How to Choose the Right Fiber Optic Cable

Fiber optic cable has become a standard component in a majority of cable infrastructures. This is because it can transport signals across large distances quickly and is immune to electromagnetic interference and radiofrequency interference. How to choose the right fiber optic cable? Here are some factors to consider before you buy optical cable.
1) The first is the type of fiber mode required. There are two options which are single-mode and multimode. Single-mode fiber optic cable is primarily used for extreme bandwidth applications as well as when data must be passed over extremely long distances. Multimode fiber allows each signal to travel in multiple pathways simultaneously. There are several different types of multimode fiber optic cables which offer different levels of bandwidth capacity.
2) The second is how much fiber optic cable is needed. In most cases, it is purchased by reel. The length of cable on each reel can vary from one manufacturer to the next and can exceed 16,000 feet per reel.
3) The third is the fiber cable jackets. The most common jackets available include indoor only, outdoor only, indoor/outdoor, and tactical. Some manufacturers offer customizable colors, while others use a standardized jacket color.
4) The internal construction of the fiber optic cable is important to consider as well. Apart from the plastic optical fiber, there are four basic types of internal construction of common glass optical fiber; however each type can vary based upon customer specifications.

• The first type is referred to as distribution or tight pack. All of the fibers are under a single jacket.
• The second is a breakout or fanout design. Each buffered fiber has its own individual jacket under a larger, overall jacket. This makes it tougher and more durable.
• Another popular internal construction is known as zip cord or assembly. This technique uses one or two buffered fibers in individual jackets. As a general rule, single fiber cable is only recommended for patching. There are also some special ones such as figure 8 fiber optic cable.
• The final option is loose tube. It utilizes non-buffered fibers through a tube filled with a water repellent gel compound.

5) The final factor to consider is the level of flame resistance. Most fiber optic cable has three different grades to choose from. They are general, high, and special. The level of flame resistance is normally determined by testing flame propagation and smoke density values.
While there are a variety of additional factors which need to be considered on a case-by-case basis, the five primary factors remain unchanged. They include the types of fiber mode, fiber cable jackets, internal construction, and level of flame resistance. By focusing on these five factors, it ensures that businesses can quickly identify the right fiber optic cable for their needs.

Properly Installing Fiber Optic Cables

Fiber optic cables are the industry standard for data transmission for telecommunications, computer networking, and home audio components. Due to their many benefits, fiber optic cables remain the prominent choice for video, voice, and audio transmissions.
A fiber optic cable can be installed for acquiring internet access from DSL, Satellite, Dialup and cable connections. A plentiful of amenities offered by fiber optics cable includes faster and reliable data transfer. Installation of fiber optic cable can be a troublesome task. But once properly installed, fiber optic cable has the capability of carrying light wave signals over a long distance in very less time. However if not installed properly, it cannot transfer any signals even from one portion of the building to another.
An appropriate installation requires a systematic knowledge and understanding of the potential and limitations of the cables. It also includes comprehending with the procedures involved while installing and maintaining the cables for their lifetime. The procedure of fiber optics installation involves certain concerns such as the cable must withstand the pulling force required to position the cable on to the right place, and also to the extreme natural conditions for instance hot and humid climate, cold temperature, underground moisture and much more.
It is always beneficial to do initial preparation and forecasting before actual installing the cables. The planning steps should insure the following things.

• All the concerned parties for instance utilities or street department should be aware and endorse the positioning route for the cables.

• While planning for saving cost the route should make use of the existing poles. The cable should ideally occupy the topmost space accessible for communications.

• Proper distance must be preserved among the fiber optic cables and other electrical power cables where common poles are being used.

• Determination of existing dead-end poles should be done beforehand to make sure the sturdiness of the poles.

• Evaluation of splice location is done during the route survey of the cables. It is done to ensure the best possible use of continuous cable without much splices or joints.

• In certain cases where aerial installation needs to be done the weather conditions should be good. It should not be done in drenched conditions. Each and every individual in the working unit should be aware of this.

• The fiber cables should be properly positioned when there are other high voltage cables.

After assuring efficient planning and analyzing, the installation can be achieved in two different ways.

• The first, a steel messenger is first of all positioned among the poles. In order to pull the messenger, a truck and a cable reel trailer are employed. To secure the cable near the messenger, a cable guide and cable lasher are used to enclose the cable in the messenger. The cable is made to form an expansion loop so that it allows for the expansion of the messenger at both the poles. The expansion loop length should be more than twice of the depth. The cable should be positioned in such a way that it maintains its least bending radius all the times.

• The second is direct installation of self-supporting figure 8 fiber optic cable. This greatly makes things easier like positioning cables onto an aerial plant. This cable integrates both the messenger and the cable into sheathing like figure 8 cross section.

FiberStore is a fiber optic cable supplier which offers cables and cable management products. To install fiber optic cables properly, you can come to our website for more information.

Merits and Applications of Fiber Optic Cables

Fiber optic cable consists of glass fibers, allowing for significantly higher transfer speeds compared to copper. The cable uses glass fibers instead of copper wires to transmit conversation and data. Glass cables need to be custom-cut so that they have a nice crisp edge that doesn't scatter the light, but plastic optical fiber can be trimmed on the jobsite.

From a technical standpoint, fiber optic cable consists of a bundle of glass or plastic rods that can transmit data signals. Fiber optic cable can send and receive in both analog and digital formats, and can carry video, voice, and internet packets. Some new cable designers will actually provide built-in bend limits to protect the glass within. The light beam bounces off the side of the glass or plastic fibers in the cable, which are thinner than a human hair. The light does not pass through the wall of the fiber, but is reflected back in and travels along to the end of the fiber.

The fiber optic cables have clear advantages over the copper cables. There is more security, and the fiber optic cables are more reliable than any other wire available. However, they have some disadvantages too. While copper wires can be spliced and mended as many times as needed, it is much harder to fix glass fiber optic cables. And this time it's not all dependent on one market. Theoretical work showing that light loss in glass fibers could be decreased dramatically spurred experimental efforts to produce such fibers. Researchers continued exploring techniques to decrease light loss in optical fibers. Fiber-optic cables are not crimped, soldered, or twisted together when they are repaired. If the cable is broken, another cable must be cut to fit between the two connectors.
Whatever, fiber optic cable is a wonderful thing. It can transmit almost insane amounts of data per second , and it is completely impervious to surges, magnetic fields , lightning , and all the other EM nasties that can affect copper cable. Fiber optic data transmission uses light in glass fiber cable as a communication medium. It is ideal for spanning areas with severe interference, such as near heavy electrical equipment, welding or radio transmissions.

Fiber optic cable is the main choice for high speed Internet connections and the primary material used for country to country or continent to continent Internet connections. Fiber optic cable can be installed easily from point to point, passing right next to major sources of EMI with no effect. Conversion from copper networks is easy with media converters, gadgets that convert most types of systems to fiber optics. Fiber optic cable is now being used to transport both video and audio signals for short and long distances. It carries multiple services throughout campus including: voice, video, cable TV, and data. In addition to having the fiber cable in place, newer fiber cable TV distribution equipment became more readily available at a reduced cost. The fiber optic cable and lens allows the instrument electronics to be kept away from the target environment where it would be subjected to higher temperatures, smoke, dust, steam or powerful electromagnetic emissions such as generated by induction heating. Both the stainless steel lens and rugged cable assembly can be replaced in the field without returning the instrument for calibration.

Because of the wide range applications of fiber optic cables, Network operators are looking to recoup the cost of the fiber optic cable and other infrastructure pieces that make a high-speed Internet possible. They argue that the upgrades are necessary to deliver such innovations as high-definition video-on-demand and high-quality teleconferencing. FiberStore fiber optic cables provide superior tensile strength and resistance to cut-through and abrasion while maintaining flexibility. Whether common fiber cables or POF cable, figure of 8 cable and other special cables are right for sale with best price.

Tips for Aerial Fiber Optic Cable Installation

Fiber optic cable aerial installation is very common in optical communication these days. For technicians, there are some tips as following.
Firstly, we should make it clear that what problems we might meet during the installation.
There are mostly three common problems. Dead end pole is a utility pole on which self-supporting figure 8 fiber optic cable or a steel messenger is tensioned and terminated into a dead-end fixture. Messenger span refers to the length of continuous steel messenger tensioned between two dead-end poles. Intermediate poles are all the poles between two dead-end poles.
Secondly, we should make a plan before the installation.
Careful planning and preparation are necessary before any aerial cable installations. During the cable route survey, representatives from all necessary parties including utilities, street depart, etc should be present. Before even detailed planning begins, approval should be get from all involved parties. Sufficient clearance for new cable along the right of way should be confirmed during the route survey. Existing poles should be used whenever possible in order to save cost.
Where on a pole to place the aerial fiber optic cable? Fiber optic cables weigh less than equivalent copper cables and also sag less, so fiber optic cables should occupy the uppermost available communications space on a pole. Sufficient clearances must be maintained between fiber optic cables and electrical power cables on joint-use poles. You need to refer to current National Electrical Safety Code for the proper clearances. Existing dead-end pole must be evaluated to see whether they can withstand the stresses during aerial cable installation. You have to evaluate whether temporary guying is needed in order to relieve the temporary unbalanced loading during cable installation.
Splice locations are usually selected during the cable route survey. They are chosen to allow for the longest possible continuous cable spans and a minimum number of splices. They should be easily accessible to a splicing vehicle. Aerial installation should never be done in wet conditions. And make sure all personnel are properly trained for pole line work. Fiber optic cables (including all dielectric cables) should be properly grounded when installed in the vicinity of high-voltage power cables.
Lastly, it comes to the installation. In fact, there are two ways for aerial installation.
Lashing a fiber optic cable to a steel messenger
A steel messenger is first installed between the poles. Then a cable reel trailer and truck are used to pull the cable along the messenger. A cable guide and cable lasher are used to wrap around both the messenger and the fiber cable to secure the fiber cable to the messenger. Following the cable lasher is an aerial bucket truck which makes necessary adjustments. At each pole, the fiber optic cable forms an expansion loop to allow for expansion of the messenger. The expansion loop's sizes have both a length and a depth, its length should be larger than twice its depth. The fiber cable should also maintain its minimum bending radius at all times.
Direct installation of self-supporting figure 8 aerial fiber optic cables
Figure of 8 cable greatly simplifies the task of placing fiber optic cables onto a aerial plant. The self-supporting figure-8 cable incorporates both a steel messenger and the fiber cable into a single jacket of Figure-8 cross section. The combination of strand and optical fiber into a single cable allows rapid one-step installation and results in a more durable aerial plant.
As figure 8 cables may be used in the aerial fiber optic cable installation, we recommen the fiber optic cable supplier FiberStore to you. There you can buy optical cable with good price.

How Much Do You Know About Plastic Optical Fibers?

Plastic optical fiber, or POF, has been overshadowed in the last decade by the success of glass optical fiber. As a result, POF had been relegated to low bit rate and short distance applications. Recent technological advances and the emergence of a killer application in the automotive industry have propelled POF into the limelight of a lower cost alternative to glass fiber or copper at medium distances and bit rates of 10 gbps. This paper reviews the history of POF , the technical developments that have created a buzz about POF, and the applications which are propelling POF into the mainstream. In addition, POF technology exhibits similar properties attributed to "Disruptive technologies".
When people hear of optical fibers, they immediately think of glass. Few people, including professionals in the business, know about plastic optical fibers (POFs), which predate those made of glass. Because glass fibers have certain advantages, they have dominated the market, while POFs have remained largely in the background. Recent developments in technology and applications, however, have burnished the image of POFs, and they are finding a larger market with technology companies worldwide. Today, a new enthusiasm permeates the plastics side of optical fibers. The paper reviews the development if plastic optical fibers, emerging applications, and technological developments.
POFs compete with copper wires, coaxial cables, glass optical fibers, and wireless, and they require a transmitter, receiver, cables, and connectors similar to those used in glass optical-fiber links. Manufacturers form POFs out of plastic materials such as polystyrene, polycarbonates, and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). These materials have transmission windows in the visible range (520-780 nm).
However, the loss of light transmitted at these wavelengths is high, ranging from 150 dB/km for PMMA to 1,000 dB/km for polystyrene and polycarbonates. These losses often handicap plastic fibers in competing against high-quality glass fibers, which have losses of 0.2 dB/km for a single-mode fiber and less than 3 dB/km for multimode fibers. Hence, plastic fibers have been relegated to short-distance applications, typically of a few hundred meters or less, compared with the hundreds of kilometers for glass. Nonetheless, POFs have found many applications in areas such as industrial controls, automobiles, sensors for detecting high-energy particles, signs, illumination (including lighting works of art in museums), and short data links. Basically, POF applications divide into data-communication and non-data applications (sensors and signs, for example). Today, the surge in POF production stems from its use in data transmission.
What are the advantages of POF? Certain users find POF systems provide benefits compared to glass fiber or copper wire, which include:
• simpler and less expensive components
• lighter weight
• operation in the visible
• greater flexibility, and resiliency to bending, shock and vibration
• immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI)
• ease in handling and connecting
• use of simple and inexpensive test equipment
• greater safety than glass fibers or fiber slivers that require a laser light source
• transceivers require less power than copper transceivers
FiberStore is a fiber optic cable supplier from which you can custom plastic optical fiber that fits your needs. It provides both simplex and duplex plastic optical fibers. The standard color is black, and other colors are available upon request.

Three Types of Figure 8 Fiber Optic Cables Offered by FiberStore

Figure 8 cable is used for aerial and pole installation. FiberStore supplies figure 8 cables with extra protection against rodents or shotguns, coming with different span lengths and handling several hundred fibers. There are mainly three types of figure 8 fiber optic cables as following.
GYTC8A Figure 8 Cable

The fibers are positioned in a loose tube made of a high modulus plastics. The tubes are filled with a water-resistant filling compound. A steel wire locates in the center of core as a metallic strength member. The tubes (and fillers) are stranded around the strength member into a compact and circular cable core. After an Aluminum Polyethylene Laminate (APL) moisture barrier is applied around the cable core, this part of cable accompanied with the stranded wires as the supporting part are completed with a polyethylene(PE) sheath to be figure 8 structure.
GYXTC8Y Figure 8 Cable

GYXTC8Y Figure 8 Cable features 2-24 fibers, jelly filled, fiber contained central loose tube, armored by a layer of copolymer coated steel wire, water blocking tape, PE outer sheath, figure 8 type, the suspension line (1.2x3=3.6mm), 7 steel wires stranded together. G652D SM fiber, detailed specification on your request.
GYXTC8S Figure 8 Cable

GYXTC8S Figure 8 Cable features the centrally situated loose tube with good excess length and minimize the influence of lateral crush. The water resistant tape provides water tight property. Corrugated steel tape armor and the PE outer sheath of GYXTC8S fiber optic cable provide crush resistance and gun shot resistance. The cross section shows figure 8. Stranded wires as self supporting member providing excellent strain performance and convenient installation for this GYXTC8S fiber cable.
View more features about figure of 8 cable.