atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Fiber questions

What do y'all use for fiber (6-24 strand, multimode) when pulling thru existing conduit that has other cables in it? The conduit goes in the ground, thru a pull box, and very well could have water in it. I am looking for something that's easy to work with (sticky-less gel or something like that), small in diameter, and easy to identify as fiber optic cable (orange jacket?)

I am also wondering, because I can't seem to remember, what the maximum bandwidth on MM fiber is? Will it support multi-gigabit? Does it simply depend on the equipment at either end? I doubt that, as I am sure there is a maximum bandwidth that can be obtained on MM fiber. I see on a couple manufacturers' sites that there are a couple different versions of MM fiber. Can either be terminated using "MM" connectors, or do they each require their own type of connector, similar to how SM fiber requires a SM connector?

Thanks!

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| Signal Communication Systems - Fresno, CA |

| Telephone Systems, Voicemail Syste... & Data Cabling - Central Valley, CA

it depends what the application is for.

if it calls for connects switchs (data) i usually run 4 strand riser....

fiber is cheap....

AND I ALWAYS USE HOTMELT CONNECTORS...3M

not hard...not messy...and lasts furever...

Unless the customer specifies less, we run 6 strand minimum. Never know when a strand might break or they decide they need more.

There are 2 sizes of multimode fiber, 50 & (if I remember) 62.5, they need different sizes of connector.

When we pull fiber into conduit containing other cables, we always use innerduct to protect it. In a pinch where the conduit was tight, we used 1/2" black plastic polyethylene water pipe which is better than nothing. I would check with Optical Cable Corporation of Roanoke, VA. They have a pretty impressive array of specialty cables with dry filling compound.

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Ed
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How come there's always enough time to go back and fix it a second time?

Any feedback on the bandwidth/speed?

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| Signal Communication Systems - Fresno, CA |

| Telephone Systems, Voicemail Syste... & Data Cabling - Central Valley, CA

It’s been a long time since I have been to fiber school (1993). The limiting factor Pulses Per Second (Bandwidth) in MM is the length of the fiber. Think of MM as a five lane road. Two cars are diving down the road at the same speed. The first card goes strait down the center lane. The second car swerves form the left lane to the right lane to left to right etc. The farther down the road the farther behind the second card becomes. The farther down the fiber a pulse travels the photons become more spread out. The higher the PPS rate the closer together the pulses have to be and the less distance down the fiber the pulses have to go before being blurred together. Single Mode fiber is like a one lane road. The pulses do not spread out.

So compare SM and MM. I know SM goes farther. What about short runs and quality/bandwidth? Don't most people run MM for the shorter runs?

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| Signal Communication Systems - Fresno, CA |

| Telephone Systems, Voicemail Syste... & Data Cabling - Central Valley, CA

If memory serves MM can be run with LED units and SM needs true lasers.

What you're looking for is indoor/outdoor tight bufer rated fiber. I would recommend 50 micron unless customer already has 62.5 on site. If customer has existing 62.5 than use a 62.5 laser rated fiber since almost all switches with fiber GBIC ports are now using laser sources.
email me if need more help. I can get you a spec sheet on exactly what you want.


[This message has been edited by aweaver (edited April 27, 2005).]

Doesn't that require a fan-out kit? I've only attempted at installing a fan-out kit once, on gel-filled cable. It wasn't pretty. Not much service loop left when I was done.

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| Signal Communication Systems - Fresno, CA |

| Telephone Systems, Voicemail Syste... & Data Cabling - Central Valley, CA