All Work Unconditionally 100% Guaranteed
Clearnet Communications has a dedicated team of experienced
professionals that always go above and beyond to ensure
our customers 100% satisfaction every time. With over
300 years of combined experience serving the Pacific Northwest
Clearnet Communications will deliver your completed, tested and
certified project on time and within budget. Clearnet offers
competitively priced singlemode and multimode fiber solutions for
large enterprise businesses as well as our partners in the small
business community.
With the growing demand for Hosted Server and VoIP Phone System solutions there is a growing demand for increased bandwidth. The clear choice is Clearnet for your upgrade to Fiber Optics.
The experts at Clearnet Communications are experienced in both multi mode and single mode installations. Clearnet utilizes pigtail Fusion splicing for terminations at each end which insures the lowest dB signal loss compared to the typically installed field terminated connectors. All finished installations and terminations are tested with a Fluke DTX-1800 light meter & power source and EXFO FT-1 OTDR (optical time domain reflectometer).
If you’re interested in discussing the benefits of Fiber Optic cabling in your business let our friendly and knowledgeable sales engineering staff discuss the available solutions best suited for your needs.
Contact Clearnet Communications today for a free onsite estimate.
We are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
There are multiple fiber optic types of cable to choose from. Determining
the best type of fiber optic cable for your needs can be a challenging task.
The following is a cheat sheet intended to streamline the selection process.
This is not intended to cover every variable and option available, but should
help in most instances.
Fiber optic cable may not always be the best choice of cable for every situation. Standard copper twisted pair cables can offer substantial speed at cost effective prices, but sometimes fiber just works best.
The main categories of fiber optic cores to choose from are:
While we all want the fastest speeds possible, remember that typically the price increases along with the speeds. Singlemode fiber can actually be less expensive than multimode fiber, however the equipment used to transmit over singlemode fiber is typically more expensive than that of multimode.
The two main categories of the jackets (exterior surface of the cable) include:
Outdoor cables can be ran a maximum of 50 feet within a building, unless ran inside conduit. Otherwise, use indoor cable for indoor purposes. Indoor / Outdoor hybrid cables are available, but can be more expensive than indoor only. Outdoor cables typically have a gel or water blocking tape that turns to gel when exposed to water.
Determining whether to use plenum or non-plenum depends on the HVAC system within the building. Use plenum cable (only) within buildings that have a plenum ceiling (used for air handling) If cable is exterior only / runs less than 50 feet within a building at both ends, then outdoor cable should be used. You could always use plenum rated cable, even if not required, but you may not like the price increase. There is no performance difference between plenum & no plenum rated cables.
The two options of buffer tubing include:
Common fiber optic strand counts include 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 144. These are referred to as strands or strand count as opposed to pairs or pair count, which we use when referring to copper twisted pair cabling.
Most fiber optic devices require two strands to operate the device, one for transmit & one for receive. Exceptions exist, and with new technology single strands can be used bidirectional, so knowing your equipment could be a factor in making this selection.
Choose more strands than you think you will need. Especially if there is moderate or significant labor involved to install, the cost to increase the strand count is minimal compared to the cost of adding another cable in the future.
Fiber optic cable by its nature is fragile and vulnerable to damage from a variety of causes. When the fiber’s availability is important or mission critical, then protection of the fragile strands should be considered. Physical protection of the fiber can be provided by separate barrier such as innerduct, conduit or other types of raceway. Running additional cables through the same conduit as an existing fiber optic cable can cause damage, usually to the existing cable(s).
Armored cable can be an optimal selection when pulled installed in conduit with future pulls through the same conduit are anticipated. Pulling a new cable through a conduit with fiber optic cable already installed can be problematic. The new cable(s) can “burn” the existing cable in the pulling process, especially pulling around bends.
Non-Armored cable can be the least expensive selection and work indefinitely if physical hazard is at low risk and the need for continuous service is not required. If a dedicated conduit is available, with no intent of pulling any additional cables through, then no additional protection is needed.
Three connector types remain common in the fiber optic industry, including LC, SC and ST. There are advantages and disadvantages to each, but they are minor. Even if the connections on your cable don’t match the connections on your equipment, all is not lost. There are adaptive fiber optic jumpers to convert almost any connector to any other.
Any of these will work for your cable, but check your equipment before buying patch cords. Be sure you have the right connector on both ends of the patch cord.
Contact Clearnet Communications today for a free onsite estimate.
Free Support
(206) 420-6970
Copyright © ClearNet Communications. All rights reserved.