Cabling Business Magazine Celebrates 15 Years!
By Steve Paulov
Well, we are 15 years old and still the best source for both cabling and hardware information the U.S. We are proud of what we print and delighted you have enjoyed our material for all these years.
When we started this magazine, our first issue was in September/October 1991 (we published every two months back then). We asked a few companies if they would like to advertise in a magazine devoted strictly to the cabling industry …sometimes we got a bunch of laughs and a few even said we were out of our minds. I may be "still out of my mind" but the magazine did get off the ground!
We were confident that there had to be a place in this Information Age for a magazine dedicated to infrastructure of telecommunications and datacom. The solution came in the form of Cabling Business Magazine. There were visionary manufacturers, distributors and contractors who recognized what was coming and took a chance by spending some of their hard earned money in advertising in our first issues.
Some of the manufacturing companies who advertised with us in the first issue of the magazine were: THE SIEMON COMPANY, LEVITON, HOMACO, HARRIS, MOD TAP and the distributor ANIXTER.
Flashback to 1991
One of our very first contributing authors was Douglas Blaine Kenney, who worked with BANK DATA BANK Consulting in New York. Back then, a wiring solution for voice and data was called a Universal Wiring System and consisted of the following design:
Universal Wiring System
- All workstations should be RS-232 data compatible
- All workstations must be capable of supporting IBM Token Ring at 4Mbps.
- Telephones received either two or four pair for voice.
- There was no minimum or maximum distance of cable runs from the equipment room to each workstation.
- 66-type connecting blocks were used for both voice and data. In some cases an AT&T type110 connector was installed.
- Also in some cases a RG-59U 75ohm coaxial cable was used.
- The cable used was about the only piece of information providing the consultant with some type of specifications. This information was developed from the original Anixter Category/Level program (introduced in 1989).
There were a host of "techno terms", such as Level, Group, Tier and Category, flying around the industry. Later the TIA/EIA adopted the Category system (from Anixter) for their official standard on communications cabling. Anixter stepped out in front again with a much more developed "LEVELs" program, while the world waited for TIA/EIA to catch up with the state of the art technology in datacom cabling. CBM kept the readers up to date with the full scoop on the latest and greatest.
The Twisted Pair Level Program was as follows:
Level 1 Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS)
Level 2 ISDN Data POTS and Low Speed Data
Level 3 High Speed Data for IBM or ISDN 1.44Mbps
Level 4 10BaseT, 16Mbps
Level 5 IBM Cabling - Token Ring 16 Mbps
It took the TIA/EIA from 1985 until 1991 before publishing a standards document titled TIA/EIA 568 Commercial Building Telecommunications Wiring Standard. This (ANSI) standard also had five categories of cable from 1 to 5. Back then, Category 4 was the same as Anixter's Level 4 and the cable had a frequency of a 16Mbps data signal. Today, we are at Category 6, with speeds of 250Mbps or greater.
We can't forget that before CBM, back in 1984, IBM had it's own plan. The IBM Cabling System introduced Token Ring, which was able to transmit data at 4Mps. This system used a thick, black 2 pair shielded cable with large 4 pole connectors called Type 1.
The Spark for Twisted Pair
In 1985 several manufacturers developed Ethernet equipment, which could use twisted pair cable and in the 1990s, the IEEE released the 802.31 Ethernet standard for 10BaseT (the "T" refers to twisted pair cable). During this period of change and technical advancement, we saw the good old reliable 66 block get competition from connecting hardware such as: 110, BIX and ADC/KRONE. The ADC/KRONE is the only one of the connector systems that developed a 4 and 5 pair stand-alone frame block for high-speed data. Of course, not to be outdone, the 66 block was redesigned for Category 5 cabling. BIX has developed a high-speed 25 pair connector block for passing data.
Firestopping
We saw new companies introducing firestopping materials from plugging a hole in a riser system to installing a pipe in a wall between rooms. Firestopping is a critically important area that is often neglected.
Licensing
Jeff Deckman, a contributing author, wrote an article about Licensing that was being introduced in Rhode Island, which passed a law making it illegal for anyone other than a licensed electrician to install telecommunications wiring system. This law was eventually overturned, but today, many states require some type of license to install low voltage communications systems ranging from voice, data and signaling. Also, permits to install low voltage systems are a growing requirement for installers in several local authority jurisdictions. This trend may continue to spread.
Testing
We offered articles about shorts, opens, and using a butt set. Then in about 1994, the big tester companies' start showing meters that could test a link to include cable, jacks and connecting hardware. Today's testers are called Cable Analyzers and can test, troubleshoot and document a TIA/EIA Category 6 link. These types of testers could be modified with software and an attachment to test fiber optics. The state-of-the-art testers can download critical cable test records and performance data for effective cable (asset) management.
Residential Cabling
Chuck Siebuhr, a former technical editor with CBM, wrote many articles and brought us one article that was important announcing a residential standard now referred to as the TIA/EIA 570, Residential and Light Commercial Telecommunications Cabling standard.
Cable Materials
Frank Bisbee started discussing the materials that cables are made of and what importance these materials can make on the performance of cable, including some materials that may be potential hazards. He continues to contribute articles about fire and safety in the cable materials for CBM.
NEC Codes
Articles 760, 800 and 820 in the final design designated cable for proper installation as follows:
CMP - designated as a Plenum rating
CMR - designated as a Riser rating
CM - designated as a General Purpose rating
CX - designated as a Dwelling rating
Division 17
In 1999, a draft was proposed for addition of a new Division 17 to be added to the Construction Specifications Institute's existing 16 divisions. This division was targeted for the voice, data and cable plant and was finally approved several years later.
Pull Force and Bend Radius
We took cabling very serious, especially in pulling and installing the cable. The cable manufacturers developed specifications and also limitations were established as follows:
- Copper cable - If more than 25 pounds of force is applied to Category 5 cabling during installation, it may no longer meet specifications.
- Fiber cable - The bend radius and pull force limitation of fiber differs greatly based on the type and number of fibers used. If no minimum bend radius specified, a safe assumption indicates a minimum of 10 times the outside diameter and a pulling force of 50 lbs. and can exceed a few hundred pounds. In fiber optic cabling it is always recommended to check with the manufacturer.
Twist in Cable
The standard specification told us, "It is important that the natural twist of each pair be carried through as closed as possible to the point of termination."
Seize the Opportunities
After years of unprecedented good times, the "DOTcom" sizzle turned into the fizzle. After 9/11, we saw many reductions in the marketplace. By May of 2002, the economy was still depressed and many companies were going out of business. With the help of contractors, technicians and manufacturers, CBM wrote about opportunities and ways to capture new revenues. CBM got the message out to the contractors on how to avoid leaving opportunities on the table in their projects. Some new technologies we've brought to the forefront include:
TIA/EIA - 862 Building Automation Systems
Lee Badman, one of our favorite contributing editors, wrote this article about TIA/EIA 862, Building Automation Systems (BAS) Cabling Standard for Commercial Buildings, which supports many building automation and other systems such as CCTV, Security, Lighting and other systems inside the building.
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
We've all heard about this new technology ratified by the IEEE 802.3af, which provides for the delivery of 15.4W power over existing cabling including Category5, 5e and 6.
Broadband Video Over Category 6 Cabling
One of the most demanding applications on the market today for broadband video, commonly known as CATV or cable television can be provided over Category 6 cabling.
Case Studies
Carol Everett Oliver, RCDD, another favorite contributing editor was one of many who presented cases studies of projects ranging from Cabling Manufacturing Facilities to Cabling the Hospital or providing Structured Cabling System in the School or a Campus Design. We presented a solution in almost each issue.
Abandoned Cable
Abandoned cabling has become an important issue, especially with the building owners. The owners are charging the removal of cables to the tenants whether moving in or moving out. The opportunities in reusing the existing cable may bring substantial cost savings in some cases.
Point of Sales (POS) Systems
Currently there are many areas of the cabling industry sector that have a major gap between project and trained technicians to do the work. We have identified a shortage of trained people for the retail industry's cabling system and related information hardware. The installation and maintenance of retail systems, such as POS systems (including the cabling infrastructure), are just one of many types of systems that are a critical requirement in the world of retail. Other systems include wiring for registers, Ethernet wiring, Intercoms, Paging, CCTV, security and others.
10GBASE-T
We are speeding towards more bandwidth that can handle the most demanding applications. It seems like the need for speed is unstoppable. Many experts are predicting bandwidth and network speeds in excess of 100 Gb/s. "It ain't slowin' down." The next decade will open many cabling doors and challenges.
Cabling is King
While the computer has become a commodity, the cabling infrastructure has become uniquely powerful as the datacom highway for all information systems to converge. The costs have risen as the technology improves andcabling has become the king in the datacom hardware world.
The years have flown by quickly. In retrospect, CBM has provided more than 1,240 valuable articles in the last 15 years, plus monthly columns, new products news, Manufacturer's Corner, and the Awards of Excellence featured each month.
From all of us at Cabling Business Magazine, thank you for your loyal readership. We work hard to bring you the best and most accurate information, and we hope to bring you many more years of valuable information on the cabling business world.
Reprinted with permission from Cabling Business Magazine www.cablingbusiness.com
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