Here's a nicely animated online cable selection tool from ADC KRONE to help your select the right spec cabling for your requirement.
Alan Bullen
Lynx Networks
Showing posts with label fibre optic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fibre optic. Show all posts
Monday, 11 August 2008
Monday, 28 April 2008
I've made the headline news!
I had promised Bicsi I would write 600 words for the BICSI Backdrop section in Networking+, the monthly newspaper for fixed and wireless networks for the enterprise. The deadline was approaching quickly an dI still didn’t have any idea what I was going to write about when an email landed in my Inbox from Profressor Martin Cryan of the University of Bristol. He was after input and support for a technology he is developing for the market. My artical grabbed the interest of the editor of Networking+ and he made the news the front page headine.
Here’s a copy of the piece that I wrote:
The most interesting aspect of our industry is the development that’s happening at the cutting edge. Here’s something that could extend wireless LAN coverage to areas that are currently considered out of reach.
I’ve just heard that it’s possible to send wireless signals over optical fibre cable and then transmit the signal via an antenna without the need of a powered converter. When I first read the email I had received from Dr Martin Cryan of the University of Bristol, I thought I must have misunderstood it; surely you couldn’t convert light into radio signals without a injecting some power. So I phoned Dr Cryan and he confirmed that’s precisely what he’s done.
The device that’s making this possible is a semiconductor component called the Photonic Active Integrated Antenna (PhAIA, pronounced FIRE). It uses low cost VCSEL technology for the optical interface and can operate on multimode or singlemode optical fibre, overcoming the problem of distance associated with copper cables.
The applications under consideration are currently focused on any IEEE 802.11a/b/g WLAN networks where conventional copper cable can’t be used to feed remote access points, and an electrical power source is not available at the far end. For example, for hotspot range extension or long reach connections from central base stations or routers. However, this technology is not restricted to WiFi signals: standards such as UltraWideBand, 3G and UMTS could be implemented using the same fibre networks.
Fibre based systems can have very long reaches and aren’t restricted by earthing considerations, a particular problem when connecting between buildings. It can access difficult coverage areas such as tunnels, underground spaces and hazardous industrial environments where copper cables could create fire hazards.
A major restriction is that the range from the PhAIA antenna to wireless terminal is currently limited to 10 metres unless a power source is provided for the antenna. However, other research may help here. It’s possible that batteries to power the PhAIA could be charged via the fibre cable using another technology currently being developed at the University of Bristol: light transmitted down the fibre, without interfering with the signal, can be converted to electrical power at the remote end to continually trickle-charge a battery. The viability of this will depend on how much traffic the PhAIA has to handle which, in turn, determines the energy requirement.
Dr Cryan plans to develop his research into a business venture and would like to talk to companies involved in fibre-based communication systems to gauge the level of interest and to help him assess the market opportunities. He is building a case to raise investment to get his products to commercial prototype stage.
This is where you may be able to get involved with this cutting edge technology: Dr Cryan needs people to help him assess the technology and maybe runs trials in real systems once the product is at commercial prototype stage.
If you want to be involved, please email me (alan.bullen@lynxnetworks.co.uk) and I’ll put you in touch with Dr Cryan or you can contact him directly (m.cryan@bristol.ac.uk). And if you can’t be involved, don’t forget you heard it here first.
Alan Bullen
Lynx Networks plc
Here’s a copy of the piece that I wrote:
The most interesting aspect of our industry is the development that’s happening at the cutting edge. Here’s something that could extend wireless LAN coverage to areas that are currently considered out of reach.
I’ve just heard that it’s possible to send wireless signals over optical fibre cable and then transmit the signal via an antenna without the need of a powered converter. When I first read the email I had received from Dr Martin Cryan of the University of Bristol, I thought I must have misunderstood it; surely you couldn’t convert light into radio signals without a injecting some power. So I phoned Dr Cryan and he confirmed that’s precisely what he’s done.
The device that’s making this possible is a semiconductor component called the Photonic Active Integrated Antenna (PhAIA, pronounced FIRE). It uses low cost VCSEL technology for the optical interface and can operate on multimode or singlemode optical fibre, overcoming the problem of distance associated with copper cables.
The applications under consideration are currently focused on any IEEE 802.11a/b/g WLAN networks where conventional copper cable can’t be used to feed remote access points, and an electrical power source is not available at the far end. For example, for hotspot range extension or long reach connections from central base stations or routers. However, this technology is not restricted to WiFi signals: standards such as UltraWideBand, 3G and UMTS could be implemented using the same fibre networks.
Fibre based systems can have very long reaches and aren’t restricted by earthing considerations, a particular problem when connecting between buildings. It can access difficult coverage areas such as tunnels, underground spaces and hazardous industrial environments where copper cables could create fire hazards.
A major restriction is that the range from the PhAIA antenna to wireless terminal is currently limited to 10 metres unless a power source is provided for the antenna. However, other research may help here. It’s possible that batteries to power the PhAIA could be charged via the fibre cable using another technology currently being developed at the University of Bristol: light transmitted down the fibre, without interfering with the signal, can be converted to electrical power at the remote end to continually trickle-charge a battery. The viability of this will depend on how much traffic the PhAIA has to handle which, in turn, determines the energy requirement.
Dr Cryan plans to develop his research into a business venture and would like to talk to companies involved in fibre-based communication systems to gauge the level of interest and to help him assess the market opportunities. He is building a case to raise investment to get his products to commercial prototype stage.
This is where you may be able to get involved with this cutting edge technology: Dr Cryan needs people to help him assess the technology and maybe runs trials in real systems once the product is at commercial prototype stage.
If you want to be involved, please email me (alan.bullen@lynxnetworks.co.uk) and I’ll put you in touch with Dr Cryan or you can contact him directly (m.cryan@bristol.ac.uk). And if you can’t be involved, don’t forget you heard it here first.
Alan Bullen
Lynx Networks plc
Friday, 19 October 2007
Cabling standards
OK, I know standards can be dull but adherence to them is crucial if your data cabling is going to support your applications.
Your cabling system should comply with British Standards. I recommend:
• BS EN 50173 series of standards for performance and components
• BS EN 50174 series of standards for design, installation, operation and maintenance
• BS 6701 for installation, operation and maintenance
• BS EN 50310 – grounding and bonding
• BS EN 50346 - testing
Alternative standards for the design and performance of cabling systems are acceptable where a specific need is identified. However care should be exercised since, whilst these standards are harmonised to a greater extent with equivalent British standards, compliance with these standards is dependent upon compliance to cross-referenced standards and this may not always be possible. Examples are:
• ISO/IEC 11801 (International)
• ANSI/TIA/EIA 568-B series of standards (USA)
Particular manufacturers may state compliance to one or more of these standards.
The standards specify a range of Classes or Categories of balanced cabling systems. Amongst these are:
• Class D (comparable with TIA Category 5e) - able to support Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T).
• Class E (comparable with TIA Category 6) - able to support Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T), and able to support 10Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T) to a distance of at least 37m and up to 100m dependent upon the cabling type and the installation.
• Class EA (comparable with TIA Category 6A) and able to support 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T)
• Class F and able to support 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T).
• Class FA and able to support 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T).
Choose the specification that meets the network bandwidth needs for the foreseeable future and fits within the budget. Bear in mind that higher Class / Category cabling usually requires larger containment and pathways as the cables are a larger diameter.
The choice of optical fibre to use will depend on the applications to be supported and the distances over which they are to be transmitted. Guidance is given in the BS EN 50173-1 standard. This refers to optical fibre cabling based upon five main types - OM1, OM2 & OM3 (multimode) and OS1 & OM2 (singlemode) - and the channels over which the applications can be supported as:
• Class OF-300 supporting various applications to ≥ 300m over multimode optical fibre.
• Class OF-500 supporting various applications to ≥ 500m over multimode optical fibre.
• Class OF-2000 supporting various applications to ≥ 2km over multimode optical fibre.
• Class OF-5000 supporting various applications to ≥ 5km over single mode optical fibre.
• Class OF-10000 supporting various applications to ≥ 10km over single mode optical fibre.
I hope this helps.
Alan Bullen
Lynx Networks plc
Your cabling system should comply with British Standards. I recommend:
• BS EN 50173 series of standards for performance and components
• BS EN 50174 series of standards for design, installation, operation and maintenance
• BS 6701 for installation, operation and maintenance
• BS EN 50310 – grounding and bonding
• BS EN 50346 - testing
Alternative standards for the design and performance of cabling systems are acceptable where a specific need is identified. However care should be exercised since, whilst these standards are harmonised to a greater extent with equivalent British standards, compliance with these standards is dependent upon compliance to cross-referenced standards and this may not always be possible. Examples are:
• ISO/IEC 11801 (International)
• ANSI/TIA/EIA 568-B series of standards (USA)
Particular manufacturers may state compliance to one or more of these standards.
The standards specify a range of Classes or Categories of balanced cabling systems. Amongst these are:
• Class D (comparable with TIA Category 5e) - able to support Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T).
• Class E (comparable with TIA Category 6) - able to support Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T), and able to support 10Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T) to a distance of at least 37m and up to 100m dependent upon the cabling type and the installation.
• Class EA (comparable with TIA Category 6A) and able to support 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T)
• Class F and able to support 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T).
• Class FA and able to support 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T).
Choose the specification that meets the network bandwidth needs for the foreseeable future and fits within the budget. Bear in mind that higher Class / Category cabling usually requires larger containment and pathways as the cables are a larger diameter.
The choice of optical fibre to use will depend on the applications to be supported and the distances over which they are to be transmitted. Guidance is given in the BS EN 50173-1 standard. This refers to optical fibre cabling based upon five main types - OM1, OM2 & OM3 (multimode) and OS1 & OM2 (singlemode) - and the channels over which the applications can be supported as:
• Class OF-300 supporting various applications to ≥ 300m over multimode optical fibre.
• Class OF-500 supporting various applications to ≥ 500m over multimode optical fibre.
• Class OF-2000 supporting various applications to ≥ 2km over multimode optical fibre.
• Class OF-5000 supporting various applications to ≥ 5km over single mode optical fibre.
• Class OF-10000 supporting various applications to ≥ 10km over single mode optical fibre.
I hope this helps.
Alan Bullen
Lynx Networks plc
Tuesday, 2 October 2007
Fibre optic Industry Association - Approved Installer Scheme
The Fibre optic Industry Association (FIA) has recently re-launched its approved installer scheme. This has two main purposes: firstly to ensure that customer using an approved installer get a risk-free, high quality installation and secondly, to make it easier for the installer to provide it.
The software supplied to approved installers as part of the scheme ensures that over three hundred potential risks to a project are addressed and alleviated. The FIA now has the task of getting as many installers and integrators as possible join the scheme to give it critical mass, and recognition amongst the users and consultants. The scheme is soundly based on the demands of the BS 6701 and BS EN 50174 Standards.
As believers that standards in IT infrastructure and data cabling need to be maintained, Lynx Networks were the first company to sign up to the scheme.
The software supplied to approved installers as part of the scheme ensures that over three hundred potential risks to a project are addressed and alleviated. The FIA now has the task of getting as many installers and integrators as possible join the scheme to give it critical mass, and recognition amongst the users and consultants. The scheme is soundly based on the demands of the BS 6701 and BS EN 50174 Standards.
As believers that standards in IT infrastructure and data cabling need to be maintained, Lynx Networks were the first company to sign up to the scheme.
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