RGBHV cable with BNC connectors and RCA connectors

If your in the professional broadcasting industry RGBHV cables are a must have for many different kinds of high definition applications. If your broadcasting coaxial cabling infrastructure consist of high quality HD-SDI coax cables such as Belden 1694A or 1855A your probably going to make sure your RGBHV cable is also on the same level as the rest of your infrastructure.




These assemblies are available in many different lengths, assembled in America using an American made coaxial cable, (The parent company of Tappen is Southwire, they make kick-ass wire). If image quality is a top priority why cut corners.

"By Mercy Salinas"

Corning CamSplice mechanical splice tool overview and How To

I just want to talk about this tool by Corning as an easy and effective way to mechanically splice fiber optic cable.



Let's check out some of the features.

* No adhesive or epoxy required
* Reduces splice time with no curing needed
* Universal one part fits all fiber coatings
* No polishing required
* Reduces installation time
* Fiber alignment mechanism
* Self centers the fiber for low loss

Now let's figure out how to splice fiber optic cable.



It's a very simple process and I know you can do it. Just a quick tip, if your repairing a direct burial fiber it's recommended that you replace the cable at least 30 feet in each direction so you'll have to do as least 2 splices per strand of fiber.

"By Mercy Salinas"

   

Introduction to your MTP fiber optic cable polarity wiring

If your getting into MTP cables you need to know what type of polarity you need to configure these cables to, a good place to start is with the TIA-568-C.O standard. This standard provides guidance on serial transmission fiber polarity for fiber networks installing MTP optical connectivity. Each 12 strand MTP connector is divided into six 2 strand fiber optic serial circuits that require polarity management that can be achieved using one of a few methods.

I'm going to start you out with what so far seems to be the most popular polarity pinout, this would be the "Universal Polarity Management Method" and is used in many Corning fiber networks. It seems to be a little odd that this would be the most popular so far because the universal method is not included in the TIA standard but it does meets the "intent of the standard" that's according to Corning. Makes good sense that this would be most popular because Corning seems to be the biggest giant in the fiber optic cable market.

This system is mated key-up to key-down. This method supports simple concatenation of multiple trunks without effecting polarity. Accommodates all simplex/duplex connector types. The components related to your MTP connector will also allow for easy moves without polarity concerns used in other methods.

The next most common polarity pinout method I see is "Method B". This uses a single module type wired in a straight-through configuration and standard patch cords on each end. One thing that will stand out to you is how all the components in the system are key-up to key-up. This method will require more planning for your modules location. This method also does not accommodate angle polished single mode connectors. It's also a common method in Commscope fiber optic network infrastructures.

Now thinking about it, the next method is not far behind after looking at my sales history of MTP cables. Let's talk about "Method A". This uses a single type wired in a "Straight-Through" configuration and two different patch cords in a optical circuit. One cord is straight and the other is flipped. All components in the channel are mated key-up to key-down. Because the polarity is addressed in the patch cords the end user is responsible for managing the network.

The last method I'm going to brush on is "Method C". This uses a pair wise fiber flip in the trunk cable to correct for polarity. This will enable the use of the same module on both ends of the channel and standard patch cables. Because the polarity is managed in the trunk, extending links requires more planning to maintain polarity. The TIA standard does not mention text regarding the ability to migrate to parallel optics, but parallel optics capability can easily be achieved with a special patch cord to reverse the pair-wise fiber flips in the trunk.

Now that you have a better under standing of what polarity you might need I'll be waiting for your phone call when your ready to order these! 888-797-3697 ex. 232

"By Mercy Salinas"

Coax Cable or Fiber Optic Cable for your HD-SDI HDTV signal

We've been getting more involved with broadcasting lately and I've been bumping into the HD-SDI SMPTE 292M standard. I thought these two videos shed some good light on the matter, the coax video compares three of our most popular broadcasting coaxial cable and how far a HD-SDI signal can be carried over each cable. The second video is an overview of a broadcast deployable fiber cable for harsh environments such as laying on a football field sideline during a snowstorm, being stepped on, coiled and uncoiled and whatever else the broadcasting life throws at it.





I'm glad the Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineers have been working so hard over the past few years on establishing these standards. I love high definition television, especially when watching the NFL.

Comment below! Thanks!

"By Mercy Salinas"

Fiber Optic Cable for a Wind Farm? What cable to use?

Recently we've been been moving fiber optic cables into the green energy market and in a previous post we got into it regarding Solar Power Towers . The long term view from the US department of Energy is a commitment to renewable energy, so not only will you see the expansion of these solar power towers but also wind farms.

Are wind farms a new thing? No, the San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm development began in the early 80's. You figured a standardized fiber optic cable type by now would have been established but it doesn't appear that way. I looked into Corning, AFL and General Cable and I don't see any type of fiber optic cable designed for this specific application.

So what fiber cable is going to be a good fit for your wind farm application? I'm going to put money down on a tight buffered indoor/outdoor cable.



Why not! The majority of the cable is not exposed externally, cable runs from the top in the pole to the base then runs underground with other cables. The most commonly installed cable for cell tower applications is the indoor/outdoor tight buffered construction. Because it runs vertically you don't want a loose tube and since it has no aluminum, copper or any metal your don't have to worry about interference from the electrical cables from the wind farm.

The data rates look to be 10/100 so a 62.5 multimode cable will cover you up to around 2 kilometers, anything over that singlemode get's involved. I don't think the fiber cable should be a complicated part of this type of installation. Fiber cable from a cell tower, data center, home, wind farm all does the same thing by getting a signal from point A to B.

I'm going to work on getting my foot in the door at the San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm since they're right down the street from me, I could be wrong and maybe it's a completely different cable. I'll work on verifying the cable that's being installed and if you work at a wind farm please comment! It'll be much appreciated.

"By Mercy Salinas"