For: www.wireville.com
"Heard On The Street" Column
Issue: August 2013
By: Frank Bisbee
EXCERPTS FROM THE AUGUST 2013 FOA Newsletter…Too good to pass up.
Many thanks to Jim Hayes and the FOA – www.thefoa.org
Believe It Or Not!
It's been about 15 years
since Gigabit Ethernet on fiber caused the re-evaluation of 50/125 multimode
fiber. 50/125 fiber had much more bandwidth with the VCSEL sources used with
Gigabit Ethernet than the 62.5/125 multimode fiber then in widespread use, so
it gave longer distance capability to gigabit links. 50/125 became the focus of
fiber engineering and the old variety of 50/125, now called OM2 developed into
OM3 and OM4 with higher bandwidth at the 850nm wavelength used with VCSELs
evolved into fibers that supported long links at 10G.
So you would think that everybody is installing OM3 or OM4 fiber, wouldn't you?
Well, think again! According to an article in CI&M this month, 62.5/125
fiber still represents 25-30% of all multimode fiber sold.
Why? It appears that most is used in networks that are 1G or less, support
legacy equipment or slow equipment like industrial controllers or security CCTV
cameras, or are extensions of current networks running on 62.5 fiber where the
user does not wish to have the problems one can have when mixing the two fibers.
Certainly new networks based on MM fiber should use the more capable 50 micron
fiber, but one hopes the user also installs hybrid cables with singlemode fiber
in the cable as well, in case they find out that they really could benefit from
using an OLAN system (see other mentions of OLANs on this page.)
Read the full CI&M Article on why not to install new
62.5/125 fiber here.
Latest Google Rumors
Other
than talking about Google Fiber in
Even more interesting is Google's building of data centers - now on four
continents - and the newest - putting Google servers in many ISPs. These
servers store the most popular content - e.g. viral videos off YouTube -
locally to reduce the actual Internet backbone traffic.
Read the Wired story here.
In other Google news, Starbucks and Google have made an agreement for Google to
replace AT&T as the provider of WiFi in Starbucks stores, upping the speed
considerably.
OLANs - Optical LANs
New Association for OLANs
Not surprisingly, OLANs now
have their own association to educate users about the advantages of OLANs. The
Association for Passive Optical LAN is a non-profit organization composed of
manufacturers, distributors, integrators, and consulting companies who are
actively involved in the Passive Optical LAN marketplace. Its members support
the growth and education of the Passive Optical LAN industry and are focused on
formulating solutions on how best to market, install, educate, and support this
burgeoning field.
The new organization's website already has some good technical information on
OLANs.
APOLAN
E-mail: : contact@apolanglobal.org
APOLAN website http://www.apolanglobal.org/
CI&M OLAN Webinar Now
Available Online
FOA,
working with Cabling Installation and Maintenance magazine, presented
our third webinar for them- this time on OLANs. The webinar covered the history
of cabling for LANs and look at the evolution of cabling for today's high speed
networks. More on the webinar at http://www.cablinginstall.com/webcasts/2013/03/passive-optical-lans.html
Register to view it at http://video.webcasts.com/events/pmny001/viewer/index.jsp?eventid=45518&adid=ws
OLANs - Resources
Over
the last couple of years, we've written a lot about all-optical LANs, either
based on FTTH passive optical network (PON) or point-to-point (P2P) Ethernet
architecture. The more we see of these types of networks, the more we
appreciate their design and economy. But how about scale - how big can they
get?
In November, we ran a picture story about the new San Diego Central Library which
is using a Tellabs optical LAN using PON technology that was using about 1000 4
port drops. Now we hear another Tellabs customer has over 16,000 users. That
must make it one of the biggest LANs in the world.
Here are more sources of information on optical LANs - BTW, they need a name -
let's start calling them OLANs!
FOA
Guide Page on OLANs and FOA YouTube Video
Tellabs
Motorola
Cliff Walker's
FTTO paper
3M on POLs
And the new FOA Lecture
30, OLANs, Optical LANs
Have
a safe and enjoyable Labor Day Holiday as we close out the summer. The months
ahead will give us new challenges and we’ll bring all the news you can use
directly to your screen.
NEVER EVER DRIVE WHILE TEXTING. No Excuses.
Frank Bisbee - Editor
"HOTS - Heard On The Street" Monthly Column
(904)
442-2741 DIRECT
ADVANTAGES
OF FIBER OPTICS - Performance at ultra high performance requires a new set of
rules
Whatever the application,
there are numerous advantages to using optical fiber, the most important of
which is bandwidth. When one designs a system addressing future bandwidth
demands is critical. Fortunately there are multiple types of optical
fibers designed to meet future bandwidth needs. In many cases, network
operators can increase the bandwidth
of their existing fiber simply by changing terminal equipment.
Another benefit of fiber
optics is its low signal attenuation.
In addition, signal attenuation in copper cables increases with frequency, so
the more information you try to force through a copper conductor, the higher
the losses. This effect is not nearly as pronounced in fiber optic cables.
WEIGHT and SIZE
A copper cable with 900 pairs
carrying 21,000 telephone channels has a diameter of 7 centimeters and weighs 7
metric tons per kilometer. The largest optical cable contains 1728 fibers and
can carry almost 450 million equivalent voice circuits when using only one
wavelength at 40 gigabits per second and it weighs a fraction of the copper
cable.
One of the finer attributes
of fiber is its size. Optical fibers are not much thicker than a human hair.
Even when fibers are coated and incorporated in cable structures, they are far
smaller and lighter than metallic cable. Small size and light-weight makes
storage, handling and installation much easier. In most urban areas today,
copper cabling has filled existing duct-work to capacity. By using smaller
fiber cables, efficient use of inner duct space is ensured.
Noise immunity
is also a tremendous benefit. Because glass is an insulator, no electric
current can flow through an optical fiber, and because the optical signal
cannot pass between fibers, optical cables are immune to both optical and
electrical interference.
Excerpted from The Light Brigade’s “Fundamental of
Fiber Optics DVD (W-6D-112)”
Fiber Optic
Cable
The
concept of light transmission has existed since the early 1840’s when French
inventors Daniel Colladon and Jacques Babinet demonstrated the guiding of light
over distance by refraction.
Approximately
ten years later in the mid 1850’s Irish inventor John Tyndall performed a
similar demonstration using water fountains. These early experiments led to the
development of television when Scottish inventor John Logie Baird demonstrated
the transmission of moving images at the London Institute in 1925.
In
1952,
The
attenuation barrier was broken in 1970 by four research scientists working for
Corning Glass Works (now Corning Inc.), Robert Maurer, Donald Keck, Peter
Schultz, and Frank Zimar.
Advances in
Fiber Optic Cable
Within
two decades, innovative research pushed the attenuation rate low enough for
fiber optics to become the dominant carrier of electronic information.
By
the early 1990's as the Internet was becoming popularized in the public realm,
fiber optic cables started to be laid around the world with a major push to
wire the world in order to provide infrastructure to counter the perceived
problems of the Y2K issue.
Today,
fiber is present in virtually every nation on the Earth, forming the absolute backbone of the modern communications
infrastructure.
We support the concept of
Integrated Systems and the use of Fiber Optic cabling to support that goal. In
the span of the last decade, we have seen the underside of the fiber optic industry
strengthen substantially, but still not enough to replace the copper cabling
world.
Over the past 40 years, the
Deceptive and misleading
claims continue to be the basis for the net results in our premise networks.
Today, in the
FTTH - FIBER TO THE HOME (AND
WORKPLACE) will have a huge value to our future economic potential. Many
industry observers have compared the next decade in networks to the post WWII
implementation of the Interstate Highway System. Getting that message out is a
real challenge as we compete for media exposure with the super-funded
commercial entities that are heavily invested in the copper-based buggy whip
production/distribution business model.
We (Integrated Systems
Contractors & Designers) try to educate and illuminate the future, while the copper cable clowns (kicking &
screaming) try to squeeze every last dollar from their obsolete technology.
NOTE: Reports from the
industry indicate that the chemical companies make more profit on a 100’ box of
CAT6 4pr UTP copper-based datacom cable than the cable manufacturer or the
distributor.
Imagine a world with
automated “Smart Buildings” interlinked in Smart Communities and so on…. We can
do this with FIBER OPTIC technology. I believe the fiber optic cabling sector
is capable of replacing the millions of miles of installed copper cables
in the workplace over the next two decades. The technology continues to improve
and the fiber industry expands with justifiable strength.
I believe that fiber optic
cable will gradually replace virtually all of the copper cabling in the process
of addressing the constant churn of MACs (Moves, Adds, and Changes). Installed
costs of both technologies are nearly in parity at current costs. Why would you
install a “buggy whip?” If we look at the full picture of costs, fiber has a
legitimate advantage. I could go on and on…
Communications
Network Backbone
Optical
Fiber is used in place of metal wire for many reasons including its ability to
carry signals over very long distances with minimal attenuation or loss. They
are also immune to electromagnetic interference, unlike the metal wires they
are increasingly replacing.
Used
primarily as the backbone of the modern telecommunications grid, the advent of
Fiber Optics allowed for universal broadband Internet access for homes and
businesses around the world.
During
the early days of the commercial Internet, hundreds of thousands of kilometers
of fiber optic cables were laid, much of which is still not in use (known as
Dark Fiber). That mass of fiber optic cable is credited with the rise of
Single and
Multimode Fiber Optic Cable
Fiber
optic cable works to transmit light because the hollow, round glass (or
sometimes plastic) wires reflect the light back to the core of the wire,
causing the cable to act as a waveguide.
Fibers
that support multiple propagation paths are called Multimode Fibers (MMF). MMF
cable is generally used for short distance communication or in applications
where large amounts of power are required.
Fibers
that support a single mode are called Single Mode Fibers. This tends to be the
type of fiber optical wire used in high-speed data transfer and as the backbone
of the Internet.
The apparent top technology
is single mode fiber to the workzone and in many cases to the desktop. Under
these design criteria, the Single Mode Fiber Optic cabling would extend the LAN
network to a hub device in the terminal workzone. Copper patchcords could plug
into the hub from the desktop PCs or other devices.
Like the proverbial buggy
whips, demand for obsolete copper cabling may plummet to the lowest levels ever
recorded. Even before this expansion of the fiber optic cable distribution, the
FO cable backbone extended to the IDF – Intermediate Distribution Frame (Floor
Closet) may reduce copper cable consumption by as much as 42-48%. The copper cable reduction may cause the
manufactures to experience reduced revenues to the extent that they will plunge
into a sea of red ink.
Carriers And Networks Wrestle With The Upgrades To Fiber Optic Cable.
Beginning in the mid-1980s, fiber
optic installations expanded rapidly all over the globe, and generations of
improved systems followed quickly one after the other. Fiber had enormously
higher capacity, which increased even further with each generation, and much
cheaper operating costs. For example, the last copper transatlantic cable,
TAT-7, opened in 1978 with a capacity of 4,000 calls; the first fiber cable opened in 1988, with
a capacity ten times greater. That was just the beginning of a massive increase
in capacity; by the late 1990s, new generations of fiber optic systems could
carry millions of calls, though in practice by this time most of what was
transmitted was data, and not conversation. Or to put it in data terms, coaxial
copper cable carried millions of bits, or megabits, per second; early 1980s
fiber optic cable, hundreds of megabits; 1990s fiber, gigabits; and 2000s
fiber, terabits.
In the 1980s, engineers assumed that
optical cables would replace more expensive copper cables for telephone
service, saving money in the process. When the use of the Internet exploded in
the 1990s, suddenly there was a great demand for cables that could carry heavy
loads of digital data. Optical fiber fit the bill perfectly, and many thousands
of miles of new cable have been laid all around the world.
Fiber
optics rendered
all previous telephone network transmission media obsolete. By 2000, copper
wire for the most part persisted only in local loops that ran between telephone
exchanges and individual subscribers, and microwave
systems had been largely decommissioned. The cost of transmitting a phone call
to any place on Earth within reach of a fiber-optic cable rapidly approached
zero, thus knitting the planet more closely into a single instant
communications web, greatly facilitating global commerce. Among other things,
the widespread adoption of fiber optics
made the global internet possible.
WIRELESS EVERYWHERE
On top of the need to upgrade the
premise LAN capabilities, we face the tsunami of mobile wireless user demand.
From spoken-word conversations to real-time video, a dazzling array of
communications options are now available at the touch (or click) of a button.
This new demand of service from the wireless users pushes the technologies at
the heart of fiber-optic communications. We recognize a network demand for
Fiber Optic cable backhaul from the cellular tower or node to the network. Add
the planned additional traffic from automotive vehicles; we are left with no
choice but to eliminate obsolete or soon to be obsolete technologies in the
infrastructure. We just do not have the financial resources to build the
networks and rebuild it over and over again as each archaic technology crashes
against the barrier of obsolescence.
“Building big broadband
networks are not just a matter of international competition; it is also
economically efficient. Due to the limited dollars available, it is more
economically efficient to invest finite resources into networks with
virtually-unlimited potential (such as fiber-optic cable) than to invest in the
deployment of a multitude of interim technologies whose bandwidth could be
overwhelmed by Internet traffic in a few years.
American policy should thus
focus on future-proof networks – networks employing technologies that are
scalable and adaptable to future growth in demand. Several existing
copper-based cabling technologies are limited by physics and geography and will
be obsolete in three to five years. Our resources will be better spent on
technologies that have a long shelf life." From A Blueprint For Big
Broadband.
Over the past
several years, the Fiber Optic Cabling Industry has released a host of new
optical fiber cable products for use in almost any application that you can
name. From cable to connectors, the
flood of new products that boggles the imagination. Here are some outstanding
examples.
PRYSIAM Indoor-Outdoor Gel-Free Low-Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) cables, are
available in two heavy-duty designs, and will provide more robust cable
solutions to address particularly challenging mass transit applications, such
as tunnels. Both cable designs utilize PRYSIAM’s extensive single-mode and
multimode optical fiber portfolio including BendBright®, PRYSIAM's highly
desired bend-insensitive fiber. The new dual-jacket non-armored design is
capable of sustaining a 1000lbf tensile load which is more than 60% improvement
over standard products.
PRYSMIAM has also released an LSZH cable incorporating corrugated steel tape
armor which provides greater compressive loading resistance, as well as rodent
protection for direct buried applications or other harsh environments. The
gel-free cable construction has been proven to save time and reduce
installation costs. Both of these cables meet the flame requirements of Type
OFNG cable in accordance with NEC Article 770 and comply with the FT4 flame
testing per CSA. "These versatile indoor-outdoor cable designs are ideal
for confined spaces where reduction of smoke and hazardous emissions are
primary safety concerns"
The VertiCasa™ system provides a fast and flexible means of connecting users in
a multiple dwelling unit (MDU) whether for new buildings or retro fitting to
existing buildings. The system is built around a special riser cable, from
which long lengths of fiber can easily be extracted. Fibers are removed through
small breakout windows in the riser cable using Prysmian's patented access
method. This allows the riser cable to be installed without slack loops, and
requires very little space for fiber access, fiber routing in the vertical
riser and horizontal connections. The extracted fibers can be routed directly
to individual subscribers without the need for intermediate splices. Various
accessories are also available, which allow a wide range of installations in
the horizontal space.
This innovative technology has already made VertiCasa™ one of the most
appreciated FTTH innovations. This interest has been confirmed by a large
number of FTTH projects under way in several locations in Western Europe, The
Middle East and
The VertiCasa™ system will also be available in conjunction with
preconnectorized MDU cables and components in order to provide efficient
installations and reduce labor costs. Megladon’s HLC SCRATCHGUARD® connection technology has been known for more
than a decade for its durability and repeatable performance. It is a one of a
kind product that enables business critical applications to operate with
minimal connectivity issues. The REPEATABILITY
of the Hardened Lens and its properties also allows Megladon to bit error rate
test and certify the terminated product with an extremely high first pass
yield.
The VertiCasa™ system also offers a full spectrum of bend-tolerant fibers,
including Prysmian's leading-edge CasaLight™ Xtreme fiber. In the most
demanding applications, CasaLight™ Xtreme can be used for bend radii as small
as 5mm. VertiCasa™ drop cables containing CasaLight™ Xtreme have been designed
to withstand sharp 90 degree bends under tension and installation with staple
guns. CasaLight™ Xtreme exceeds the requirements of ITU-T Recommendation
G.657.B, while remaining fully compatible with G.652 fiber. This allows
customers to choose the ideal fiber for each network segment, thereby
optimizing the optical and economic performance of their network design.
The VertiCasa™ system comprises all supporting accessories and connectivity
products necessary to complete the full installation from main fiber
distribution point, generally in the basement of the MDU, through to the end
user.
Prysmian is a leading global
supplier of Optical Fibers and Communication Cables. With multiple
production facilities worldwide Prysmian supplies a comprehensive portfolio of
state-of-the-art products into the communications industry, including:
Optical Fiber, Optical Cable, Fiber to the Home Solutions, Premises Data
Cables, & Connectivity Hardware. Headquartered in
The Challenge To Connect Fiber Optic Cables
As another example of
available solutions consider this unique product: Bit Error Rate Tested and
certified 10GIG HLC fiber patch cables.
This product line ships with
an eye diagram and Bit Error Rate test data which enables the installer to
deploy with confidence.
As the migration to 10GIG
continues in fiber optic networks, many installers and maintenance personnel
are challenged when they realize a percentage of the Laser Optimized fiber
optic patch cables ordered either have a high bit error rate when mated or
develop intermittent issues in a short period of time. What is not known is
those products sold as “10GIG patch cables” are not bit error rate tested using
an actual 10GIG signal. Instead, the standard insertion loss performance is
considered the pass/fail criteria. This does not guarantee an acceptable bit
error rate.
Megladon’s HLC SCRATCHGUARD®
connection technology has been known for more than a decade for its durability
and repeatable performance. It is a one of a kind product that enables business
critical applications to operate with minimal connectivity issues. The
repeatability of the Hardened Lens and its properties also allows Megladon to
bit error rate test and certify the terminated product with an extremely high
first pass yield.
“The market has been taught
that any multimode fiber patch cable with an aqua jacket will perform in a
10GIG system. The truth is the glass is designed for such a system but the
finished patch cable has not been tested with a bit error rate tester. We have
not found one manufacturer that will provide bit error rate data with the
product. That changed today” said John Culbert, President of Megladon.
Megladon® Manufacturing Group
Ltd., a subsidiary of TyRex Group Ltd.®, is recognized as a leader in the fiber
optic marketplace. Founded in 1997, Megladon made it their mission to provide
customers with fiber optic products that far exceed industry standards
minimizing installation time and maintenance cost. As technology innovators,
Megladon created the HLC® (Hardened Lens Contact) connection, which has changed
the market and taken it to the next level. For additional information on
Megladon and their patented processes please visit the company’s website at www.megladonmfg.com.
For additional information
regarding Megladon’s variety of fiber optic products please contact John
Culbert at 512.615.4687 or by email at scratchguard@megladonmfg.com.
Fiber Optic
Connections plus TAILOR MADE SOLUTIONS from Megladon Mfg.
A
few years ago, if a network engineer wanted a configuration that was not a
standard product, the only solution was CUSTOM MADE (also read EXPENSIVE).
Today, due to the flexibility of many of the newest FO products, engineers can
approach manufacturers like Megladon Mfg and outline their needs to get tailored
solutions at much lower costs than the CUSTOM designs of the past. John Culbert
(Megladon Mfg) told us “Cabinets and panels can be configured to your needs…
easily and without paying those big CUSTOM prices. Just call us and let us know
what you need the equipment to do.” www.megladonmfg.com or call John Culbert direct 512-615-4687
For
the maximum value and best barrier to obsolescence, you need to make your
invest extend into the future of Integrated Systems, Multi-Tasking, and
Automated “Smart” Buildings. Do the math. You will agree.
Article from
CI&M magazine - Patch cords can’t afford to be a weak link by Patrick
McLaughlin
Solid performance of every segment in an end-to-end
cabling system is growing more important than ever.
By Patrick McLaughlin
At a time when an increasing
amount of precision is required to accurately install and terminate a
structured cabling system in the field, the economic pressures of price and
low-margin business are dangling the temptation for cabling-system stakeholders
to use potentially underperforming patch cords in their networks. When one
gives in to that temptation, and network performance eventually suffers as a
result, the perception of patch cords as a cabling system’s weak link is
perpetuated. Such is the reputation of that portion of the cabling system that
is most visible to the everyday user at a workstation, who knows or cares
little about the cabling system that facilitates connectivity to a corporate
network and to the outside world. By and large these users view patch cords
only as nuisance speed bumps as they wheel their chairs around a workspace. A
network cabling-system administrator, on the other hand, takes more serious and
critical consideration of the cords used in the work area as well as equipment
cords used in telecommunications rooms. At least, we hope these administrators
take such consideration.
Bad press?
Typically patch cords make
headlines, with us and with other cabling-related news and information sources,
for unfortunate reasons. Every now and then Underwriters Laboratories
(www.ul.com) issues a public notice about patch cables that use its (UL’s) mark
without authorization. It issued the most recent such notice a little more than
a year ago, in March 2012, bringing the public’s attention to Category 5e
cables, as well as USB 2.0 cables, sold at Big Lots stores under the brand name
TriQuest, that “bear an unauthorized UL Mark on the product packaging.” As is
typically the case when UL issues such a notice, it added, “The products have
not been evaluated by UL to the applicable standard for safety and it is
unknown if they comply with the UL safety requirements.” In its notice, UL
reported there were 95,120 units of the patch cable produced.
With UL not having issued a
notice of this type in more than a year, is the circulation of this type of
patch cable an anecdote, or an example of a more-widespread problem? Caution
and prudence would suggest it being viewed as the latter. Two points of fact
about these notices from UL are worth considering. First, the organization only
issues a notice when its brand and markings are used incorrectly. A patch cord
that does not perform at the level stated on its packaging, but does not use
the UL mark, will not be on UL’s radar. And second, UL exhausts multiple
efforts to reach and work with a manufacturer before issuing a public notice.
Before such a notice is issued, UL has been unable to satisfactorily resolve
the issue with the manufacturer. In some cases, the manufacturer and UL have
had no discourse at all, with UL’s efforts to communicate being unsuccessful.
With that in mind, it is plausible that some manufacturers are responsive to
UL’s inquiries and the issue is resolved without a public notice being issued.
So the idea that anytime a rogue patch cord reaches the market, UL issues a
notice about it, is false.
Many-headed beast
The existence of substandard
patch cords in the marketplace was addressed in an article we published in
January 2012. Authored by comCables’ (www.comcables.com) Andy Work and Tom
McAllister, the article was titled “The patch-cord conundrum: Corrosion versus
conformity.” In it, the authors explained, “Quality, as well as code- and
standard-compliance, has a price tag. A high-priced patch cord does not mean it
is standards-based and will pass the performance requirements; however, price
is the first indicator to help guide your decision … Typically patch cords are
not supplied by the structured cabling installer, nor are they found on the
request-for-quote. Patch cords are usually supplied by the end-user’s IT
department after the installation is complete. Projects are not awarded for
their patch-cord prowess; typically they are won on price and performance.
“It is ironic how a company
will build a multi-million-dollar facility with new networking hardware, then
the IT department will box up their old patch cords and reinstall them. If the
cords are not reused, they are sourced off the Internet for the cheapest ones
to be found, or worse, the cords are home-made.”
In the field
That issue of field-made
patch cords is debatable. Naturally, a company like comCables that
factory-produces and tests patch cords will caution against the act of
field-terminating two plugs on the end of a length of patch cable, pointing out
the absence of quality-control measures in such an approach. Another viewpoint
is put forth as well, though. For example, LANshack (www.lanshack.com), which
provides cable, connectors, installation tools and numerous other products,
includes tutorials on its website about how to properly construct Category 5,
5e and 6 patch cords.
Within LANshack’s tutorial is
a caution about the potential for substandard performance. It reads, “If the
completed assembly does not pass continuity, you may have a problem in one or
both ends.” The tutorial then advises to recrimp and examine the assembly and
if necessary, to reterminate.
Whether they are constructed
in the factory or the field, testing patch cords for continuity, or wiremap,
alone has been regarded as insufficient by companies including comCables and
Fluke Networks (www.flukenetworks.com). In their article, Work and McAllister
said, “The only way to really know that a patch cord has been manufactured to
standards is to test it. Or you can choose to buy patch cords exclusively from
manufacturers that performance-test 100 percent of their products using the
correct test method before shipment is made.”
The authors also call out a
common myth—that users can test patch cords for standard performance using the
channel adapters that come with Fluke Networks’ DTX 1800 tester. “A channel
test is a lenient test for patch cords because it includes significant leeway
for all component parts of the end-to-end system.”
Fluke Networks agrees with
that sentiment—so much so that in spring 2011 it introduced a patch-cord test
adapter for the DTX tester. The DTX Patch Cord Test Adapter series can certify
twisted-pair patch cords, shielded or unshielded, to Category 5e, 6 and 6A
component specifications established in TIA-568-C and ISO 11801 standards. With
the adapters, a user can test patch cord parameters including wiremap, length,
propagation delay, delay skew, near-end crosstalk, resistance and return loss.
When announcing the adapters the company explained they are appropriate for
field and factory use.
In a data sheet for the
adapter series, Fluke Networks explained, “Most cords are only tested for
wiremap, not performance—in spite of what may be indicated on the jacket.
Channel certification shows the performance of the completed end-to-end link
including equipment and work area patch cords. Permanent link certification
shows the true performance of the installed link without the cords. This is
very common because it’s the most practical and accurate way to certify new
cabling links, but it is dependent on compliant patch cords. Patch cord
certification can quickly determine whether a patch cord meets industry
performance specifications.”
Some providers of
factory-manufactured patch cords have taken steps not only to encourage the use
of factory cords, but also to make it easier for users to acquire them. One
example is Leviton Network Solutions’ (www.leviton.com/networksolutions) fall
2012 launch of an online copper patch cord customization tool, which allows
customers to configure cords for their specific applications by selecting cord
type, color and exact length. Specifically, nine cord types, eight jacket
colors and 200 lengths are available to choose from. After selecting their options,
customers each receive a part number for each unique cord, along with specific
ordering details.
Leviton Network Solutions
senior product manager Kirk Krahn said the tool was launched “to make it
simpler for our customers to select the exact cords they need for their
network. Our custom patch cords reduce installation costs and eliminate the
waste and tangle of excess cord lengths by allowing customers to select the
appropriate length for their application.”
Being direct
Discussion about field-production
of patch cords is an interesting topic, and when the topic is debated an issue
frequently discussed is the precision workmanship required to produce a cord
that complies with demanding standard-based electrical performance
characteristics. Wherever the skill to achieve such performance does exist, it
can be valuable in several ways, including a field-termination style that is
gaining attention and use in the structured cabling industry.
The Single Connector Modified
Permanent Link connection method frequently is referred to as direct-attach.
Under this method, horizontal cable is terminated to a modular plug rather than
to a jack. So it would be inaccurate to say direct-attach terminations are
really just lengthy patch cords, because just one end of the horizontal cable
is terminated to a plug. Even so, the skill required to effectively achieve
that termination method is the same skill put to use when one attempts to
field-construct a patch cord.
Graybar dedicates a page on
its website (www.graybar.com/directattach) to this connection method, including
a white paper, video demonstration of the attachment method, and test results
of direct-attach systems. Karl Griffith, director of emerging technology and
author of the white paper, explained in it: “Direct attach was designed to help
network architects and technicians leverage both their skill in communications
wiring systems and UTP as the cable of choice for building facility-system
networks … Many non-user administered IP devices are mounted in places high on
walls, or on or in ceilings. In these locations the typical configuration isn’t
practical for installation and maintenance … The direct attach philosophy aims
to decrease the safety hazards and configuration issues encountered with
non-user administered IP devices by installing the modular plug directly on the
end of the cable servicing the IP device, therefore eliminating the jack,
faceplate and patch cord.”
While the method may indeed
eliminate the need for patch cords to connect some networked devices, it
simultaneously can shine light on the need for sufficient skill in the
installation environment, to successfully terminate twisted-pair cable to a
plug.
PATRICK
McLAUGHLIN
Chief Editor
patrick@pennwell.com
Reprinted
with permission from CI&M - Cabling
Installation & Maintenance Magazine – a leading publication for
structured cabling and networking for over 20 years. CI&M magazine is a
PennWell publication. Check out their powerful web seminars
Article from
CI&M magazine - Why ‘multi-everything’ is normal for cabling-certification
Today’s contractors must be able to manage multiple
environments, media, standards and technologies in order to succeed.
By Jason Wilbur, Fluke
Networks
Today’s information
technology (IT) discussions are filled with terms like cloud, virtualization,
SAN, SaaS and
This article explores the
state of the cabling industry—where it has been and where it is going—and evaluates
what it takes to succeed in the face of an exponentially greater need for
cabling contractors to manage multiple environments, media, standards and
technologies. This “multi-everything” world is the new normal. What do cabling
professionals need to do differently to ensure success and profitability? And
what is needed to properly navigate the changing landscape of media, standards
and more? Furthermore, how can we as a professional community change the
project-management game? This article will explore these possibilities.
Changing environment
The physical setup of data
centers as we have known them is changing. The archetypal data center design,
including a three-tier network architecture of access, aggregation and core
switches, has been common for years. But significant changes are afoot.
Standalone storage and servers have been virtualized; that virtualization
drives increased density and subsequent demand for better performance within
the data center. The three-tier architecture is collapsing into a single-hop
network fabric that promises to help deliver dramatically better performance.
Organizations are starting to displace proprietary switches with
software-defined networks (SDNs) built on commodity hardware and open-source
traffic-management software.
In networks’ horizontal legs,
Ethernet connections are being overlaid by an increasing number of
WiFi-connected devices. The era of bring your own device (BYOD) is having a
significant impact on networks. Issues including propagation, interference,
rogue access, constant evolution and others, WiFi adds strain and complexity to
the underlying infrastructure.
Additionally, for the past
decade 1-Gbit/sec copper connections have been extremely effective. These
cables are common, inexpensive, relatively straightforward to install and
repeatedly test, and have been fast enough for most needs. But this era is
coming to a close, as the networking industry moves from 1-Gbit/sec copper to
10-Gbit/sec copper and 40- and even 100-Gbit/sec fiber. As more data travels
over each connection, each cable is increasingly more critical.
Evolving challenges
The issue of evolving
standards further complicates matters. Where Category 5 used to rule, now users
have options including Category 5, 6, 6A or 7 for copper, as well as multiple
types of fiber. A broad range of industry standards, measurement and compliance
requirements also exist in a virtual alphabet soup that includes such acronyms
as TIA, ISO, EF, TCL, CDNEXT, TCLT, ELTCTL and more. Further, for WiFi there’s 802.11a,
b, g and n—with ac coming soon and ad further on the horizon. Going away is the
notion: “Pull this Category 6 and connect it to the server rack; pull this
Category 6 and connect it to the switch; pull this Category 5e for the LAN.”
At the same time, those
responsible for deploying and maintaining this infrastructure—cable installers,
project managers, network administrators and others—face limited resources.
With time and money as obvious constraints, they need to get more done, faster,
and for less. A reality that can go unrecognized in these situations is the
twin constraints of manpower and expertise. Fewer trained personnel are
available to do certain work—specifically in terms of the ratio of installer to
installation—and those who are available may have limited expertise. The divide
between project managers and technicians or installers continues to grow.
Project managers often have professional certifications and substantial
expertise across a range of installation and testing requirements, while techs
or installers often have more-limited training, isolated expertise, and in some
cases may even be temporary workers.
Amid the environment that
includes more-complex cabling projects and limited resources to facilitate
those installations, the volume of cable installation and certification is
still high. According to surveys, nearly 95 percent of cabling contractors
expect to certify the same or a higher volume of links next year as this year.
Specifically, 59 percent expect the number of links installed to remain the
same, and 34 percent expect the number to increase. Of course testing and
certification are key requirements for these installations, for more reasons
than just the obvious need to make sure everything works. Generally
certification reports are required for payment, to comply with manufacturer
warranties, and to facilitate troubleshooting.
With high volumes of work and
scarcity of resources, contracting organizations commonly deploy roaming
install/test teams and separate service teams. As a practical matter, this
approach can separate the personnel with the ability to fix a faulty link from
the personnel who will discover those faults during testing. When a fault is
found and cannot be fixed immediately, work stalls. A recent survey of
installers showed 55 percent of them move their test equipment several times
per month—not just from one site to another, but also back again.
Surveys conducted by Fluke
Networks of its customers showed that 91 percent of U.S.-based installers, 90
percent of Asian-based installers and 97 percent of European-based installers
report at least one problem occurring within the most recent 30-day period.
More than half of the installers from the
It is important to remember
that while many of those problems are issues with the cable or installation
itself, they are just as likely to be errors in process. The potential for
process errors is significant, and when it comes to certification these errors
can include incorrect test limits, misconfigurations or parameters, test data
spread across multiple testers, mismatched results, incomplete testing or
reporting and more. The mobility of test instruments (from one worksite to
another and often back again) can be a significant contributing factor to many
of these process errors.
And of course these problems
for installers add up in the form of lost productivity. The survey data shows
that on average, a 1,000-link project in the
Crossover point?
The opposing forces of
increasingly complexity and thinly stretched expertise appear to be on a
collision course. The implication is that if something does not change, then
some other factor has to give. Continued-increasing complexity without
commensurately increasing resources will result in a steady increase in either
time or cost per installation. Either it will take longer to test and certify
links—thereby slowing growth until volume, complexity and resources reach an
unsteady equilibrium—or the cost will begin to rise, allowing additional
expertise and resources to catch up to the growth in volume and complexity.
Clearly, better efficiency
and agility are needed, including among the tools used for certification. Tools
that can assume a larger role in the installation process will have a greater
impact on the installation contractor’s business. Over the past decade, the
nature of that efficiency and impact has evolved. For the past 10 years or so
speed (coupled with accuracy and reliability) has been an extremely valuable
asset that a certification tool can deliver to a user. But the evolution of the
industry as described in this article provides a new opportunity to wring time,
cost, complexity and errors out of the rest of the certification process.
The certification process can
be divided into six steps. Here, I describe those six steps as they
realistically exist for many of today’s complex projects.
1.
Planning—Typically left to the project
manager. Today most installers manage the testing and certification of multiple
jobs simultaneously, each with multiple teams, test tools and requirements.
This complexity can lead to costly errors.
2.
Setup—Ensuring the requirements are known
and the tool is correctly configured. Multiple media types and varying
standards are just some of the complexities affecting setup. Often frontline
technicians either need to wait for a particular expert to set up the tool, or
risk making errors that require rework.
3.
Testing—It can always be faster, but
current testers’ speed is such that the ability to gain a significant advantage
in this part of the process is limited. Greater gains can be had elsewhere.
4.
Troubleshooting—Varying technician skill-level, or
the very lack of familiarity with certain installation types or standards,
often mean project delays until the required expertise is available.
5.
Reporting—The bane of the installation in
many ways. It is increasingly complex, with multiple testers, teams, standards
and test regimes involved. Generating the correct reports is a time-consuming
process when all goes correctly. But this is also the point at which errors and
oversights from earlier in the process become apparent, causing delays.
6.
System acceptance—A growing challenge for customers.
Installers who are quite familiar with cabling can be overwhelmed by the
increasing complexity. End-user customers, especially those not as familiar
with cabling, easily can be overwhelmed by multiple complex reports, varying
test regimes and more factors.
Certification’s future
One possible answer to
today’s demanding requirements is to add more expert project managers to the
process. They could apply the insight, training and oversight needed to
eliminate errors and improve efficiency. This option, however, is not
economically feasible in many circumstances. In those cases, another solution
is a testing tool that can help take on that role, managing the test process as
well as the test itself.
A test solution with these
capabilities is more agile, has the ability to address all six steps in the
certification process, and can manage multiple testing scenarios. To solve the
multiple challenges that exist in today’s certification environment, a tool
will need to be built from the ground up for the “multi” environment. If it is
built that way, it can help project managers and technicians meet the evolving
challenges associated with cable certification.
Editor’s Note: This article is derived from the white
paper entitled “The New
Jason Wilbur is vice
president and general manager of Fluke Networks’ data-communications installer
business unit (www.flukenetworks.com).
Jason
Wilbur, vice president and general manager of Fluke Networks’
data-communications cabling installation business, commented, “When doing
cabling installation and certification, the difference between having a job be
profitable versus a loss is oftentimes just a few percentage points. In 2004 we
defined the certification market with the introduction of the DTX, which was focused
on certification testing speed. But today’s challenges have changed and our
customers must improve their agility and reduce errors when working across
multiple mediums, codes and projects. The Versiv family is focused on helping
our contractors profitably manage the complexities that are now part of their
new normal.”
Wilbur
elaborated on that concept in an interview with Cabling Installation &
Maintenance. He explained, “Today’s contractors have to deal with a number of
multiples—multiple projects being handled simultaneously, multiple types of
infrastructure, multiple industry standards, multiple varieties of tools used
for reporting, and multiple complex measurements being made.”
With so many
proverbial moving parts, the project scheduling, deployment and commissioning
processes are prone to error. And when errors occur, they negatively impact the
project’s profitability for the contractor. Hence the emphasis Fluke Networks
is placing on this new testing platform’s ability to simplify the complex, thereby
significantly limiting any project’s susceptibility to error. (In a white
paper, Fluke Networks outlines results of its own research into the frequency
of errors among contractors around the globe, and the impact of those errors on
business profitability. We intend to provide detail on these findings in a
future issue.)
The Versiv
platform comprises four test solutions, two of which already exist in Fluke
Networks’ portfolio and two of which are new. The company’s existing OptiFiber
Pro and OneTouch AT test products now exist in the form of modules for Versiv.
Additionally, the platform includes new testers CertiFiber Pro Plus, an
optical-loss test set (OLTS) and DSX 5000 CableAnalyzer, Fluke Networks’
next-generation copper-cabling test instrument.
A key
capability of Versiv’s fiber-test functions is the Set Reference Wizard, which
automatically zeroes out the reference cords—saving installers the burden and
potential confusion of having to do so.
The DSX-5000
is a 1-GHz test instrument that meets the proposed ISO Level V accuracy
specifications, enabling it to certify Level FA (Category 7A) cabling systems.
The tester’s characteristics also include a 10-second Category 6A test, as well
as the ability to test a system’s balance.
More detail
is sure to follow from Fluke Networks about each test module’s particular
capabilities. The overarching theme of the company’s Versiv release is that any
or all of these tester types (OLTS, OTDR, network assistance, copper-cabling
certifier) can be used interchangeably within the Versiv chassis. That, along
with the software-based test-reporting and project-management functions,
provides a simple and flexible tool that can drive down errors and positively
impact a contractor’s bottom line, Fluke Networks says.
PATRICK
McLAUGHLIN
Chief Editor
patrick@pennwell.com
Reprinted
with permission from CI&M - Cabling
Installation & Maintenance Magazine – a leading publication for
structured cabling and networking for over 20 years. CI&M magazine is a
PennWell publication. Check out their powerful web seminars
Article from CI&M magazine - Progressive
technology on exhibit at iconic art museum by Bob Carlson of The Siemon Company
Category 6A and Category 7A cabling equip the
By Robert Carlson, The Siemon
Company
Over the past 125 years, SLAM
has acquired collections that place it among the ten most comprehensive art
museums in the country. With more than half a million visitors each year
viewing works from distinguished artists like Martisse, Van Gogh, Picasso,
Monet and Gauguin, SLAM had outgrown its main building that was originally
constructed for the 1904 World’s Fair. SLAM’s expansion includes a new
224,000-square-foot
Designed in keeping with the
original 1904 structured by the independent firm Arup (www.arup.com), the
expansion project also includes extensive improvements to the entire museum
that address existing infrastructure deficiencies, including the network
cabling infrastructure. While few can see the relationship between classic
works of art and state-of-the-art networking, Jason Stockmann, SLAM’s director
of information technology, knew he needed the right cabling infrastructure
solution to support the museum’s technology objectives.
A new specification
When it came to designing the
cabling infrastructure for the museum, Stockmann and the design engineering
firm of William Tao & Associations (www.wmtao.com) felt the original
Category 5e specification with a maximum 1-Gbit/sec transmission rate was a
very “watered down” version of what would be required to support the museum’s
objective of a converged Internet Protocol (IP) network.
“While we never tell our
clients what to use, if they are considering a technology that is on the way
out, or if the applications being considered call for something else, we work with
the client to suggest the right technology for their needs,” says Janis
Christopher, RCDD, telecommunications project engineer with William Tao &
Associates. The firm also designed the lighting, audio/visual, sound, security,
building-automation, fire-protection and plumbing systems for the project and
provided Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) design and
management services.
In addition to voice and
data, the museum wanted to deploy IP-based security, audio/visual, video,
lighting, environmental controls, adjustable shades and parking-garage security
with complete remote-control capabilities.
“We planned for museum
lighting to be automatically controlled via servers on the network, as well as
all environmental controls, like boilers and chillers,” said Stockmann. “We
have very strict temperature and humidity controls to protect the precious
antiquities inside the building. The cabling infrastructure needed to be the
foundation of the facility, while providing the capability to support
technologies well into the future, which at some point will include free WiFi
access for museum visitors.”
As a believer in
standards-based technology, Stockmann wanted a cabling solution that would
serve as a strong backbone for all current and future networking capabilities
that the museum required, even if they had not yet been identified. During the
early planning stage for the museum expansion, Tony Campbell, regional sales
manager for Siemon and an art enthusiast, developed a relationship with Stockmann
and educated the museum’s information technology (IT) department on network
cabling infrastructure solutions capable of supporting their vision for the
next 20 years.
“I sought to completely
future-proof the process, and I knew that Siemon could help us do that,” said
Stockmann. “The goal was to eliminate the possibility of a sub-standard,
high-cost, inefficient design that might require removal and replacement of the
cabling infrastructure in the future as needs expanded.”
Stockmann worked with William
Tao and Siemon to upgrade the original specification to a Category 6A shielded
solution able to support 10-Gbit/sec transmission. Working within the
constraints of the project budget, Stockmann had to rally for implementation of
the higher-performing solution and ensure careful planning and execution to
stay within budget. He was able to highlight the higher long-term cost that the
originally specified Category 5e solution would require, illustrating how a
shielded solution supports multiple generations of networking applications and
would not restrict the museum’s ability to progress technologically.
“We didn’t know exactly what
applications and what type of art exhibits would be deployed at the museum,
including the potential for electronic media exhibits that could potentially
introduce interference,” said Christopher. “With its superior resistance to EMI
[electromagnetic interference] and RFI [radio-frequency interference], we felt
that shielded cabling would give them the ultimate protection. Due to the
architecture and having to deal with existing pathways and coffered ceilings,
the size of the pathway was also a concern. The smaller diameter of the
shielded cable was therefore another benefit to consider.”
The right components
The museum was required to
seek competitive bids and reviewing the various responses to the request for
information (RFIs) proved challenging. “Some vendors tried to substitute
lower-end solutions and substandard warranties, which we absolutely did not
want,” said Stockmann. “At the end of the day, Siemon provided not only
competitive pricing and a carefully orchestrated specification and
implementation, but also offered us a rock-solid warranty.” Siemon provided
SLAM with an end-to-end 20-year system warranty covering products, performance
margins and applications assurance. Additional benefits included Siemon’s
comprehensive quality-control procedures and no outsourcing for manufacturing,
which offered Buy American compliance.
To support voice, data, IP
security and building- and environmental-control systems throughout the museum
from 26 strategically placed telecommunications rooms (TRs), SLAM deployed a
Siemon ConvergeIT solution consisting of a Z-Max Category 6A shielded
end-to-end cabling system. Able to easily support 10-Gbit/sec transmission,
Siemon’s Z-Max 6A shielded system is independently tested and provides high
margins over all TIA and ISO/IEC performance requirements for Category 6A,
including critical alien-crosstalk parameters. The system consists of shielded
Z-Max 6A outlets, Category 6A F/UTP cable, shielded Z-Max patch panels and
shielded patch cords. Shielded Z-Max connecting hardware features a unique,
patented printed circuit board (PCB)-based plug design that maintains pair
symmetry and eliminates termination variability, and a punchdown connection
that eliminates split and crossed pairs. Z-Max connectors also provide a
termination time of less than one minute, automatically terminating the cable
shield without additional steps.
For the renovated education
center in the
“In designing the new
education center with its three classrooms and flexible open space, we
considered the fact that the museum did not know exactly what type of
technologies and applications would need to be supported by the connection—it
could be a projector, video display, computer or phone,” said Christopher. “We
had the experience with the TERA Category 7A solution and cable sharing in our
own facility, and we knew that the versatility of the system was a good match
for this space. The dynamic interface of the TERA Category 7A system and its
ability to support multiple applications over a single cable would allow the
museum to use the connections for whatever they needed without having to add
additional cables in the future.”
Within the data center that
connects to each of the museum’s 26 TRs via 12 strands of Siemon XGLO
laser-optimized 50-micron multimode fiber, fiber connections between switches
are made with Siemon’s Plug and Play system. This system features trunk cables
that consist of Siemon’s RazorCore 50-micron laser-optimized multimode fiber
cable, factory-terminated to 12-fiber MTP brand connectors, thereby providing
rapid installation and deployment. In keeping with SLAM’s eye on the future,
the MTP fiber trunks and connectors also support easy migration to future
speeds of 40 and 100 Gbits/sec.
Two 12-fiber MTP trunks are
connected to the rear of each Plug and Play module that breaks out to 24 Siemon
duplex LC connections at the front of the module. Siemon’s XLR8 prepolished
mechanical-splice LC connectors were terminated using the XLR8 termination
tool, which incorporates an exclusive dual-process activation that
significantly reduces termination time. Within the museum data center, active
and passive equipment is housed in Siemon’s RS3 series cable management rack
system that eases routing of cabling and patch cords, and includes covered
vertical channels for a clean, professional look.
With the help of Siemon’s
technical support team, SLAM also deployed a fiber-to-the-desk application to
the new information desk in the main hall. To preserve the original marble
floor in this area, Siemon provided a surface-mount fiber solution using a
customized flush-mount box under the marble tile that terminated MTP fiber in
the floor. This allowed SLAM to maintain the plug-and-play MTP application and
support future migration beyond 10 Gbits/sec.
Ready for tomorrow
In addition to enhancing the
infrastructure of the century-old building, the expansion of SLAM creates a new
gallery space for collections, and expands and improves visitor amenities. The
additional gallery space has also given curators the opportunity to rethink the
way the museum’s world-class collections are installed.
The expansion also aimed to
construct a building with a distinctive architectural character that
complements the existing facilities, takes advantage of the museum’s
spectacular site in
“Being based here in
The museum scheduled a June
29th opening with a grand celebration including a gala and
ribbon-cutting ceremony, and Stockmann is confident the Siemon cabling
infrastructure William Tao designed will support the museum’s technology needs
for many years to come. “This infrastructure gives us the capability to handle
anything that comes our way for probably more than 25 years,” he said. “Any
limitations in bandwidth will be with the outside services coming to the
building, not with the structured cabling inside.”
Stockmann enjoyed working
with Siemon, and ultimately had his IT team become Siemon Certified Installers
(CIs) to be able to install additional network locations and better maintain
and manage the infrastructure, while maintaining the warranty. “From our very
first conversation through today, the depth of pride and enthusiasm that Siemon
has had for this project is evident in every aspect,” he said. “From
identifying the appropriate copper and fiber solutions right down to the face
plates and the training, working with Siemon was seamless. Like the invaluable
artwork adorning our walls, the cabling inside those walls is equally riveting.
But cabling isn’t just cabling—it’s the people behind it that make the
difference, and Siemon definitely made a difference.”
Robert Carlson is vice president of global marketing
for The Siemon Company (www.siemon.com).
Visit www.siemon.com/lcbp.
About Siemon
Established
in 1903, Siemon is an industry leader specializing in the design and
manufacture of high quality, high performance network cabling solutions and
services for
PATRICK
McLAUGHLIN
Chief Editor
patrick@pennwell.com
Reprinted
with permission from CI&M - Cabling
Installation & Maintenance Magazine – a leading publication for
structured cabling and networking for over 20 years. CI&M magazine is a
PennWell publication. Check out their powerful web seminars
August 5, 2013,
CommScope, which was a publicly traded company before being acquired and taken
private by Carlyle Group, has filed Form S-1 Registration Statement for
Proposed IPO [initial public offering] with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission. Several sources report the IPO will be valued at $750 million.
CommScope has been a major player in the network industry for many years.
“CommScope
intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to redeem a portion of
CommScope Inc.’s 8.25 percent senior notes due 2019 and to pay related fees,
expenses, and premiums,” CommScope said in a statement announcing the filing,
“with the remainder of the proceeds to be used for general corporate purposes.”
The announcement
also indicated the securities to be offered in the IPO will include shares to
be issued and sold by CommScope as well as shares to be sold by a current
stockholder of CommScope.
In October 2010,
CommScope agreed to a merger with Carlyle Group for $31.50 per share, which
represented a 36 percent premium over the company’s prior closing price. The
Shareholders approved the merger and it became official in January 2011.
For this proposed IPO, CommScope stated, it has hired J.P. Morgan,
Deutsche Bank Securities and BofA Merrill Lynch as lead book-running managers.
Earlier in
this month, CommScope
Acquires Redwood Systems – this acquisition will add
innovative LED lighting performance to intelligent building infrastructure
solutions.
HOT NEW
TRENDS ON CAMPUS OLANs – Big on campus
Many campuses are facing
upgrades to transport the bandwidth needed for new services. A new network
architecture is available that should be their next step in upgrades – OLANs or
optical LANs. It could also be their last upgrade needed.
OLANs are based on the fiber
to the home (FTTH) technology now used to connect over 100 million subscribers
worldwide. FTTH uses networks based on splitting optical signals in a passive
optical network (PON) to share one set of downstream electronics among up to 64
users connected on a single fiber each, significantly reducing the cost per
user. OLANs require no electronics – or power - between the main equipment room
and the end user. At the user end, an Ethernet switch with POE allows
connection of 4 wired devices or wireless access points with regular “Cat 5”
patchcords.
For the typical campus, OLANs
are a lifesaver. The PON architecture requires fewer fibers than traditional
structured cabling. Indoors they use
tiny cables based on bend-insensitive fibers that can be bent around corners
impossible with regular cables. Installation can be done quick and easy using
prefab cable assemblies or splice-on connectors developed for fast installation
of FTTH subscribers.
The most appealing feature of
OLANs is the cost. The installed cost per user is much less than traditional
structured cabling. The operating cost is even lower with easy centralized
management and lower power consumption. Upgrades are easy – the equipment is ready
for 10G+ incoming and 2.4G to the users. Users are even bragging about the
money they make by recycling all that copper they pull out to install OLANs!
Jim Hayes, President of The
FOA Fiber Optic Association www.thefoa.org
School is
back in session. Will technology add a new layer of security for our children?
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Some
Jacksonville parents say the big concern at schools now is not necessary
reading and writing, but safety.
"Our children come first,
and when they're in school we shouldn't have to worry if they're safe,"
parent Tamara Raddle said. So when kids return to school this month in
As part of the budget approved
by the Duval County School Board this week, at least one unarmed security guard
will be stationed at all elementary schools, and an armed police officer will
be at all middle and high schools.
Superintendent Nikolai Vitti
said it's in response to problems that have occurred recently and because its
something parents have requested. "I think this is about being proactive
rather than reactive with some of the discipline issues, mainly bullying, that
we see in our schools," Vitti said. "We want more adults in the
building to focus on preventing issues, and when they do occur, we have adults
on the ground that can problem solve with students to talk through, why did you
make the decisions you made, and what can we do differently so it doesn't
happen again."
“This trend is repeating
itself all over the country. Technology can add another layer of security and
at affordable prices.” Frank Bisbee, HOTS Editor.
Research
Triangle Park, NC, July 16, 2013 — Sumitomo Electric Lightwave (www.sumitomoelectric.com), a
major leader in the design and manufacturing of optical fiber and connectivity
solutions, today announced the introduction of the Quantum Type-Q101-VS™
V-Groove Fusion Splicer, the third splicer launched in its Quantum Splicer
product line. The design of the Quantum VS is based on the market demand for an
advanced, yet economically affordable, fusion splicer that provides the speed, performance
and efficiencies for data center, enterprise, FTTx, OEM, and communication
network applications.
The Quantum Type-Q101-VS V-Groove Fusion Splicer is the industry’s only
V-groove splicer with patented dual independent heat shrink ovens that eliminate
the heat waiting time for streamlined, consecutive splices—making the splicer
one of the fastest V-Groove splicers that increases splicing efficiency by 70%.
Like
the Quantum Type-Q101-CA Core Alignment fusion splicer and the Quantum
Type-Q101-M12 Mass fusion splicer, the Quantum VS is the only v-groove splicer
with a fully functional touch-screen interface, making splicer function
navigation more intuitive, faster, and easier than traditional keypad
interfaces. Like its predecessors, the
Quantum VS incorporates both the touch-screen and keypad interfaces to offer
technicians a preferred choice. Like
all Quantum fusion splicers, the Quantum
VS is also the industry’s only v-groove
splicer with internet interface for 24/7 remote maintenance, an SD port for
virtually unlimited data storage, and the capability of downloading and
uploading work related splicing project data, training videos, audio, and
software. The key feature of this splicer is that it incorporates these
industry-only advanced features, yet is one of the most competitively priced
v-groove splicers on the market.
Without
compromising full splicing functionality, performance, and ruggedness, the
Quantum VS is compact at 120w x 154D x 130H mm and weighs only 2.1kg with
battery, making it easier to carry and work within the many small, confined
spaces characterizing the data center, enterprise network, FTTx and outside
plant work environments. Despite its
small footprint and light weight, the Quantum VS boasts the industry’s largest
640 x 320 fiber view and longest electrode life, while complying with the most
stringent shock, waterproof, and dust resistance requirements.
“We
are pleased to offer our customers the most technologically advanced v-groove
splicer while making it one of the most affordable to own,” comments Dwayne
Holst, product manager for the Lightwave Network Products division at Sumitomo
Electric Lightwave. “Our goal is to
listen to our customers’ valuable input and to design fusion splicers with our
history of unwavering commitment to product and service reliability that
ultimately offers our customers what they have asked for; the best and most
advanced fusion splicing technology with 24/7 service and support. The
consistent achievement of this goal is the foundation of the Quantum fusion
splicer line’s success. “
The new splicer is compatible
with the Lynx2 CustomFit® Splice-On Connectors for customized, on-site cable
builds and terminations. Orders and shipping for the unit are immediately
available.
About
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave:
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave (SEL), located in Research Triangle Park,
NC, is a leader in the design, innovation, and manufacturing of optical fiber
and connectivity solutions, including optical fiber, fiber optic cable, fusion
splicers & accessories, field installable connectors, and its FutureFlex®
Air-blown Network Solutions. SEL is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd, a global leader in
the innovation, development, and manufacturing of products to advance the
information and communications industry. For more information, please call
800-358-7378, email info@sumitomoelectric.com,
or visit www.sumitomoelectric.com.
Many of today’s
businesses rely on advanced, ever-changing technology to increase their agility
and flexibility while reducing cost. At the same time, they require mission
critical networks that can deliver resilient, fault-tolerant applications for
their employees and customers. Because data centers are a capital investment
essential to achieving corporate goals, businesses demand unfailing reliability
and fast deployment of these critical spaces, while information technology and
data center professionals strive to manage complexity and costs.
Modularity is becoming
increasingly popular in data center design to properly control scalability and
manageability. Whether a top-of-rack, middle-of-row and end-of-row
configuration is deployed, modular designs require minimum investment while
allowing for flexibility, growth and maintaining low
latency when accessing data.
The information
technology systems (ITS) industry is also seeing an evolution in how data
center projects are designed and deployed. While a traditional three phase
design-bid-build process is still a viable way of doing business under many
circumstances, design-build is better geared toward purpose-built facilities
such as data centers that are constructed
from the ground up and that demand more specialized
expertise.
Design-build is
basically a joint venture between the customer (i.e., owner) and general contractor that dictates a single
contract for design, construction and installation, and establishes costs
during the preliminary design phase of the project. This typically eliminates a
low-bid process and provides
the following benefits for the customer:
§
One point of contact for project questions/concerns
§
Tighter communication and improved collaboration
§
Faster delivery for project deployment and network cutover
§
Reduced conflicts when it comes to project development
§
One contract to manage
As design-build
becomes a more accepted
business practice for construction projects and businesses demand fast data
center deployment, preterminated optical fiber and copper cabling solutions are
becoming increasingly popular. Designed for rapid deployment, preterminated cabling
eliminates the need for field terminations, which can significantly reduce
installation time and increases network performance to exceed industry
benchmarks. Preterminated cabling is also factory-terminated and tested before
it leaves the manufacturer; it is ideal for data centers that demand
performance, flexibility and scalability while still keeping costs and material
waste in check.
Build a Better Infrastructure
Preterminated cable provides a
plug-and-play solution for links between switches, servers, patch panels and
zone distribution areas in the data center. These solutions include a variety
of trunk cables, array cables and plug-and-play cassettes that give data center
managers choices to suit specific needs. When compared to field-terminated
cabling, there are many reasons to consider preterminated optical fiber and
copper cabling.
As bandwidth requirements increase,
the list of benefits that comes with using preterminated cabling in data center
applications continues to grow. For starters, installation time savings of up
to 80 percent can be achieved. This savings
frequently offsets higher component costs by:
§
Eliminating
the need for field terminations (the most time consuming, labor-intensive
process of cable installation) and special tools. Once preterminated cabling is
delivered, it can be unpacked, readied for deployment
and connected very quickly.
§
Removing the need for transmission performance testing (testing is
done by the manufacturer before shipment). Only continuity testing and 10 percent
insertion loss testing are typically needed.
§
Allowing for quick clean-up due to minimal leftover materials and
scrap.
§
Providing more consistent channel transmission characteristics due
to no variation on skill levels of field technicians.
Precision factory-termination
processes take place in a clean environment, unlike termination in uncontrolled
field conditions. This increases the likelihood of clean and uncontaminated
optical fiber ports, enables lower loss budgets and provides overall better electrical
transmission. Factory terminations are also guaranteed under warranty, which
gives data center managers peace of mind.
Preterminated solutions can also
help meet green design, waste reduction and material reuse goals. With
preterminated cabling there is less waste and material to clean up after a
project is complete. The components are reusable, and can be moved and
relocated as necessary to accommodate moves, adds and changes (MACs).
With preterminated solutions, data
center managers can make changes on the fly based on rapid network growth,
business decisions or shifting requirements. In disaster recovery situations
that call for fast, temporary data communications set-up, preterminated cabling
can minimize business downtime and establish communications quickly. It can
also be disassembled quickly when the situation is resolved.
This plug-and-play cabling solution
also offers:
§
Accommodation
of higher port densities because preterminated assemblies allow for faster
deployment of high-density, multi-port connectivity.
§
Data
center modularity and consistency, making cabling accessible and organized.
Preterminated solutions are ideal for data centers designed with consistent
distances between cabinets and rows. Preterminated cabling also eliminates
excess loops, so storing excessive slack is not a concern.
§
Easier
10 gigabit Ethernet (GbE) to 40/100 GbE migration as adoption takes off,
providing the infrastructure necessary for new bandwidth requirements; the
mutifiber push-on (MPO) connectors and multifiber channels required for
standards-based 40/100 GbE are already used in preterminated assemblies.
Rules and Roles are Changing
In design-build
data center projects, an integrator (consultant or specifying engineer)
typically serves as the owner’s representative and works with the general
contractor to design and oversee the deployment of cabling. When preterminated
solutions are used, these individuals often take on the role of project
manager. This opportunity gives them a chance to be more involved and valuable,
and may translate to more work from that same customer down the road, resulting
in long-term profitability.
Smaller integrators also have the chance to stack up
competitively against larger entities when preterminated optical fiber or copper
cabling is specified. In data center environments requiring many terminations,
for example, field-terminated cabling could involve as many as 20 installers to perform the terminations. With preterminated
assemblies, a smaller staff could get the same amount of work done at the same
data center—within the same schedule and with only four or five installers. Those installers also do not have to worry
about owning expensive ribbon splicers or other special termination tools.
Although
it does not require as much time—or as many installers—in the field,
preterminated cabling does require more upfront planning. A thorough, detailed
analysis establishes the cabling and termination routes and lengths needed
along cable trays and in cabinets (see sidebar). Once the topology is
finalized, it is turned over to the manufacturer with detailed information,
including a schedule and bill of materials with expected breakouts, labeling,
overall construction and electrical or optical transmission performance
requirements.
Stepping into a design assistant role, the
manufacturer works closely with the integrator to assemble preterminated
cabling per specifications and required performance levels. Some manufacturers
even offer design services if a customer is unsure about appropriate products
or infrastructure design. Manufacturers then complete 100percent testing to
ensure quality for every preterminated assembly that leaves the manufacturing
floor.
Because
preterminated cabling is a custom solution, it may result in longer lead times
and change project sequencing. Better coordination while waiting for
preterminated cabling from the manufacturer will keep the data center project
on track. Integrators should also be onsite to ensure cabling quality upon
delivery and during and after installation.
Choose
the Right Manufacturer
There are many options when selecting a
preterminated assembly manufacturer to work with. Search for a qualified,
reliable provider that can offer services and features such as guaranteed
cabling performance, design assistance and large quantities of preterminated
assemblies on time.
All preterminated copper or optical fiber purchased
through a manufacturer should be tested by a third party to exceed TIA and IEEE
standards. The manufacturer should also provide 100 percent testing in a
quality-controlled environment before the cabling is shipped out to the
worksite.
Termination and testing of optical fiber should
include:
§
High-precision laser cleaving.
§
End-face geometry testing.
§
Insertion loss performance verification.
§
Return loss performance for singlemode optical fiber.
§
Up to 400X magnification to validate end-face polish quality.
§
Apex offset, radius of curvature and optical fiber protrusion
testing.
§
No variance (consistency from connector to connector).
Termination and testing of copper cable
should include:
§
No variance (consistency from connector to connector).
§
Technologies that increase resistance to strain and damage.
§
Full standards-based performance testing.
ISO 9001 certification is also a consideration.
This certification, which includes third-party
auditing of manufacturer sites, functions, products, services and processes,
can help ensure that quality manufacturing processes
and controls are being followed. Other considerations include:
§
Preterminated
solutions at large capacities through multiple factories and a wide
distribution network.
§
Dedicated
24/7 make-to-order facilities that can take on large orders while providing
fast turnaround. Orders that are too large (or too small) may be pushed to the
bottom of the production pile in some manufacturing environments, but
make-to-order facilities prevent this problem.
§
Quality documentation and warranty, meaning that each
product is labeled with a unique serial number for full traceability. Also look
for lifetime product, system and performance warranties.
§
Complete design service. Look for a manufacturer that offers technical experts either
remotely or onsite at no additional charge to help with topology and infrastructure layout, along with elevations,
pathways and specifications.
§
Respected, quality-certified contractor programs.
§
Green manufacturing policies.
Closing Thoughts
Addressing data center
infrastructure efficiency, deployment time, performance and scalability has
encouraged the rising adoption of preterminated structured cabling systems. As
data center managers aim to increase bandwidth and processing capacity, they
will be looking to integrators that can serve as project managers and oversee
the deployment, helping to implement design plans that will maximize space
efficiency, focus on sustainability and reduce operational costs. Quality
cabling manufacturers can offer fair pricing, as well as work to establish a
true partnership through the warranties, guaranteed performance standards and
design services they offer. Reducing risk is central to a successful project.
Key Pre-Term Considerations
Preterminated
cabling solutions require more upfront planning and a thorough, detailed
analysis to establish the cabling and termination routes and lengths needed.
From determining the overall architecture, cabling media, pathway systems,
elevations and rack-level details, to understanding the customer’s unique
requirements for scalability, density, manageability and deployment schedules,
there are many considerations that go into planning a preterminated cabling
infrastructure.
Some
key considerations to remember include:
§
Architecture and configuration—It
is important to understand what type of architecture and configuration will be
deployed, such as traditional three-tier switch architecture, fabric switch
architecture, end-of-row, middle-of-row and top-of-rack configurations. This
will help determine the placement of equipment and servers, and ultimately
impact the cabling termination routes and lengths required.
§
Cabling media—Determining
applications and required cable media for both copper and optical fiber links
is a key part of the planning process. This might include cost considerations,
bandwidth needs, distance limitations, equipment interfaces, power consumption,
pathway space and overall lifecyle costs. The environment itself also should be
considered, including any electromagnetic or radiofrequency interference
(EMI/RFI).
§
Migration and scalability—Knowing
the customer’s migration strategy and future plans will go a long way in
selecting the right preterminated cabling components. For example, if there is
a need to support a migration from 10 GbE to speeds to 40/100 GbE, careful
consideration must be given to the optical fiber count, connector type,
distances, insertion loss budget and ease of switching out cassettes or other
connectivity components.
§
Pathways—The position,
elevations, required separation and type of pathway system used can impact the
cable lengths. For example, determining whether cabling will be run overhead or
underfloor, knowing specific rack heights and clearances, accommodating
required separation and selecting the cable support system (e.g., ladder rack,
cable tray, trough) will all need to be determined before calculating cable
lengths between equipment and patch panels.
§
Cable runs—To carefully
determine preterminated cable lengths, it is important to know the rack-level
detail of the installation. Bend radius and service loops must be considered,
as should the distances to, from and within each cabinet. With preterminated
cabling systems, it is important to order lengths that do not come up short,
while avoiding too much slack in cabinets and pathways. Proper sequencing is
also important to ensure that longer cable trunks are laid into trays first for
an overall cleaner installation.
§
Additional considerations—From
density and airflow in the cabinet, to preferences for polarity and color
coding, proper planning for preterminated cabling solutions requires an
extremely detailed analysis of the customer needs and specifications. The
deployment schedule must also be carefully reviewed and communicated with the
manufacturer to ensure on-time delivery of materials.
Words of Wisdom from the Field
With preterminated
cabling solutions shifting the role of integrators and installers into a
higher-level project management role, these individuals must have the expertise
and experience to take on the additional responsibilities involved in planning,
coordination and avoiding pitfalls. Those with the ability to do so can benefit
from the time and money savings, quality and consistency that preterminated
solutions deliver.
“When you’re looking to cut
cost, whatever can be done to reduce installation and labor cost in the field
is essential. While preterminated solutions replace the time consuming process
of fusion splicing and hand polishing with optical fiber and punching down with
copper, it is more than just that. With field termination, a large amount of
time is also spent prepping cable, and unfortunately that process can introduce
human error and a higher failure rate during testing that often results in
having to replace links and channels,” says David “Bo” Conrad, RCDD, Tech Level
III, ATF instructor and owner and operator of Bo Enterprises. “Manufacturers
have more ideal conditions and equipment for termination that ultimately
results in higher quality and consistency. With preterm, link failures are
significantly reduced and rework goes down, which provides a higher ROI for the
contractor and increased value for the customer.”
According to Conrad, there
are many considerations involved with preterminated solutions, as well as the
need to work closely with the owner’s representative and the manufacturer. “To
maintain manageable and neat, final dressing of cables, preterm lengths cannot
be too short or too long, while also allowing for some manageable slack. Not
only do the lengths have to be exact, but lead times have to be carefully
managed. That makes a close relationship with the owner’s representative,
manufacturer and distributor that much more important,” he says. “Project
managers need to see the big picture and understand which cables should be
installed first. For example, longer links are typically installed first to
support proper dressing and layering of cables. Some customers may also have
requirements for specific rows in the data center to be up and running before
others. To meet deadlines, you need to work carefully with the manufacturer to
ensure that the priority cables are delivered first.”
Other considerations, such as
the staggering of connectors on the assembly, height and location of patch
panels, firestop pathways, labeling and how the preterminated solutions are
packaged can also impact success.
“There are many aspects that
need to be considered during the planning stage—from the way cables need to
connect at the back of the panels and the need for rear horizontal wire
support, to the height of ladder rack or basket tray above the finished floor
(AFF) or below raised floors,” says Conrad. “How preterm solutions are packaged
and delivered is also a consideration. If the materials you need are on the
bottom of the wrong pallet, it can cause unnecessary delays by having to unpack
five or six pallets of boxes to retrieve the one you need. Accordingly, the
quality of the boxes and spools, packing slip information for inventory control
and the width of the pallets to ensure they fit between the doors are also
important—even with all the emphasis on quality assurance at the factory, it
still comes down to how it arrives.”
Conrad acknowledges that
preterminated solutions are not for every situation, but when a project can be
preplanned and the pathways can support it, it is typically the best option.
“The head-ends of preterminated assemblies are typically larger to protect the
terminations. It is important to avoid damaging them during installation
through pathways. If cabling has to be pulled through tight conduit, if the
project features crowded outside plant (OSP) pulls, or if quick onsite
customization of lengths is required, preterminated cabling might not work,”
says Conrad. “While there will always be a need for field termination, the
shift to open trays between spaces in the data center is enabling more
preterminated cabling solutions than ever.”
When it comes to selecting a
manufacturer for preterminated solutions, the decision is often driven by the
specification. However, Conrad believes that manufacturers also need to be head
of the game. “First, you look for compliance with the spec. Then it is about
quality, lead times and consistency of performance and labeling. How the
materials are packaged and the methods used to protect the cables during
installation are also important,” says Conrad. “For example, quality
manufacturers will use a ‘snake skin’ covering the multiple cables in a preterm
assembly; not just a ‘skip wrap.’ They will also strategically locate the
labeling both inside and outside the pulling eye.”
Manufacturers of preterminated
solutions also have to be responsive. According to Conrad, unforeseen problems
like lengths being ordered too short can happen, and
manufacturers need the resources to quickly produce and deliver replacement
product in those circumstances without complicated return material
authorization (RMA) procedures.
While roles are
elevated and integrators and installers have the opportunity to save time and
money with preterminated solutions, having the right skills and expertise is
key to success. “With preterminated solutions, responsibilities have migrated
from being an installation foreman to being a combination of designer,
installer and quality control manager. You need intimate knowledge of the
technology, excellent project management skills and a bird’s eye view of the
project to foresee any possible hiccups,”
says Conrad. “While preterminated solutions might not be for everyone and every
project, the bottom line is that they offer better quality, consistency and
return on investment for many large termination projects like data centers.
There is definitely an evolution taking place—preterminated solutions are the
newest trend, and integrators and installers would be wise to get to know
them.”
AUTHOR
INFO:
Charlie Bogolawski, RCDD, CDT, is the director of technical sales for
Leviton Network Solutions where he leads a team of specification engineers and
technical sales personnel, spearheads training and develops innovative sales
tools. He has more than 20 years of experience in the ITS industry and can be
reached at cbogolawski@leviton.com.
Reprinted
with permission from BICSI NEWS www.bicsi.org BICSI News Magazine provides relevant, best practices, vendor-neutral and
authoritative information that helps ITS design and installation professionals
improve their skills and knowledge, enhance their professional stature and
expand the scope of their work in the ITS industry.
EDITOR’s NOTE:
When we reviewed the outstanding July/August BICSI News
magazine – we discovered the remarkable article by Charlie Bogolawski, RCDD,
CDT - Leviton Network Solutions.
“The Rise of
Plug and Play Preterminated Cabling”
is timely, well-written and right on target with the driving issues and the
technical challenges.
Leviton Network Solutions
continues to demonstrate a leadership role in Quality and Value for the
Integrated Systems Contractors as they handle the infrastructure requirements
of a growing
The team at Leviton Network Solutions is very effective.
Getting
ready to REWIRE
June 22, 2013 AFL
has increased the warranty period on its Noyes Optical Power Meters (OPM),
Optical Light Sources (OLS) and Fiber Identifiers (OFI) to five years -- at
least two years greater than most industry-standard warranties offered on such
optical network test tools, contends the company. In addition, because of the
products’ overall durability, AFL is extending the recommended calibration
interval from one year to three years.
“We are confident that our test sets are the most reliable on the market
today,” comments Seán Adam, general manager for AFL’s Noyes test and inspection
division. “By increasing the calibration interval and warranty period, we are
giving our customers additional assurance that they are buying a high quality
product and that their investment is well-protected.”
The Noyes fiber-optic test and inspection products range from OTDRs Optical
Time Domain Reflectometers and loss test kits to inspection and cleaning tools.
All products are engineered to endure harsh outside plant environments, and
feature intuitive user interfaces that provide quick results without
complicated training requirements.
AFL's Adam concludes, “We remain focused on our core mission–to deliver quality
solutions and services that delight our customers. The new five-year warranty
and three-year calibration interval on our test sets supports and communicates
this commitment to quality and long standing performance.”
Accurate
results and excellent customer service define AFL's test and inspection family
AFL's
test and inspection products consistently meet and exceed customer needs. We
deliver exceptional fiber optic test equipment and outstanding service. Our ISO
9001:2008 certification and quality practices ensure you receive excellent
products and documentation.
NOYES
products are designed to provide accurate results every time. They are
engineered to endure outside plant environments, and feature intuitive user
interfaces that provide quick results without complicated training
requirements. Product lines include optical time domain reflectometers (OTDRs),
loss test kits, inspection and cleaning, fiber identifiers, fault locators and
more.
OTDRs
AFL's
OTDRs range from simple fault locating to multifunction testing. Exclusive
Touch and Test™ brings advanced functionality in an easy-to-use interface. TRM™
certification and reporting software provides a PC analysis tool for viewing,
managing, archiving and printing OTDR traces along with comprehensive reports
compliant to TIA/ISO guidelines.
Loss
Test Kits
AFL
provides loss testing capabilities for all budgets. Simple power meters and
light sources offer reliable loss measurements. Advanced kits add functionality
including in-unit storage of test results and TRM reporting software which
enables technicians to organize test data, apply test rules for pass/fail analysis
and build custom test reports using industry accepted templates.
Inspection
and Cleaning
Connector
integrity is crucial to reliable network performance. AFL offers solutions
ranging from standalone inspection scopes to probe options for direct
connection to NOYES OTDRs or a PC. Successful inspection of fiber connectors is
dependant upon cleaning with fiber optic-grade cleaners. See our full line of
One-Click Cleaners, Cletop cassette cleaners, and cleaning sticks, available
individually or packaged in convenient cleaning kits.
Fiber
Identifiers and Fault
Locators
Optical
Fiber Identifiers (OFI) allow technicians to identify in service fibers without
interrupting traffic. Visual Fault Locators (VFL) inject visible red light into
an optical fiber to enable technicians to quickly locate sharp bends, breaks,
or simply trace a fiber in cluttered fiber areas.
Whether
you’re installing fiber optic cable or testing a splice with our equipment, the
job is done right. And if you need expert advice, our dedicated customer
service representatives and support staff are always here to help.
http://www.aflglobal.com/Products/Test-and-Inspection.aspx
AFL’s (NOYES Test
and Inspection products) Five-Year Warranty Sets New Standard
In a market that
shows an overwhelming demand for more bandwidth and ever-faster speeds, it
seems copper can’t keep up. Are
you ready to handle the demand for FTTx - FIBER to The EVERYTHING?
Spartanburg, SC
and Lowell, MA – AFL increased the warranty period on NOYES® Optical
Power Meters (OPM), Optical
Light Sources (OLS) and Fiber
Identifiers (OFI) to five years, at least two years greater than industry
standards on these products. In addition, because of the products’ overall
durability, AFL is extending the recommended calibration interval from one year
to three years.
“We are confident that our test sets are the most reliable on the market
today,” explains Seán Adam, general manager for AFL’s NOYES Test and Inspection
Division. “By increasing the calibration interval and warranty period, we are
giving our customers additional assurance that they are buying a high quality
product and that their investment is well-protected.”
NOYES Test and Inspection products are in use daily around the world. From
Optical Time Domain Reflectometers (OTDRs)
and loss
test kits to inspection
and cleaning
products, NOYES products are engineered to endure outside plant environments,
and feature intuitive user interfaces that provide quick results without
complicated training requirements.
Adam continues, “We remain focused on our core mission–to deliver quality
solutions and services that delight our customers. The new five-year warranty
and three-year calibration interval on our test sets supports and communicates
this commitment to quality and long standing performance.”
For additional information on AFL, NOYES test equipment and additional products
and services, visit www.AFLglobal.com.
About AFL
AFL provides industry-leading products and services to the electric utility,
broadband, communications, OEM, enterprise, wireless and transit rail markets
as well as the emerging markets of oil and gas, mining, nuclear, avionics,
medical, renewable and intelligent grid. The company’s diverse product
portfolio includes fiber optic cable, transmission and substation accessories,
outside plant equipment, connectors, fusion splicers, test equipment and
training. AFL’s service portfolio includes market-leading positions with the
foremost communications companies supporting inside plant central office,
EF&I, outside plant, enterprise and wireless areas.
Founded in 1984, AFL is proud to offer engineering expertise, exceptional
products and reliable service that help our customers improve their critical
and electrical infrastructure. AFL has operations in the
Lightwave
reports Alcatel-Lucent transmits 31 Tbps over 7200 km of fiber
July 16, 2013
Lightwave Staff
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) says it has
transmitted 31 Tbps over 7200 km on a single fiber. The achievement represents
a new record for single-fiber optical
transmission at transoceanic distances, the company asserts.
The transmission test, carried out at Alcatel-Lucent’s
“Undersea fiber-optic transmission is integral to the digital economy,
delivering vast amounts of video and data between countries, regions, and
continents,” commented Philippe Keryer, chief strategy and innovation officer
of Alcatel-Lucent. “As our customers cope with increasing demand on their
networks for data capacity and higher-speeds of transmission, our researchers
are intensifying their application with tests like this to develop new technology
solutions to transform global data networks. This underlines the strategic
R&D focus we recently announced as part of The Shift Plan.”
Alcatel-Lucent presented details of the experiment in a post-deadline paper
presented earlier this month at the Opto-Electronic Communication Conference
(OECC) conference in
For more information on high-speed transmission systems and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.
General
Cable’s ULTROL® Medium-Voltage Products Pass 60-Year-Life Nuclear Qualification
Testing
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KENTUCKY, July 29, 2013 ― General Cable (NYSE: BGC), one of the world’s
largest wire and cable manufacturers and leading supplier of medium-voltage
(MV) cables to the utility industry, is proud to announce the introduction of its MV line of ULTROL®
60+ nuclear-qualified cable. This MV cable solution joins the ranks of
low-voltage (
With
MV cables critical to safety system operation, and linking nuclear plants to
emergency power, the role of legacy suppliers like General Cable has never been
more important than it is today. Backed by an established platform in LV
nuclear-qualified cables, advanced material expertise, and renowned testing capabilities through its world-class Marshall Technology Center, General Cable
began a five-year testing and certification program in 2008 to develop
MV cables that meet AEIC qualifications for 60-year-life in the most rigorous
inside containment applications.
General Cable’s extensive
third-party testing ensures conformance of ULTROL 60+ to all nuclear
requirements under ASME NQA-1 and US NRC 10CFR50 Appendix B, as well as regulatory guidelines of nuclear reactor manufacturers. Kinectrics
(formerly Ontario Hydro Technologies) completed thermal aging, radiation
exposure and Design Basis Events (DBE) testing to a total integrated dosage of
up to 350 MRad gamma radiation, confirming that General Cable’s ULTROL 60+ MV
products meet both prior industry standards and Gen III+ reactor profile
requirements for a proven 60-year service life.
“Medium-voltage cables are a critical component to safe,
ongoing nuclear power plant operation, and the required service life of 60
years for new plants extends to the cable,” said Robert W. Schuermann, Vice President and General Manager, Specialty
Cables, General Cable North America. “As a leader in
the development of medium-voltage cables for utility and industrial
applications, our ULTROL 60+ medium-voltage cables are a natural extension of
General Cable’s already strong product portfolio. After significant compound
profiling, lengthy ageing profiling, and AEIC certifications, we are proud to
deliver a proven 60-year-life cable for medium-voltage containment and
balance-of-plant applications that meet evolving industry requirements. These
recent test results confirm General Cable’s position as a major cable supplier
for new builds in the nuclear generation market.”
With
a 40-year track record as a leading supplier of nuclear grade cables, General
Cable combines exceptional cable manufacturing capabilities and more than 100
years of experience in developing market-leading insulation and jacket
materials to bring innovative cable solutions like ULTROL 60+ to the
marketplace—reaching new levels of performance that ensure safe, reliable nuclear power plant operations for 60
years and beyond.
General
Cable (NYSE: BGC), a Fortune 500 Company headquartered in
Highland Heights, Kentucky, is a global leader in the development, design,
manufacture, marketing and distribution of aluminum, copper and fiber optic
wire and cable products for the energy, construction, industrial, specialty and
communications markets. General Cable, with annual revenues approaching $6
billion, has 57 manufacturing facilities in 26 countries and offers
competitive strengths in such areas as breadth of product line, brand
recognition, distribution and logistics, sales and service and operating efficiency.
For more information about General Cable products, please contact your local
sales representative or visit our Web site at www.generalcable.com.
ShoreTel
Names Don Joos as President & CEO
ShoreTel SVP Steps Up to Top Role for Leading
Unified Communications Provider
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 8,
2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ShoreTel®
(SHOR), the leading provider of
unified communications systems including business phone
systems, applications and mobile
UC solutions, today announced that its board of directors has named Don
Joos to serve as the company's president and chief executive officer.
"With a successful
track record of strong leadership, operational excellence and customer focus
both at ShoreTel and throughout his career in the business communications industry,
the board is very pleased to appoint Don Joos to the role of president and
CEO," said Chuck Kissner, chairman of the board. "After an extensive
search it became clear that Don is uniquely qualified to fully mobilize the
company in its drive to be the leading unified communications provider. His
achievements, knowledge of the industry, vision, respect of his peers and
employees, and commitment to the company's strategy set him apart."
Joos joined ShoreTel in
April 2011 as vice president of global services, and for the past year has
served as senior vice president of business operations overseeing approximately
50 percent of the company operations through the direct management of
engineering/R&D, product management, global support and services, IT, quality
and operations. He was instrumental in evolving the company's business strategy
which is focused on providing a brilliantly simple unified communications
platform to customers via a premise, hosted or hybrid offering. Prior to
joining ShoreTel, Joos spent nine years as a company vice president at Avaya.
Joos applied his business entrepreneurial capabilities helping to build an
e-commerce start-up and has held service and operational roles at Williams
Communication Solutions, Nortel Communication Solutions and Marshalls Inc.
"ShoreTel now has the
opportunity to extend its leadership position by fully integrating its cloud
offering across its suite of unified communications products," said Joos.
"With some of the highest customer satisfaction in the business,
world-class employees and a strong track record of innovation, the company's
prospects are unlimited. I look forward to working with the ShoreTel team
during this very exciting time to further accelerate our recent progress."
About ShoreTel
ShoreTel, Inc. (SHOR) is a provider of business communication
solutions whose brilliantly simple unified
communications platforms, applications and mobile
UC solutions promise a new rhythm of workforce engagement and
collaboration. With costly complexity eliminated by design from its
award-winning, all-in-one IP
phone system, UC
and contact
center solution, and its industry-leading hosted phone system,
workers enjoy a freedom and self-reliance that other providers can't match.
Users have full control to engage and collaborate, no matter the time,
place or device, for the lowest cost and demand on IT resources in the
industry. ShoreTel is headquartered in
Research
Triangle Park, NC, July 16, 2013 — Sumitomo Electric Lightwave (www.sumitomoelectric.com), a
major leader in the design and manufacturing of optical fiber and connectivity
solutions, today announced the introduction of the Quantum Type-Q101-VS™
V-Groove Fusion Splicer, the third splicer launched in its Quantum Splicer
product line. The design of the Quantum VS is based on the market demand for an
advanced, yet economically affordable, fusion splicer that provides the speed,
performance and efficiencies for data center, enterprise, FTTx, OEM, and
communication network applications.
The Quantum Type-Q101-VS V-Groove Fusion Splicer is the industry’s only
V-groove splicer with patented dual independent heat shrink ovens that
eliminate the heat waiting time for streamlined, consecutive splices—making the
splicer one of the fastest V-Groove splicers that increases splicing efficiency
by 70%.
Like
the Quantum Type-Q101-CA Core Alignment fusion splicer and the Quantum Type-Q101-M12
Mass fusion splicer, the Quantum VS is the only v-groove splicer with a fully
functional touch-screen interface, making splicer function navigation more
intuitive, faster, and easier than traditional keypad interfaces. Like its predecessors, the Quantum VS
incorporates both the touch-screen and keypad interfaces to offer technicians a
preferred choice. Like all Quantum fusion splicers, the Quantum VS is also the industry’s only v-groove splicer
with internet interface for 24/7 remote maintenance, an SD port for virtually
unlimited data storage, and the capability of downloading and uploading work
related splicing project data, training videos, audio, and software. The key
feature of this splicer is that it incorporates these industry-only advanced
features, yet is one of the most competitively priced v-groove splicers on the
market.
Without compromising full splicing functionality, performance, and ruggedness, the Quantum VS is compact at 120w x 154D x 130H mm and weighs only 2.1kg with battery, making it easier to carry and work within the many small, confined spaces characterizing the data center, enterprise network, FTTx and outside plant work environments. Despite its small footprint and light weight, the Quantum VS boasts the industry’s largest 640 x 320 fiber view and longest electrode life, while complying with the most stringent shock, waterproof, and dust resistance requirements.
“We are pleased to offer our customers the most technologically advanced v-groove splicer while making it one of the most affordable to own,” comments Dwayne Holst, product manager for the Lightwave Network Products division at Sumitomo Electric Lightwave. “Our goal is to listen to our customers’ valuable input and to design fusion splicers with our history of unwavering commitment to product and service reliability that ultimately offers our customers what they have asked for; the best and most advanced fusion splicing technology with 24/7 service and support. The consistent achievement of this goal is the foundation of the Quantum fusion splicer line’s success.“
The new splicer is compatible with the Lynx2 CustomFit® Splice-On Connectors for customized, on-site cable builds and terminations. Orders and shipping for the unit are immediately available.
About
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave:
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave (SEL), located in Research Triangle Park,
NC, is a leader in the design, innovation, and manufacturing of optical fiber
and connectivity solutions, including optical fiber, fiber optic cable, fusion
splicers & accessories, field installable connectors, and its FutureFlex®
Air-blown Network Solutions.SEL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd, a global leader in
the innovation, development, and manufacturing of products to advance the
information and communications industry. For more information, please call
800-358-7378, email info@sumitomoelectric.com,
or visit www.sumitomoelectric.com.
University installs
ShoreTel's full suite of business communication and collaboration solutions to
improve productivity and reduce costs
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 5,
2013 /PRNewswire/ --ShoreTel®
(SHOR), the leading provider of
unified communications systems including business phone
systems, applications and mobile
UC solutions, today announced Utah State University™ has begun implementing
and using ShoreTel integrated business communications solutions to serve
thousands of academic and administrative staff members.
Utah State University (USU) is a public research university
with 29,000 students, offering top-notch academics, nationally recognized
research, and Division I athletics. The university was looking for a new
solution to replace their outdated system and selected ShoreTel because of its
low cost of ownership, ease of use and overall ease of deployment and
maintenance.
USU purchased the full
portfolio of ShoreTel offerings including the ShoreTel
IP-PBX solution with integrated unified communications, ShoreTel Enterprise
Contact Center (ECC), ShoreTel
Mobility, and ShoreTel Conferencing along with implementation and
professional services. The UC and contact center installs are complete across
3,600 phones, and the roll-out of mobility and conferencing is currently taking
place.
"ShoreTel was less
expensive to purchase and install than other UC providers, and we are seeing
other cost benefits as well," said Amy Kitchen, business officer,
information technology at USU. "ShoreTel is easy to administer
and does not require the IT man power of other solutions, since users can
do many tasks on their own. Along that same theme, the solution is so simple to
use. Initially staff were skeptical about having to learn a new system, but the
feedback has been very positive and everyone loves its ease of use."
Continues Kitchen:
"We've seen enhanced employee productivity since installing ShoreTel
just by using ShoreTel Communicator, since there are so many
functions that can happen within this one tool. Another huge time saver is
having a full faculty and staff directory at our fingertips – no more
flipping through a paper copy phone directory or navigating our website to pull
extensions. Now users open ShoreTel Communicator, search for the person they
need to call, and with one click, the phone is dialing!"
"
About ShoreTel
ShoreTel, Inc. (SHOR) is a provider of business communication
solutions whose brilliantly simple unified
communications platforms, applications and mobile
UC solutions promise a new rhythm of workforce engagement and
collaboration. With costly complexity eliminated by design from its
award-winning, all-in-one IP
phone system, UC
and contact
center solution, and its industry-leading hosted phone system,
workers enjoy a freedom and self-reliance that other providers can't match.
Users have full control to engage and collaborate, no matter the time,
place or device, for the lowest cost and demand on IT resources in the
industry. ShoreTel is headquartered in
Communication Planning
Corporation is
Since 1980, CPC has provided
quality service for their communications and cabling needs. CPC and ShoreTel
can deliver unified communications. www.communicationplanning.com
Contact Michael Shannahan, Vice President –
Communication Planning Corporation (
Southwire’s
New Electrician’s Tools is tedmag.com’s Most Viewed Article in July
Southwire Introduces
Electrician's Tools, Adding to Current Line of Maxis Contractor Equipment
Published
7/19/2013 12:30:16 PM
Long known as a powerful brand
in the wire and cable industry and for "real change" that empowers
electrical contractors and installers, Southwire is now expanding its product
line, unveiling Southwire™ Electrician's Tools. Southwire has eagerly entered
into the tools marketplace, unveiling an impressive suite of tool products. The
tools are manufactured with top-quality materials to ensure superior
performance and durability throughout the lifecycle of the tool, and include
added features to help enhance user productivity – all backed up with strong
warranties.
"This is an extension of
the work that we do every day at Southwire, being a solutions-based company,
with a focus on the electrical contractor and the electrician," said
Brandon Moss, vice president of Southwire's Tools & Accessories.
"We've got a premium tool that's been field-tested and is going to exceed
the performance requirements of anybody that tries the tools and test
equipment. We're proud of the products that we're bringing to the market, and I
think that they're worthy of the Southwire name and what people have come to
expect when they see 'Southwire' on a product."
Southwire's Electrician's
Tools will be available in retail outlets, electrical wholesale and tools
supply houses nationwide, allowing easy access for professional contractors.
The collection consists of a full line of professional grade hand tools that
includes pliers, strippers, and screw drivers, as well as a wide array of
electrical meters and testers.
"We listen to the wants
and needs of contractors and we work to offer real solutions that positively
impact the job they do every day," said Moss. "Adding Electrician's
Tools to the existing line of Maxis™ Contractor Equipment completes the product
portfolio. We now offer solutions on both ends of the spectrum, from contractor
equipment to electrician's tools and a whole range of other categories in
between."
Contractors and electricians
who use Southwire products and services have come to know Southwire for its
premium quality products, innovation, and performance reliability that deliver
value. They know that Southwire is in it for the long haul, and will continue
to listen to their concerns and support their needs for years to come.
"Southwire has provided
high quality electrical wire and cable for over six decades. We're proud to now
tie our name to a line of durable and cutting-edge tools for the electrical
industry," states Norman Adkins, EVP Southwire, president Southwire's
Electrical Division. "Our launch advertising campaign states, our tools
are 'Built for Strength. Built for Reliability. Built for Work.' We think users
will agree."
© 2013 The Electrical
Distributor. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission from the ELECTRICAL
DISTRIBUTOR magazine (tED magazine) www.tedmag.com
About tED Magazine - A monthly textbook for the electrical distribution
channel.
tED Magazine is the voice for the top distributors in
Published every month, tED provides:
• Green initiatives and alternative markets
• Market trend data
• New product information
• Manufacturer marketing program roll-outs
• Best practices of electrical distributors
• Voice-data-video features
• Lighting features
• Economic outlooks
• News of both electrical distributors and suppliers
TedMag.com
As a complimentary product, tED Magazine offers TedMag.com to disseminate
information immediately. With seven news sections and a weekly special report,
TedMag.com covers industry news as it breaks. www.tedmag.com
tED GreenRoom
TEDGreenRoom.com, designed to be the electrical distributor’s resource center
for selling energy efficiency and becoming Green. The site, along with tED’s
new quarterly supplement with the same name, provides manufacturers with a
targeted approach to market their Green products through the energy expert—the
electrical distributor.
For more information: NAED -
National Electrical Distributor Association www.naed.org
Missed last week's issue? See which articles your
colleagues read most.
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Mike Holt
reminds us that SAFETY is too important to ignore
Littelfuse Electrical Safety Hazards Handbook
“Electrical Safety is a Serious Issue.
Electrical Safety in the workplace is the most important job of an electrical
worker. No matter how much training one has received or how much employers try
to safeguard their workers, Electrical Safety is ultimately the responsibility
of the electrical worker. The human factor associated with electrical accidents
can be immeasurable. No one can replace a worker or loved one that has died or
suffered the irreparable consequences of an electrical accident. “
The purpose of Littelfuse
Safety Hazards Handbook is to identify electrical safety hazards and present
ways to minimize or avoid their consequences. It is a guide for improving
electrical safety and contains information about governmental regulations,
industry-accepted standards and work practices. It presents ways to meet the
standards and reduce the hazards.
Download
here: http://www.littelfuse.com/data/en/Arc-Flash_Literature/LittelfuseArc-FlashSafetyHandbook-PF339.pdf
Other
Littelfuse Electrical Safety Resources
New report series demonstrates
breadth, momentum of green building movement
Washington, D.C. — (Aug.
14, 2013) — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released its
inaugural LEED in Motion report, a holistic statistical snapshot of
the green building movement aimed at equipping its members with the insight
to make a strong case for sustainable building activity. About the
|
The 2013 tED
Magazine Best Of The Best Awards
Here
is the list of winners of the 2013 tED magazine Best Of The Best Awards,
held Tuesday, August 6 during the NAED AdVenture Conference in
Brand
Awareness: Distributor $25 million to $200 million: Alameda
Electrical Distributors (New Look, Same Great Service)
Brand
Awareness: Distributor over $200 million: Van Meter, Inc.
(It's All About Building Relationships)
Brand
Awareness: Supplier over $250 million: Legrand (Designed For You)
Creative
Display: Distributor under $25 million: Vaughn Electrical Supply
(The Experience Center)
Creative
Display: Distributor $25 million to $250 million: Warshauer Electric
Supply (Lighing Design Crew)
Creative
Display: Distributor over $200 million: Summit Electric Supply (Scan Code
and Download)
Creative
Display: Supplier under $250 million: RAB Lighting (Slim Merchandising
Display)
Creative
Display: Supplier over $250 million: Southwire (SIMpull WireBARREL Wall
Display)
Digital/Social
Media Campaign: Distributor under $25 million: Swift Electric Supply (Social
Media Campaign 2012)
Digital/Social
Media Campaign: Distributor over $200 million: Dakota Supply Group (Contractor
Portal-Work Order Generator)
Digital/Social
Media Campaign: Supplier under $250 million: Madison Electric Products
(Measurable Results With Social Media)
Digital/Social
Media Campaign: Supplier over $250 million: Lutron Electronics (Social Media
Presence)
Direct
Promotion: Distributor $25 million to $200 million: Needham Electric
Supply (Farm Light)
Direct
Promotion: Distributor over $200 million: Summit Electric Supply (Texpansion!)
Direct
Promotion: Supplier under $250 million: Service Wire (2012 Direct Mail
Campaign)
Direct
Promotion: Supplier over $250 million: Phillips Lighting (Smart
Promotion)
Event:
Distributor under $25 million: C.N. Robinson Lighting Supply (Don't Miss
the Bus!)
Event:
Distributor $25 million to $200 million: Schaedler Yesco (Expo 2012)
Event:
Distributor over $200 million: Irby (Wire Pulling Rodeo)
Event:
Supplier under $250 million: Madison Electric Products (Innovation
Roundtable)
Event:
Supplier over $250 million: Lutron Electronics (Press Conference and Event)
Integrated
Promotional Campaign: Distributor under $25 million: C.N. Robinson Lighting
Supply (Don't Miss the Bus!)
Integrated
Promotional Campaign: Distributor $25 million to $200 million: Western
Extralite (Leading Edge LEDs Now!)
Integrated
Promotional Campaign: Distributor over $200 million: CapitalTristate Electrical
Distributor (Energy Saving Work)
Integrated
Promotional Campaign: Supplier under $250 million: Universal Lighting
Technologies (EVERLINE LED Campaign)
Integrated
Promotional Campaign: Supplier over $250 million: Legrand (Healthcare
Campaign)
Literature/Selling
Tool: Distributor under $25 million: Atlantic Electrical Supply (A Renewed
Dedication)
2014 BICSI
Winter Conference Looking for Presenters
Help Shape
the Winter Conference schedule.
Become a Conference Presenter!
Are you a seasoned presenter,
or even someone looking to gain valuable public speaking experience? Are you
knowledgeable in information technology systems (ITS) industry topics? Apply
today to be a part of the upcoming 2014
BICSI Winter Conference & Exhibition in
- Share your knowledge,
ideas and practices with other professionals.
- Gain valuable industry
recognition.
- Provide Winter
Conference attendees with information they can immediately put to use in
their ITS careers.
- Receive a complimentary
2014 Winter Conference registration!
Click here for more information
on what kinds of presentations we are looking for and to fill out an
application form.
Don’t miss your opportunity to help make the 2014 BICSI Winter Conference &
Exhibition a success by sharing your insight about the ITS industry with
conference participants.
Please feel free to forward this email to a colleague or
friend. The deadline for completed submissions is September 27, 2013. www.bicsi.org
Glenn Ashe,
Former Australian Government CIO to Keynote
“The AFCOM Australian Symposium is one of the most important
events on the ICT calendar, said Glenn Ashe. “It brings together data
centre professionals to discuss, share and gain exposure to trends and
over-the-horizon elements of data management. I look forward to addressing the
conference and working with colleagues from around the globe.”
Mr. Ashe will
highlight the emerging importance of data centres in the Asia Pacific region,
the demands created by data centre consolidation initiatives from all levels
ofGovernment, and the increasing service demands and expectations from the
growing digital economy. Mr. Ashe is an ICT and security professional
with extensive experience in the military, private sector and in the Australian
federal government.
“By bringing the
third annual AFCOM Symposium to
Other speakers for the 3-day symposium include:
·
Tom Townsend, Data Centre & Networks Manager,
·
Glenn Allan, Service Performance Manager Data Centre, National Australia Bank –
Session: Colocate or NOT “The Multi-Million Dollar Question”
·
Mathew Smorhun, Assistant Secretary Strategic Reform, Department of Defence –
Session: Large Scale ICT Procurement in Government: Driving Business Outcomes
from Large Technology Contracts
·
Nigel Phair,Director of Internet Security at
Cyber Security for Organisation Survival
The AFCOM
Symposium:
Join us in
About AFCOM
AFCOM (www.afcom.com) is theleading association
supporting the educational and professional developmentneeds of data center and
facilities management professionals around the globe. Established in
1980, AFCOM currently boasts more than 4,500 members and 40 chapters worldwide,
and provides data center professionals with unique networking opportunities
andeducational forums and resources through its bi-annual Data Center World
Conference, published magazines, regional chapters, research and hotline
services, and industry alliances.
AFL
Recipient of Three Technology Patents
Spartanburg, SC – July 22, 2013 – Five AFL associates were recognized for receiving patent awards for their
work developing new products and technologies.
Ted Lichoulas, R&D engineering manager and
Eddie Kimbrell, senior designer, received a patent for “method and apparatus
for universal xDSL demarcation interface with multi-functional capability and
signal performance enhancement.” Part of a Fiber-to-the-Node solution, the
method splits the combined voice (POTS) and VDSL (data, video and VoIP) signal
from the Telco central office and routes it to the point-of-use within a
customer premise. Using this method, a carrier is allowed to use copper wiring
on the last mile and provide triple-play services to a residence.
Tony Nieves, global key account manager for AFL,
and Chris Donaldson, R&D engineer at AFL, received a patent for “Optical
Fiber Cable Connector.” This new invention allows the termination of
traditional flat drop optical cable to a hardened fiber optic connector. The
cable retention device, a one-piece structure, eases the assembly of the fiber
and stress rod members to the optical connector. The patented design contains
features that allow for proper alignment of fiber optic cable with enhanced cable
strain-relief.
Kheng Hwa Seng, director, supply chain
management at AFL, received a patent for a "secured fiber optic connecting
system and method using different fiber positions of a multi-fiber connector.”
The technology uses one or more, but not all, fiber positions of a multi-fiber
connector in order to achieve security in an optical interconnect system.
For more information about AFL and its products
and services, visit www.AFLglobal.com.
Pictured (left to right): Ted Lichoulas, Eddie
Kimbrell, Chris Donaldson, Tony Nieves and Kheng Hwa Seng
About AFL
AFL provides industry-leading products and
services to the electric utility, broadband, communications, OEM, enterprise,
wireless and transit rail markets as well as the emerging markets of oil and
gas, mining, nuclear, avionics, medical, renewable and intelligent grid. The
company’s diverse product portfolio includes fiber optic cable, transmission
and substation accessories, outside plant equipment, connectors, fusion
splicers, test equipment and training. AFL’s service portfolio includes
market-leading positions with the foremost communications companies supporting
inside plant central office, EF&I, outside plant, enterprise and wireless
areas.
Founded in 1984, AFL is proud to offer
engineering expertise, exceptional products and reliable service that help our
customers improve their critical and electrical infrastructure. AFL has
operations in the
\\\
AFL Secures Patent for OTDR
Technology
Spartanburg, SC and Belmont, NH –
July 15, 2013 – AFL has been awarded a patent for
“Optical Time Domain Reflectometer,” US Patent 8,411,259. The patent
covers Optical Time Domain Reflectometers (OTDRs)
where multiple wavelength-specific test signal generators and detector channels
are combined on a single OTDR test port. The approach enables users to
determine if a fiber is live or dark, to measure the power level of any signals
present on the fiber and to apply test signals (including non-interfering
signals) on dark and live fibers, all without the need for swapping test ports
or test equipment.
The NOYES® OFL280 and FLX380 FlexTester OTDRs with ServiceSafe™
leverage this newly-patented approach to automatically detect live fibers,
measure downstream signal levels and restrict tests signals to only those
wavelengths not present on the fiber.
“Our focus is to provide innovative, easy-to-use solutions and services to make
our customers successful,” commented Seán Adam, general manager of AFL’s NOYES
Test and Inspection business unit. “This unique OTDR architecture reduces the
complexity and time it takes to test a PON network, increasing our customers’
efficiency and reducing their test costs.”
Existing OTDRs typically have a number of test ports. One port, for example,
may be the source of dark (out-of-service) test signals while another may be
the source of live (in-service) test signals. Because all test signals are not
present on one port, users are required to swap the fiber under test from one
port to the other to complete testing. In addition, OTDRs may include PON power
meter ports for measuring the signals present on a fiber. AFL’s newly-patented
approach is the first to combine a PON power meter with a live/dark fiber OTDR
on a single test port.
For additional information on ServiceSafe™, OFL280 and FLX380 FlexTester OTDRs,
please visit www.AFLglobal.com.
About AFL
AFL provides industry-leading products and services to the electric utility,
broadband, communications, OEM, enterprise, wireless and transit rail markets
as well as the emerging markets of oil and gas, mining, nuclear, avionics,
medical, renewable and intelligent grid. The company’s diverse product
portfolio includes fiber optic cable, transmission and substation accessories,
outside plant equipment, connectors, fusion splicers, test equipment and
training. AFL’s service portfolio includes market-leading positions with the
foremost communications companies supporting inside plant central office, EF&I,
outside plant, enterprise and wireless areas.
Founded in 1984, AFL is proud to offer engineering expertise, exceptional
products and reliable service that help our customers improve their critical
and electrical infrastructure. AFL has operations in the
||
AFL’s Five-Year Warranty Sets New
Standard
Spartanburg, SC and Lowell, MA – July 18, 2013 – AFL increased
the warranty period on NOYES® Optical Power Meters (OPM), Optical Light Sources (OLS)
and Fiber Identifiers (OFI) to five years, at least two years
greater than industry standards on these products. In addition, because of the
products’ overall durability, AFL is extending the recommended calibration
interval from one year to three years.
“We are confident that our test sets are the most reliable on the market
today,” explains Seán Adam, general manager for AFL’s NOYES Test and Inspection
Division. “By increasing the calibration interval and warranty period, we are
giving our customers additional assurance that they are buying a high quality
product and that their investment is well-protected.”
NOYES Test and Inspection products are in use daily around the world. From
Optical Time Domain Reflectometers (OTDRs) and loss test kits to inspection and cleaning products,
NOYES products are engineered to endure outside plant environments, and feature
intuitive user interfaces that provide quick results without complicated
training requirements.
Adam continues, “We remain focused on our core mission–to deliver quality
solutions and services that delight our customers. The new five-year warranty
and three-year calibration interval on our test sets supports and communicates
this commitment to quality and long standing performance.”
For additional information on AFL, NOYES test equipment and additional products
and services, visit www.AFLglobal.com.
About AFL
AFL provides industry-leading products and services to the electric utility,
broadband, communications, OEM, enterprise, wireless and transit rail markets
as well as the emerging markets of oil and gas, mining, nuclear, avionics,
medical, renewable and intelligent grid. The company’s diverse product
portfolio includes fiber optic cable, transmission and substation accessories,
outside plant equipment, connectors, fusion splicers, test equipment and
training. AFL’s service portfolio includes market-leading positions with the
foremost communications companies supporting inside plant central office,
EF&I, outside plant, enterprise and wireless areas.
Founded in 1984, AFL is proud to offer engineering expertise, exceptional
products and reliable service that help our customers improve their critical
and electrical infrastructure. AFL has operations in the
AFL Introduces New Family of NYFORS™
Recoating Products
Spartanburg, SC – August 12, 2013
– AFL now offers Nyfors Teknologi AB’s new family of
recoating products including the ReCoater 2™, AutoCoater 2™, MiniCoater 2™ and ReCoater 2 XL™. Ideal for restoring the
protective coating on optical fibers, NYFORS’ new recoaters are sold
exclusively by AFL in the North American market.
Perfect
for high strength applications, the ReCoater 2 allows the operator to
choose different fiber and fiber coating diameters. Fibers can be recoated at
exactly the same diameter as well as smaller or larger diameters than the
original fiber. This product can also be upgraded to the AutoCoater 2 by adding
the AutoCoater 2 Dispensing Robot.
With the addition of the Dispensing Robot, which contains a remote reservoir
tank, injection pump, supply lines and injection needle, the AutoCoater 2 performs fully automatic
skill-independent recoating operations. The remote reservoir allows users to
quickly change recoating compounds without the need to purge and clean the
tank.
The MiniCoater 2 is best suited for small
scale productions where fiber types and dimensions need to be changed
frequently. The product encompasses a cordless battery operation that allows
for easy transportation, and similar to the ReCoater 2 and AutoCoater 2, the
MiniCoater 2 can recoat fibers to a uniform, undersized or oversized diameter.
Lastly, the ReCoater 2 XL is designed to process
long sections of stripped fiber, accepting molds of up to 110 mm length. In
addition, the ReCoater 2 XL, AutoCoater 2, ReCoater 2 and MiniCoater 2 enable
shorter curing times by using an UV LED array positioned along the length of
the mold. All NYFORS recoaters, except the MiniCoater 2, come with an
ergonomic, bench-top design for comfortable operation.
For more information about AFL, its products and services, visit www.AFLglobal.com.
About AFL
AFL provides industry-leading products and services to the electric utility,
broadband, communications, OEM, enterprise, wireless and transit rail markets
as well as the emerging markets of oil and gas, mining, nuclear, avionics,
medical, renewable and intelligent grid. The company’s diverse product
portfolio includes fiber optic cable, transmission and substation accessories,
outside plant equipment, connectors, fusion splicers, test equipment and
training. AFL’s service portfolio includes market-leading positions with the
foremost communications companies supporting inside plant central office,
EF&I, outside plant, enterprise and wireless areas.
Founded in 1984, AFL is proud to offer engineering expertise, exceptional
products and reliable service that help our customers improve their critical
and electrical infrastructure. AFL has operations in the
About NYFORS
Nyfors Teknologi AB develops fiber preparation equipment for high strength and
specialty fusion splicing applications. Specializing in advanced solutions for
fiber pre- and post-processing, the product range includes: precision fiber
cleavers and cleave check interferometers, fiber optical recoaters and tensile
testers, and custom manufacturing solutions for e.g., fiber optic gyroscope
production. Behind our products you find unique and original expertise
accumulated during more than 20 years of research and development for the
fusion splicing industry. For more information about NYFORS, visit www.nyfors.se.
SANTA
CLARA, Calif., Aug. 1, 2013 – Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today
introduced compliance testing support for 10GBASE-KR Ethernet backplane
standards used in networking applications. The N8814A 10GBASE-KR Ethernet compliance
application is Agilent’s solution for transmitter tests. It includes
10GBASE-KR and optional 40GBASE-KR4 Ethernet backplane test standards as
described in the IEEE 802.3ap specification. The application is compatible with
all currently shipping Infiniium real-time oscilloscopes that have bandwidth of
25 GHz or more.
Growing
consumer demand for more bandwidth from the Advanced Telecommunications
Computing Architecture is driving the need for more network testing. 10GBASE-KR
and 40GBASE-KR4 are widely used standards for networking hardware. These
standards allow a large number of network devices (including routers, switches
and servers) to communicate across an Ethernet backplane.
The
Agilent 10GBASE-KR compliance application provides an automated test script
that allows engineers to quickly and reliably test Ethernet signals across a
backplane. An option is also available for testing 40GBase-KR4 devices using
Agilent’s switch matrix. The compliance application can be automated to run
over extended periods, and it allows engineers to add incremental user-defined
tests.
Additional
information about Agilent’s N8814A 10GBASE-KR compliance application can be
found at www.agilent.com/find/10G-KR.
Product images are available at www.agilent.com/find/10G-KR_images.
The
N8814A 10GBASE-KR compliance application is available now at $6,900. The
application includes support for the 10GBASE-KR Ethernet backplane standard and
offers optional support for the 40GBASE-KR4 Ethernet backplane standard.
Additional switch matrix hardware and software options are required for
40GBASE-KR4 compliance testing.
Agilent’s complete portfolio of oscilloscopes is
available in a variety of form factors, from 20 MHz to 90 GHz. Agilent scopes
offer industry-leading specifications and powerful applications.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world’s premier measurement company
and a technology leader in chemical analysis, life sciences, diagnostics,
electronics and communications. The company’s 20,500 employees serve customers
in more than 100 countries. Agilent had revenues of $6.9 billion in fiscal
2012. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com.
Phase-noise performance is a
key factor in obtaining low and accurate error vector magnitude values for
communication systems and devices. In the MXA, phase noise has been improved by
10 dB or more for close-in and pedestal offset frequencies, providing a
best-in-class advantage of 7 dB over the closest comparable competitor. EXA
phase-noise performance is up to 5 dB better across wide offset frequencies.
In manufacturing test, spur
searches in wide spans at narrow resolution bandwidths have been slow and are
often the cause of bottlenecks. The new “fast sweep” capability of these
analyzers is up to five times faster than that of competitive models, depending
on resolution bandwidth. Faster sweeps improve measurement throughput and make
it easier to check the spurious-free dynamic range of devices under test.
“The MXA enhancements are an
important complement to our recently introduced options for 160-MHz analysis
bandwidth and real-time spectrum analysis,” said Jim Curran, marketing manager
of Agilent’s Microwave Communications Division. “Together, these capabilities
can help our customers ensure that their devices will transmit accurately and
deliver excellent quality of service.”
Enhancements to
X-Series Measurement Applications
Agilent also announced new
capabilities in three of the measurement applications available for X-Series
signal analyzers. The N9069A noise figure measurement application now includes
advanced features that support measurements of multistage converters,
multipliers and dividers.
The industry-leading N9080A
(FDD) and N9082A (TDD) LTE measurement applications now support multimedia
broadcast single-frequency network (MBSFN) signals with mixed cyclic-prefix
subframe structures. This allows engineers to test physical multicast channels
and MBSFN reference signals using virtually any subframe-structure
configuration.
The Agilent N9083A
multi-standard radio measurement application has been enhanced to support
noncontiguous test configurations as defined in 3GPP Release 10. This enables
one-button measurements of the cumulative adjacent-channel leakage ratio.
The new capabilities are
available now worldwide. Depending on maximum frequency coverage, base pricing
ranges from $31,525 to $50,767 for the N9020A MXA and from $17,470 to $36,645
for the N9010A EXA.
Fast sweep is included at no
extra charge with the purchase of an MXA or EXA configured with select options,
or as an upgrade for existing instruments.
More information is available
at www.agilent.com/find/X-series_enhancements.
High-resolution images are available at www.agilent.come/find/MXA_images.
Agilent Technologies Receives Global Growth Leadership Award for Oscilloscopes
SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 17, 2013 – Agilent
Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today
announced it has received Frost & Sullivan’s Global Growth Leadership Award
for Oscilloscopes.
Frost &
Sullivan’s independent analysis of the oscilloscopes market showed that Agilent
demonstrated significant growth over the past two years, outperforming all
other market participants and gaining significant share. In the same period,
competitors either lost market share or did not grow at nearly the same rate.
“There were four
major factors driving Agilent’s growth performance: innovation in the
high-performance offering, the ability to effectively address the mid- and mainstream
market needs, overall product quality and reliability, and a strong product
distribution strategy,” said Jessy Cavazos, Frost & Sullivan industry
director. “Our evaluation revealed that Agilent
had made great strides in the global oscilloscopes market over the past three
years, which has resulted in an impressive market share gain of more than 8.5
percentage points. Such performance is the result of a heavy focus on research
and development, which has translated into the launch of innovative products
across the various segments of the oscilloscopes market.”
“We are really excited to receive this
level of recognition,” said Jay Alexander, vice president and general manager
of Agilent’s Oscilloscope and Protocol Division. “The global oscilloscope market
is highly competitive, and we are committed to delivering innovative,
high-value, best-performance products while continuously responding to customer
needs. That’s why, since 2002, engineers
have made Agilent the fastest-growing oscilloscope company in the world.”
All Agilent oscilloscopes, from
economy to high-performance models, come with a three-year warranty. www.agilent.com/find/ThreeYearWarranty.
Additional information on the
Frost & Sullivan award can be found at www.agilent.com/find/OscilloscopesAward_backgrounder.
Agilent’s complete offering of oscilloscopes can be found at www.agilent.com/find/Oscilloscopes.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc.
(NYSE: A) is the world’s premier measurement company and a technology leader in
chemical analysis, life sciences, diagnostics, electronics and communications.
The company’s 20,500 employees serve customers in more than 100 countries.
Agilent had revenues of $6.9 billion in fiscal 2012. Information about Agilent
is available at www.agilent.com.
Article from
ECMAG.com = JAMES CARLINI: THE DA VINCI OF INTELLIGENT BUILDINGS
By Frank Bisbee
Today, there are many
companies and organizations struggling to keep up with technology and maximize
their systems and profit potentials. In the public sector, Local, State and
Federal Government units are facing similar challenges dealing with efficiency,
controls, and service through technology. Education facilities from K
-12 to our colleges and universities are addressing technology boldly in all
areas of their operations.
The concept of Building
Automation now extends to capabilities that were not even conceived of a few
years ago. The world of Commercial Real Estate (CRE) is adapting to a new set
of competitive challenges by using technology in the buildings to serve the
tenants. Technology is rewriting the book in healthcare facilities in so many
ways that is difficult to keep up.
As we marvel at the new
designs of Integrated Systems in Smart Buildings, it is interesting to look at
one of the visionaries that helped us see this future.
Like Da Vinci,
Carlini’s comments and his defining concepts of emerging multi-disciplinary
concepts and building strategies are well ahead of the industry’s adoption. – Frank Bisbee
DEFINING NEW INTERSECTIONS
OF INTEREST
In the great established and
evolving domains of real estate, infrastructure, technology, and regional
economic development, there is an intersection where all these diverse worlds
of industries, as well as complex developments, meet.
At that multi-faceted crossroad,
you will come across James Carlini defining the undefined. You will find
him classifying and constructing the framework of interrelationships of these
four vast areas in order to crystallize a multi-disciplinary approach and
strategy for high-tech real estate. Understanding that strategy
will enable organizations to develop and shape the structure that can be used
effectively in today’s mobile internet age.
His knack of being able to
develop an understandable structure, where no logical structure has been
available, has helped companies with improving their marketing strategies,
broadening their offerings in real estate to a more sophisticated corporate
tenant, and improving the impact of mission critical networks for both
companies and municipalities. For a court case, he actually developed a model
for evaluating the “virtual real estate” of banner ads and what their
valuations should be based on where they were positioned on the website (home
page, following pages, static ads and rotating banners).
PIONEER OF MEASURING
BUILDING INTELLIGENCE
Carlini started back in the
mid-1980s when he was given the task by a large, real estate firm to make sure
they were getting their money’s worth on a $20,000,000 retrofit of one of their
properties, the
He developed the Carlini
Building IQ Test to measure the amount of technology within the
He actually coined the phrase
“intelligent amenities” that defined the new and emerging technologies that
were starting to be placed in buildings: Information, Communications, and
Building Automation Technologies. These technologies became critical as
more sophisticated tenants depended on communications-based information systems
to support their core businesses.
He developed the initial
framework of the concept and wrote about it in several publications in 1985
including Government Data Systems: Intelligent Buildings:
Carlini further defined four
levels of Smart Buildings from the lowest level: “The Frankenstein” which
offered basic and traditional amenities to the highest level, “the Einstein”
which offered sophisticated network services as well as redundant power.
He pointed out, As
buildings become smarter, the cabling issue becomes critical. Such
requirements would affect the architectural design of new buildings and impose
a need for improvements on existing buildings.
Today, companies are still
trying to find out the winning combination of wired and wireless transmission
media in order to service the constantly evolving corporate workspace.
His insights were before WiFi, DAS and Smartphones, yet his framework
accommodates these new and emerging technologies.
Back in 1985, Carlini focused
on the importance of having the right network infrastructure within the
building and warned that existing building could become obsolete. In
order to remain competitive, he suggested:
Cabling is also important
to owners of existing buildings who want to turn their “Frankenstein” into an
“Einstein” building.
Another concept that he pointed
out is that the network infrastructure within the building should match up with
the lifespan of the building and not of the technology that hangs off of it:
The wiring should try to reflect the building’s lifespan, rather than the
communications/ information system’s lifespan.
In other words, you should
not be upgrading the wiring of a building every time you switch out
technology. This practice has still yet to be fully adopted and the waste
that goes on with companies installing network infrastructure that becomes
prematurely obsolete is widespread.
In 1985, Carlini concludes Measuring
A Building’s IQ with this vision:
As more of the real estate
industry becomes comfortable with the idea, sophisticated marketing approaches
will be created and refined. The question, “How smart a building do you
need?” will become as common as, “How much space do you want to lease?”
In 1988, he was asked to
write a chapter further defining, “Measuring a Building’s IQ” in Johnson
Controls’
By that time, he had
concluded the comparison of buildings and project work for the real estate
company. He also had several other articles appear on the results of that
project including one in Commercial Renovation. He changed the way
buildings were assessed and compared, yet appraisers today still do not compare
intelligent amenities when valuating buildings.
In 1990, Carlini worked with
AT&T Network Systems to develop a better marketing approach for selling
central offices. At $40,000,000-plus for each one, these were very
sophisticated systems to sell to Regional Bell Operating Companies.
Again, Carlini devised a better approach by developing a framework for features
as well as a better naming convention for them.
He also developed the Twelve
Criteria for RFPs that focused on twelve categories rather than just “price” in
making a buying decision. All the criteria started with R, F, or P:
Reliability, Redundancy, Reduced Operating Costs, Resources, Risks, Realities,
Functionality, Flexibility, Familiarity, and Price, Performance, &
Personnel.
AT&T shared this with all
its RBOC customers to distribute to those making decisions on premise-based
versus central office-based phone systems. He later used this Twelve
Criteria for RFPs framework in courses he taught at
Knowing that you needed to
have a well-defined capabilities framework to sell complex systems and services,
Carlini devised a way to market complex systems by providing a yardstick to
measure the competition. His advice to AT&T was, “If you don’t give
them a yardstick, your competitors will - and you will never measure up on
their yardstick.”
Carlini became an advocate
for using fiber optic networks in communications long before most companies
were even thinking about implementing fiber optic networks in campus
environments. He believed changing and upgrading the network
infrastructure would “transform organizational Titanics into Starships” by
adding huge amounts of bandwidth capacity and provide capabilities that were
not attainable with copper-based media.
One of James Carlini’s
largest projects was also one of the most significant projects utilizing SONET
networks.
In his role as Consultant to
the Mayor’s Office on the Chicago 911 Emergency Communications Center, he
recommended to go with fiber optics to connect to the central offices feeding
the center as well as connecting all the police and fire stations with
fiber. In the end,
Carlini worked on other
projects including multi-million dollar lawsuits involving network
infrastructure and mission critical networks. He was an advocate of using
fiber optics and worked on the planning of the 800-acre
In his research while working
on this project he came up with several white papers defining this
next-generation real estate as well as finding matching endeavors in Asia (Hong
Kong, Mainland
CLASSIFYING
NEXT-GENERATION REAL ESTATE: INTELLIGENT BUSINESS CAMPUSES
Around 2006-2008 is when
Carlini started to see that single disciplines were merging and overlapping to
create next-generation real estate. He defined Intelligent Business
Campuses (IBCs), Intelligent Retail/ Entertainment/ Convention center (IREC)
Complexes, and Intelligent Infrastructure in a series of white papers.
The whitepaper on Intelligent Infrastructure was written and presented for the
US Department of Homeland Security at
He has spoken in different
international conferences on Intelligent Infrastructure as well as 21st
century real estate pointing out these huge paradigm shifts in real estate.
He has developed numerous
rules-of-thumb within his 100s of articles and whitepapers. He has
actively pursued replacing obsolete rules-of-thumb that some in the industry
still cling to.
His advice to projects in the
planning stage has always been to look at broadband connectivity as a
must-have, and not a hoped for.
QUOTES AND CARLINI-ISMs
James Carlini is a firm
believer of gaining wisdom through other leaders’ quotes. He shared some
of them with me. Here are some that have influenced him throughout the
years:
Malcolm
Forbes
- “He, who has the wheel,
sets the direction.”
“Any
fool can handle the helm in calm seas.”
General George S. Patton
- “A good plan
violently executed now is
better than a
perfect plan executed next week.”
Harold Geneen, former
Chairman, ITT - “Words
are words, Explanations are
explanations,
Promises are Promises, but only
Performance is Reality.”
He has many quotes and his
own “Carlini-isms” as he put it. He used them in classes to point out
things that practicing professionals should be aware of as well as things they
should avoid.
I asked Mr. Carlini what are
the ones he is most noted for or ones he thought were significant. He
gave me some of his quotes, the year he first said them and a brief comment
about them:
“Leading-edge
organizations do not maintain their position using trailing-edge technologies.” (1984) – When I said this at Arthur Young, I did not
know how timeless this observation was. It really speaks volumes.
“There
are no experts in this industry. The best you can be is a good student –
always learning.” (1986) – I used
to start all my courses at
“There’s
no such thing as a new $5,000 Rolls-Royce. You get what you pay for.” (1986) – I used this one a lot in class
as well as its converse logic: “If you only have $5,000, there’s no such
thing as a Formula 1 Yugo.”
“You
cannot get Superman by paying Jimmy Olson wages.” (1999) – This was a comment I first made in a job interview where they were
looking for a very dynamic vice president, but did not want to pay for all the
skill sets they were looking for. I later taught executives in my courses
at
“The
three most important words in real estate today are, “Location, Location,
Connectivity.”” (2004) – I was
quoted in an article for Business 2.0 on issues with locating a business
outside of
“Economic
Development Equals Broadband Connectivity, and Broadband Connectivity Equals
Jobs” (2008) – This is my
conclusion after working on and researching several next-generation real estate
projects.
Carlini has worked on
international issues and developed a course on International Applications of
Technology long before anyone had international courses in their
curriculum. Some people in grad programs took this Northwestern undergrad
course and transferred it to their university for graduate-level credit.
His latest endeavors include
putting all of this logic, wisdom and defining frameworks in an upcoming book, “Location,
Location, Connectivity”.
James Carlini will be the
keynote speaker at AGL Magazine’s Seminar in
INFRASTRUCTURE: THE PLATFORM FOR COMMERCE
-
“FIVE THOUSAND YEARS IN THE MAKING”
|
LAYER |
LEVEL |
DOMINANT INITIAL DRIVER OF
IMPLEMENTATION IMPORTANCE |
|
SPACE (INTERPLANETARY) (FUTURE) |
8 |
JUST BEGINNING TO BE BUILT ((Space shuttles, space station, satellite
networks) Future: mid-21st
century, 22nd century? US, |
|
BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY NETWORK (CYBERINFRASTRUCTURE) |
7B (wireless) 7A (wired) |
(beginning 21st Century,
IBCs, IIPs & IRECs) |
|
AIRPORTS |
6 |
|
|
POWER
(GRIDS, NUCLEAR POWER, OIL) |
5B (Nuclear) 5A (everything else) |
UNITED STATES (beginning/ mid 20th Century) |
|
TELEPHONE NETWORK (ANALOG VOICE ONLY) |
4 |
UNITED STATES (beginning/mid 20th Century) |
|
RAILROADS |
3 |
UNITED STATES (mid-1800s) |
|
ROADS/BRIDGES |
2 |
ROMAN EMPIRE (500BC- 476AD) |
|
PORTS/ DOCKS/ WATER |
1 |
PHOENICIANS (1200BC-900BC) EGYPTIANS (3000BC-1400BC) |
Source: JAMES CARLINI, 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved
This
framework depicting Infrastructure is critical because it provides a more
universal look at what encompasses the infrastructure for today’s global
economy rather than what many people hold as the traditional definition of
infrastructure (roads, bridges, railroads, and maybe the power grid). Economic development decisions affecting
regional sustainability must include all facets of infrastructure in order for
them to be viable. – James Carlini
Reprinted with permission from the ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR magazine. http://www.ecmag.com
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR magazine serves the field of electrical
construction, including inside, line work, lighting, maintenance, control,
electrical work, voice/data systems, security, fire and life safety, fiber
optics, home and building automation systems, integrated building systems
applications and others applicable to the field. The magazine is part of the
National Electrical Contractors Association, but serves the entire electrical
construction industry. The 85,000+ readers include business owners, partners,
presidents, engineers, estimators, purchasing agents, project managers,
supervisors, foremen, electricians and others.
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Magazine is the Official Publication of the
National Electrical Contractors Association. (NECA) ECmag.com is the fastest
growing and most visited site by electrical contractors in the industry and
offers the broadest array of digital information available, all of which is
fully searchable with archives going back to 2000. ECmag.com contains videos,
webinars, white papers and a whole lot more. –
See more at: http://www.ecmag.com/about-us#sthash.Q42IYU0d.dpuf
The expanding role of the National Electrical Contractors Association.
(NECA) now encompasses the entire scope of the Integrated Systems
Contractors.
POWER
– LIGHTING - CONTROLS – COMMUNICATIONS – SAFETY/SECURITY
And
more…
BICSI Releases New Standard For Electronic Safety And Security System Design (ESS)
Tampa, Florida, July 24, 2013—BICSI, the international
association supporting the information technology systems (ITS) industry with
information, education and knowledge assessment, announces the release of its
latest standard, ANSI/BICSI 005-2013, Electronic Safety and Security
(ESS) System Design and Implementation Best Practices.
The need for security is almost as old as mankind itself. Today, security
systems are converging onto the network and its cabling infrastructure at an
increasing rate. As the systems used within security have become more
complex, so too has the cabling infrastructure to address both communication
and security requirements.
Little has been written to support this convergence of security and cabling
infrastructure, until now. BICSI 005 bridges the two worlds of security and
communications by providing the security professional with the requirements
and recommendations of a structured cabling infrastructure needed to support
today’s security systems while providing the cabling design professional
information on different elements within safety and security systems that affect
the design. BICSI 005 also provides information on the concept of “direct
attach” and how it may be used within many forms of ESS systems.
“The protection against risks and threats to life-safety, business and
personal assets is and always will be a matter of great importance,” said
Jerry Bowman, RCDD, NTS, RTPM, CISSP, CPP, CDCDP, BICSI President. “BICSI 005
is a tremendous resource for those working on the design and implementation
of electronic safety and security and related infrastructure. This standard,
like all BICSI standards, establishes best practices for the supporting
infrastructure for a variety of security functions and systems. We truly
appreciate the efforts of all the volunteer subject matter experts who
contributed to this publication.”
The BICSI Standards Program is an ANSI-accredited, consensus-based standards
development organization. It creates standards and guidelines for use in the
design, installation and integration of information technology systems (ITS)
and related telecommunications fields. BICSI standards are written to define
current practices and drive improvement in quality and performance over the
spectrum of voice, data, electronic safety and security, project management
and audio and video technologies, and encompass optical fiber, copper and
wireless-based distribution systems.
More information regarding the BICSI 005 standard can be found at www.bicsi.org/005.
BICSI is a professional association supporting the information technology
systems (ITS) industry. ITS covers the spectrum of voice, data, electronic
safety & security, project management and audio & video technologies.
It encompasses the design, project management and installation of pathways,
spaces, optical fiber- and copper-based distribution systems, wireless-based
systems and infrastructure that supports the transportation of information
and associated signaling between and among communications and information
gathering devices.
BICSI provides information, education and knowledge assessment for
individuals and companies in the ITS industry. We serve more than 23,000 ITS
professionals, including designers, installers and technicians. These
individuals provide the fundamental infrastructure for telecommunications, audio/video,
life safety and automation systems. Through courses, conferences,
publications and professional registration programs, BICSI staff and
volunteers assist ITS professionals in delivering critical products and
services, and offer opportunities for continual improvement and enhanced
professional stature.
Headquartered in
BOMA
International Elects 2013-2015 Executive Committee Members
(
The BOMA International
Executive Committee is responsible for developing the strategic direction and
policies for the association. Executive Committee members work with BOMA
International officers and executive staff to maximize the effectiveness of
BOMA International, while ensuring resources are available to achieve its
goals. Executive Committee members serve a minimum term of two years.
The Board of Governors of
BOMA International elected the following individuals to the Executive
Committee:
·
Shane
Baggett, CPA, RPA, senior property manager, Columbia Property Trust ,
BOMA/Dallas
·
Susan
E. Engstrom, RPA, FMA, senior real estate manager, ACP Property Services, LLC,
BOMA/Greater Phoenix
·
Cary
Fronstin, LEED Green Associate, RPA, associate director, Property Management,
Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, BOMA/Ft. Lauderdale and the Palm Beaches
·
Scott
O. Jones, operations manager, Northern California, Jacobs Engineering Group,
BOMA/San Francisco (Second term)
·
Sheldon
Opperman, executive vice president, Compass Properties, LLC, BOMA Wisconsin
Shane Baggett currently
serves as senior property manager at Columbia Property Trust/Wells Real
Estate. Baggett is president of BOMA/Dallas and recently was named the
local association’s Outstanding Member of the Year. Within BOMA
International, Baggett has served on the Finance, State Government Affairs,
Government Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committees.
Susan Engstrom has been
in the property management field for more than 30 years. She currently
works as senior real estate manager for ACP Property Services, LLC. Engstrom
served as president of BOMA/Greater Phoenix in 2004 and 2009 and president of
Arizona BOMA in 2010 and 2011. She has chaired both the State Government
Affairs and Government Affairs Committes for BOMA International and actively
participates in BOMA’s advocacy efforts. Engstrom was named Pacific
Southwest Regional Member of the Year in 2012 and again in 2013.
Cary Fronstin has more
than 19 years of commercial property and asset management experience. As
the Associate Director of Property Management for Newmark Grubb Knight Frank,
he manages a portfolio containing 7.5 million square feet of office, industrial
and retail space. Fronstin is an active member of BOMA/Fort Lauderdale
and the
This will be Scott Jones’
second term on the BOMA International Executive Committee. He currently
serves as Operations Manager in
Sheldon Oppermann
currently serves as executive vice president of Compass Properties, LLC.
He recently completed a one-year term as president of BOMA Wisconsin, following
his service as vice president from 2009-2012. Oppermann also serves on
BOMA International’s Government Affairs and Asset Management Course
Committees. One of the buildings in his portfolio, CityCenter at 735 in
About BOMA International
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International is a
federation of 93 BOMA
BOMA
International Releases New Healthcare Real Estate Guidebook
Developing, Leasing and
Managing Healthcare Facilities in an Evolving Healthcare Environment Gives
Healthcare Real Estate Professionals an Edge in a Complex and Growing Industry
(
Much has changed in healthcare real estate in the 10 years
since BOMA last published a guidebook that looked at the complexities of
development, financing, leasing and management of healthcare facilities. The
updated 2013 edition examines the impact of healthcare reform, STARK
regulations and an aging population, among other factors, on the industry and
provides specific instruction on the steps seasoned professionals and new
practitioners should take to be successful.
“This guidebook is a must-have resource for healthcare real
estate professionals” said Co-Chair of BOMA International’s Medical Office and
Healthcare Facilities Committee and Head of Healthcare Real Estate for Raymond
James, Laca Wong-Hammond. “As the types of medical assets continue to evolve
with the changing landscape of healthcare delivery and regulations,
practitioners need to stay one step ahead. It’s an exciting market sector with
real opportunity for the informed participant.”
“Healthcare real estate has experienced significant change
since this guidebook was last published in 2003,” noted Co-Chair of BOMA
International’s Medical Office and Healthcare Facilities Committee and
President and CEO of Healthcare Real Estate Consulting, LLC, Neil Carolan. “The
healthcare delivery system as we know it is transforming and we revised the
guidebook to highlight the developing best practices, trends and challenges
that anyone developing, leasing or managing a healthcare facility needs to be
aware to gain an edge in this competitive market.”
Developing, Leasing and
Managing Healthcare Facilities in an Evolving Healthcare Environment features expert guidance detailing the core functions
and nuances of healthcare real estate, with specific focus on:
·
Pre-Development
and Development
·
Financing
·
Forms
of Ownership
·
Architectural
Issues
·
Leasing
·
Management
·
Evolving
Business Models; and
·
Impacts
of Healthcare Reform.
Developing, Leasing and Managing Healthcare Facilities in an
Evolving Healthcare Environment is available on BOMA International’s online store.
About BOMA International
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA)
International is a federation of 93 BOMA
Additive
Manufacturing Needs Broadband Connectivity” A Carlini Presentation –
There is a lot of promise from the growing industry of 3D printers
and manufacturing products through their use as well as new 3D scanners. This
technology is providing a second industrial revolution in the United States as
well as globally.
Both large and small companies are developing custom approaches to
manufacturing anything from hard-to-find car parts, to dental implants,
jewelry, jet parts, bio-medical parts and everything in-between.
CARLINI-ISM : Adequate bandwidth will go from gigabit speeds to
terabit speeds faster than you may think as 3D printing takes hold in all types
of industries.
READ MORE
http://onpurposemagazine.com/2013/08/22/additive-manufacturing-needs-broadband-connectivity/
Also, mark your calendars for September 19th. I will
be the keynote speaker at the AGL Regional Conference at the Westin
Chicago Northwest,
My presentation will be, "WiFi, DAS, & Smartphones
in 21st Century Real Estate”. The latest concepts on
the convergence of WiFi, DAS and Smartphone technologies for multi-venue
environments. This is the next step going from single-venue stadiums/airports to
combined Commercial venues: Intelligent Retail, Entertainment, Convention
center Complexes (IREC Complexes). More details to follow.
James Carlini, President
&
Certified Infrastructure Consultant
CARLINI & ASSOCIATES (since 1986)
Strategic Infrastructure Consultants
773-370-1888
“Additive
Manufacturing Needs Broadband Connectivity”
There is a
lot of promise from the growing industry of 3D printers and manufacturing
products through their use as well as new 3D scanners. This technology is
providing a second industrial revolution in the United States as well as
globally. Both large and small companies are developing custom approaches to
manufacturing anything from hard-to-find car parts, to dental implants,
jewelry, jet parts, bio-medical parts and everything in-between.
The 3D
printers required to make these one-off custom products are not expensive
anymore and because of that “affordable pricing”, there are many start-ups
creating new niche markets everyday as well as well-established large manufacturers
looking at a whole new level of intricate customization and affordability in
making prototypes.
The
intelligent amenity needed in real estate to support this new technology is
bandwidth and lots of it. Most in commercial real estate don’t realize that
their properties are probably obsolete. In the last several years,
corporate site selection committees that didn’t even know what broadband
connectivity was a decade ago, now have it in their criteria list as one of the
top three attributes a property must have.
HOW MUCH
BANDWIDTH DO WE NEED?
Last year
(2012) in the New York Times, Thomas Friedman said,
“Big bandwidth, combined with 3-D printers, would also allow for
the rapid prototyping of all kinds of manufactured products that can then be
made anywhere.”
Back in 2004,
I talked about having gigabit speeds in order to attract new businesses out of
Silicon Valley and that the three most important words in real estate have
become, “Location, Location, Connectivity” in an interview with Business 2.0
Magazine.
Several years
ago in 2006, I started saying that 1Gigabit per second (1Gbps) should be the
baseline when it comes to speeds coming into the consumer. There was a
high-tech 800-acre property developed that in the planning stage, we said that
it should provide 40Gbps to any corporate tenant that was leasing space.
Of course we
got the “Are you crazy?” response from those still living in the 1950s, but we
surged ahead anyway and created a next-generation industrial park or
Intelligent Business Campus (IBC).
The time has
come where even one gigabit is not enough bandwidth for the new emerging
applications being used in additive manufacturing.
A key
component for any industrial park today needs to be bandwidth and lots of it.
It is not enough to have 100Mbps (100 Megabits per second (which is 1/10 the
rate of 1Gbps) as some out-of-date experts would still lead you to
believe. You need properties to offer multi-gigabit speeds in order to
attract all the cutting-edge companies.
The quicker
property management companies figure this out, the faster they will be
screaming for network infrastructure to be upgraded so that they can get access
to multi-gigabit connectivity.
It is not a
gimmick or “slick offer” to have multi-gigabit connectivity, it is a matter of regional
survival and more smaller communities understand this need for economic
survival and sustainability more than some of the larger cities and regions.
BACK
TO COTTAGE INDUSTRIES?
With the cost
of 3D printers and 3D scanners coming down to the price of what a good laser
printer cost 15 years ago, many are seeing that there is also a resurgence in
small companies growing out of a household that may have great potential as
more people use the technologies and become creative and innovative.
With 3D technology
being affordable to small start-ups, the need to have access to broadband
connectivity (anything 1Gbps or more) becomes a building amenity that better be
available. This means that not just industrial parks will require
high-speed capabilities. Residential areas that have available network
capabilities will be hotbeds for small, entrepreneurial start-ups.
Large
companies, like GE, are using this technology to build more durable parts that
are cheaper as well as stronger. This short video provides a quick
perspective http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QKgY9O3kwE
If a city or
region is concerned about regional economic development and sustainability,
they better invest in their infrastructure to provide adequate bandwidth to
attract maintain these large and small companies of next-generation
manufacturing because 3D manufacturing is here and it is geometrically
expanding.
Will
CARLINI-ISM
:
Adequate bandwidth will go from gigabit speeds to terabit speeds faster than
you may think as 3D printing takes hold in all types of industries.
Follow
daily Carlini-isms at www.TWITTER.com/JAMESCARLINI
Copyright 2013 – James Carlini
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The Continental Automated
Buildings Association (CABA) is an international not-for-profit industry
association dedicated to the advancement of intelligent home and intelligent
building technologies. The organization is
supported by an international membership of nearly 400 companies involved in
the design, manufacture, installation and retailing of products relating to
home automation and building automation. Public organizations, including
utilities and government are also members. CABA's mandate includes
providing its members with networking and market research opportunities. CABA
also encourages the development of industry standards and protocols, and
leads cross-industry initiatives. The organization was
originally founded in 1988 as the Canadian Automated Buildings Association.
The founding members included In 2006, CABA integrated
the Internet Home Alliance, an association of technology companies committed
to research and development within the intelligent home sector. The
working group became CABA's Connected Home Research Council. In 2010, CABA's
collaborative research scope evolved and expanded into the CABA Research
Program, which is directed by the CABA Board of Directors. The CABA
Research Program's scope includes market research for both large building
technologies and home systems. www.caba.org
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Article by
Jim Carlini - Re-Tooling Commercial Real Estate Curricula
Hear that huge shattering
sound of multiple stories of glass crashing down to the ground? That is the shattering of decades’ worth of
commercial real estate concepts that don’t work anymore.
The sad part is that many in
the Commercial Real Estate (CRE) market need to tune into this deafening
thunder. The status quo has been shattered and shattered again. As I said in an earlier article:
(http://onpurposemagazine.com/2013/02/20/defining-21st-century-real-estate-2/ )
Selling products and services into this
21st century integrated real estate environment requires an
expertise in understanding multi-disciplinary skills and next-generation
solutions. It is a multi-level sell when
trying to promote new intelligent amenities for next-generation buildings, multi-venue
entertainment centers, and intelligent business campuses.
New
real estate concepts are not that new, they just have not been adopted as
quickly as they should be by CRE professionals.
Want to sell high-tech real estate into today’s sophisticated
market? These are the people you need to
sell to:
-
The Building Owner (Property Owner)
-
The Developer
-
The Financier
-
The Property
Manager
-
The Leasing Agent
-
The Tenant(s)
-
The Media (Yes,
the media because they can help sell the whole package or they can kill it by
not presenting its unique qualities because they don’t understand it.)
Look
at the graduate school curriculum at most major universities in the
Except
for some universities in Asia, the University of Reading in Great Britain and
one in Dubai, most schools teaching real estate have not added degree programs
or even single courses that should be out there to train today’s graduates on
tomorrow’s building amenities.
Sometimes
Some
schools might argue that they have a “Special Topics” course that include
“emerging trends” but Intelligent Buildings should have had their own course by
now, if not a whole section of courses dedicated to these new concepts.
WHAT SHOULD BE IN A
CURRICULUM?
There already should be
courses on:
-
Intelligent
Building Concepts (A general overview to get familiar with terminology as well
as basic applied principles),
-
Intelligent
Infrastructure (the Platform for Commerce which focuses on supporting regional
economic development), and
-
Courses on
next-generation Real Estate:
o
Intelligent
Business Campuses (IBCs) (the
next-generation business campus, industrial park or technical campus. IIP is the acronym used in
o
Intelligent
Infrastructure (II) (supportive infrastructure like power grids
and broadband connectivity)
o
Intelligent
Retail/ Entertainment/ Convention Center complexes (IRECs) (Study
of multi-venue campuses of retail stores, entertainment/restaurant centers and
convention and/or sports arena built to provide new Smartphone applications
that cross-market the products and services of those businesses within the
“umbrella” of the DAS (Distributed Antennae System) wireless network.)
The problem is that different
spheres of disciplines are starting to intersect and overlap with each
other. The dynamics of most schools is
to teach a single discipline and a single focus. Today, four diverse spheres are intersecting
at critical junctures, curricula need courses that discuss the combined
concepts of these new converged principles and how they impact the market.
The more graduates who have a
grasp of the new multi-disciplinary focus, the more effective their ongoing
leadership and team management will become as the real estate industry evolves.
CARLINI-ISM: There are no experts in this emerging
industry. The best you can be is a good
student – always learning.
COPYRIGHT 2013 – James Carlini
Cisco will
cut 4,000 jobs, citing a inadequate & disconnected economic climate
There
is absolutely no way to put a happy face on four thousand families losing a
wage earner. The layoffs, which account for 5 percent of the company's
workforce, will begin in 2014.
Shares
of Cisco plunged 10 percent in after-hours trading. The stock had initially
slipped by 4 percent after Cisco released its financial results for its fiscal
fourth quarter.
In
the prior two quarters, Chambers had said he was cautiously optimistic and that
the economic environment was "slow but steady." He struck a decidedly
more sedate tone on Wednesday's conference call with Wall Street analysts,
saying the global economic environment has been "challenging and
inconsistent."
Chambers
explained he's "real pleased" with Cisco's growth, but "it's
just not growing as fast as we need." The company needs to work more
quickly and focus on growth areas, he said.
Overall,
Cisco earned $2.8 billion on sales of $12.4 billion for its fiscal fourth
quarter -- and each figure was just a hair above Wall Street expectations.
In-line results weren't quite enough to please investors who have become
accustomed to Cisco trouncing analysts' forecasts.
Cisco's
focus on hot Internet trends like video, wireless and big data has helped
propel the company's earnings to new heights lately. Shares are up 34 percent
so far this year.
The
company also reported it has an incredible $50.6 billion in cash, up more than
$3 billion from the previous quarter. Cisco and other big tech companies
including Appl and Microsof have been amassing large cash hoards during the
past few years.
Cisco
touches all parts of the networking process, and the company's success is
largely tied to sentiment about the world's economy. Many large businesses and
government agencies are Cisco customers, and they're unlikely to buy up
networking equipment when they're worried about the economic situation.
Meanwhile,
Cisco has worked to evolve past its history as the king of switchers and
routers, because the Internet networking world is changing. Though those core
businesses have continued to comprise half of the company's revenue, switches
and routers have been declining.
The data center program launch coincides
with the release of a video produced by Concert Technologies to inform its data
center customers of the full suite of physical infrastructure and cabling services
available to them. The video can be viewed on YouTube at http://youtu.be/l7iz_wfFh3s.
The video reviews the
following data center services:
·
Installation
of data center equipment and physical
infrastructure cabling
·
Data
center consolidations or moves
·
Data
center physical infrastructure clean-up
·
Data
center physical infrastructure management including equipment patching, telecom
circuit testing, smart hands assistance with server access and equipment
configurations, and verification and documentation of existing conditions
“Our data center support
services program was launched as a result of the high demand from our customers
to provide a full suite of data center services for nationwide and global
rollouts,” said Dennis Mazaris, President and CEO of Concert Technologies. “Our team of
skilled local resources is available 24/7 to support the planning and
management of even the most demanding of data center requirements.”
In addition to the video,
Concert Technologies has launched a webpage dedicated to its data center
support services program. For more information about this program, visit http://www.concerttech.com/Data-Center-Support-Services.htm.
Influencing the high customer
demand for data center services is the expansion of existing data center
facilities to keep up with the rapidly growing industry. Cabling
Installation & Maintenance Magazine reports a forecasted Compound
Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.61 percent from 2012-2016 for the data center
construction market in the
About Concert Technologies
Concert Technologies, founded
in 1995, is a privately-held technology rollout company based in
PON and
Cable Broadband Equipment Revenue Poised for Annual Growth through 2017
Five-Year Forecast Also Predicts Growth for VDSL
REDWOOD CITY,
“For PON, although we expect China to continue to dominate
the market through much of our forecast horizon, we are forecasting Chinese
growth to moderate, resulting in single-digit PON revenue growth the next five
years versus the previous double-digit growth,” said Steve Nozik, Principal
Analyst of Access research at Dell’Oro Group. “For CMTS, the dynamics
underlying this market remain strong, despite a weak 2012, and we forecast
growth to resume in 2013 and continue through our forecast horizon. For
DSL, despite raising our VDSL forecast due to a more optimistic scenario for
VDSL vectoring, we still expect total DSL revenues to decline albeit at a
slower pace than over the past several years, with VDSL growth only partially
offsetting rapidly declining ADSL sales,” added Nozik.
The Dell’Oro Group 5-Year Forecast Report provides a
complete overview of the broadband access industry, with tables covering
manufacturers’ revenue, average selling prices, and port/unit shipments for
Cable, DSL, and PON equipment. Network infrastructure equipment includes
Cable Modem Termination Systems (CMTS), Digital Subscriber Line Access
Multiplexers ([DSLAMs] by technology ADSL, ADSL2+, G.SHDSL, VDSL), and PON
Optical Line Terminals (OLTs). Customer Premises Equipment (CPE)
technology reflects Voice-over-IP (VoIP) or data-only. To purchase this
report, call Julie Learmond-Criqui +1.650.622.9400 x244 or email Julie@DellOro.com.
As the trusted source for market information about the
networking and telecommunications industries, Dell’Oro Group provides in-depth,
objective research and analysis that enable component manufacturers, equipment vendors,
and investment firms to make fact-based, strategic decisions. For more
information, contact Dell’Oro Group at +1.650.622.9400 or visit www.DellOro.com.
GovSec,
TREXPO and CPM East 2013 Attendance Increased by 7%; Exhibitors Increased
by 14%
The leading government and homeland security
event, GovSec, featuring TREXPO and held in conjunction with CPM East,
attracted 3,514 attendees and 175 exhibitors for its 12th year.
“GovSec along with CPM East was successful in all
respects this year. Despite the challenges of sequestration, attendance
increased an additional 7% after an increase of more than 20% in 2012. The
event featured 175 exhibitors, an increase of 14%, with the expo floor growing
by 19%. This year’s results reinforces GovSec as the leading event for
government security products, education and networking,” said Don Berey, Senior
Event Director for GovSec and CPM East.
Among the highlights of the collocated events were
addresses by:
- General
Stanley McChrystal, a four-star general and former commander of U.S. and
international forces in Afghanistan and the former leader of Joint Special
Operations Command (JSOC), which oversees the military’s most sensitive
forces.
- Joe
Theismann, entrepreneur and former star quarterback for the Washington
Redskins. Currently, Theismann works for the NFL Network as an analyst,
broadcasting the Thursday Night NFL games. He is also a co-host for the
NFL Network show Playbook.
- Dave
Grossman, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army (ret.), an internationally recognized
scholar, author, soldier, and speaker who is one of the world's foremost
experts in the field of human aggression and the roots of violence and
violent crime.
There were also numerous
on-the-floor demonstrations featuring K9s, knife tactics and active shooter
response training.
“The continued growth in both attendance and
exhibitors showcases the importance of the event to all aspects of the
marketplace,” said Kevin O’Grady, President of the Security, Safety, and Health
Group of 1105 Media.
GovSec, TREXPO and CPM East featured a comprehensive
conference and exhibition, which included industry-leading exhibitors that
demonstrated a wide variety of products for first responders and government
security professionals from agencies, departments, and organizations from the
federal, state and local level.
“GovSec 2013 was my first experience in DC as well as
at the federal security level. It was a very eye-opening experience, as well as
a comforting one. Up until this point, I hadn't really considered the scope of
what it means to be involved in National Security....seeing it in real life in
front of you really helps put it into perspective. I truly appreciate attending
GovSec for helping me to increase my contacts, job prospects and overall
security sector viewpoint.” (2013 Attendee)
“This show over the last 6 years....has proven to be
exceptional in bringing in all the Government Agencies we deal with. I will
continue to attend this Expo and the locale is perfect.” (2013 Exhibitor)
GovSec, TREXPO and CPM East will be held May 12-14,
2014. Law Enforcement Appreciation Day will be on May 14, the day prior to
Peace Officers Memorial Day in
About GovSec featuring TREXPO
GovSec provides the equipment, tools and strategies needed by security
professionals and first responders to proactively prepare for, prevent and
respond to emerging and ongoing threats to their communities, companies,
agencies and the homeland. TREXPO -- the definitive event for tactical
training, equipment, technology, and services for law enforcement, military,
security, and federal agencies -- joined GovSec in 2013 and further empowers
law enforcement to fulfill their role as the first line of defense against
threats to our homeland and the communities they serve.
About CPM East
CPM East provides the private and public sectors with the strategies and
products they need for disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and
recovery. CPM East combines exhibits, education and peer-to-peer
networking to provide the knowledge to recover from natural disasters,
accidents or intentional acts in the minimum amount of time, with minimum
disruption and at minimum cost. Together with GovSec, CPM East provides a
unique forum for security and business continuity /disaster recovery
professionals, as well as first responders to become versed in the common
challenges and solutions arising during times of natural or man-made
disasters.
About the Security, Safety, and Health Group
GovSec, TREXPO and CPM East are members of the Security, Safety, and Health
Group -- a division of 1105 Media, Inc. In addition to premier industry events
such as GovSec and CPM, the group includes the media brands Security Products,
Occupational Health & Safety, and Home Medical Equipment, as well as
ancillary products related to these brands. It is an industry leader in every
category it includes.
About 1105 Media
1105 Media is a leading provider of integrated information and media in
targeted B-to-B markets, including specialized sectors of the information
technology community; industrial health, safety and compliance; security;
environmental protection; and home health care. 1105’s offerings span print and
online magazines, journals and newsletters; seminars, conferences and trade
shows; training courseware; and Web-based services. 1105 Media is based in
For information on exhibiting
at GovSec, TREXPO, or CPM East 2014, please contact:
Kharry Wolinsky - East
kwolinsky@1105media.com or
703-876-5069
Nancy Calabrese -
ncalabrese@1105media.com or
702-228-3293
Hendrix Wire
& Cable Announces Kitting Solution For Distribution Systems
Kitting Cable Components
Saves Space & Time
Hendrix designs and
manufactures complete Spacer Cable Systems including cable, hardware, spacers,
and other accessory products. A complete stock of component parts is
maintained at the factory. Using Hendrix’s Kitting Solution, components
necessary to complete the Spacer Cable System can be purchased together,
assembled at the Hendrix manufacturing plant, and then shipped directly to a
job site or a temporary staging area. Since cables are cut to length for
the job, scrap and installation time can both be reduced. There are no short
lengths left on the reels at the end of the job, less set ups on the reel trailers,
and less splicing. In addition, warehousing costs can be eliminated
along with the time to kit the material at the utilities warehouse.
For more information or to
set up a Kitting Solution with Hendrix Wire & Cable, please visit www.hendrix-wc.com or contact overhead@hendrix-wc.com.
About Hendrix Aerial Cable & Systems
Aerial Cable
& Systems is one of four operating divisions of Hendrix Wire & Cable, a
provider of high-quality overhead and underground power distribution products
located in
ISO 9001-certified Hendrix
Wire & Cable, Inc. is a member company of The Marmon Group, an
international association of more than 125 business units that operate
independently within diverse business sectors. Member companies have collective
revenues of $7 billion. The Marmon Group is owned by Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
More information about the company is available at www.hendrix-wc.com
HENDRIX OFFERS DUAL BLOCKÔ FOR UNDERGROUND CABLE
Prevents water from entering cable core
Water is one of the enemies
of long-life in primary cable, as water entering the cable core can lead to
premature failure. Hendrix DUAL BLOCKÔ helps prevent this from occurring. First, a fill compound is
continuously applied into the conductor interstices. This prevents longitudinal
water migration. Second, a water-swellable powder is applied under the
polyethylene jacket. This prevents water from migrating along the neutral
wires, under the jacket. Taken together, these two applications provide a
reliable barrier that prevents water from entering the cable core.
DUAL BLOCKÔ is an option for all stranded conductor, Hendrix
cables.
For further information,
please contact your local Marmon Utility LLC representative or visit www.hendrix-wc.com
ICC New
Front Access Zero U Patch Panels
ICC’s Front Access Patch
Panels are available through a nationwide network of ICC Elite Preferred
DistributorsTM. To locate a distributor
near you, visit www.icc.com/distributor or call ICC at 888-ASK-4ICC (275-4422).
About ICC
ICC is a leading manufacturer
of residential and commercial structured cabling products governed by strict
ISO 9001:2008 standards. With 29 years
of innovation, ICC products have established a reputation of premium quality,
proven performance and competitive prices supporting voice, data, audio, video
and fiber optic connectivity. For more information, visit ICC’s website at www.icc.com
IDEAL
Tuff-Rod™ Poles Reduce Time & Hassle of Running Cables In Hard To Access
Spaces
SYCAMORE, IL, AUGUST 7, 2013
-- Tuff-Rod™ push/pull poles from IDEAL simplify the task of running cables
above ceilings, down walls, under raised floors, or through hard to access
voids and cavities. Flexible yet strong, the poles can be used with a variety
of cable and wire types, including speaker and telephone wire, twisted pair
data cables, fiber, thermostat, coax and general electrical cables to
dramatically reduce time on the job.
Made of non-conductive
fiberglass rods to protect the installer from electrical shock, IDEAL
Tuff-Rods are designed to be threaded together to achieve a maximum length of
thirty feet, allowing the installer to create custom rods for longer cable
runs.
Three attachment-ends extend
the rod's versatility. The J Hook attachment aids in re-positioning wires and
re-directing cables, while the Bullet tip is perfect for pushing the rods
through wall cavities, under floorboards and similar tight spaces. The Wisp
head is specifically designed for working over the top of suspended ceilings
where the large head enables the rod to be pushed over the grid work ridges
without getting stuck.
In addition to standard white
and blue, a pale green "glow in the dark" version is available for
contractors working in attics, basements and other dim lit areas. Tuff-Rod
repair kits can also be purchased, complete with replacement hardware and
quick-drying epoxy for fast, convenient, in-the-field repairs.
For more information, visit
www.idealindustries.com or call 800.435.0705.
Intertek
Awarded PTCRB Accreditation
Intertek is now an accredited
testing laboratory for all major CDMA, GSM, and LTE certification schemes.
Throughout its network,
Intertek’s infrastructure supports all major carrier networks including
AT&T, T-Mobile, NTT DOCOMO,
“The ongoing investment in
our network of accredited testing facilities enables us to support the
industry’s leading carriers and device manufacturers as they bring new technologies
to market,” says Darrell Lehman, Sr. VP of Intertek’s Wireless Global Business
Line. “The accreditation from PTCRB comes on the heels of the recent ISO 17025
accreditation at our
Intertek is a longtime
provider of CDMA services and carrier testing accepted by carriers around the
world, such as Verizon Wireless, Sprint, Metro PCS,
Intertek has been a leader in
telecom and wireless technology for more than 50 years and recognized as a Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB) since the
program’s inception in 2000. Intertek serves device manufacturers and carriers
by providing custom testing for Acoustics, RF Performance, Signalling Conformance, Feature
Testing, Field Interoperability, Radiated Performance, FCC/IC/EU/ETSI, Accessories, Batteries, and RF Exposure (SAR).
The PTCRB (PCS Type
Certification Review Board) was established in 1997 to certify GSM devices such
as mobile phones, modules, and M2M devices.
Throughout its network,
Intertek’s infrastructure supports all major carrier networks including
AT&T, T-Mobile, NTT DOCOMO,
“The ongoing investment in
our network of accredited testing facilities enables us to support the
industry’s leading carriers and device manufacturers as they bring new
technologies to market,” says Darrell Lehman, Sr. VP of Intertek’s Wireless
Global Business Line. “The accreditation from PTCRB comes on the heels of the
recent ISO 17025 accreditation at our
Intertek is a longtime
provider of CDMA services and carrier testing accepted by carriers around the
world, such as Verizon Wireless, Sprint, Metro PCS,
Intertek has been a leader
in telecom and wireless technology for more than 50 years and recognized as a Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB) since the
program’s inception in 2000. Intertek serves device manufacturers and carriers
by providing custom testing for Acoustics, RF Performance, Signalling Conformance, Feature
Testing, Field Interoperability, Radiated Performance, FCC/IC/EU/ETSI, Accessories, Batteries, and RF Exposure (SAR).
The PTCRB (PCS Type Certification Review Board) was
established in 1997 to certify GSM devices such as mobile phones, modules, and
M2M devices.
Klein Tools
Doubles Its Pledged Donation to Operation Homefront
July 30, 2013 (Chicago,
Klein Tools, a leading
“Our camo pliers promotion
provided us an opportunity to give back to the service men and women who have
sacrificed so much,” said Megan Klein, associate marketing manager of Klein
Tools. “We hope this also raised
awareness of all the different ways Operation Homefront helps our military and their
families.”
“We were amazed that Klein
Tools decided to double their contribution,” said James Michael, executive
director of Operation Homefront of Illinois. “The $50,000 donation will go a
long way to provide financial or other necessary assistance to military
families in these challenging economic times.”
A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500
volunteers with nationwide presence who provide emergency and other financial
assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. Operation
Homefront has met more than 750,000
needs of military families since its inception in 2002. A four-star rated charity by watchdog Charity
Navigator, nationally, 95 percent of total revenue donated to Operation
Homefront goes directly to programs that provide support to our military
families. For more information, go to www.OperationHomefront.net.
Since 1857 Klein Tools, a family-owned and operated
company, has been designing, developing and manufacturing premium-quality,
professional-grade hand tools. Klein Tools are manufactured in seven plants
throughout the
MaxCell - Fabric
Mesh Innerduct Inside the
Since the inception of fabric
mesh innerduct in 1999, it has largely been considered an outside plant (OSP)
type product. But, with today’s growing bandwidth requirements in data centers,
many designer engineers and data center managers need to think and plan for
tomorrow’s requirements today. That is achieved by maximizing their EMT conduit
from the start by installing multiple packs of fabric mesh innerduct on new
builds, removing ridged HDPE innerducts and replacing it with fabric mesh
innerduct, or by installing a fabric mesh innerduct in occupied conduits with
bare cables.
MaxCell is the only flexible fabric innerduct system designed
specifically for the network construction industry.
Case study one- congested conduit:
A leading data center
provider that is leasing multiple floors at a collocation site in a major
market is facing congestion in their backbone conduits. They need to expand in
order to meet existing and new customer requirements. Currently, the data
center provider has multiple backbone conduit runs with the following scenario;
three 1.25 inch ridged HDPE innerducts in a four inch EMT conduit which
provides three raceways, most of which have one or two live cables installed in
the ridged innerduct. The DC provider has three options; the first is adding
new four inch EMT conduits by means of new construction, which would be
extremely challenging, costly and time consuming. The second option would be to
install a cable into the last ridged innerduct and kick this problem down the
road. Option three would be to remove unoccupied ridged innerducts while
pulling one or two packs of fabric mesh innerduct. This not only provides a
dedicated raceway now, but also two to five future races ways depending on how
many packs were to be installed.
Case study two-new build:
A leading customer
relationship management firm is expanding multiple data centers due to rapid
growth. The CRM firm is leasing multiple rooms in a collocation site and
provided with two four inch conduits. The challenge is how to meet today’s
requirements of two fiber cables and one copper cable, while also planning for
tomorrow’s growth. Traditionally, three 1.25 inch ridged innerducts would be
installed completely filling the first of the two four inch conduits, thus
leaving only three future raceways in the second four inch conduit for future
growth. By using fabric mesh innerduct, this leading CRM firm can triple their
cable capacity in the first four inch conduit and leave the second for future
use. This is accomplished by installing three packs of three cell fabric mesh
innerduct in one of the four inch conduits. The fabric mesh innerduct solution
provides the CRM firm with nine raceways in one of the four inch conduits with
each raceway accommodating a one inch outer diameter size cable.
Fabric mesh innerduct takes
up very little space within the EMT conduit until the media of choice is placed
within. This affords designers and data center managers the flexibility to
quickly change their conduit capacity and/or add cables in a much more timely
fashion, all while keeping their labor in check. In fact, according to the 2011
Manual of Labor Units report, published by the National Electrical Contractors
Association (NECA), when installing a common size fabric mesh innerduct under
normal circumstances the installation takes 75 per cent less time when compared
to ridged innerduct.
Fabric mesh innerduct is
available in multiple sizes and cell configurations to meet various conduit and
cable sizes. Each pack of fabric mesh innerduct comes with pre-installed pull
tapes in each cell. It is available in
detectable, self supporting, plenum and riser rated. Fabric mesh innerduct is
shipped on smaller reels compared to that of ridged HDPE reels thus allowing
for smaller work space requirements and less techs needed during
installation.
About MaxCell
With 10 years of industry leading technology, MaxCell is
one of the fastest growing products in the network construction industry. RUS
accepted and installed by the largest global telecommunications companies,
cable MSOs, and Fortune 500 companies, MaxCell has become the standard for
allowing companies to maximize their conduit space while reducing total
system cost.
MaxCell is the only flexible fabric innerduct system designed
specifically for the network construction industry.
The unique fabric construction allows MaxCell
to conform to the shape of cables placed within, greatly reducing the wasted
space associated with rigid innerduct.
Today’s network owners and builders use
MaxCell to increase their cable density by as much as 300%. Faced with the
challenge of deploying new infrastructure while minimizing investment costs,
using MaxCell will:
- Reduce the number of conduits required for new
network construction
- Minimize the need for additional conduit in
overlay applications
- Enable incremental deployment to match system
requirements
Over 200 million feet of MaxCell innerduct have been
successfully installed around the globe in a variety of applications
including:
- Cable TV
- Telecom
- Wireless Backhaul
- Power/Utilities
- Municipalities
- University, Corporate, and Hospital campuses
- Military and Government installations
http://www.maxcellinnerduct.com/default.aspx?lang=eng&
McCormick’s
Online Training Sessions Offer Customized Education Choices
Estimating is the most
important thing a contractor does – it is the operations backbone, determining
which projects a company bids, which ones it gets to complete, and the
potential profit in each job won.
That’s why McCormick Systems
– a leading vendor of estimating systems for electrical, mechanical, T&D,
and automated building systems contractors – is focused on helping its
customers, and has been since its 1979 founding.
In 2013, the company has
added something new: Online Training.
McCormick’s skilled trainers create sessions customized to each customer’s
specific needs – and teach them via online connections. A customer company can
have a single session or opt for several, (sessions are typically two hours
long) – and can have from one to ten attendees on its end.
“We’ve had our own product
database for many years, and we needed to update it – to take advantage of
real-time pricing options offered by Trade Service and distributors,” said Mike
Huskey, chief estimator for Tri-City Electric (
“We needed some help from
McCormick in learning how to accomplish this. We told them what we needed. They
taught two of us – online – in 3 two-hour sessions.”
McCormick’s other educational
offerings include
§ Standard and Advanced courses
(taught in AZ and MD);
§ By-Hand Estimating courses (the
basics, taught with pencil and paper);
§ customized “On-Site” training
(trainers travel to a customer facility);
§ videos on YouTube.com (McCormick’s
channel is: http://www.youtube.com/McCormickSystemsInc);
and
§ Written tutorials included in the
materials sent to customers.
“We will maintain our
scheduled training classes, as we always have.” explained Todd McCormick,
company president. “Now, if a given contractor needs help with a specific facet
of our system, they can get it – without needing to send someone our way, and
avoiding the expense of sending our trainer on the road. We can orient the
training to the customer’s precise needs and deliver it quickly.”
About McCormick Systems
Privately owned McCormick Systems
(
More information: www.mccormicksys.com
or 800-444-4890.
Best of the Best Judges Katrina Olson and Shad Thomas presented the awards at a
special ceremony during NAED’s 2013 AdVenture Marketing Conference on Aug. 6.
For more than four decades, tED magazine has recognized the electrical
industry’s top marketing initiatives with its Best of the Best Competition.
This year’s awards honored electrical distributors and suppliers for stellar
campaigns launched in 2012.
Every year, the publication selects one distributor and one supplier to
represent the overall best marketing practices for the industry. This year’s
“Best Overall” winners were:
• Van Meter, Inc. –
Based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, this distributor earned an individual Best of the
Best award in the Brand Awareness Category for “It’s all About Building
Relationships.”
• Legrand – This international supplier
earned individual Best of the Best awards in three categories: Integrated
Promotional Campaign (“Healthcare Campaign)”, Literature/Selling Tool (“Is Your
Building RetroFIT?”), and Brand Awareness (“Designed for You”).
In addition, the following companies received the Best of the Best category
awards. See all the winning campaigns in the August issue of tED.
BRAND AWARENESS
• Distributor $25 million - $200 million – Alameda Electrical
Distributors, “New Look. Same Great Service”
• Distributor over $200 million – Van Meter Inc., “It’s All About Building
Relationships”
• Supplier over $250 million – Legrand/Pass & Seymour, “Designed for You”
CREATIVE DISPLAY
• Distributor under $25 million – Vaughan Electrical Supply, “The Experience
Centre”
• Distributor $25 million - $200 million – Warshauer Electric Supply, “
• Distributor over $200 million – Summit Electric Supply, “Scan Code and
Download!”
• Supplier under $250 million – RAB Lighting, “SLIM Merchandising Display”
• Supplier over $250 million – Southwire, “SIMpull WireBARREL Wall Display”
DIGITAL/SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN
• Distributor $25 million - $200 million – Swift Electrical Supply, “Social
Media Campaign 2012”
• Distributor over $200 million – Dakota Supply Group, “Contractor Portal –
Work Order Generator”
• Supplier under $250 million – Madison Electric Products, “Measurable Results
with Social Media”
• Supplier over $250 million – Lutron Electronics, “Social Media Presence”
DIRECT PROMOTION
• Distributor $25 million - $200 million – Needham Electric Supply, “Farm
Light”
• Distributor over $200 million – Summit Electric Supply, “Texpansion!”
• Supplier under $250 million – Service Wire, “2012 Direct Mail Campaign”
• Supplier over $250 million – Philips Lighting, “SMART Promotions”
EVENT
• Distributor under $25 million – C.N. Robinson Lighting Supply, “Don’t Miss
the Bus!”
• Distributor $25 million - $200 million – Schaedler Yesco, “Expo 2012”
• Distributor over $200 million – Irby, “Wire Pulling Rodeo”
• Supplier under $250 million – Madison Electric Products, “Innovation
Roundtable”
• Supplier over $250 million – Lutron Electronics, “Press Conference and Event”
INTEGRATED PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN
• Distributor under $25 million – C.N. Robinson Lighting Supply, “Don’t Miss
the Bus!”
• Distributor $25 million - $200 million – Western Extralite, “Leading Edge
LEDs Now!”
• Distributor over $200 – CapitalTristate Electrical Distributor, “Energy
Saving Week”
• Supplier under $250 million – Universal Lighting Technologies, “EVERLINE LED
Campaign”
• Supplier over $250 million – Legrand, “Healthcare Campaign”
LITERATURE/SELLING TOOL
• Distributor under $25 million – Atlantic Electric Supply, “A Renewed
Dedication”
• Distributor $25 million - $200 million – Alameda Electrical Distributors,
“Electrical Supply that Powers Your Bottom Line”
• Distributor over $200 million – Crescent Electric Supply, “Vertical Market
Sell Sheets”
• Supplier under $250 million – Hubbell Outdoor Lighting, “LED Products Guide”
• Supplier over $250 million – Legrand, “Is Your Building RetroFIT?” (TIE)
• Supplier over $250 million – Philips Lighting, “Margin Mix Improvement Tool”
(TIE)
PRINT AD – CAMPAIGN
• Supplier under $250 million – Columbia Lighting (Hubbell Lighting), “LED Ads”
• Supplier over $250 million – Southwire, “Social Media Campaign”
PRINT AD – SINGLE
• Distributor over $200 million – Dakota Supply Group, “Joining Forces”
• Supplier under $250 million – Alera Lighting (Hubbell Lighting), “Daylight
Harvesting Just Got Easier”
• Supplier over $250 million – Philips Lighting, “Dimmable LED PAR Lamp Ad”
PRODUCT LAUNCH
• Distributor over $200 million – Cooper Electric Supply, “Lutron Sensors”
• Supplier under $250 million – Universal Lighting Technologies, “EVERLINE LED”
• Supplier over $250 million – Leviton, “Zipline”
PUBLIC RELATIONS/COMMUNITY OUTREACH
• Distributor over $200 million – NorthEast Electrical Distributors, “Project
Green Lights 2012” (TIE)
• Distributor over $200 million – CapitalTristate Electrical Distributor,
“Wounded Warrior Project” (TIE)
• Supplier over $250 million – GE Lighting, “Women in STEM – Preparing for the
Future with Confidence”
PUBLIC RELATIONS/CORPORATE
• Distributor over $200 million – Dakota Supply Group, “Married to the Brand”
• Supplier under $250 million – Federal Signal, “Revealing Americans’ Awareness
and Preparedness Surrounding Emergency Situations”
• Supplier over $250 million – Fluke, “2012 Press Summit”
PUBLICATION
• Distributor $25 million - $200 million – Shealy Electrical Wholesalers, “The
Circuit”
• Supplier over $250 million – CapitalTristate Electrical Distributor,
“CapitalTristateNow Magazine”
WEBSITE
• Distributor $25 million - $200 million – Buckles-Smith, “buckles-smith.com
Redesign”
• Distributor over $200 million – CapitalTristate Electrical Distributor,
“CapitalTristateAdvantage.com”
• Supplier under $250 million – EverLast Lighting, “EverLast Website 2.0”
• Supplier over $250 million – OSRAM Sylvania, “www.sylvania.com Redesign”
JUDGES’ CHOICE
• Distributor – Summit Electric Supply, “Conduit Fill Tracker Mobile App”
• Supplier– Progress Lighting, “Mobile App”
BEST PRESENTATION
(presented to a winner with an exceptionally well-prepared entry)
• Summit Electric Supply (all entries)
Details on tED’s 2014 Best of the Best contest will be released in
November. For additional contest information, contact tED Editor Misty
Byers at 314-812-5316 or mbyers@naed.org.
Circulated to more than 27,000 readers throughout the electrical distribution
industry, the award-winning tED magazine serves as the industry’s
primary source for trends, best practices, and news happening throughout the
electrical supply chain. In addition to its monthly print edition, tED
produces up-to-the minute news through tEDmag.com, four weekly e-newsletters,
and its LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter channels.
The NAED is the trade association for the $70+ billion electrical distribution
industry. Through networking, education, research, and benchmarking, NAED helps
electrical distributors increase profitability and improve the channel. NAED’s
membership operates in approximately 4,400 locations internationally.
New Line of Tools Adds to
Current Line of Maxis® Contractor Equipment,
New Vice President Oversees
Southwire Tools & Accessories
The impressive suite of tool
products is a natural extension of Southwire’s Maxis® Contractor
Equipment line, which Southwire acquired in 2009. The new unit will be led by
Brandon Moss, who was recently named vice president of Southwire’s Tools &
Accessories. Moss helped spearhead the rigorous product research and testing
Southwire conducted while developing the new tools.
“As a leader in the wire and
cable industry, we know contractors and understand the wants and needs they
face daily on the jobsite,” Moss said.
“Adding Electrician’s Tools completes the product portfolio. We now offer solutions on both ends of the
spectrum, from contractor equipment to electrician’s tools and a whole range of
other categories in between.”
Southwire’s Electrician’s
Tools will be available in retail outlets and electrical wholesale and tools
supply houses nationwide, allowing wide availability for professional
contractors. The collection consists of
a full line of professional grade hand tools that includes pliers, strippers,
and screw drivers, as well as a wide array of electrical meters and
testers.
The Electrician’s Tools line
marks the latest innovation for Southwire, long known as a company with a
powerful brand in the wire and cable industry and for “real change” that
empowers electrical contractors and installers.
Contractors and electricians
who use Southwire products and services have come to know Southwire for its
premium quality products, innovation, and performance reliability that deliver
value. They know that Southwire is in it
for the long haul, and will continue to listen to their concerns and support
their needs for years to come.
“Southwire has provided high
quality electrical wire and cable for over six decades. We’re proud to now tie our name to a line of
durable and cutting-edge tools for the electrical industry,” states Norman
Adkins, a Southwire executive vice president who oversees the company’s
Electrical Division. “Our launch advertising
campaign states that our tools are ‘Built for Strength. Built for Reliability. Built for Work.’ We think users will agree.”
Moss has become vice
president of Southwire’s Tools & Accessories six years after joining the
company. He started as director of the company’s Lowe’s business, and in 2009
he was promoted to vice president of retail sales. He earned a bachelor’s
degree in marketing from
“
About
Southwire Company
A leader in
technology and innovation, Southwire Company is one of
Siemon
Launches Z-MAX Termination Challenge Contest
July 25, 2013.
Contest entry is easy.
Contractors simply need to record a smart-phone video of their fastest Z-MAX
termination and email it to challenge@siemon.com.
Full contest details, rules, video recording and email instructions are posted
at: www.siemon.com/zmaxchallenge.
While at www.siemon.com/zmaxchallenge,
contractors can also request a free Z-MAX Termination Challenge kit, which
includes everything needed to practice a few Z-MAX terminations before recording
what could be a $1000 video.
Siemon’s Channel Marketing
Manager, Brian Duval, described the history behind the Z-MAX Termination
Challenge. “We designed Z-MAX to be the fastest terminating category 6
and 6A outlets on the market and since we first launched Z-MAX in 2009, our
contractors have been reporting increasingly impressive termination times”
Duval explained. “Then, a few months back, Brandon Beckman, a Siemon Certified
Installer äwith i2 Solutions in Naples, FL, posted a Z-MAX termination time
that made our jaws drop.”
Actual footage of
“We originally billed Z-MAX
6A as a 60-second termination, but seeing
The Z-MAX Termination
Challenge is open to cabling contractors only and ends on September 30,
2013. Please visit www.siemon.com/zmaxchallenge
for details.
About Siemon
Established in 1903, Siemon
is an industry leader specializing in the manufacture and innovation of high
quality, high-performance network cabling solutions. Headquartered in
Connecticut, USA, with global offices, manufacturing and service partners
throughout the world, Siemon offers the most comprehensive suite of copper
(unshielded and shielded twisted-pair) category 5e, category 6 (Class E),
category 6A (Class EA) and category 7/7A (Class F/FA), and multimode and
singlemode optical fiber cabling systems available. With over 400 patents
specific to structured cabling, from patch cords to patch panels, Siemon Labs
invests heavily in R&D and development of industry standards, underlining
the company's long-term commitment to its customers and the industry.
Jim Hayes = EC January 2013
Every year when we do a fiber
optic update, we report on new technology and applications. This year, we’d
like to take a different viewpoint and look at where we see the jobs are in
fiber optics. In our role with the FOA, we talk to many contractors and network
owners, so we get a broad picture of the industry. Here is our current summary
of where the activity is.
Communications
Infrastructure: Developed countries are well-connected on fiber already but are
building more links for increasing broadband coverage. For those areas of the
world that are still developing communications backbones, investments are being
made in fiber to connect the landings of submarine cables to all parts of the region.
Municipalities are installing fiber networks to connect public services, offer
FTTH (fiber to the home) and lease fiber to big users.
Fiber To The Home (FTTH): The
insatiable demand for Internet speeds, primarily driven by online video but
also by the competition among cities to get tech companies to locate nearby, is
creating lots of demand for FTTH and those who know how to design, install and
run them. FTTH is no longer dominated by telcos as electrical utilities and
independent organizations take matters into their own hands. The leaders in
FTTH are two cities where gigabit FTTH is already available:
Wireless Broadband: Since practically
everybody either has a smartphone and/or tablet or will get one soon, the
traffic in mobile broadband is growing astronomically. Cellular towers are
being connected on fiber to replace wireless or copper backhaul and those towers
already on fiber are requiring upgrades. As the towers get more antennas to
provide user bandwidth, those antennas are being connected to the base of the
tower on fiber to reduce the bulk and weight of current coax cables. New
microcells connected on fiber are also becoming available for use in urban
areas.
Energy: While the term “Smart
Grid” is becoming an overused term with broad (and fuzzy) meaning, one thing is
certain – it will use fiber to tie together the electrical grids around the
world to make them more efficient and reliable. Efficiency is obvious, but
reliability is another issue made more obvious by recent large scale blackouts
caused by failure of the grid. Alternative energy projects like wind and solar
require fiber in large quantities to monitor and control the systems and
connect to the grid. Recently FOA arranged for one of our schools to send 10
techs to work at the Ivanpah solar facility where they will be installing tens
of thousands of cables. The
Premises Cabling: WiFi has
moved in and taken over enterprise networks while the fiber and copper factions
were fighting each other. Cabling in large public buildings is still required
for connecting LANs, WiFi and cellular antennas, security cameras and systems
and much more. For many LANs, fiber backbones and copper to the desktop work
just fine, with the same old architecture used since the dark ages of
telephones. But for larger numbers of users, especially where security is a big
issue, FTTH PON architecture is becoming popular (POLs or passive optical LANs)
and the FTTO (fiber to the office) architecture we’ve discussed in recent columns
offers a viable alternative to traditional structured cabling. Both let you
connect your devices with the standard “Cat 5” patchcord but use optimized
singlemode fiber to save cost and really future proof the network.
Data Centers: If you are
experienced in installing premises cabling, you are undoubtedly aware that data
centers are sprouting up everywhere. You are probably also aware of the debate
over where the data center goes next as network speeds jump from 1 to 10 to 100
gigabits per second. Will UTP copper find a place here? Will multimode fiber
make the grade? Or can we expect to see data centers lead the move to
singlemode fiber for every network? Google is already using singlemode – we
have it confirmed from installers. Two singlemode fibers and WDM (wavelength
division multiplexing) beats twenty multimode fibers in simplicity and soon, if
not already, in cost. And for you electrical contractors, the issues of
electrical power consumption are very important in data centers.
There are lots of jobs in
fiber optics, just sometimes not in traditional applications. Contractors
pursuing these jobs need to keep up to date with technology, especially the
move from multimode to singlemode fiber, and ensure their workers and equipment
are up to the task.
HAYES
is a VDV writer and educator and the President of The
Fiber Optic Association. Find him at www.jimhayes.com.
Reprinted with permission of
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR magazine www.ecmag.com
and The FOA – Fiber Optic Association. www.thefoa.org
IFC and
|
Washington,
D.C., July 16, 2013—IFC, a
member of the World Bank Group, and the World Green Building Council
(WorldGBC) today announced that they will collaborate to rapidly scale up the
construction of green buildings in emerging markets. The new partnership
demonstrates a shared commitment to playing a leadership role in transforming
the built environment and mitigating climate change. |
###
|
About
IFC |
|
About
the |
|
About
the |
Free
Admission – Available Online – To October’s NECA Show in D.C.
Electrical contractors and
their employees, electricians, datacom & cabling experts, and other
construction professionals are invited to The NECA Show. To be held Oct. 13-14-15
in
Also invited:
Electrical distributors, manufacturer’s representatives, building inspectors,
electrical engineers & design consultants, architects, lighting designers
& specifiers, and building owners & managers.
How can such a wide net be cast by a
single event? Earlier this year,
the NECA Show was acknowledged as one of the nation’s “Fastest 50” trade shows.
Included among the 300 exhibitors scheduled to meet with attendees on the Show
floor – open 11:30am to 5pm on Sun. 13th, 10:30 to 4 on Mon. 14th,
and 10:30 to 2:30 on Tues. 15th – are:
§
More
than 25 lighting and lighting control manufacturers
§
Suppliers
of in-building wireless, solar PV, & prefabrication services
§
Distributors
of electrical, datacom, telecom & security products
§
Wire
& cable, conduit, lightning protection, tools, test equipment & more.
A FREE Show badge includes
admission to 19 technical workshops – held on the Show floor, no admission charge. Topics for these
50-minute sessions include data centers, LEDs, cybercrime, back-up power, fiber
optics, and more.
Eight
of these workshops will be held on Sunday the 13th, making that day
– together with the 300 exhibitors – a wise investment of a weekend for any
attendee.
For those who wish to obtain a FREE registration:
1.
Go
to www2.cmrreg.com/neca_c4
2.
When
asked for your SPECIAL ADMISSION CODE, input PR5E
Additional information:
Exhibitors’ list: http://bit.ly/12gLB6H
19 FREE
technical workshops: http://necaconvention.org/technical-workshops/
Next year’s NECA Show moves
to
Monday August 26, 2013
Dear All;
This past Saturday morning, Dick Suddath, 94, passed away peacefully at home
surrounded by family and loved ones. He enjoyed good health until the last few
months which was quite a blessing. He had a wonderful life and truly loved all
of you who are this company and have made it what it is today. Many of you knew
him in his more vibrant years, yet even in his early nineties his personality
was easily recognized. With his passing, we mourn the loss of a
visionary, great friend, leader, mentor and community champion.
I want to give those of you who didn’t know him some background on his life.
Dick was born in
Over the next 45 years, Dick presided over the company and laid the groundwork
for its growth. During his time as President and then Chairman of the company,
The Suddath Companies grew from a small local moving and storage company into a
relocation and warehousing organization with nine Southeast branch offices that
provided nationwide and worldwide services. Early in his tenure Dick recognized
the need for agent partnerships throughout the country, and in the late 1940’s
he worked with other moving and storage companies to found Atlas Van Lines,
still one of the nation’s largest van lines. We subsequently left Atlas and
joined United Van Lines in 1981.
Dick recognized that for his company to excel it needed a strong team with
diverse talents. Beginning in the 1970’s he hired a core group of professionals
and together they accelerated the growth and diversification of the company. As
corporate
Dick retired in 1989 as Chairman of the Board, passing the reins on to me, but
he continued to be involved as a mentor and consultant.
Dick was an enthusiastic Boy Scout, earning the rank of Eagle Scout in high
school. He served as a board member and as president of the Northeast Florida
Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He also served as President of the
Jacksonville Children’s Museum, now known at the Jacksonville Museum of Arts
and Sciences, and as President of the Northeast Florida Division of the
Children’s Home Society. He was an active fundraiser during his time on the
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra board. Dick also loved art and enjoyed
supporting
For more than sixty years he was a devoted member of The Meninak Club in
Those of you who knew Dick personally recognized him as a multi-faceted person,
patriarch of his family and a strong leader in his personal, business and
community activities. He is best known for his private and public
generosity, for his passion for those he loved and for his determination for
success wherever he focused his energy and resources. He was an intellectual, a
visionary, emotional and tenacious. He had a great capacity for intimacy.
While Dick valued hard work and stewardship, he also enjoyed having fun. He was
an avid boater and enjoyed entertaining friends and clients on his boat. He
loved traveling and primitive camping and was a member of the “Over the Hill
Canoe Club” and the Florida Trail Association. He became a competitive runner
in his fifties, completed a marathon in his sixties and competed in the Gate
River Run at 72. In retirement he turned to writing and published an
historical novel, A Simple Thread, based on his father’s family, as well
as a children’s book, Ohio is Purple.
During his years of operating the company, he was assisted by many wonderful
employees. One of these, Oscar Randolph, became in their mutual retirement
Dick’s close friend and travel companion. Dick loved Oscar and was deeply
grateful for his presence and service.
The company is planning a memorial celebration of Dick’s life on Friday, September
6, from 4:00 to 6:00 at The Crowne Plaza for those of you in
The Suddath family will hold a memorial service at All Saints Episcopal Church,
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to The Sulzbacher
Center,
I appreciate your thoughts.
Kindly,
Stephen M. Suddath
Chairman of the Board
The Suddath Companies
Communication Planning
Corporation was honored to work with Dick Suddath and his team on a venture to
build Americall Long Distance Service Company. The project was a wonderful
success and the experience of working with Mr. Suddath was priceless. That was
before the Internet changed all the rules on long distance calling. www.communicationplanning.com
2014
National Electrical Code released
August 23, 2013, The National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA) officially released the 2014 National
Electrical Code on Thursday, August 15. That day the Code became
available as a PDF document through the National Fire Codes Subscription
Service All Access; NFPA expected the hard copy to be available by the end of
August. Also, the first of several four-day seminars based on the 2014 NEC
took place the week of August 19 at NFPA headquarters in
The
association’s chief engineer Mark Earley commented, “To members of the
electrical community, especially those that live and breathe the NEC,
the release of the latest edition of the Code is highly anticipated
because it provides the most up-to-date electrical safety requirements that
will impact their work.
“I would argue that the NEC is equally
as important to people outside of the electrical community,” Earley continued,
“many of whom may not even know it exists, yet are protected daily from fire
and electrical hazards because of it and have been for years.”
In
addition to publishing the NEC, NFPA provides companion resources and
education to help professionals learn how to understand and apply the latest
edition. “A host of resources are coming soon including the 2014 NEC
Handbook, pocket guides for residential and commercial applications, ebooks
and an app,” the NFPA said. “Many items are more accessible than ever and are
offered in a variety of formats with options to purchase as a set and have
content available in both print and digital formats.”
Additionally,
NFPA recently opened an online resource called nec connect, with the goal of
providing members of the electrical community and others interested in
electrical issues with news, information, tips, learning resources and
networking opportunities related to the NEC. “The website is a resource
for installers
and contractors, designers and engineers, code enforcers, and policymakers for
all things related to the NEC,” NFPA said. “It is a place where
participants can engage with others who share an interest in electrical
safety.” You can visit nec connect here. www.nfpa.org
