficult. Or is that • Loss (free space)—Is the loss of signal signal strength of a client device from
really the case? Could it be possible that strength caused by natural broad- an access point perspective. A strong
solving this common wireless network ening of the waves? As the signal signal is required to ensure that the
problems is not that difficult after all? goes farther, the strength of the sig- access point can hear the replies sent
With the right tools and a little knowl- nal attenuates. by the client devices.
edge, finding the root cause of the most • Reflection—When a wave hits a As for how to identify cover-
common wireless network problems can smooth object that is larger than the age problems, here is one simple op-
be quick and simple. wave itself, depending on the media, tion: Troubleshoot a problem area.
This article will focus on showing the wave may bounce in another di- Troubleshooting coverage problems in a
you how to quickly and effectively trou- rection. Reflection is a major source known problem area is very simple. You
bleshoot “connection problems,” or to be of poor performance for 802.11a/b/g only need a tool that will allow you to
more accurate, problems connecting to networks because it causes an effect measure the signal strength of both ac-
the WiFi network. The most common called multipath. This causes signal cess points and clients. Verifying the ac-
reasons for WiFi connection problems strength loss and packet errors. cess point’s signal strength in the prob-
include signal coverage, signal-to-noise • Absorption—If a signal does not lem area will allow you to confirm that
ratio (SNR), legacy 802.11 devices, and bounce off an object, move around all client devices should be able to see
security. We will address each. the object, or pass through an object, your network. Meanwhile, verifying the
then 100-percent absorption has oc- client device signal strength from the
Signal coverage curred. Most materials will absorb access point’s perspective will allow you
Bad signal coverage is still one of the some amount of a radio frequency to confirm that communication can be
most common reasons for WiFi connec- (RF) signal to varying degrees. This achieved. Notice that a common reason
tion problems. After all, if WiFi devices causes signal-strength loss. for client coverage problems is exces-
can’t hear each other, they can’t com- Also, one misconception is that ac- sive access point coverage. If your access
municate. The problem is that there are cess point signal coverage is the only point coverage is too big clients at the
lots of things that can affect how a WiFi thing you need to worry about. You border of the coverage range and with
1712cim_16 16 11/22/17 11:14 AM

weaker WiFi transmit power may not not many of those anymore. Thus, you
be able to talk back to the access point. may need to acquire a dedicated trou-
This causes connection attempts to fail. bleshooting tool that will provide this
Coverage problems are normally re- information. There are many WiFi trou-
solved by adding more access points, bleshooting or even surveying tools that
using antennas with a higher gain, or can do this.
increasing the transmit power of the ac- Here are two options for how to re-
cess points. Still, notice that increasing solve connectivity problems cause
the power will also increase the noise by a low SNR.
levels. Thus, it is normally recommended 1. Improve the coverage of your WiFi
to go with better antennas or more network and make sure you have
access points. a signal strength that is at least 20
dBm higher than the noise floor. (For
Signal to noise ratio voice over WiFi deployments you
The quality and rate of a connection de- want your signal strength to be 30
pends on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) dBm higher.)
that a receiving device detects. As de-
scribed previously, attenuation or loss Identifying problems with signal-
of signal strength happens easily. So, as
the signal level goes down, the SNR goes
to-noise ratio is very simple.
down, and so does the transmission You just need a tool that can
rate. A device that is “too far” from an
measure both signal strength
access point may be able to see the net-
work to which it wants to connect, but if and noise. There are many WiFi
the SNR is too low it will not be able to. troubleshooting tools.
Another factor that affects the SNR is
the noise floor, which can be defined as
the ambient or background level of ra- 2. Lower the noise floor on your envi-
dio energy on a specific channel. This ronment by using channels with a
background energy can include modu- low amount of WiFi traffic, and by
lated or encoded bits from nearby 802.11 removing non-WiFi devices that in-
transmitting radios or unmodulated en- crease the noise floor on the WiFi
ergy coming from non-802.11 devices channels you are using. On cases
such as microwave ovens, Bluetooth de- where the non-WiFi device generat-
vices, cordless phones, and so on. The ing the noise can’t be removed or dis-
higher the noise levels are, the lower the abled, you will need to reconfigure
SNR will be. your access points so they won’t use
The worst-case scenario is when you the channels with a high noise floor.
have a weak signal and high noise lev-
els, this fatal combination will greatly Legacy 802.11 devices
lower your SNR. This, in turn, will cause Older WiFi devices are still around.
performance and connectivity prob- But they do not support today’s higher
lems. Still, identifying SNR problems is data rates. So when they connect to a
very simple, you just need a tool that can WiFi network, they will transmit only
measure both signal strength and noise. at lower data rates. Not only that—a
One thing to notice though, is that even user may be using a legacy device that
though in the past most WiFi adapt- does not support higher data rates with-
ers could measure noise levels, there are out realizing it. This can be a problem
1712cim_17 17 11/22/17 11:14 AM

Troubleshooting WiFi connection problems continued
because older legacy rates, particularly to the WiFi network. security credentials to successfully form
802.11b, are sometimes blocked from op- · Security—Provides information a connection. Errors in the configura-
eration at the access point to preserve on the type of security being used tion of these credentials on either end
precious airtime. A device that only sup- by the client device, which allows can prevent authorized users from be-
ports these older data rates will be un- you to verify the client device secu- ing authenticated.
able to connect to the network. rity configuration. As for identifying connection prob-
Another problem is older devices that • 802.11 type—Provides information on lems caused by security configuration
don’t support the 5.0-GHz band. Many the types of 802.11 technologies sup- problems, here are a few tips.
corporate networks have been migrated ported by the client device. This helps 1) If you are using WPA-P or WPA2-P
to support the 5.0-GHz band only, be- you verify if the client device can sup- on your network, the first thing to
cause there are more channels avail- port the latest 802.11 technologies verify is that the correct passphrase
able and less interference. So in cases and the higher data rates. is being used.
like this, legacy 802.11 devices will not • Band—Provides information on the 2) If you are using WPA-E or WPA2-E
be able to connect to the corporate band being used by the client device, on your network, you should start by
WiFi network anymore. Not only that, allowing you to verify if the client de- verifying that the correct credentials are
some older client devices may support vice can support both the 2.4- and being used and that the client device has
the 5.0-GHz band, but not all the chan- 5.0-GHz bands. the required certificates installed.
nels on that band. For example, many • Channel—Provides information on 3) If you are restricting access to the
older devices don’t support the Dynamic the channel being used by the client network to authorized devices only, us-
Frequency Selection (DFS) channels, and device. Some older client devices may ing their MAC address, then you also
because of that won’t be able to connect not be able to support all the 5.0- should verify that the MAC address for
to the network. GHz channels. the client device is on the approved list.
Regarding how to easily identify The only solutions to this type of 4) If you are using WPA-E or WPA2-E
these limitations, the easiest way is to channel problem is to have the user and more than one device is having
use a tool that can identify the capabili- upgrade their device to one that sup- the same issue, you may want to make
ties of a client device. Following is some ports the latest 802.11 technology, or to sure that the authentication server is
of the information you want the tool to change the configuration on your access still accessible.
provide on client devices. point so they will support older tech- After identifying the security config-
• SSID (Service set identifier)—Allows nologies. Notice though, that upgrading uration problem, you just need to fix the
you to verify which network the cli- the client device would be the preferred configuration on the client device, wire-
ent device is connected to. Only option. Adding support for older 802.11 less network, or authentication server to
available when the device is con- technologies could affect the perfor- resolve the issue.
nected to a network, and used to ver- mance of newer client devices. In conclusion, WiFi connectivity
ify that the client device is connected problems don’t have to be difficult to
to the right network. Security troubleshoot or resolve. With the right
• Access point name—Allows the user Security is a good thing, but manag- tools and a little knowledge, you should
to verify what access point the client ing security on access points and clients be able to resolve WiFi connectivity
device is connected to. It’s very useful isn’t easy. Any passphrase mismatch, problems quickly and easily. u
when you want to make sure client certificate missing, or mistake can leave
devices are connecting to the closest client devices unable to connect. Julio Petrovitch is principal wireless technical
access point. Besides that, some networks are se- marketing engineer with NetScout (www.net-
• Connection rate—Provides the con- cured by allowing only certain MAC ad- scout.com). More-detailed information on WiFi
nection data rate being used by the dresses to connect and authenticate. If troubleshooting is available via white papers and
other content on the NetScout website. Also on
client device. Helps you verify the a device’s MAC address isn’t on the au-
its website, NetScout offers an interactive, infor-
maximum data rates supported by thorized list, the client device won’t suc- mation-based library of troubleshooting infor-
the client device, and thus determine cessfully connect. mation arranged in a “choose-your-own-adven-
if the device has any rate limitations Both the access points and the cli- ture” style. That page is found at netsout.com/
that could prevent it from connecting ent devices must have the proper wifi-troubleshooting.
1712cim_18 18 11/22/17 11:14 AM

technology
Video compression
formats: A primer
Examining compression standards Motion standards are particularly relevant to
JPEG, MPEG-4, and H.264. video compression because video may
be used for different purposes, and in
BY RYAN ZATOLOKIN, Axis Communications, inc. some surveillance applications, must be
viewable years from the recording date.
Using standard-based compression en-
ables users to select from different ven-
Video compression technologies reduce size can be achieved with little or no ad- dors, rather than being tied to a sin-
and remove redundant video data so a verse effect on visual quality. gle supplier.
digital video file can effectively be sent Different compression technologies, At Axis Communications we use
over a network and stored on computer both proprietary and industry-standard, three video compression standards:
disks. With efficient compression tech- are available. Today most video vendors Motion JPEG, MPEG-4 Part 2 (often re-
niques, a significant reduction in file use standard compression techniques; ferred to simply as MPEG-4), and H.264.
H.264 is the latest and most-efficient
Compression format bit-rate comparison
video compression standard. Here are
Bit rate (kbit/s)
descriptions of each of those formats.
7,000
Motion JPEG—Motion JPEG or
Motion JPEG M-JPEG is a digital video sequence
6,000 that is made up of a series of individ-
ual JPEG images. (JPEG stands for
5,000 Joint Photographic Experts Group.)
When 16 image frames or more are
4,000 shown per second, the viewer per-
ceives motion video. Full motion video
is perceived at 30 (NTSC) or 25 (PAL)
3,000
frames per second.
One of the advantages of Motion
2,000 MPEG-4 Part 2
(no motion compensation)
JPEG is that each image in a video se-
quence can have the same guaranteed
1,000 MPEG-4 Part 2
(with motion compensation) quality that is determined by the com-
H.264 pression level chosen for the network
(baseline profile)
0 camera or video encoder. The higher the
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110
Time (s) compression level, the lower the file size
and image quality. In some situations,
This graph shows a bit-rate comparison, given the same level of image quality, among such as in low light or when a scene
the following video standards: Motion JPEG, MPEG-4 Part 2 (no motion compensation), becomes complex, the image file size
MPEG-4 Part 2 (with motion compensation), and H.264 (baseline profile). may become quite large and use more
1712cim_19 19 11/22/17 11:14 AM

Video compression formats: A primer continued
bandwidth and storage space. To pre- the video standard of choice in the com- applications where live monitoring takes
vent an increase in the bandwidth and ing years. This is because an H.264 en- place, especially when PTZ cameras or
storage used, Axis network video prod- coder can, without compromising im- PTZ dome cameras are used.
ucts allow the user to set a maximum age quality, reduce the size of a digital When comparing the performance of
file size for an image frame. video file by more than 80 percent com- MPEG standards such as MPEG-4 and
Because there is no dependency be- pared with the Motion JPEG format H.264, it is important to note that re-
tween the frames in Motion JPEG, a and as much as 50 percent more than sults may vary between encoders that
Motion JPEG video is robust, mean- with the MPEG-4 standard. This means use the same standard. This is because
ing that if one frame is dropped during that much less network bandwidth and the designer of an encoder can choose to
transmission, the rest of the video will storage space are required for a video implement different sets of tools defined
not be affected. file. Or seen another way, much higher by a standard. As long as the output of
Motion JPEG is an unlicensed stan- video quality can be achieved for a an encoder conforms to a standard’s for-
dard. It has broad compatibility and given bit rate. mat and decoder, it is possible to make
is popular in applications where in- H.264 was jointly defined by stan- different implementations. An MPEG
dividual frames in a video sequence dardization organizations in the tele- standard, therefore, cannot guarantee
are required—for examples, for analy- communications (ITU-T’s Video Coding a given bit rate or quality, and compar-
sis—and where lower frame rates, typ- Experts Group) and IT industries (ISO/ isons cannot be properly made without
ically 5 frames per second or lower, are IEC Moving Picture Experts Group), first defining how the standards are im-
used. Motion JPEG may also be needed and is expected to be more widely ad- plemented in an encoder. A decoder, un-
for applications that require integra- opted than previous standards. In the like an encoder, must implement all the
tion with systems that support only video surveillance industry, H.264 will required parts of a standard in order to
Motion JPEG. most likely find the quickest traction in decode a compliant bit stream. A stan-
The main disadvantage of Motion applications where there are demands dard specifies exactly how a decompres-
JPEG is that it makes no use of any video for high frame rates and high reso- sion algorithm should restore every bit
compression techniques to reduce the lution, such as in the surveillance of of a compressed video.
data since it is a series of still, complete highways, airports and casinos, where At Axis we compared bit rates of dif-
images. The result is that it has a rela- the use of 30/25 (NTSC/PAL) frames ferent encoders using the same level of
tively high bit rate or low compression per second is the norm. This is where image quality and different compression
ratio for the delivered quality compared the economies of reduced bandwidth standards. Specifically, the standards
with video compression standards such and storage needs will deliver the big- were Motion JPEG, MPEG-4 Part 2 (no
as MPEG-4 and H.264. gest savings. motion compensation), MPEG-4 Part 2
MPEG-4—When MPEG-4 is men- H.264 is also expected to accelerate (with motion compensation), and H.264
tioned in video surveillance applica- the adoption of megapixel cameras be- (baseline profile).
tions, it is usually referring to MPEG-4 cause the highly efficient compression Our H.264 encoder generated up to
Part 2, also known as MPEG-4 Visual. technology can reduce the large file sizes 50 percent fewer bits per second for a
Like all MPEG (Moving Picture Experts and bit rates generated without compro- sample video sequence than an MPEG-4
Group) standards, it is a licensed stan- mising image quality. While H.264 pro- encoder with motion compensation. The
dard, so users must pay a license fee per vides savings in network bandwidth and H.264 encoder was at least three times
monitoring station. MPEG-4 supports storage costs, it will require higher-per- more efficient than an MPEG-4 encoder
low-bandwidth applications and appli- formance network cameras and moni- with no motion compensation, and at
cations that require high-quality im- toring stations. least six times more efficient than with
ages, no limitations in frame rate and Axis’s H.264 encoders use the base- Motion JPEG. u
with virtually unlimited bandwidth. line profile, which means that only I-
H.264 or MPEG-4 Part 10/ and P-frames are used. This profile is Ryan Zatolokin is senior technologist with Axis
Communications, Inc. This article is excerpted
AVC—H.264, also known as MPEG-4 ideal for network cameras and video en-
from an article that is available on Axis’s web-
Part 10/AVC for Advanced Video Coding, coders because low latency is achieved site. That article discusses topics including image
is the latest MPEG standard for video because B-frames are not used. Low la- compression versus video compression, as well
encoding. H.264 is expected to become tency is essential in video surveillance as variable and constant bit rate.
1712cim_20 20 11/22/17 11:14 AM

network cable
Clarifying misperceptions
about Power over Ethernet
and cable losses
Device manufacturers should not be discouraged from misunderstanding. Correctly assess-
ing cable losses in PoE demands a better
tapping into the PoE market based on inaccurate understanding of the mechanics of PoE
assumptions about power loss over twisted-pair cables. and the language of the IEEE 802.3 stan-
dard. Power losses in PoE are signifi-
BY DAVID TREMBLAY AND LENNART YSEBOODT, Ethernet Alliance cantly lower than perceived.
How much copper?

How much copper is there really in
It’s easy to see why so many application in well-known appliance cords or AC network cables, and how much of it
spaces are taking a look at Power over mains cable? And isn’t the amount of conducts electricity? These are rele-
Ethernet (PoE)—by reducing require- copper in network cable much less than vant questions because the amount of
ments for separate electrical power ca- in AC mains cable? It follows, then, that copper in a cable is related to the re-
bling, simplifying network installation power losses in PoE must be high, right? sistance of the cable and, hence, the
and enhancing energy management, PoE Wrong. Misperceptions about the ca- power that will be lost in the cable due
promises tremendous cost, efficiency ble losses in PoE are rampant, and the to Ohm’s Law.
and flexibility benefits. often-misinterpreted maximum-al- While the individual conductors in
But aren’t the conductors in net- lowed loss numbers from the IEEE a network cable give the impression of
work cable much thinner than those 802.3-2015 standard contribute to the very little copper, there is actually a sub-
stantial amount in network cables.
A network cable has eight individual
conductors, forming four twisted pairs.
IEEE 802.3 PoE proposes the trans-
fer of power using two of the four avail-
able pairs in a network cable and allows
up to 22.5W to be delivered to a load. A
new version of the specification is being
developed (IEEE P802.3bt), with an ex-
pected release date early 2018, and this
new version will define operation over
all four pairs of the network cable. This
On the left is a typical mains wiring cable with copper conductors. On the right is will mean that 100 percent of the copper
a twisted-pair network cable. The network cable contains a substantial amount in the network cable is used for power
of copper in its multiple conductors, which result in Power over Ethernet losses transfer in PoE. In the AC mains ca-
lower than many might expect. ble, 66 percent of the copper is used for
1712cim_21 21 11/22/17 11:15 AM

Clarifying misperceptions about Power over Ethernet and cable losses continued
Power over Ethernet certification program open to public

The Ethernet Alliance launched a Power standards-based and proprietary PoE solu- at the University of New Hampshire
over Ethernet certification program ear- tions.” Within the program, manufac- InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL).
lier in 2017. The alliance said the program turers of power sourcing equipment and Upon successful completion, vendors are
enables “swift and easy recognition of powered devices can submit PoE-enabled authorized to use the Ethernet Alliance’s
interoperable products designed to avail- products for testing and validation against official certification logo and be included
able IEEE 802.3 PoE standards,” and that the Alliance’s industry-defined test plan. in the registry of PoE-certified products.
it “will elevate the user experience by Vendors can self-test using approved The UNH-IOL held a test-event week in
minimizing market confusion between equipment, or tests can be conducted early October. —Patrick McLaughlin
power transfer. device (PD). The majority of PDs draw DC resistance, and compounded by a
The photo in this article compares a constant amount of power to be con- common misinterpretation of the cor-
the cross-sectional area of typical mains sumed. If the source-side voltage of ner-case operating points supported by
wiring and typical network wires at var- the PSE is higher, the required current IEEE 802.3. While the standard guaran-
ious gauges. To be able to accurately is lower, which, in turn, affects cable tees operation even with high-resistance
compare the equivalent amount of cop- power losses. cable, this should not be assumed to re-
per in a network cable, the area of four The performance of complete PoE flect typical performance.
conductors would need to be combined systems, which consist of many PSEs The truth is that there is substan-
and displayed as if they were a single and PDs and the cables between them, tial copper in network cables, due to the
conductor at the same scale. Four con- is determined by the total cable losses. multiple conductors, resulting in PoE
ductors of a 24-AWG network cable are Total cable losses are the sum of the power losses lower than one would ex-
equivalent to a 1mm2 copper conductor; power dissipated in each cable, relative pect. Additionally, the power lost in ca-
22 AWG is equivalent to 1.3mm2. to the total amount of power that is be- bles of a PoE system is far lower than the
ing sourced. In systems where there are loss in the worst case in a system. The
Potential vs. actual losses many different cable lengths, therefore, maximum potential loss numbers al-
At the interoperability boundary condi- the performance of the system is much lowed by the IEEE 802.3 standard do not
tions supported by the IEEE 802.3 stan- better than the performance of the lon- reflect the actual system performance,
dard, relative cable losses of 15 percent gest cable in such a system. For example, which is much better.
seem to be the norm. Operation at 90W in a PoE-powered LED lighting system PoE’s application horizon is expand-
even sees a potential cable loss of 20 with short cables, an aggregated cable ing with the proliferation of home auto-
percent. However, these numbers rep- loss of 0.5 percent was calculated in a mation, LED lighting and the Internet
resent only the extreme conditions in study recorded in a June 2017 Ethernet of Things, and innovation in the IEEE
which interoperability and operation are Alliance white paper. Even in a very 802.3 Ethernet standards family. Device
guaranteed by the standard. The cable large-scale PoE LED lighting system— manufacturers mustn’t let mispercep-
standards on which IEEE 802.3 builds with 650 high-power PDs connected to a tions about cable losses discourage them
specify a maximum DC resistance of single location—aggregated cable losses from tapping into the breakthrough
12.5 Ω loop resistance for any cable type. of only about 2 percent were calculated cost, efficiency, and flexibility benefits
Actual cable resistance is substan- (in comparison to a 7-percent loss for the that PoE promises for their intercon-
tially less than this, resulting in much worst-case cable within such a system). nected devices. u
lower actual losses than the worst-case PoE is perceived as a system, which
possible. Actual losses in cables are in- comes with unavoidably high cable David Tremblay is technical chair of the
Ethernet Alliance’s (ethernetalliance.org) PoE
fluenced by the DC resistance of the ca- losses. This misperception is rooted
Subcommittee. Lennart Yseboodt is an Ethernet
ble, the length of the cable, the voltage in a misassumption that network ca- Alliance member. Tremblay is a system archi-
of the power sourcing equipment (PSE) bles have an insignificant amount of tect at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Yseboodt is a
and the required power of the powered copper and a correspondingly high senior scientist at Philips Lighting.
1712cim_22 22 11/22/17 11:15 AM

PR
S
Rugged Enclosures
CU
OD
FO
UC
for Reliable Networks
T
IDC BLOCKS
Siemon Connecting Block System

Building upon the success of its patented connecting block technology,
Siemon’s Connecting Block System comprises its Category 6 S210
connecting blocks and Category 5e S110 and S66 connecting blocks.
The system includes field-terminated 19-inch panels, horizontal
and vertical field termination kits, and a variety of accessories
including patch plugs, cable assemblies, cable
managers, covers, frames, brackets, housings,
towers, bridging clips and designation labels.
The S110 and S66 connecting block systems
Charles Multi-Purpose Housings
also offer prewired and modular jack blocks Versatile OSP enclosures designed for both
for connection to phone equipment, including new provisioning installations as well as
connectorized 25-pair backbone cable. As part retro t of damaged metallic housings.
of the system, Siemon offers Category 6 and 5e
Available with copper or ber optic brackets
UTP crossconnect wire and its Extra Large Building Entrance Terminal
frame, billed as ideal for large installations where space is a premium.
Siemon, www.siemon.com
Micro terminal blocks with push-

Tier 15 and Tier 22 Rated
in connection technology TRUE™ Underground Enclosures
For convenient wiring in confined spaces along with variable Medium-duty rated handholes constructed
of advanced composite materials;
mounting options, Phoenix Contact has introduced its MP 1.5
stackable and up to 75% less weight
micro terminal blocks with push-in than comparable volume enclosures
connection technology. This new micro
block accommodates the increasing
miniaturization of machine, switchgear,
and control cabinet design. The MP 1.5
blocks feature a connection capacity
of 0.14 mm² to 1.5 mm² (26-16 AWG).
Offering flexible mounting options, this
terminal block can be fastened on
NS 15 DIN rail, direct mounted with CFDP Fiber Distribution Pedestals
securing pins, or screw-in mounted Superior environmental protection, more
with self-locking flanges. With their test openings, the micro terminal supported ber types, and best overall
value in above-grade ber pedestals
blocks provide a testing option at every terminal point. The MP
1.5 micro blocks can be marked by self-adhesive marker strips at
each point, ensuring precise and accurate wiring. With a compact
design and clear markings, the MP 1.5 micro terminal blocks offer a
pinpointed, time-saving wiring solution, the company says.
Phoenix Contact, www.phoenixcontact.com
1712cim_23 23 11/22/17 11:15 AM

£ INFOCOMM
EDITOR’S PICKS
BECOMES AVIX A
£ SPLICE TR AY HAS
MAGNETIC SLEEVE
HOLDERS
£ NE W STANDARD
FOR INTELLIGENT
BUILDINGS
News, products and trends for the communications systems industry
COMPILED BY
Matt Vincent
ci m @ pen n well . com
(Henderson, CO); Network Controls and Electric, Inc. (Greer,

SC); Kearney Electric – Communications (Phoenix, AZ); Direct
Line Communications (Fremont, CA); Premiere Communications
& Consulting, Inc. (Raleigh, NC); McKinstry Co. (Seattle, WA);
TeamLINX LLP (Denver, CO); and E2 Optics (Englewood, CO).
To earn the In-building Wireless Sales Specialist authorization,
North American installer partners of CommScope’s Systimax
or Uniprise cabling solutions must complete a training program.
After being authorized, In-building Wireless Sales Specialists can
identify opportunities, advise customers, and collaborate with
CommScope and its in-building wireless installer partners for
project scoping, network design, and system commissioning.
“CommScope has developed in-building wireless solutions
specifically for the enterprise, and we expect our partner net-
WIRELESS
work to serve as a significant sales channel for them,” adds
CommScope authorizes 8 CommScope’s Koen ter Linde.

CommScope says it developed the new partner program
initial partners for In-Building to address the industry trend of in-building wireless systems
moving to an enterprise funded model from carrier funded.
Wireless program launch Analyst firm Mobile Experts estimates that enterprise funding of
CommScope is now offering an In-building Wireless Sales indoor DAS will grow 310 percent between 2015–2021. “Reliable
Specialist authorization to current North American structured cellular coverage and capacity are still needed in many commer-
cabling installer partners in its PartnerPRO Network. cial buildings, and the need for it will increase with 5G and the
The company’s In-building Wireless Sales Specialists are growth of IoT,” says Kyung Mun, principal analyst, Mobile Experts.
authorized to offer CommScope’s digital distributed antenna Per a CommScope press release, “Complicating the pic-
system (DAS) solutions to customers, provide solution pric- ture, though, is the fact that designing, installing and commis-
ing, and design and install the supporting in-building wireless sioning in-building wireless systems requires technical skills
infrastructure. that evolved in the telecom industry, which IT staff and build-
“As the in-building wireless industry moves to an enterprise- ing operations professionals may not possess. CommScope
owned model with IT managers and building operators taking believes its expanded PartnerPRO Network, plus enterprise-
the lead on cellular projects, CommScope is equipping its exten- friendly solutions such as the ION-E DAS and OneCell C-RAN
sive partner network to better support enterprise customers. small cell solution, will empower enterprises to effectively
The new partner authorization is all about enabling our enter- implement their own wireless networks. CommScope expects
prise ecosystem, which includes hundreds of cabling installer to bring the In-building Wireless Sales Specialist authorization
companies, to better serve their customers by knowledgeably program to partners in other regions, as well.”
consulting about wireless solutions,” says Koen ter Linde, vice CommScope also offers resources such as the compa-
president, Global Partners, CommScope. ny’s In-Building Wireless Best Practices and Connected and
CommScope has already authorized eight In-building Efficient Buildings eBooks to help enterprises better under-
Wireless Sales Specialists. They are: Sturgeon Electric stand and evolve network infrastructure. u
1712cim_24 24 11/22/17 11:15 AM

WIRELESS
Updated LoRa wireless transceivers enable

turnkey industrial remote monitoring
Device Solutions Inc. announced the line-of-sight; 4-5 years of operation
availability of the next generation of on a single 9VDC lithium battery; sup-
its Cellio LoRa long-range low-power port for 4-20mA sensors; real time
wireless transceivers, designed for alert/fault detection and notifications;
a waterproof and dustproof enclosure but we have rarely had the privilege
(IP68); and 1-wire sensor support. to represent a company that truly pro-
Per the company, “The Cellio plat- vides everything needed for a suc-
form is suited for single locations as cessful enterprise deployment out of
well extensive enterprise configurations, the box, while also allowing the full
where there may be upwards of mil- spectrum of customization options,”
lions of sensors and controls connected asserts Jim Friedrich, president and
to equipment across the continent. CEO, EnVision Enterprise Solutions.
Partnered with cellular carriers and “It’s hard to wrap your head around
back-end cloud platforms, sensor instru- how extensible the Cellio platform
mentation companies, and technology truly is until you see it for yourself.”
core companies, full enterprise-level- “Our newest Cellio LoRa transceiver
enabling wide area, long range, end- solution installations can be quickly and integrates features and capabilities
to-end monitoring and control capabil- easily scaled and very affordable. Easy that our customers have been seek-
ities for industrial applications includ- to install, the Cellio ecosystem enables ing,” concludes Bob Witter, CEO of
ing agriculture, cold chain, gas distri- companies to gain unprecedented vis- Device Solutions. “The Cellio ecosys-
bution, transportation, and others. ibility into their operations and assets tem has expanded to meet the needs
The Cellio transceivers use LoRa on a continuous basis. For many com- of a broadening array of verticals
wireless technology (Long Range 915 panies, this means moving from clip- while maintaining a ‘loosely coupled’
MHz) to connect sensors and control- boards, paper and pencil to near real- architecture to allow for maximum flex-
lers wirelessly to the cloud. time information of inventories, process ibility. We are quite pleased with the
The newest generation of the Cellio parameters, and alert conditions across feedback we are receiving from the
LoRa Transceivers provide key ben- the enterprise.” range of companies using Cellio. We
efits including: an internal wireless “We have worked with many enter- feel like we are in the right place in the
antenna with a greater than 1 mile prise solution companies in the past market at the right time.” u
£ STANDARDS
New UL safety certification program addresses ICT

power cables
To benefit end-product and cable manufacturers, brand UL adds, “While the power capabilities of ICT cables are
owners, retailers, and end users, Underwriters Laboratories growing to meet the demand for faster charging and to power
(UL) has launched a new safety certification program for higher wattage devices, so are the potential risks of over-
information and communication technology (ICT) power heating and fire due to the use of poorly constructed cables.
cables. As defined by UL, these cables “are used to power or This program addresses the potential safety hazards of cable
charge IT and communication devices such as laptops, tablet assemblies that provide power or charging for connected
computers, smart phones, power banks and more.” equipment in a circuit that continued on page 26.
1712cim_25 25 11/22/17 11:15 AM

continued from page 25 does not exceed 60 V dc, 8.0 A and 100 W.”
The program addresses the safety concerns of ICT power cables
through the control of connector/cable materials and electrical design, and
by performing testing in accordance with the recently published standard UL
9990, Outline of Investigation for Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) Power Cables.
Cables tested and certified to UL 9990 are covered under UL’s surveillance
program. UL surveillance includes regular inspections at the cable assembly
manufacturing facilities and ongoing testing of the products from both the man-
ufacturing facilities and marketplaces to help determine continued compliance.
“The ICT power cable certification program provides increased transparency
for vendors and end users by making it simpler to identify those cables that
can carry the appropriate current with reduced likelihood of overheating and
the risk of fire. This is particularly beneficial when the data cables have already
been evaluated to the pertinent industry performance specifications, as it can
address the concerns of key stakeholders related to both safety and transmis-
sion performance associated with ICT power cables,” commented L.F. Lai, vice
president and general manager of UL’s Wire and Cable division.
DATA CENTERS
“We are pleased to see that UL developed a safety certification program
that addresses the risks of fire and overheating associated with cables car-
Chatsworth rying higher levels of current for power and charging applications,” said Jeff
Products launches Ravencraft, USB-IF president and COO. “UL’s involvement in the safety of
advanced communication and power technologies such as those utilizing USB
EuroFrame Gen
Type-C connections will benefit the industry.” u
2 data center
cabinet
Chatsworth Products (CPI) announced center market is currently undergo- 45U and 47U, 600 mm and 800 mm
the release of its second-generation ing a massive period of change with widths and 829 mm, 1029 mm and
EF-Series EuroFrame cabinet. Per data center managers being driven 1229 mm depths, as well as options
the company, “The EuroFrame Gen to create greater levels of effi- with patented Vertical Exhaust Ducts,
2 is designed to minimize deploy- ciency, while on a restricted budget. offering flexibility to fit most data
ment time and resources by offer- By taking the EuroFrame cabinet to center designs.”
ing a quick and easy-to-install stor- the next level, with the EuroFrame “The EuroFrame Gen 2 Cabinet
age solution, while still providing the Gen 2, we are confident that we provides a cost-effective server and
high performance required by today’s will be able to continue meeting network equipment storage solution
modern data centers. EuroFrame and exceeding European data cen- for data centers,” comments Julian
Gen 2 manages and protects cabling ters’ ever-evolving need for speed Riley, CPI’s regional sales director
and equipment in a simple and reli- of deployment, optimum cable man- and general manager for Europe. “It
able, yet affordable way. Its progres- agement, greater airflow control and offers excellent control of airflow,
sive design allows for scalability and more desirable aesthetics.” allowing data centers to reduce
network upgrades, while support- CPI adds that the “EuroFrame energy cost, while still providing
ing airflow and cable management Gen 2 has been constructed to meet adequate cable management, as
best practices, as per EN 50600 today’s data center requirements for well as distinctive aesthetics.”
recommendations.” high-density switching and server The EuroFrame Gen 2 Cabinet is
Luca Rozzoni, CPI’s sr. product applications. The cabinet is available now available, along with its matching
manager for Europe explains, “CPI in several standard configurations, airflow, cable and power management
recognizes that the European data including 42 rack-mount units (U), accessories. u
1712cim_26 26 11/22/17 11:15 AM

EDITOR’S PICKS
AUDIOVISUAL
InfoComm changes name to AVIXA, the Audiovisual and

Integrated Experience Association
InfoComm International has changed its name to include experiential designers, content cre-
to the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience ators, IT companies, and users of AV solutions
Association—AVIXA. “The change reflects across a growing cross section of markets.
AVIXA’s broadening mission to be an industry AVIXA’s 2017 InfoComm show in Orlando last
hub, while also acting as a catalyst for market June attracted a greater share of AV custom-
growth beyond what has been considered tra- ers than in any other year.”
ditionally as professional AV,” the association said when The specific name choice—AVIXA—reflects what the
announcing the change. association’s members do (AV) and what they create for
AVIXA’s trade shows, including the North American customers (integrated experiences; IX).
show, which will be held June 2-8, 2018 in Las Vegas, will Gary Hall, president of AVIXA’s board and a fed-
continue to operate under the InfoComm name. eral strategy, planning, and operations leader at Cisco
David Labuskes, executive director and chief executive Systems, said, “The AVIXA board of directors has set
officer of AVIXA, commented, “This is an exciting time for out an ambitious plan to grow the association, increase
our industry and for the advancement of audiovisual solu- awareness of AV experiences, and reinvent our brand in
tions across a wide range of customer experiences. Thanks order to propel this industry into the future. With new and
to the innovative, creative efforts of so many members, part- different people and technologies coming into this space,
ners, and their customers, we have collectively grown far we are thrilled that AVIXA will be home to all of them.”
beyond what InfoComm International could do to promote AVIXA was founded in 1939 as the National Association
AV around the world. AV experiences have become so ubiq- of Visual Education Dealers. In 1949, NAVED merged with
uitous, and they’ve come to include so many more technol- the Allied Non-Theatrical Film Association to form the
ogies, and touch so many more personal and professional National Audio-Visual Association. NAVA changed its name
lives, that we felt compelled to embrace a new identity that to the International Communications Industries Association
more accurately reflects this industry’s excitement and wel- in 1983, which became InfoComm International in 2005.
comes a far more diverse community of professionals.” “Organizations evolve,” said Labuskes. “AVIXA’s core
The association further explained that in recent years, programs remains the same—training, certification, stan-
its members have evolved to offer much more than audio- dards, community, market intelligence, trade shows—but
visual products and systems. “Their innovation and atten- the industry has changed in exciting ways, and the oppor-
tion to customer requirements has led to an industry tunity to grow the market for audiovisual experience is so
of solution providers that use audiovisual technology to vast, it was important that the AV industry’s leading asso-
create outcomes,” it said. “AVIXA membership has grown ciation change with it.” u
FIBER OPTICS
Wirewerks unveils NextSTEP fiber splice trays for

loose tube, tight-buffered and ribbon cable fiber
Network infrastructure specialist splice tray products. Per the com-
Wirewerks announced the launch pany, the new splice trays offer
of its NextSTEP Technology brand “features including two exclusive
fiber splice tray and ribbon fiber industry-firsts—magnetic splice continued on page 30.
1712cim_27 27 11/22/17 11:15 AM

£ STANDARDS
BICSI publishes new global standard

on intelligent buildings
On August 24, BICSI, the association advancing the information and commu-
nications technology (ICT) community, announced the unveiling of its new
Intelligent Building Design standard.
“We have added to our suite of masterfully written standards yet again,” com-
ments BICSI president Brian Ensign. “This greatly needed and globally relevant
standard for design and implementation of intelligent building cabling systems is
yet another huge step forward for BICSI and for our membership. We are provid-
ing the guidance our industry needs to keep step with evolving trends in ICT.”
Per a BICSI press release, “According to a recent report from
MarketsandMarkets.com, the global intelligent building market is estimated to
DESIGN & INSTALL
grow to approximately USD 24.73 billion by the year 2021, at an annual growth
Epson joins Fluke rate of 34 percent, compounded from 2016-2021. BICSI has responded to this
growth and need in the marketplace by publishing its next ANSI-approved stan-
Networks’ new dard— ANSI/BICSI 007-2017, Information Communication Technology Design
LinkWare Live and Implementation Practices for Intelligent Buildings and Premises.”
ANSI/BICSI 007 provides requirements and recommendation for design and
Affiliates Program implementation of the structured cabling system and related applications for
Epson has joined Fluke Networks’ new any size building or premises, regardless if it serves commercial, government,
LinkWare Live Affiliates Program. As transportation, residential, or any other functions. BICSI 007 also includes infor-
a result, the Epson LABELWORKS PX mation for building automation systems, low-voltage lighting, combined data and
LW-PX400 industrial label printer and its power transmission (e.g., PoE, PoH), and a number of other systems that are
free Datacom app now work with Fluke routinely found inside intelligent building applications.
Networks’ LinkWare Live cable manage- Additional information about this standard, including preview of Chapters 1-4,
ment and testing platform to make cable can be found at: www.bicsi.org/007. u
and wire installers’ jobs easier.
Per the companies, “Together, the
LW-PX400 printer, Datacom app and tube, self-laminated wire wrap, and are larger and more complex, and the
LinkWare Live platform make cable other supplies from 1/8 inch (4 mm) demands that face network designers
labeling more efficient by allow- to 1 inch (24 mm).” and installers are more rigorous than
ing installation technicians to print Andrew Kasun, marketing man- they were a few years ago,” notes Eric
wire/cable ID labels on the job using ager for Epson LABELWORKS PX, com- Conley, vice president and general
the data generated in LinkWare Live ments: “The LW-PX400 works wire- manager of Fluke Networks.
during the network design stage, lessly in the field via Bluetooth and the “When we initially conceived of
eliminating the need to re-enter Epson Datacom app, making cable LinkWare Live in 2014, we set out
data during the labeling phase of an identification easy and seamless with to create a solution that would elimi-
installation. LinkWare Live. Plus the Datacom app nate common pitfalls and add produc-
"Epson’s Datacom app works with is designed for ultimate versatility with tivity in our customers’ project work.
iOS and Android devices and accepts templates for patch panels, self-lam- Affiliates such as Epson with their
LinkWare Live’s cloud-based data for ination wire wrap, heat shrink tubes, LABELWORKS PX are now leveraging
single or batch cable, patch panel and and TIA-606-B formatting, so network this solution to improve the capabili-
faceplate labels. The LW-PX400 prints installers have everything needed to ties of their tools and the productivity
on adhesive labels, magnetic labels, label work accurately and efficiently.” of their customers.”
glow-in-the-dark labels, heat shrink “Today’s cable installation projects LinkWare Live was introduced
1712cim_28 28 11/22/17 11:15 AM

EDITOR’S PICKS SHOWCASE
TESTING
Brother’s LabelLink
app for integrated cable
testing, labeling now free
for Android
Brother Mobile Solutions, Inc.
(BMS) announced that the Brother
LabelLink application is now avail-
able for Android platform devices.
The app can be downloaded free
of charge on Google Play. With this
release, the app is now available to
support contractors in the datacom/telecom/cable installa-
tion industry who use both iOS and Android based devices.
Further, the LabelLink app integrates with Fluke Networks’
LinkWare Live, a cloud-based solution for managing cable
certification projects. BMS says its LabelLink “leverages
the latest developments in cabling certification testing tech-
nology and advanced mobile printing capabilities to deliver
unprecedented speed, efficiency and accuracy to the cable
ID and labeling process.”
Ravi Panjwani, vice president of marketing and product
management for Brother Mobile Solutions, comments: “With
LabelLink for Android, electrical construction and engineer-
ing contractors can meet multiple project needs for cabling
ID and testing faster, more efficiently and accurately by
inputting data only once. This new version provides high
value for contractors operating on Android-based smart
devices, especially businesses engaged in installing stan-
dards-based cabling infrastructures.” u
as among the first cloud-connected infrastructure plat-

forms with cable certification capabilities, and works with
Fluke Networks’ Versiv certification testers, including the
DSX CableAnalyzer series, OptiFiber Pro and CertiFiber
Pro testers.
The LW-PX400 printer, Datacom app and LinkWare Live
platform were demonstrated at Epson’s and Fluke Networks’
booths at the 2017 BICSI Fall Conference and Exhibition
(Sept. 24-28) in Las Vegas.
K-Sun Corp. was founded in 1978 in Stillwater, Minn.,
moved to Somerset, Wis., in 1997 and became an Epson
Group Company in 2014. u
1712cim_29 29 11/22/17 11:15 AM

EDITOR’S PICKS
£ STANDARDS
TIA and QuEST Forum announce merger

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) 9000 quality metrics, benchmarking, and sustainability.
and QuEST Forum recently announced that they have Together, we will have even more resources and exper-
reached an agreement to merge the two associations. tise to drive the ICT industry forward and help companies
Per a press release, “The move is part of a strategic navigate the rapid pace of change.”
effort to offer support and services that address a full range The new organization constitutes a global commu-
of needs facing the connectivity industry. QuEST Forum is nity of more than 500 members, engineering committee
joining with TIA to form a single technology association that and partner organizations across the Americas, Europe-
will be uniquely suited to accelerate modern connectivity Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. The merger is expected to
and address the business, technology and industry transfor- create access to a wider market for the combined portfo-
mation needs of its members. This holistic approach, which lio and it positions the organization for long-term growth.
includes trusted standards, common performance and qual- Fraser Pajak, CEO of QuEST Forum, said, “This
ity metrics, supportive public policies and market alignment, dynamic combination will not only drive greater member
is essential to delivering the Internet of Things, Smart Cities, value, it will allow us to meet the needs of a broader
and the network transformation needed for virtualization, range of companies. Service providers, large enterprises,
NFV/SDN, and transition to the cloud.” suppliers and integrators will find we have resources and
The TL 9000 standard is the telecom industry’s programs to help them improve speed-to-market, sustain-
unique extension to ISO 9001. The QuEST Forum com- ability and bottom-line results.”
munity within TIA will continue to develop, implement and The merger is subject to the ratification of a defini-
enhance the TL 9000 quality management system, along tive agreement, and is expected to close in fourth quarter
with sustainability standards and performance practices. 2017. Once completed, the QuEST Forum community will
Headquarters for the combined organization will be TIA’s become an active part of TIA. Pajak will take an executive
current location in Arlington, Virginia. The combined orga- role within TIA, directly reporting to CEO Johnston.
nization will continue to have an office in Plano, TX where Susan Johnson, senior vice president, global supply
most of the current QuEST Forum staff are based, as chain, AT&T Services, remarked, “AT&T is a founding
well as a QuEST Forum location in Shenzhen, China. The member of QuEST Forum and a longtime supporter of
board of directors for both organizations will be com- TIA. This merger will bring significant business opportu-
bined into a single board. nities to companies across our industry. Companies are
“This merger expands our ability to deliver member quickly transforming, and industry organizations must
value across the full spectrum of business, technology also transform in ways that allow them to effectively
and policy needs,” commented Wesley Johnston, TIA address a full range of business, technology, policy and
CEO. “TIA is an established leader when it comes to sustainability issues.”
technology and business acceleration, global standards The announcement was made at QuEST Forum’s
development, and business advocacy. QuEST Forum Americas Service Providers and Suppliers Summit, held
brings services and tremendous experience in global TL in September in Dallas, TX. u
continued from page 27 using loose tube or tight-buffered - eliminating performance impairing
sleeve holders in the fiber splice tray fiber, and holds up to 2 bare-fiber microbends in the splice sleeve. Fiber
and integrated ribbon cable slack splitters. The tray’s magnetic splice splice trays are available in either 12F
management wheels in the ribbon sleeve holders secure fibers in or 24F capacities, with the 12F tray
fiber splice tray.” place magnetically without having to easily field-upgraded to 24F capac-
The NextSTEP fiber splice tray press-fit newly spliced sleeves into ity. Each fiber splice tray includes
manages up to 24 splices per tray rigid plastic/foam holders or clips 12/24 splice sleeves, cable ties, and
1712cim_30 30 11/22/17 11:15 AM

EDITOR’S PICKS
continued from page 30 tray. Proper bend radius and strain yellow thermoplastic. This high-con-
a clear plastic cover to protect/con- relief are assured at all times. trast yellow color improves visibil-
tain fibers within the tray. Edouard Tabet, Wirewerks’ head ity and reduces eyestrain, contends
The NextSTEP ribbon fiber splice of engineering, comments, “The mag- Wirewerks, making installation and
tray manages up to two 12F ribbon netic splice sleeve holder means that maintenance easier and faster, with
cables per tray. The ribbon cable fusion splices can go directly from better results. Integrated tabs, rout-
mass-splice is oven to splice tray without risking per- ing features and cable tie attach-
mounted formance impairing micro-bends in ment points control bend radius and
“standing up” the splice sleeve. The ribbon secure cables; and both splice trays
into either of fiber slack wheel manages allow cable entry at all 4 corners for
two ribbon slack up to 4 feet of slack maximum installation flexibility.
wheels integrated per ribbon cable Further, both splice trays are fully
into the tray. Each neatly within the compatible with all NextSTEP patch
slack wheel manages splice tray. panels and support up to 288F in
up to 2 feet of slack on Both features 1RU; 1,152F in 4RU; and up to 144F
either side of the mass- are exclu- in NextSTEP wall mount patch panels.
splice (up to 4 feet per slack sive to our NextSTEP Both splice trays may be inserted
wheel) within the tray itself. The system, and both contribute to or removed from the front or rear of
“on edge” orientation of the ribbon faster, easier installations and mainte- any NextSTEP patch panel, and both
cables means that the cables spool nance in customer networks.” trays may be used in any combina-
neatly around the slack wheels and Both splice trays are precision tion with other types of NextSTEP
never crossover or twist within the manufactured from high-impact fiber modules. u
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
Arlington Industries.....................................12
Bel Stewart Connector..................................5 ADVERTISING SALES OFFICES

MAIN OFFICE INTERNATIONAL
Charles Industries Ltd. .............................. 23 61 Spit Brook Road AUSTRIA, EUROPE, GERMANY,
Suite 401, Nashua, NH 03060 NORTHERN SWITZERLAND
(603) 891-0123 Holger Gerisch
Corning Optical Communications LLC....... C2 fax: (603) 891-9245 +49-(0)8847-6986656
Fax: +49-(0)8801-9153792
GROUP PUBLISHER
[email protected]
Diamond Ground Products Inc................... 29 Alan Bergstein
(603)-891-9447 ISRAEL
[email protected] Dan Aronovic
Hitachi Cable Manchester Inc. ...................17 NATIONAL SALES MANAGER
+972 9 899 5813
Susan Smith [email protected]
(603) 891-9260 ASIA
NetScout Systems ...................................... C4 fax: (603) 891-9245 Adonis Mak
[email protected] +852 2 838 6298; Fax: +852 2 838 2766
Oberon Inc.................................................. 29 REPRINTS
[email protected]
Susan Smith JAPAN
(603) 891-9260 Masaki Mori
Senko Advanced Components Inc.................9 fax: (603) 891-9245 +81 3 3219 3561
[email protected] [email protected]
Siemon Company........................................ C3 DIRECTOR, LIST RENTAL TAIWAN
Kelli Berry Ms. Rebecca Tsao
(918) 831-9782 +886 2 23965128 ext.203
US Conec.......................................................6 [email protected] Fax: 886 2 23967816
[email protected]
Wirewerks .....................................................2
SHOULD YOU NEED ASSISTANCE CREATING YOUR AD, PLEASE CONTACT MARKETING SOLUTIONS
VICE PRESIDENT Paul Andrews
The index of advertisers is published as a service, and the 240.595.2352; [email protected]
publisher does not assume any liability for errors or omissions.
1712cim_31 31 11/22/17 11:15 AM

World leaders in DFOS system installations
INFRASTRUCTURE
INSIGHTS
Global fiber-optic
sensing systems
by the numbers
Number of
The Fiber Optic Sensing Association recently DFOS system
y installations
released details of data it collected about

Low densityy High
H density
distributed fiber-optic sensing (DFOS) system 0 installations
i ll i
installations around the world. The data com-
prises more than 1300 installations. A pri-
data, the United States is well behind China and Germany in terms of total
mary takeaway is that the United States lags
deployments of fiber-optic sensing. We are committed to raising aware-
behind China and Germany in the number of
ness of this powerful technology, which can help bring U.S. infrastructure
DFOS deployments.
and asset security into the 21st century. It is critical that American industry
“China had more deployments than any
and policy makers understand fiber-optic sensing so we can ensure that the
other nation, with roughly 11.3 percent of all
United States keeps pace with other global technology leaders.”
identified installations, followed closely by
The association explained that fiber-optic sensing enables highly pre-
Germany at 9.4 percent,” FOSA said. “The
cise monitoring of physical assets, including power cables, pipelines, rail-
United States came in third with roughly 6.5
ways, international borders and critical infrastructure. “These capabilities
percent, and South Korea was fourth with
are unlocked through the measurement of deviations of light in a fiber-op-
4.8 percent of installations.”
tic cable occurring as a result of acoustic, temperature or strain signals,”
In gathering their data, FOSA surveyed
FOSA said. Industries including transportation, energy, security, oil-and-gas,
the following companies: AP Sensing, Asym-
and defense already leverage DFOS technology, the association added.
metric Technologies, Fotech Solutions, LIOS
Uncapher added, “With fiber-optic sensing, hundreds of miles of high-
Technology, Omnisens, OptaSense, OZ
way can be monitored for accidents and traffic flows. Power-cable faults
Optics. The association stated that in addi-
and pipeline leaks can be detected and located instantly, and footsteps can
tion to the 1300-plus installations accounted
be heard on a perimeter in the middle of the night. They are all detectable
for in their statistics, these companies
through fiber-optic sensing.”
also referenced 142 installations in undis-
FOSA released an interactive map in conjunction with the release of this
closed locations.
survey information. Users of the map can mouse over any country to find the
The data breaks down what these DFOS
number of DFOS installations in that country. The United States, for example,
systems are protecting, particularly including
had 86 installations at the time of the map’s release. The map details those
power transmission systems (22.2 percent),
86 installations by industry—15 power systems, 15 pipelines, 12 perimeters,
tunnels (20 percent), pipelines (13.5 percent),
10 structures, 5 subsea cables, 5 railways, 4 military applications, 2 power
and perimeters (8.4 percent).
facilities, 2 fiber-optic networks, 2 geomonitoring, 2 tunnels (fire detection), 1
“The more-than-1300 identified installa-
smart road, 1 industrial process, 1 telecom network, 9 other.
tions span more than 20,000 miles in length,”
The association emphasized this release of data and interactive map
FOSA said. The association’s director Mark
“builds on the organization’s ongoing effort to promote awareness of
Uncapher commented, “According to our
fiber-optic sensing technology. In the coming weeks and months, FOSA will
Patrick McLaughlin, Chief Editor continue integrating data from additional sources to offer a more-complete
pat r i ck @ pe n n w el l . co m
picture of global DFOS deployments.” u
1712cim_32 32 11/22/17 11:19 AM

SIEMON’S NEW FIELD
TERMINATED PLUG
Siemon’s Z-PLUG Field Terminated Plug allows custom-length, high-
Z-PLUG
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into LED lights, surveillance cameras, Wi-Fi access points, distributed
antenna systems, digital displays, building automation devices and
Straight to the Point more—making IP-based and PoE-enabled IoT device connections in
today’s intelligent buildings simple and straight to the point.
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26 AWG – all with a single part number performance, supporting the latest applications and intuitive termination process
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1712cim_C3 3 11/22/17 11:19 AM

WORK SMARTER
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1712cim_C4 4 11/22/17 11:19 AM

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WORK SMARTER

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NetSco_CIM_1712 1 11/15/17 4:27 PM

1712cim_C1 1 11/22/17 11:19 AM

Are You Corning Connected?

© 2017 Corning Optical Communications. LAN-2189-AEN / December 2017

1712cim_C2 2 11/22/17 11:19 AM

ABOUT THE COVER

Group Publisher Alan Bergstein

FEATURES Audience Development Manager Debbie Bouley

7 PERSPECTIVE 19 TECHNOLOGY www.pennwell.com

Maximizing the MTP's advantages Video compression formats EDITORIAL OFFICES

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