but can also reduce the effective length of a cabling link or
channel. Common causes of excessive return loss are plugs or
jacks from vendors that aren’t compatible with each other,
multiple connectors on a channel and poor contact between
the cable conductor and contact of the connector (bad
termination).
The broadband debate...
35
these reasons, no major cable or connector manufacturer will
accept test results from a qualifier for their cable certification
or warranty programmes.
Certifier or qualifier
An installer can easily check whether a tester is a certifier
or qualifier. A tester is considered a certifier if it meets ISO/
Beyond fault-finding
IEC 61935 and TIA 1152-A accuracy requirements and has
As well Not
as finding
faults
in components
the installation
Level
verified
accuracy.
Or, if down
the tester
measures
a month
goes
by without or someone
finding a new ETL
way
to III/IIIe
send vast
amounts
of data
a single
fibre, but how will
itself, certifiers
determine
the true broadband
performance make
of an installed
PSNEXT,
Loss, Insertion
Loss and
and
ever-present
high-speed
a difference NEXT,
to our
Internet Return
experience?
We could
be ACR-F,
interconnected
with experts from
cabling system. Even where products appear to be labelled
specifies a test frequency range of at least 500 MHz, then it’s
all conceivable professions, accessing scientific and everyday
equipment all over the globe, reaching communities of all shapes
with a suitable rating, without field certification there’s no
a certifier.
and sizes, using all sorts of new applications and services — all in real time. High-speed broadband can enable our projects to
way of knowing if the actual performance matches what has
While certifiers are the best tool to guarantee installed
be adopted across both our business and social lives, cabling
and the
only effective way to deliver this future is with a fibre optic-based
been advertised.
meets the stringent performance requirements
infrastructure.Tech
investment
is
hitting
record
highs
in
the
UK
and
essential
of this booming
To ensure the components purchased provide the required
defined by the the
ISO/IEC
and foundation
ANSI/TIA standards
bodies, growth is access to
broadband.
In
an
ideal
world
the
whole
of
the
United
Kingdom’s
telecoms
network
would
be
based
off a pure fibre optic network,
performance, installers should choose reputable brands.
installers should remember that a cable certifier is only
but
in
reality
it
makes
more
economic
sense
to
upgrade
what
already
exists.
Convincing
stakeholders
However, premium brand components don’t completely
an essential test tool on jobs where a certifier or cable that fibre is a necessary
eliminate
risk, so installations
should
be tested There
with a is certifier
manufacturer
warranty to is help
required.
This is typically
only the case for fibre. The good
investment
is yet another
obstacle.
a clear role
here for providers
demonstrate
the business
to prove
they is
meet
case optic
in 25%
of jobs.
The
rest of to the
time, a but
cable
network
news
that the
all performance
of the major standard.
operators are bringing fibre
cables
ever
closer
homes,
we and
need
to focus on take-up of
transmission
tester can
be used
to create
superfast broadband by businesses, not just consumers.
In ten or twenty
years
we might
be comprehensive
able to replace the last few metres of
Why not qualify?
proof of performance reports to industry recognised
copper and coax with a true fibre optic connection, but
time will tell.
Unlike rigidly standardised certification, cable qualification
standards.
has no Enjoy
defined the
tests
or performance and accuracy
Certifiers are extremely important for finding faulty
issue.
specifications in the standards organisations. The
components and sources of installation mistakes, as well as
manufacturer
of the LAN qualifier simply decides what to test,
helping to ensure that the materials are genuine, high-quality
Nick Wells
how accurate the instrument is and how to report the results.
products and meeting customer requirements for warranties.
This means
from one
brand of qualifier can’t be
However, installers should always carefully match their choice
Editor the – results
Netcomms
Europe
compared to another. Plus, without a definition for pass/fail
of tester to the needs of the job to ensure efficient and
limits, what does it mean when a qualifier fails a cable? For
profitable operations. n
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The automated R&MinteliPhy solution
continuously monitors each connection
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networks, a (remote) central server
records cabling status. The AIM-based
solution has functions for management,
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R&MinteliPhy is easy to retrofit and
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More info: [email protected]
Convincing cabling solutions
* Source: Watson & Fulton
** Source: Frost & Sullivan
www.netcommseurope.com
www.networkseuropemagazine.com
NETCOMMS europe Volume V Issue 3 2015