Network Cabling Contractors and Installers
Network cabling contractors and installers—the professionals who are responsible for designing, installing and certifying structured wiring networks for their customers—are facing huge challenges as well as opportunities in today’s market. Several trends are having a dramatic impact on networking and on the roles of these professionals, who are charged with planning and deploying networks for organizations.
Network Cabling Contractors and Installers
Contractors and Installers
Category 8
Category 8 cabling is designed to work at 2 GHz, and for all of you new to installing and testing shielded cables, now is a good time to start learning. The good news for installers is that Category 8 systems will use similar RJ45 connectors. While the intended application is a 24-meter permanent link with two 3-meter equipment lines at each end, the standard also includes some derating factors for different measurement equipment lines.
Of course, this wiring system requires field testing. That's why the ANSI/TIA-1183-1 standard, which defines the measurement and test methods for Class 8 laboratory tests, was approved. This paved the way for Category 8 field testing standards. The existing TIA-1152 standards for field testing that supports the TIA 568 series of standards has added an 1152-A version for 2G field testing—the 2G refers to the accuracy level and was named as such due to the need to test Category 8 to 2 GHz.
If you’re familiar with the accuracy levels for previous categories of cable (i.e., Level III for Category 6 and Level IIIe for Category 6A), you may be wondering why the next level isn’t Level IV. That’s because Level IV and Level V accuracy levels already exist within ISO/IEC standards for Class F and Class FA cabling. TIA-1152-A 批准于 2016 年末发布。.
Field Tester Accuracy Levels | ||
---|---|---|
Cabling Standard | Frequency Range (MHz) | Accuracy Level |
CAT 5e | 100 | Level II |
CAT 6 | 250 | Level III |
CAT 6A | 500 | Level IIIE |
CAT 8 | 2,000 | Level 2G |
ISO-only Accuracy Levels (ISO 61935-1) | ||
CLASS F | 600 | Level IV |
CLASS FA | 1000 | Level V (draft) |
Optical Fiber
Another trend is the use of fiber optics within corporate facilities. The trend for many businesses to install fiber due to bandwidth requirements will continue to increase. According to a report on the fiber optic assembly market conducted by Global Industry Analysts Inc. (GIA), the global fiber optic assembly market is expected to reach $42 billion by 2017. According to the company's report, the growing demand for bandwidth and the pursuit of fiber-based broadband, as well as mobile Internet and other factors will contribute to this growth trend.
Many organizations are preparing for 100 gigabit over fiber transmission, and that's going to involve the use of Multifiber Push-On (MPO) Connectors. MPO connectors are new to many cable installers as well as end users, so there will also be to the learning curve. With MPO, there are more opportunities for errors in connections, because the technology is a lot more complex. Read more about MPO Technology here
Contractors are also facing changes in how data centers are being designed and built, as more organizations move to a cloud computing model. Many companies will rely on hybrid cloud environments consisting of private cloud facilities and public cloud services.
Best Practices
To cope with this rapidly changing network environment, contractors and installers must have the knowledge, experience and training they need to meet the evolving requirements of their customers.
Certified Cabling Test Technician Training (CCTT)

To maintain a competitive edge in the installation and certification of high-speed structured cabling systems, contractors need to train and certify their employees. Investing in the Fluke Networks Certified Cabling Test Technician™ (CCTT) two-day training and certification program will not only improve the skills of your installers, but also their effectiveness and productivity on the job in testing, certifying and troubleshooting cabling systems.
The Fluke Networks CCTT course is two days long and consists of three parts each day: classroom training, hands-on labs, and exam/certification exercises.
Online Training Videos
These videos provide basic training related to the full range of Versiv. Each product has a series of videos covering the following topics:
- - Unboxing – what comes with the product and what to do with it
- - Setting Up a Test
- - Running a Test
- - Saving and Managing Results (using LinkWare™ PC and LinkWare™ Live)
Each video is between three and ten minutes in length. The entire video series is approximately two hours and twenty minutes in total.
Cabling Chronicles Blog
Find out what’s new in the world of testing and standards with articles written by Fluke Networks’ experts.
Knowledge Base
Get the most out of your Fluke Networks investment with advice and tips and product updates from our team of support experts.
Live Training Events
Learn about our webcasts, webinars, exhibits and other live events:
Learn About Solutions

There are many solutions on the market that help contractors and installers meet the challenges of changing network environments.
Versiv:Cabling Certification System from Fluke Networks.
Cable certification is part of the overall process from system design to system acceptance. The faster the process is performed, the more profit you can make. Unfortunately, there are a number of factors that can slow down this process—using the wrong test limits, waiting for the responsible technician to set up or troubleshoot, and incomplete results. Research by Fluke Networks shows that over 90% of contractors report dealing with setup, testing, and reporting-related issues on a monthly basis. Thus, a week's labor is wasted on a typical 1,000 trivial tasks. Versiv is designed to avoid these problems. Its ProjX™ system manages job requirements and the entire process from setup to system acceptance, ensuring that all tests are done correctly. Taptive™ User Interface simplifies setup, eliminates errors, and speeds troubleshooting. The LinkWare Live cloud service controls the entire process: you can use any mobile device to set up and track the tester and view the results during the task. It even lets you upload and integrate results from multiple testers at multiple jobsites so you can quickly generate reports with the de-facto industry standard LinkWare PC. Eliminate the problems and get to system acceptance faster with Versiv – and make money every time you use it .
Another offering from Fluke Networks, LinkWare PC, gives network professionals the ability to manage test results data from multiple testers with one application. 它简化了项目设置,帮您根据工作点、客户、校园或楼宇等快速组织、编辑、查看、打印、存储或存档测试结果并进行文档备案。您可以将测试结果合并至现有的 LinkWare 数据库中,然后通过任一数据字段或参数对这些数据进行排序、查找和组织。Any data uploaded to a computer with LinkWare ensures that the results stored came from the testers' memory.
Fluke Networks MultiFiber Pro Optical Power Meter and Light Source is the industry’s first MPO fiber trunk tester that validates the performance of all 12 trunk fibers in a single test, and reduces testing time by nearly 95%. MPO 光纤主干线是 10 Gbps、40 Gbps 和 100 Gbps 高速数据中心的支柱—其为业界增速较快的部分。大约需要 6.5 分钟来设置和测试各 MPO 主干线的 12 光纤,但 MultiFiber Pro 将此时间减少为大约 20 秒(设置 14 秒,测试 6 秒)。For the average data center with 1,600 MPO trunks, the MultiFiber Pro tester can save contractors more than 155 hours of labor and $17,000 in costs, assuming an average burdened labor rate of $55.
Fluke Networks OptiFiber Pro OTDR is the first OTDR built from the ground up for enterprise fiber testing. OptiFiber Pro 不但可以节约成本,同时可以提高生产率以及改进网络可靠性。
It has the industry's only smartphone interface. DataCenter OTDR configurations reduce the uncertainty and errors that occur when testing data center fiber. The product's ultra-short dead zone allows fiber patch cord testing in virtual data centers.
Related Resources
Fluke Networks provides many resources to help our customers solve (Guide to Contract Installers and Installation) challenges. Some require a simple registration. See a complete listing of webcasts, white papers and application notes for other topics.
LinkWare™ Live – Copper/Fiber Cable Testing and Certification Management Service
LinkWare Live is a cloud-based service that lets Versiv users manage cabling certification jobs anytime, anywhere, with anyone on any device.
FI-7000 FiberInspector™ Pro
The FI-7000 FiberInspector Pro is a fiber optic inspection scope that allows you to inspect and certify fiber optic connector end-faces in 1 seconds so you can get the job done the first time. This fiber optic inspection scope provides automated PASS/FAIL certification take the guess work out of fiber inspection so anyone can be a fiber expert.
OptiFiber® Pro OTDR
Fluke Networks’ OptiFiber® Pro Series OTDRs make novices and experts faster. Automated trace analysis and setup supports applications including data centers, PON and outside plant. Advanced features include Manual Expert mode, pinch and zoom for in-depth trace analysis and SmartLoop for bi-directional testing. Supports Versiv copper and fiber loss certification modules.
CertiFiber® Pro Optical Loss Test Set
The CertiFiber Pro Optical Loss Test Set improves the efficiency of fiber optics certification. The Taptive user interface simplifies set-up, eliminates errors and speeds troubleshooting. A set reference wizard ensures correct reference setting and eliminates negative loss errors. Built on the future-ready Versiv platform, CertiFiber Pro Optical Loss Test Set (OLTS) provides merged Tier 1 (Basic) / Tier 2 (Extended) testing and reporting when paired with OptiFiber Pro module.
DSX CableAnalyzer™ Series
The DSX CableAnalyzer Series copper cable certifiers enables testing and certification of twisted pair cabling for up to 40 Gigabit Ethernet deployments and will handle any cabling system whether it is a Cat 5e, 6, 6A, 8 or Class FA and I/II. Certifying a cable is one part of a process that starts with system design and ends with system acceptance.
Open DeviceNet Vendors Association
A global association whose members are comprised of the world’s leading automation companies. ODVA’s mission is to advance open, interoperable information and communication technologies in industrial automation.
Certified Cabling Test Technician™ (CCTT) Training
You need to train and certify your existing employees to stay competitive in the installation and certification of high-speed structured cabling systems. Investing in the Fluke Networks Certified Cabling Test Technician™ (CCTT) two-day training and certification program will not only improve installer skills, but also their effectiveness and productivity on the job in testing, certifying and troubleshooting cabling systems.
Copper Testing Best Practices Pocket Guide
The Copper Testing Best Practices Guide is designed to take with you on your smartphone or tablet and provides critical information for structured cabling systems,
Poster: Twisted Pair Certification Testing Methods
Wall poster outlines cable testing standards for shielded Cat 5e, Cat 6 and Cat 6A copper permanent link, patch cord and channel certification testing methods. It includes an overview of when to use each test and detailed diagrams illustrating the methodology and testers necessary to accurately perform certification.
10 Dumb Mistakes
While anyone who installs, tests and certifies a network cabling plant knows the importance of meeting standards performance parameters and ensuring application support, even the best of us can make mistakes that can adversely impact the bottom line and customer satisfaction.
Considerations for the Design & Field Testing of an Optimized High-Power PoE Cabling System
As Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) becomes the preferred method for simultaneously delivering power and data to endpoints, technology companies are introducing new power efficient and PoE specific systems and devices to better serve businesses, enterprise organizations and consumers in general.
Testing Strategies for SYSTIMAX® High Speed Migration Solutions
The SYSTIMAX calculator accurately computes total link loss performance for SYSTIMAX low and ultra-low loss systems. The integration of the SYSTIMAX link loss calculator with Fluke Network’s Versiv provides automated performance for warranty certification for both singlemode and multimode fiber systems.
Six Reasons Cable Certification is More Important Than Ever
Economic turmoil is shining a bright light on the value of services used by IT departments. Among them are the services used to deploy and maintain enterprise network infrastructure. Infrastructure includes copper and fiber cabling, and it is the foundation of the network. This paper identifies the specific benefits afforded by cable certification and how much it pays back to the network owner.
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