What type of cable should you use for your security cameras?

As you know security cameras are everywhere, have you ever wanted to know what kind of cable they use? The most common cable installed is a "Siamese Cable" that consist of a RG59 coax cable for the camera signal and a 18 gauge 2 conductor cable for the power. The jacket on the "Siamese Cable" covers both of these different cables now making it one cable and easier to pull and install.



When the 2 cables have to split at the security digital video recorder the RG59 cable gets terminated with a BNC male coax connector and the 18/2 cable attaches to a power supply. If you have multiple cameras that need power you might want to consider installing a master power supply to help keep your installation clean and organized.


It's cool how the master power supply has a fuse for each channel in case of a surge in power, you pop the fuse not your camera.

"By Mercy Salinas"

12 strand fiber optic cable by Corning Cable Systems

As you know Corning has a few different types of 12 strand fiber optic cables. Right now we're going to get to know Corning part number 012K8F-31130-29 much better.

This number is part of the FREEDM ONE design. It's flame retardant, UV resistant and the indoor/outdoor rating allows for aerial, duct and direct burial applications with no need for a transition splice when entering the building.

The tight-buffered construction facilitates easier termination for low fiber count applications in your local area network and eliminates the need for fan out kits. Color coded to the TIA-598 standard for easy identification.

The small diameter and bend radius of the cable also allows for easy installation in space constrained areas while the innovative water blocking technology is ideal for outside plant applications. The all dielectric cable construction requires no grounding or bonding and the jacket is rugged, durable and easy to strip.

Let's get a better look at this cable from our YouTube Channel



Now that you know Corning part number 012K8F-31130-29 is more than a 12 strand, tight buffered, riser rated, 62.5 multimode cable, I think your ready to pull that fiber.

"By Mercy Salinas"

AFL Fujikura 12S Fiber Optic Fusion Splicer

Finally! A new fusion splicer to brag about, over the past few years fusion splicers have come around but they've all had that boring, bulky and dull nothing to see here feeling to them. The new Fujikura 12S is, kinda sexy.

This new fusion splicer is now the smallest, lightest and most portable splicer in the world! The chassis features shock, dust and moister protection, excellent for those rugged fiber optic cable installations.

The two camera observation system provides for accurate fiber optic alignment and loss estimation calculations.

Weighing less than two pounds and a footprint of 6 inches by 5 inches this provides an awesome level of flexibility in the most demanding splicing environments. The big 4.5 inch monitor is scratch resistant and is viewable in direct sunlight! You can update the software via the internet and I really enjoyed the long battery life, you can get up to 100 splice cycles which include the application of the splice protection sleeve!

Sold in three different ways. You can purchase the 12S fusion splicer without a cleaver. Part number S015521 .

You can also purchase the 12S with a CT-10 cleaver. Part number S015530 .



If your looking for a cleaver that will also do ribbon fiber then you'll want part number S015522 and that includes the top dog cleaver, the CT-30.



All three part numbers include the transit case, screwdriver, battery pack, alcohol container and other items.

It's a real cool fusion splicer and the pricing is excellent. For more information on the 12S Fusion Splicer you can contact Mercy Salinas at 888-797-3697 extension 232. If you have a quick question you can also comment below. Thanks!

"By Mercy Salinas"

Going to climb a tower? Are you crazy!

Some of our tower installation contractors have let us know about some of their favorite tower climbing YouTube videos, so I though I'd pass them on to you. I don't know how these guys do it, I'll climb a ladder to hang Christmas lights and that's as high as I'm going.

Very cool stuff, you get a great workout and a good view. Please be careful.

"By Mercy Salinas"

SC Fiber Optic Cable Connector Overview

The SC (Subscriber Connector) style has numerous types of standards recognizing simplex and duplex connectors and adapters. Standards recognizing the SC are FDDI, Fibre Channel, broadband ISDN, ATM and Gigabit Ethernet.

As you can tell the SC fiber optic connector has a square style front face and is easily confused with it's smaller relative the LC connector. Let's take a look at some of the advantages of the SC connector.

• Available as a simplex connector that can be converted to a duplex connector using a clip.
• Recommended by a large number of standards.
• Offers pull-proof feature.
• Great packing density, design reduces the chance of the fiber face damage during connection.
• Keyed, low loss, pull and wiggle proof.
• Terminated using quick cure epoxy, cleave and crimp and hot melt. 

Typically what you'll find at a subscribers location is the bulk horizontal or backbone cable side ends it's run in the facilities telecommunications closet. Your SC connectors will then be managed in a fiber optic enclosure. Let's check out one of my favorites by Corning.


Then the information technology manager, will manage his end using fiber optic patch jumpers that plug into an adapter panel that sits in the fiber optic enclosure.

The SC interface is very commonly used when using media converters to convert copper to fiber, then fiber to copper. The big disadvantage of the SC interface is it does not feature an SFF (Small Form Factor) design.

The SFF design commonly uses the LC interface, so if you have an application where the backbone cable needs to be plugged directly into a switch the LC connector will be required. It's still recommended that you use a fiber enclosure, you could just get a fiber jumper with SC on one end and the LC on the other.

"By Mercy Salinas"