Re: [seul-edu] Fiber Cable help

[Harry McGregor <micros@azstarnet.com>]

On Mon, 24 Jul 2000, Ryan Booz wrote:

> I'm not sure this is appropriate for the list, but I'm getting pretty
> desperate.  I had two friends that were helping me make some decisions,
> but neither has responded in the last week plus, so I was wondering if
> anyone of you could give me a little info.  If you want to respond via
> email, that's fine.

If you need more info, email me directly, hmcgregor@osef.org
 
> I need to connect two buildings before the school year starts, and I
> know that fiber is the way to go because of distance (600 ft or so).
> The thing is, I've never worked with it and we've gotten different
> suggestions from distributors as to what we need.  My biggest questions
> is, how do you connect the cable into the regular network (what's the
> converter called)

This is normaly a media converter, what is your current network hardware
(switches, 10/100 switches, etc)?  You would probably want a 100Mbit
100BaseTX to 100BaseFX media converter for 62.5micron mulitmode fiber.

>  and even more basic I guess, how many ends does the
> cable need to have?

Needs to have to run a data line? TWO fiber strands, ie 4 ends.  Good idea
to have installed while you are doing the work?  either 4,6,8,12,24
strands.  I would probably lean towards 12 strands.

>  We're now being told eight, but the fiber I've seen
> only has a possible four ends (two at each end of cable).

See if you have a local anixter or graybar distributor, also look for some
BICSI (I seem to remember that's the acronym, I might have the letters
transposed) certfied fiber installers.  You want the fiber install itself
to be done profesionaly, yes, it's a bit more $, but they will run all of
the light loss tests on it, and make shure it's installed properly.

I would recomend running conduit for the fiber, and NOT using direct burry
cable.

> Sorry if this
> is basic, it's just that this is a good deal of money and I don't want
> to buy stuff I don't need, but want to make sure it's going to work.

I can understand that, contact me if you need any more help,
hmcgregor@osef.org

			Harry


> Thank you for any help.
> Ryan Booz
> Tech Coordinator
> Belleville Mennonite School
> 
> 

--
Harry McGregor, CEO, Co-Founder
hmcgregor@osef.org, (520) 202-OSEF (6733)
Open Source Education Foundation, http://www.osef.org