Cabling Chronicles
What Is Fiber Optics? A Guide
Streaming a movie, making a phone call, or getting an endoscopy may seem like disparate experiences, but they share a common thread: They’re connected by an invisible network of optical fibers. In this guide, we’ll take you through the ins and outs of this powerful technology. You’ll learn what fiber optics are used for, how fiber optic cables work, and the benefits they offer.
March 20, 2024
The Ultimate Guide to Network and Cable Testing
In today's digitally-driven world, ensuring the integrity and efficiency of network infrastructures is paramount, whether you're running a small business or responsible for a large-scale enterprise network. This comprehensive guide to network and cable testing essentials can help professionals understand the importance of proper cable testing and network testing. We’ll also discuss the industry-leading range of Fluke testers and analyzers for Ethernet, fiber optic, and copper cables, so you can find the solution that’s best for your operation.
March 13, 2024
Choosing Stranded vs. Solid Wire Cable
Both shielded and unshielded twisted-pair copper cable comes in either stranded or solid wire versions. There are plenty of considerations when it comes to choosing one or the other, including standards, environment, application, and cost. Let’s take a look at the differences and considerations, so you can decide whether stranded copper wire or solid copper wire cable is right for your specific installation.
March 6, 2024
How to Extend the Value of Your Versiv™ Investment
We know that customers use our cable certification solutions for years, even decades. We took that into account when we designed the Versiv™ cable certifier. Now that forward-looking strategy is protecting long-term Versiv users.
December 21, 2023
What Is the Right Way to Test an MPTL?
You have just received a job specification that includes Modular Plug Terminated Links (MPTLs), with the requirement that all links, including the MPTL, be certified to TIA or ISO standards. This means the customer or manufacturer will look for test reports with “MPTL” as the test limit.
August 22, 2023
Contractors Say Skipping Certification Isn’t Worth the Risk
Network cable certification may be required by the job specification or for a long-term warranty from a cable supplier. If it’s not required, have you ever skipped this critical step?
July 6, 2023
Fluke CableIQ™ Qualification Tester vs. LinkIQ™ Cable+Network Tester
In 2007, Fluke Networks created the cable qualification market with the introduction of the CableIQ Qualification Tester. Certification is essential for building owners who need to ensure that their contractors have installed a cabling system that meets TIA and ISO standards and will support both today’s networks and tomorrow’s — but network cable qualification testers were priced out of reach for network maintenance teams.
June 13, 2023
The Power of Certification Testing: Experts and FLW Files
While certifying a cable plant, an installer repeatedly experiences complex near-end crosstalk (NEXT) failures on multiple links. Overwhelmed by issues with the cabling plant and the customer demanding answers, she needs expert help to troubleshoot the problem. Fluke Networks Technical Assistance Center (TAC) to the rescue!
May 2, 2023
Warranty and Certification Testing Go Hand in Hand for ROI
One could argue that certification testing of an installed structured cabling plant is optional and time consuming. But if an end user wants a system warranty, “optional” is the last word to describe this crucial step. As Panduit’s product line manager Frank Straka put it, “Certification testing will always be required for warranty, regardless of the number of drops on a project.”
April 6, 2023
What Is Return Loss?
Return loss is the ratio of signal power injected from a source compared to the amount that is returned or reflected back toward the source. It is a critical performance parameter in both copper twisted pair and fiber optic cabling systems, because it can interfere with the transmitted signal and can contribute to an increase in the measured insertion loss (the amount of power that a that a signal loses as it travels along a cable link).
February 14, 2023
