• Introduction
• Fiber Optic Basics
• Basic Cable Design
• General Cable Information
• Different Types of Cable
• Connectors
• A Cross Section of Various Cable Types
• Wave Division Multiplexers

BREAKOUT CABLE

Breakout cables are designed with all­dielectric construction to insure EMI immunity, and are available with UL/CSA OFNR/FT4 or UL/CSA OFNP/FT6 listings. These cables are obtainable in a wide range of fiber counts and can be used for routing within buildings, in riser shafts, and under computer room floors. The Breakout design enables the individual routing, or "fanning", of individual fibers for termination and maintenance. In addition to the standard duty 2.4 mm subunit design, a 2.9 mm heavy duty and a 2.0 mm lite duty design are also available.

INTERCONNECT CABLE

Cable for interconnecting equipment is available in single­mode and multimode fiber sizes and its all dielectric construction provides EMI immunity . Available in one­and two­fiber designs, these cables are optimized for ease of connectorization and use as "jumpers" for intra-building distribution. Its small diameter and bend radius provide easy installation in constrained areas. This cable can be ordered for plenum or riser environments. Products include single fiber cable, two­fiber Zipcord, and two­fiber DIB Cable. Uncabled fiber, coated only with a thermoplastic buffer, is also available for pigtail applications with inside equipment. All cables are available with UL/CSA OFNR/FT4 or UL/CSA OFNP/FT6 listing.

LOOSE TUBE CABLE

Loose tube cables are for general purpose outdoor use. The loose tube design provides stable and highly reliable transmission parameters for a variety of applications. The design also permits significant improvements in the density of fibers contained in a given cable diameter while allowing flexibility to suit many system designs. These cables are suitable for outdoor duct, aerial, and direct buried installations, and for indoor use when installed in accordance with NEC Article 770.

FEATURES

• Different fiber types available within a cable (hybrid construction).
• Lowest losses at long distances, for use in duct aerial, and direct buried applications.
• Wide range of fiber counts (up to 216).
• Available with single­mode and multimode fiber types.
• All dielectric or steel central member.
• Loose Tube Cable is also available with armored construction for added protection.
  

LOW SMOKE, ZERO HALOGEN CABLE

Halex­RTM is a low smoke, zero halogen fiber optic cable, designed to replace standard polyethylene jacketed fiber optic cables in environments where public safety is of great concern. In addition to having low smoke properties, Halex­R cable meets the NEC requirements for risers, passes all U.S. flame requirements for UL 1666 and UL 1581, and is OFNR listed up to 156 fibers.

The Halex family of fire safe cables consists of Halex­R for indoor riser requirements and Halex­L for outdoor loose­tube requirements. Halex­L is the industry's first loose­tube, gel­filled, low­smoke zero halogenated optical cable that is OFN listed with up to 144 fibers.

Halex­R uses ChromaTek "L" jacketing to protect the optical fibers it surrounds. This special jacketing exceeds all index requirements as stated in New York State article 15, U.S. Navy NES 711 and ASTME662 for smoke density. Special compounds in Halex­R also prolong cable life and reliability, making it highly resistant to flame, acids, chemicals and oils.

Halex­R cable is available with any optical fibers, both single­mode and multimode, in loose tube, tight buffer or breakout constructions. Attenuations as low as 0.4 dB/km, and bandwidths as high as 1000 MHZ/km, can be supplied.

LXE LIGHT GUIDE EXPRESS ENTRY CABLE

The LXE (Lightguide Express Entry) sheath system is designed with the loop distribution market in mind, where express entry (accessing fibers in the middle of a cable span) is a common practice.

The LXE sheath system achieves a 600 pound (2670 N) tensile rating through the use of linearly applied strength members placed 180 degrees opposite each other.

High density polyethylene (HDPE) is used for the cable jacket to provide both faster installation, through a lower coefficient of friction, and optimum cable core protection in hostile environments.

FEATURES

• Strength members in cable sheath (not in cable core).
• Non­metallic cable core.
  

LIGHTPACK CABLE

Lightpack Cable consists of fiber "bundles" held together with color coded yarn binders. Cable can hold up to 144 fibers and still maintain a large clearance in the core tube. A water­blocking compound, specifically designed for LIGHTPACK Cable, adds extra flexibility, protects the fiber and virtually eliminates microbending losses. Lightpack cable is compact size, rugged design, contains a high density polyethylene sheath and has a high strength­to­weight ratio.

INDOOR/OUTDOOR LOOSE TUBE CABLES

The RLT Series of loose tube fiber optic cables is designed for installation both outdoors and indoors in areas required by the (NEC) to be riser rated Type OFNR. They meet or exceed Article 770 of the NEC and UL Subject 1666 (Type OFNR). They also meet CSA C22.2 No. 232­M1988 Type OFN­FT4.

All of the RLT products utilize a proprietary ChromaTek 3 jacketing system that is designed for resistance to moisture, sunlight and flame for use both indoors and outdoors. These cables are loose tube, gel­filled constructions for excellent resistance to moisture. They are available with single­mode or multimode fibers with up to a maximum of 72 fibers.

Because these outdoor cables are riser rated, they eliminate the need for a separate point of demarcation, i.e., splicing to a riser rated cable within 50 feet of the point where the outdoor cable enters the building as required by the NEC. These cables may be run through risers directly to a convenient network hub or splicing closet for interconnection to the electro-optical hardware or other horizontal distribution cables as desired.

No extra splice or termination hardware is required at the entrance to the facility, and cable management is made easier by the use of just one cable. This installation ease is especially useful in Campus type installations where buildings are interconnected with outdoor fiber optic cables.

TACTICAL/MILITARY CABLE

Tactical cable utilizes a tight buffer configuration in an all dielectric construction. The tight buffer design offers increased ruggedness, ease of handling and connectorization. The absence of metallic components decreases the possibility of detection and minimizes system problems associated with electromagnetic interference.

FEATURES

• Proven compatibility with existing ruggedized connectors.
• Lightweight and flexible: no anti­buckling elements required.
• Available in connectorized cable assemblies.
• Available with 50, 62.5 and 100 micron multimode fibers, as well as single­mode and radiation­hardened fibers.
  

TEMPEST CABLE DESCRIPTION

For use where secure communications are a major consideration, and Tempest requirements must be met. The Tempest rated cable is available in a variety of cable constructions.

Tempest relates to government requirements for shielding communications equipment and environments.

One common application is the use of fiber optic cable in conjunction with RF shielded enclosures. These enclosures have been specially constructed to suppress the emission of RF signals, and must meet the Transient Electro-magnet, Pulse Emanation Standard (TEMPEST).

For a system to be TEMPEST qualified, it must be tested in accordance with MIL-STD­285, and it must also meet the requirements stated in NSA 65­6. All elements of the system, individually and combined, must meet the TEMPEST standard. In the case of fiber optics, the "system" consists of the cable (which is dielectric and non­conductive), and the tube through which the cable passes.