BF DATACOM

Fiber Optic Tooling - We have 5 different sets of fiber tooling at BF Datacom. Lately we have been using the Siecor Unicam system for most of our installations. We can use this extremely fast, easy, epoxyless solution for both loose tube and tight buffer fiber.

We also use the 3M Hot Melt system which employs polishing and epoxy. Normally it's a one step polish, otherwise we polish starting at 15 microns, then 5, then 3, then 1 micron, and if necessary we finish with a .3 micron polishing film. We clean and then test at both 850 nm and 1300 nm with a Laser Precision light source and power meter, and forward loss results to the customer.

Big LAN & WAN

This installation completed in 1994 incorporates state-of-the-art equipment and materials. A 12-strand multimode fiber backbone traverses the length of this distribution warehouse, and several satellite closets are linked through fiber. The fiber is used for both 100BASET LAN and IBM AS/400 5250 data. The telephones are connected by armored/shielded ARMM multiples which protect against noise from a nearby radio station. In the photo you can see Category 5 patch panels, 100BASET hubs with fiber-optic transceivers, a rack-mounted fiber enclosure, 3COM Netbuilder router, 5250 twisted-pair hubs incorporating a fiber link, uninterruptible power supply, and a couple of large file servers.

Testing, Testing!

Every pair of every cable is thoroughly tested before each job is completed. Sophisticated Level IIIe test equipment and TDRs (time domain reflectometers) measure distance, near-end cross-talk, ambient noise, and continuity and polarity of all pairs. Here, Jan Larsen labels some Category 3 voice wires which were a part of a large Nortel phone switch.

This is our latest project which began in mid-October 1999, and was completed in early 2000. We used two double Homaco open relay racks which are wide enough to get inside and still service either side. There was a shortage of space inside this equipment room so dual-sided racks became a necessity and they work well. There are 22 48-port CAT5E patch panels and 15 1-pair 48-port RJ11 patches here in the rack. there are 5 4-inch sleeves filled to the brim with over 900 cables, all CAT 5e.

New AS/400& Ethernet Solution

Here's a current shot (November 1999, of a WAN/LAN/remote AS/400 application that turned out pretty clean. We used Omnitron 2-port active hubs, fiber-to-twinax repeaters, 3COM 3300 10/100 switches, Nordx fiber enclosures, and Nordx 110-patch panels. The dual Southwest Data Products racks and 7 shelves both mid mount and front mount with Panduit vertical cable organizers helped keep things neat. There were a quantity of 6 6-strand outdoor rated fibers all over the plant.

Big AS/400 Racks

BF Datacom was an original pioneer in twisted-pair solutions for AS/400 installations. This huge AS/400 user (circa 1990) had over 28 2 port active hubs in one rack, and over 500 patch panel locations in the other rack. The original install used 186,000 feet of 4-pair cable. As time passed, the user was able to incorporate a 16Mbps token-ring LAN into his network, on the existing wiring, even before the CATEGORY rating system was invented. We had the foresight to install a bigger gauge wire, and saved the company from having to re-wire for Category 5, 5 years later.

BIX are for kids!

Here's Jerry Meader cross-connecting near some BIX blocks from users to an NEC switch that will soon be completely re-wired. We encounter BIX, M66, and 110 blocks regularly depending upon user preference, and whatever is installed. We prefer 110 because they take up less backboard space.