Cabling Chronicles
What You Should Know About VSFF Connectors
Fiber density is exploding as data centers pack in more servers, switches, and storage to handle massive data and emerging high-performance computing (HPC) applications like AI, with clusters that can encompass hundreds or even thousands of interconnected graphics processing units (GPUs). New very small form factor (VSFF) connectors are emerging as potential game-changers to maximize space in these high-density environments. Let’s look at how these VSFF connectors differ from traditional fiber connectors and the various applications where they’re used.
May 27, 2025
DC Resistance Unbalance: What You Need to Know
ANSI/TIA-568.2 Balanced Twisted pair Telecommunications Cabling and Components Standard cabling standards have now caught up and specify DC resistance unbalance for Category 5e, Category 6, and Category 6A cabling channels. While DC resistance unbalance is still not required for field testing, now is a good time to revisit this essential parameter, why you should test for it, and how to perform these tests effectively.
May 20, 2025
Easier Fiber End Face Inspections: Key Changes to IEC 61300-3-35
It's crucial to inspect, clean, and reinspect fiber end faces before mating connectors — whether on patch cords and trunks within the network or on the test reference cord you connect to your tester. Contaminated fiber end faces can cause signal loss and reflections that degrade network performance. They can also transfer dirt to clean ports, including those on expensive network equipment.
April 30, 2025
How to Simplify Wi-Fi Analysis with LinkIQ™ Duo
Understanding your Wi-Fi environment is the key to delivering a seamless wireless experience for users. Whether you’re determining the best location and configuration for a new wireless access point (AP), fine-tuning existing APs as the environment changes, or troubleshooting common issues, having a clear picture of your WLAN is essential.
January 28, 2025
An Interview with BICSI Board President Dave Richards, the Visionary Behind the BICSI Cabling Skills Challenge
In 2007, the BICSI Board of Directors formed the NextGen Working Group to develop creative initiatives that would attract the next generation of ICT professionals. As a member of that group, David Richards, RCDD, NTS, OSP, TECH, proposed an annual competition that would highlight the skills and dedication of cabling professionals, raise the bar for industry standards and best practices, and promote BICSI’s world-renowned Cabling Installation Program. The result: the BICSI Cabling Skills Challenge, now in its 17th year.
January 14, 2025
LinkIQ Duo: Cable, PoE, Wi-Fi, and Network Testing All in One Device
In a 2023 Network IT Management Report that surveyed more than 4,500 IT professionals, nearly 50 percent of them said they spend at least half their time on reactive network tasks like troubleshooting, mapping, and configuration — not to mention prioritizing robust, reliable, and secure Wi-Fi performance for all their users who connect wirelessly. So we’ve added Wi-Fi analysis to the LinkIQ™ tester’s already trusted cable, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and network capabilities. Introducing the LinkIQ Duo: your essential cable, Wi-Fi, and network tester.
January 6, 2025
Make Sure Your Cabling Plant Is Ready for Wi-Fi 6
If you’re ready to upgrade your enterprise wireless to Wi-Fi 6, here’s how to make sure your cabling plant is ready, too. (Our earlier article covered Wi-Fi 6 standards and performance benefits — read it here.)
January 6, 2025
So You Want to Upgrade to Wi-Fi 6?
In 2019, the Wi-Fi Alliance launched its Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 certification program for Wi-Fi devices. The IEEE 802.11ax High Efficiency Wireless (HEW) LAN standard was ratified later that year. And Wi-Fi 6 devices of all kinds came into the marketplace well ahead of the standard.
January 6, 2025
Wi-Fi 7 vs. Wi-Fi 6: What’s New and What It Means for Your Network
As the primary means of connectivity in private and public spaces, Wi-Fi technology keeps evolving to offer more, faster. Wi-Fi 7 is the latest generation that promises higher speeds, lower latency, and improved capacity — yet with the migration from Wi-Fi 5 to Wi-Fi 6 and 6E still underway, many wonder what extreme high-throughput Wi-Fi 7 is all about. Here we look closer at this technology, the improvements it promises over Wi-Fi 6/6E, and the impact it may have on your network cabling infrastructure and testing.
November 25, 2024
Troubleshooting Common Issues with Enterprise Wi-Fi Performance
Certification testing of a new cable plant is essential to verify its compliance with industry cabling standards and to secure the manufacturer’s warranty. When your installed network equipment goes active, proper configuration is crucial for delivering optimal performance and reliable connectivity to all your users and network devices. This is true in both wired and Wi-Fi networks. Here are some common enterprise Wi-Fi performance issues that arise and how to troubleshoot them.
November 25, 2024
