Use Wireless Access Point to Extend Wi-Fi Network

It is widely accepted that one annoying fact about Wi-Fi networks is their signal reach. The range of a typical Wi-Fi sometimes cannot even cover a house properly. However, Wi-Fi networks can be boosted, which means that their corresponding coverage area and signal strength can be increased via various methods. Installing a wireless access point is such an ideal and efficient way to extend the network. This article offers rudimentary information about wireless access point, and explains several vital factors concerning its installation.

What Is Wireless Access Point?

Sometimes referred to as AP, wireless access point is a device that allows other wireless devices, such as laptops, cell phones and wireless printers—to connect to the wired network through Wi-Fi. In a wireless local area network (WLAN), an access point is a station that transmits and receives data. It also serves as the point of interconnection between the WLAN and a fixed wire network. A small WLAN may only require a single access point, and the number increases corresponding to the network users and size. In the vast majority of the time, the terms Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless access point are synonymous.

Functions of Wireless Access Point

Wireless access point ensures enterprise-level security and high performance for any LAN environment. Which facilitates connectivity between devices and the Internet or a network. An access point can be used in conjunction with a router to extend the wireless coverage around your home/business.

Businesses sometimes deploy dozens of wireless access points to cover larger office buildings. Each of them can serve multiple users within a defined network area, as people move beyond the range of one access point, they are automatically handed over to the next one. Besides, wireless access point may be used to provide network connectivity in office environments, public places (coffee shops, airports and train stations) and larger residence. It especially helps cover those hard-to-reach corner rooms or outdoor patios.

Considerations for Installing Wireless Access Point

The wireless access point must be strategically installed to ensure seamless coverage

Building Floor and Coverage Area

Floor plan of the building is the first element when designing the placement of your wireless access point. Multiple access points may be required to ensure each can provide a strong and steady signal. Therefore a survey of your building before the installation of the access point can ensure seamless coverage and connectivity of the entire space.

Number of Employees and Devices

As for companies and enterprises, even if your company is located in one central location within the reach of one wireless access point, the device may not be able to support numerous people’s work volume. High traffic use of the Internet can slow down the speed and efficiency for everyone. Under this circumstance, you’d better install multiple access points, often limiting each to 15-20 users, for optimal signal strength in heavily occupied office spaces.

Obstacles

Here the obstacles refer to walls, doors, windows, and furniture that may impede the wireless signal from reaching your work-zone. Remember to keep your wireless access point away from these stuffs. Your building layout makes sense during the placement and installation process.

Interference

Electronic equipment inside a building may interfere with the wireless signal. For example, health care facilities accommodate some medical electrical equipment that can decrease the signal. So it is crucial to understand the possible interference and place the wireless access point away from these factors.

Mounting

After deciding on the optimal placement of your wireless access point, you have to account for other factors concerning mounting. Never place the wireless access point to extreme temperatures or moisture environments. And try to make it aesthetic within your office. Mounting wireless access to ensure it is functional and integrated into your property.

Conclusion

By extending signal reach and network coverage, wireless access point exerts great value on optimizing network performance and capacity. It serves as an optimal solution that delivers superior performance, business-grade security, reliability and flexibility. Investing in wireless access points is the best decision you can make when it comes to getting more from your IT infrastructure and boosting productivity.

Source: http://www.fiber-optic-solutions.com/wireless-access-point-extend-wi-fi-network.html

Cable Jacket: Should I Choose LSZH or PVC?

When talking about communication cables, we commonly use terms like LSZH and PVC to describe them. These two terms describe the chemical compounds used in production of the cables. As we might be rather familiar with these widely used terms, do you exactly know what they really mean? Or more importantly, which one is better for your project? In this article, we are going to explain these frequently asked questions, by analyzing and comparing LSZH and PVC cables.

What LSZH and PVC Stand for?

LSZH—Short for low smoke zero halogen, LSZH is a kind of cable built with a jacket material free from halogenic materials (such as chlorine and fluorine), since the toxic nature of these chemicals when burned. The term “low-smoke, zero-halogen” describes two distinct properties of a cable compound. The term “low- smoke” describes the amount of smoke which a compound emits when burned, while “zero-halogen” describes the amount of halogens used to make the compound. Terms like LSOH, LSHF and LSNH are all proper references for cables possessing low-smoke and zero-halogen properties.

PVC—Polyvinyl chloride (vinyl), a general-purpose plastic jacket material used for cables. Features low in cost and flexible, PVC cable is widely used in applications such as computers, communications and low voltage wiring. In the world of cabling, “PVC” is often used to denote a cable that is not suitable for use in a plenum airspace. PVC can potentially be dangerous in a fire situation, releasing heavy smoke and hydrogen chloride gas, which poses a great threat to human health electronic devices. PVC cables often have a CM, CMG, or CMR rating as defined by the National Electrical Code (NEC).

Differences Between LSZH and PVC Cable

Judging from the physical appearance, the difference between LSZH and PVC cable is very distinct. A PVC cable feels soft and it is smooth, whereas an LSZH cable feels rough since they contain the flame retardant compound and it is stiffer. LSZH cables are more aesthetically appealing than PVC cables. In addition to this, LSZH cable differs from PVC one in at least three aspects:

Cost: LSZH cables are slightly higher in cost than some PVC cables, but they are much safer when it comes to human health and sensitive and expensive electronic equipment. And this should be considered when comparing the cost.

Flexibility: Comparing with PVC compounds, there is a limited range of compound flexibility available for LSZH compounds, so LSZH cable is not recommended for robotic or continuous flex applications.

Heat: When a PVC cable is set on fire, it emits chemical fumes, acids and other toxic gases, which are both corrosive and harmful to human beings and environments. As for LSZH cable that has a flame-resistant jacket, it doesn't emit these chemical substances even if it burns or exposed to high sources of heat. And it can reduce the amount and density of the smoke.

When Do I Use LSZH or PVC?

It is feasible that LSZH and PVC have equally effective performance in modern buildings. So the decision on which one to choose actually depends on the situation, that is to say, where you are going to run the cable.

PVC cable has been used in built environment for power and control applications for decades. It is commonly used for horizontal runs from the wiring center, or for vertical runs between the floors—but only if the building features a contained ventilation system running through the duct work.

LSZH cable would be more appropriate for places where fire presents a hazard to occupants. We known that the primary danger in the event of a fire is not the fire itself but the smoke and gas produced. Therefore, it is vital that the materials and products that are installed contribute as little smoke and gas as possible when burnt. LSZH cable can be employed in the following situations:

• Confined spaces with large amounts of cables in close proximity to humans or sensitive electronic equipment, such as submarines and ships.
• Mass transit, central office facilities and telecommunication applications.

Conclusion

Even though PVC cable still reigns supreme in wire and cable industry, the use of which has decreased over the past years. On the other hand, LSZH cable technology has advanced significantly, it is well suited to some applications mentioned in this article. Your cabling choice always relays on your specific condition, while to consult with wire and cable experts can also be beneficial.

Source: http://www.china-cable-suppliers.com/cable-jacket-choose-lszh-pvc.html

Feed-Through Patch Panels Installation Guide

Network Patch Panels are intensively used in the Ethernet cabling installation, and they are generally regarded as a critical component in the entire cabling systems. Serving as the nerve center of the cabling network, the importance of patch panels cannot be neglected. Among the different forms of patch panels, feed-through patch panels are less messy than traditional punch down patch panels, offering an ideal alternative to existing data centers that require additional patching.

Feed-Through Patch Panels Description

Feed-Through patch panel is an in-line series of connections mounted onto a frame, which enables network cables to be terminated in an orderly manner. The numbering of the panel ports allows for the network installer to label the wall plates to match the corresponding connection at the patch panel. Feed-through patch panels are the ideal way to create a standards-based, flexible, and reliable copper platform in your data center. Available with 1U (24 ports) and 2U (48 ports) configuration, feed-through patch panels are the perfect complement to further facilitate your ease of installation and maintenance, as well as optimal flow of information. Cat5e and Cat6 feed-through patch panels are commonly used in data centers nowadays.

Highlights of Feed-Through Patch Panels

The feed-through patch panels have RJ45 ports on both sides for easy installation, and each panel accommodates 24 ports in 1 rack unit. The panels are available in Category 5e, Category 6 and Category 6A configurations. General features of feed-through patch panels are listed as following.

• Simple solution for managing cables patching in high-density IT environments
• Loaded with feed-through adapters, providing quick and easy connectivity
• Numbered and labeled ports for easy identification and reference
• With universal 19-inch rail spacing, sturdy metal construction
• Without punching down the wires to the ports, it saves time and energy while maximize productivity
• Perfect for voice and data transmission up to 10 Gbps.

General Procedures of Feed-Through Patch Panels Installation

Use the feed-through patch panel in relay racks or communication cabinets. They neatly organize and support the data cables you’ve installed in the rear of the patch panel. Follow these steps to install the feed-through patch panels.

Step One: Find an empty rack space.

Step Two: Install the panel with the supplied 10-32 or 12-24 cup head screws.

Step Three: Install the RJ-45 patch cables on the front and rear connectors. Make sure the rear patch cables are resting on the cable management bar.

Step Four: When using the shielded feed-through patch panels, make sure to attach the necessary drain wires. Use one drain wire for each shielded module on the patch panel. Attach the drain wire in either of the two places as shown in the following picture. Connect the other end of the drain wire to proper ground. The following picture shows drain wire installation options for shielded models.

Step Five: Use cable ties to secure the cables to the cable management bar. The figure of a completed installation is shown below.

Conclusion

Feed-through patch panels enabling patching without punching down bulk wire to the back of the panel, and keeping patch cables neat and tidy on the rear of the panel. Moreover, feed-through patch panels also deliver excellent performance and facilitate quick and easy installations. Which makes them optimum especially for high-density data center environment, as well as for Gigabit Ethernet applications.

Source: http://www.fiber-optic-solutions.com/feed-through-patch-panels-installation-guide.html

Horizontal Cabling: Choose the Right Copper Cable

Copper-based cabling has held the dominate position as the most prevalent horizontal cable medium for years. The reason of this can be partly explained by the fact that copper cable is inexpensive and easy to install. Additionally, the networking devices associated with copper cabling are less costly compared with their fiber optic counterparts. Copper cable comes in a dazzling array of types, and since cable type determines the network’s topology, protocol, and size, understanding the features of each copper cable is necessary for the installation of a successful and robust network.

Copper Cable Types at First Glance

By far the widely installed and most economical copper cable today is twisted-pair wiring. In this form of wiring, two conductors are wound together (“twisted”) for the purposes of canceling out electromagnetic interference (EMI) from external sources, and crosstalk from neighboring conductors. Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) and shielded or screened twisted pair (STP or ScTP) are the two primary varieties of twisted pair on the market today. Screened twisted pair (ScTP) is a variant of STP. Next, we will focus on the characteristics and possible applications of them.

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)

Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) copper cable has been used in telephone systems for many years. And it was also intensively applied in local area networks (LANs) since late 1980s. UTP cabling typically has only an outer covering (jacket), which covers one or more pairs of wire that are twisted together. The lack of shielding enables a high degree of flexibility and durability, lower cost and simpler installation of UTP. During the past years, the bandwidth capabilities of UTP are consistently being improved, making it popular especially in computer networking. Four-pair UTP cables are often used for horizontal cabling, while multi-pair (25-,50-, or 100-pair) UTP cable is more commonly seen in backbone cabling.

Features of UTP are listed below:

• Four-pair cables are typically used for horizontal cabling. Higher pair counts are often used for backbone cabling.
• Its conductors are not surrounded by a metallic shield to prevent electrostatic or electromagnetic coupling.

Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)

Shielded twisted-pair copper cable has a metallic shield which significantly reduces the instances of interference-related network problems. Though more expensive to purchase and install than UTP, STP offers some distinct advantages: it is less susceptible to outside electromagnetic interference (EMI) than UTP cabling since all cable pairs are well shielded. As with UTP, four-pair cables are typically used for horizontal cabling. When it comes to STP, four-pair cables are offered in two versions:

Four-Pair Screened Twisted-Pair (F/UTP)

F/UTP (also referred to as ScTP) copper cable has an outer metal shielding covering the entire group of copper pairs. This type of shielding protects the cable from external EMI; however, the shield and drain wire add cost as well as size. The shield and drain wire also require bonding and grounding. F/UTP is recommended for use in hospitals, airports, or government/military communications centers.

Four-Pair Shielded Twisted-Pair (U/FTP)

U/FTP (also referred to as STP) copper cable includes metal shielding over each individual pair of copper wires. Besides protecting the cable from external EMI, U/FTP provides better near end crosstalk performance than F/UTP. However, the multiple shields also add more cost and size. Like F/UTP, the shield and drain wire require bonding and grounding.

Should I Choose Unshielded, Shielded, or Screened Copper Cable for Horizontal Cabling?

Network managers and cabling infrastructure designers are constantly in the dilemma to choose between these copper cables. Here we offer a solution for your reference.

For typical office environments, UTP cable always serves as the best choice (until fiber network components drop in price). Most offices don’t experience anywhere near the amount of electromagnetic interference (EMI) necessary to justify the additional expense of installing shielded twisted-pair cabling.

As for environments like hospitals and airports, it would be more beneficial to apply a shielded or screened cabling system. The deciding factor seems to be the external field strength. If the external field strength does not exceed three volts per meter (V/m), good-quality UTP cabling should work fine. If the field strength exceeds three V/m, shielded cable will be a better choice.

Conclusion

We have illustrated the characteristics and possible uses of different types of copper cable in this article. When it comes to horizontal cabling, your choice should base on the specific cabling environment and condition. Hope what we discussed here could help you to make the right decision.

Source: http://www.china-cable-suppliers.com/horizontal-cabling-copper-cable.html