This article is about Installation techniques of residential telecommunication infrastructure for telecommunication engineers, supervisor and technicians. It also explains about SAES-T-570.
Installation of Telecommunications Cabling: Essential Considerations
With the advent of advanced communication technologies, it has become essential for businesses to ensure that their telecommunications cabling is installed correctly. A well-installed cabling system helps to ensure the highest level of performance, and also reduces the risk of costly repairs and downtime. In this article, we will discuss the essential considerations when installing telecommunications cabling.
Cable Placement General Considerations
To protect the public network and active equipment, premises cabling should be disconnected at the demarcation point or ADO during cabling maintenance. Other electrical sources (e.g., a low voltage transformer) should also be disconnected.
It is important to provide a physically well-ordered placement of cable and components, followed by a visual inspection. A well-organized cable placement directly affects visual identification and correction of faults, as well as simplifying moves, adds, and changes.
The maximum pulling tension for a 4-pair 24-AWG UTP cable should not exceed 110 N (25 lbf). Cables should be terminated with connecting hardware of the same category or higher, and only remove as much cable jacket as required to terminate connecting hardware in order to maintain the cable geometry.
Firestopping and Secondary Protection
All major pathways should be suitably firestopped as per applicable building codes. When a secondary protector is installed, it should be installed in series with the indoor telecommunications cabling between the primary protector and the distribution device. Secondary protectors should be listed for the purpose and should be compatible with the primary protector.
Electromagnetic Compatibility
In order to further reduce noise coupling from electrical power wiring and motors or transformers, the following installation practices for metallic telecommunications cable should be considered:
- Increased physical separation.
- Electrical branch circuit line, neutral, and grounding conductors should be maintained close together (e.g., twisted, sheathed, taped, or bundled together) for minimizing inductive coupling into telecommunications cabling.
- If telecommunications cable comes within close proximity of electrical power wiring, it is recommended that they cross at 90-degree angles.
- Use of surge protectors in branch circuits that can further limit the propagation of electrical surges.
- Use of fully enclosed, grounded metallic raceway or grounded conduit.
100-Ohm UTP Cabling
When installing 100-ohm UTP cabling, the minimum bend radius for outlet cable should not be less than four times the cable diameter. The maximum pulling tension should not exceed 110 N (25 lbf). All connecting hardware used with UTP cable should meet the transmission and reliability requirements of TIA-568-B.2. At outlet locations, UTP cable should be terminated on an eight-position T568A telecommunications outlet/connector.
75-Ohm Coaxial Cabling
The minimum bend radius for coaxial cable should not be less than that recommended by the manufacturer. The maximum pulling tension of coaxial cable is dependent on the size and material of the center conductor. Pulling tension should not exceed the guidelines in Table 2.
Cable and Connecting Hardware
Cable and connecting hardware refer to the various components used to install and maintain electrical, communications, and data networks. This includes cables, connectors, patch cords, and equipment that are used to connect two or more devices. Cable and connecting hardware are used in a wide range of applications, including data centers, home networks, and telecommunications systems.
Types of Cable and Connecting Hardware
There are several types of cable and connecting hardware available, each designed for specific purposes and applications. Unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cabling, 75-ohm coaxial cabling, and fiber-optic cabling are some of the more common types of cable and connecting hardware.
Unshielded Twisted-Pair (UTP) Cabling
Unshielded twisted-pair cabling is the most commonly used type of cable and connecting hardware. It is a form of copper wiring that is composed of two insulated copper wires twisted together. UTP cabling is used for both voice and data networks, and meets the requirements of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) standard TIA-568-B.2. UTP cabling is used in a variety of applications, including home networks and data centers.
Equipment and Patch Cords
Equipment and patch cords are used to connect two or more devices. Equipment and patch cords must meet the requirements of TIA-568-B.2 for UTP cabling. These cords are widely used in data centers, home networks, and telecommunications systems.
Connecting Hardware
Connecting hardware is used to terminate UTP cable at outlet locations. These hardware components must meet the transmission and reliability requirements of TIA-568-B.2. Connecting hardware includes eight-position telecommunications outlet/connectors, which must meet the modular interface requirements of IEC 60603-7 and the pin-pair assignment configuration of T568A as specified in TIA-568-B.2.
75-ohm Coaxial Cabling
Coaxial cabling is a type of cable and connecting hardware used in cable television (CATV) and satellite systems. It is composed of a central core conductor surrounded by insulation and a metal shield. Coaxial cabling must meet the requirements of the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) standard IPS-SP-001 or ANSI/SCTE 15 2001 up to a bandwidth of 1000 MHz for CATV or 2200 MHz for satellite.
Fiber-Optic Cabling
Fiber-optic cabling is used in high-speed data transmission applications. It is composed of flexible strands of glass or plastic, which are often surrounded by insulation and a protective jacket. Fiber-optic cabling must meet the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard TIA/EIA-568-B.3.
What is Structural Return Loss?
Structural return loss (SRL) is a method of measuring reflections in coaxial cable, as opposed to return loss (RL) which is used to measure twisted-pair cables. This type of measurement considers the characteristic impedance of the cable, rather than the design impedance as a reference. To meet the minimum requirements of SRL, coaxial cables should achieve a minimum of 20 dB from 5 to 1000 MHz, and 15 dB from 1000 to 2200 MHz.
Characteristic Impedance of Coaxial Cable
The characteristic impedance of coaxial cables should be 75 ±3 ohms. This means that the impedance of the cable should be within 78 ohms and 72 ohms.
Environmental Requirements for Series 6 Cable
Series 6 cables should be capable of operating in temperatures ranging from -20°C to +60°C. For plenum cables, the lower temperature limit is 0°C. If the environment exceeds the 60°C temperature limit, the cable should indicate the appropriate temperature rating.
Coaxial Cable Connector Requirements
Series 6 cables should be equipped with F-type connectors that meet the requirements of ANSI/SCTE 01 1996 R2001. Compression connectors are recommended. For outdoor environments, either F-type or N-type connectors should be sealed.
Termination Requirements
Each energized but unused coaxial connector should be terminated with a 75-ohm impedance matching termination device. In addition, each energized unused coaxial cable should also be terminated with a 75-ohm impedance matching termination device.
Structural return loss is a method of measuring reflections in coaxial cable, and is used to determine the quality of a cable. To meet the requirements for SRL, coaxial cables should achieve a minimum of 20 dB from 5 to 1000 MHz, and 15 dB from 1000 to 2200 MHz. The characteristic impedance of coaxial cables should be 75 ±3 ohms. Series 6 cables should be capable of operating in temperatures ranging from -20°C to +60°C. For outdoor environments, either F-type or N-type connectors should be sealed. Finally, each energized but unused coaxial connector and cable should be terminated with a 75-ohm impedance matching termination device.
Conclusion
Installing telecommunications cabling correctly is essential for businesses to ensure the highest levels of performance. It is important to consider the general considerations, firestopping and secondary protection, electromagnetic compatibility, 100-ohm UTP cabling, 75-ohm coaxial cabling, and optical fiber cabling when installing telecommunications cabling. Following the guidelines outlined in this article will help to ensure the best possible performance from your telecommunications cabling.
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