Cabling Chronicles
Stranded vs. Solid Wire Cable: How to Choose
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
Three Reasons Cabling Certification Is More Important Than Ever
Every time you complete the installation of a structured cabling system, you can choose whether to certify it. All links in the system should be tested in some way to make sure that they’re connected properly, but is it necessary to measure and document the performance of every link?
January 5, 2023
Is cabling technician training (CCTT) certification worth it?
Staying on top of the critical technological developments in network cabling infrastructure helps you — and your company — stay current and competitive. One way to do that is to participate in an accredited training and certification program, like Fluke Networks Certified Cabling Test Technician™ Training (and now, Recertification Training).
November 25, 2022
