Fw: Re: [seul-edu] Fiber Cable help

[Douglas Loss <dloss@suscom.net>]

On Tue, 25 Jul 2000, owner-seul-edu@seul.org wrote:

> From: Jim Troutman <jlt@pivot.net>
> X-Sender: jlt@odin.techwarrior.cx
> To: seul-edu@seul.org
> Subject: Re: [seul-edu] Fiber Cable help
> 
> > > I, too, am interested in the name of the vendor.  Am
> planning a similar
> > > installation at one of our schools.  A couple of
> questions:
> > > 	* What size conduit do you recommend?
> > 
> > I would recomend at least a 3" conduit if it's in a trench,
> also use
> > concret on top of the conduit, and have them put a red dye
> into it.  This
> > will reduce problems if someone decides to dig.
> 
> <a bit off-topic for seul-edu, but we are a diverse group>
> 
> Yup.  I would also further recommend if you can't have
> concrete poured
> over it, there is a plastic utility warning tape you can have
> buried about
> a foot above the conduit (usually bright yellow or red with
> the words
> "underground fiber" on it or something like that).
> 
> I usually spec dual 5" conduits for fiber service entrances
> for new
> buildings, especially when the conduits are going under a
> parking lot or
> are run a long distance.  I also like to spec 5" conduits for
> both
> telephone and CATV, as well as leaving two spares that are
> completely
> unused.  You never know what you will need them for, and with
> the lifespan
> of a lot of institution buildings being 50+ years, it will
> probably be
> used someday.  
> 
> The cost difference for going with the extra conduits is
> pretty minimial
> compared with the cost of doing a single conduit.  You still
> have to get
> out there with a backhoe or a trenching machine, have the
> people on-site,
> etc.
> 
> > For the fiber you will want to use a 1" inerduct (normaly
> orange) thin
> > plastic "conduit" inside the main conduit.  This is so that
> you can run
> > another inerduct, and run more fiber, at a later date
> without disturbing
> > the existing conduit.
> 
> I agree.  You want to be careful about the type of innerduct
> that you use,
> especially if the innerduct is going to be run into the
> building itself.  
> A lot of the innerduct (especially the cheaper stuff) is for
> outdoor use
> only, and not rated for indoor use.  Indoor rated is usually
> 50% to 100%
> more in cost (so as much as $1.50/ft instead of $0.75/ft).  It
> is sad but
> true that the innerduct can cost more than the fiber in some
> cases.
> 
> > Don't know, I would probably go for about 200 feet, (maybe
> more if it's a
> > straight run), or near sets of 90 degree bends.
> 
> 200 ft is a pretty reasonable distance.  You want to make sure
> that there
> are pull ropes/strings placed in the conduits, and to replace
> them with
> new ones as you use them.  For elbows and other junctions, you
> want to
> have the bend take place at the junction box itself.
> 
> Getting pre-terminated fiber with pull eye assemblies can be a
> good way to
> get the job done yourself if you have cheap/free labor
> available.  The
> industry standard price for on-site termination and testing of
> fiber is
> usually around $40 per fiber termination end.  So for a 6
> strand fiber
> this might cost you $480.  That should include the materials
> used for
> termination.
> 
> Lots of places sell pre-terminated fiber assemblies.  I
> personally buy a
> lot of this stuff from Anicom Inc. 800-889-8473.
> 
> I would also recommend that you put in some sort of fiber
> box/cabinet to
> actually house the fiber.  This will protect it, along with
> provide strain
> relief.  You can then use a patch cord to connect from the
> fiber box to
> your active equipment.  
> 
> As far as equipment goes, Digi/Milan makes some pretty good
> and cheap
> 100Base-TX to 100Base-FX converter units.  They are a
> stand-alone little
> box.  If you don't have fiber ports as on option on your
> switches or hubs,
> this work well, and are under $500.
> 
> http://www.milan.com/converters/fast-ethernet/fethernet.html
> 
> > Harry McGregor, CEO, Co-Founder
> > hmcgregor@osef.org, (520) 202-OSEF (6733)
> > Open Source Education Foundation, http://www.osef.org
> 
> -- 
> James Troutman, Arcus Digital, Inc. - telecommunications
> consulting
> 93 Main Street, Waterville, Maine 04901 - 207-861-7067
> 
> 
-- 
Doug Loss           The art of medicine consists of amusing the
dloss@suscom.net    patient while nature cures the disease.
(570) 326-3987             Voltaire