Network Infrastructure Blog

Network infrastructure pros are well aware of the revolution happening inside the walls and ceilings of modern buildings, and they know what is driving it.  It’s the advent of intelligent buildings – the Internet of Things – where virtually every device is connected to the network cabling infrastructure, allowing building systems to communicate via Internet Protocol.  And thanks to advancements in PoE technology that cabling infrastructure is often expected to go beyond data communications, directly delivering low-voltage power to end devices.

In a traditional network infrastructure, horizontal cables terminate to work area outlets, with equipment connections made via double-ended patch cords. While this configuration is very commonly used is intelligent buildings to connect IP devices such as PoE lighting, security cameras, wireless access points, digital displays, and building automation controls, it is not always the most efficient method.

This “straight to the point” configuration offers a range of potential benefits, such as:

• Enabling more rapid deployment of IP devices
• Simplifying project BOMs
• Cutting products costs
• Improving security by eliminating patch cords that can be easily disconnected from devices like surveillance cameras.

However, despite the market availability of field-terminable plugs, the wide adoption of plug-terminated links has, to date, been limited by a number of factors – most critically performance limitations and ease of use.  Again, in the simplest terms, these plugs did not perform as well as the traditional outlet and patch cord configurations and were difficult to terminate.

But today, thanks to innovations such as Siemon’s new Z-PLUG, the benefits of plug-terminated links for high performance, direct connections to IP devices may be realized.

Request a free Z-PLUG sample

In terms of performance, Z-PLUG delivers a high level of 10 Gigabit system transmission performance and supports advanced Power over Ethernet.  In fact, where switching from the traditional outlet and patch cord device connection to a plug-terminated link once forced cabling pros to sacrifice performance, deploying Z-PLUG to eliminate additional outlets and patch cords can actually improve transmission performance and enable more efficient power delivery.

Z-PLUG also delivers excellent flexibility, supporting the most common cabling types and configurations in a single product/part number. Z-PLUG can be quickly terminated to shielded and UTP, solid and stranded Category 6A and Category 6 cables in conductor sizes from 22 to 26 gauge, allowing it to be easily deployed in a wide range of projects and applications.  To further improve usability, all Z-PLUG components can be plenum-rated for use in air handling spaces.

In addition to application flexibility, the Z-PLUG’s innovative termination process significantly reduces termination time while simultaneously helping ensure repeatable connection performance. This contractor-friendly, intuitive termination process centers on Siemon’s hand-held, ergonomic Z-PLUG tool.  The steps are extremely simple:

1. Strip the outer cable jacket and lay the conductors into the Z-PLUG lacing module
2. Lace the conductor pairs according to the integrated color-coding guides and trim
3. Insert the laced module into the plug housing
4. Insert the plug assembly into the Z-TOOL and finalize the termination in one easy motion
5. Plug into your IP device!
6. Z-PLUG can be disassembled and reterminated up to three times

Z-PLUG can be terminated with or without the optional boot.  Coupled with the plug’s rounded corners and reduced-length plug body, Z-PLUG’s ability to “go bootless” make it ideal for connecting devices with limited plug space and depth, such as IP cameras and WAPs.

Other unique features include an optional latch guard that protects the latch during cable routing, provides improved accessibility when unplugging/connecting devices in tight spaces, and supports simple color coding of links through 9 different colors options.

The exponential growth of intelligent buildings and PoE device technology presents an excellent opportunity for network infrastructure professionals: the technology is established, the devices exist, and the volume of network cables needed to support this trend will increase. As such, Z-PLUG’s simple and straight to the point approach to IP end-device connectivity can be a significant advantage.

• Learn more about Z-PLUG
• Request a free Z-PLUG sample

Fast deployment and superior reliability are of the utmost importance in today’s fiber networks, which is why many data centers deploy plug-and-play preterminated assemblies – especially for high speed 40 and 100 Gigabit applications that require factory-terminated MPO/MTP style connectivity. But many installation scenarios still benefit from the flexibility of multimode and singlemode duplex fiber field terminations.

When it comes to fiber field termination, quality connections are often directly related to the skill level and experience of the technician performing the termination, and verification is a critical step to ensure that the terminated connectors will reliably transmit the signal. For example, dirty fiber end faces and air gaps between fiber end faces can cause insertion loss and return loss that result in degraded network performance, retransmits or even non-functioning fiber links. And because there are far more steps involved in fiber field termination versus using preterminated fiber assemblies, field termination also results in higher labor costs and slower deployments.

Fiber field termination systems therefore need to offer quick and easy terminations while ensuring consistently high performance connections and the ability to verify that a quality connection has been made. Thankfully, Siemon’s LightBow™ Fiber Termination System provides ALL of these benefits – speed, performance, reliability and the ability to verify the connection.

LightBow’s exclusive patent-pending termination tool dramatically reduces termination time by combining both splice activation and crimping in a single, optimized step and providing universal LC and SC connector compatibility with no time-consuming changeover. It also features integrated LC and SC strip templates molded right into the tool to ensure proper strip length of the fiber. To deliver superior consistent performance, the tool simplifies fiber insertion while its patent-pending bow feature maintains proper pressure of fiber ends during termination to eliminate air gaps. To further ensure reliability, the entire LightBow termination process is completed with the connector dust-cap in place, protecting the critical end face polish from contamination or damage.

And to immediately verify that a quality termination was achieved, LightBow pre-polished mechanical splice connectors feature a built-in verification window in the connector body for use with Siemon’s 0.5mW output power, Laser Class 1 visual fault locator (VFL), which is available in the LightBow Fiber Termination Kit. And following termination verification, the LightBow system offers the unique ability to adjust the fiber or reterminate the connectors if needed.

To showcase the speed and efficiency of the LightBow Termination System, Siemon is hosting a contest available to Certified Installers (CI) in the US, Mexico and Canada from March 1^st to July 31^st 2017. For this contest, CIs perform a successful termination as quick as possible and submit their recorded times to Siemon via video.  Already, entries show termination times well under 30 seconds!!

Siemon is also offering a FREE LightBow Termination Kit with the purchase of 300 LightBow Connectors. And the kit has EVERYTHING you need for terminations, including the patent-pending tool, the 0.5mW VFL, and a high precision cleaver with a long-lasting blade that lasts for 48,000 cleaves – all in a convenient carrying case.

Check out LightBow.