Mon.-Fri. 9am - 5pm PST(909) 591-8891

0 Compare
0 Favorites
0 My Cart
HomeFeatured Posts

Category: Featured Posts

10 Things Everyone Should Know on How NOT to Install a Cable

10 Things Everyone Should Know On How NOT To Install A Cable

There is definitely a right way to do a cable installations. This knowledge, however, is not known by everyone. The homeowner has been known to “wing it” when the pressure of a looming kick-off was weighing on their minds. That said, even the most seasoned veteran of the installation trade may have occasionally found him or herself having to “bend” the rules to bring an installation in on time and on budget.

Life happens. Nobody on our end is judging, but for the sake of clarity and in support of the current wave of digital transformation, Versa proudly presents a 10-point infographic on how NOT to install a cable.

Just as a disclaimer, we are serious but our presentation might be a little bit tongue-in-cheek.

1. Do not think it’s okay to “wing it.”

The smartest way to start a project is to map it out in its entirety on paper. This process has the potential to raise important questions and obstacles you may not have considered. Many is the day a simple installation grew to monster proportions because the installer or DIYer got waylayed by an unforeseen glitch.

Poor planning can cost time and money. The discipline of having to draw out the end-to-end process in advance can actually spotlight troubles before they happen and to allow you to get advice on beforehand. That way, you don’t find yourself in a situation where your job site is ripped apart and your client is breathing down your neck. Not pretty.

Some points a pre-plan can help ensure:

  • That you have more than enough cable to span the distance
  • That your cable delivers 1 Gbps where required
  • That you have enough of the right connectors
  • That you can easily access the full distance you need to run the cable
  • That your client knows the full scope of the operation and can pay you what your worth for your time
  • And finally, that you’ve identified potential sources of interference along the cabling route

Getting the proverbial “skunk” on the table, has allowed many a project to proceed without unnecessary stress. In the long run, this process will actually make your life simpler.

SOLUTION: Get the job on paper before you start.

2. Do not assume you know the PoE compliance of the devices you’re connecting to.

An installer must always double-check every device they are connecting to ensure they have the right cable. It is also helpful take a look at the switch to see that it can properly support the power requirements of the device.

That might include power budget per port when connecting a switch. It’s important to know whether power can be delivered over the same cable as data. An installer also needs to be aware if an injector is needed for a legacy device, and finally, whether an extender is required for pulls that exceed the 100m distance limitations for data over Ethernet.

SOLUTION: Go through your network devices to verify compatibilities to be sure to have the right things like SFP plugins or injectors on hand on installation day.

3. Do not buy the cheapest equipment available.

The old saying penny wise is pound foolish exists for a reason. It is better to buy and install the finest quality IT networking equipment you or your client can afford. First quality products tend to last longer and they generally perform better while they do.Quality Cable

If you’re going to all the trouble of opening walls, and purchasing top-of-the-line components, make sure you’re connecting those devices with solid high-performance cabling options. Indeed, make sure cables can out last the next couple of technology refreshes.

Ethernet cabling typically has a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years. Look at the warranty label for manufacturer specifications. Inferior quality cables will begin to fail sooner. Well insulated cables of a better grade are often worth the added expense throughout the lifecycle of the installation.

SOLUTION: Think 10 and even 20 years ahead. Things are going to change. Determine how your network will make these transitions. Don’t be afraid to ask an expert if you need help. Technology is transforming rapidly.

4. Do not assume you don’t need to know the latest standards.

Realistically, it’s a good idea to stay current on the state of industry products. For instance, knowing the latest Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) standards for power over Ethernet can help the installer make informed choices. The IEEE recently ratified the 802.3bt standard, also known as Type 4. What’s new about Type 4 is that it can deliver up to 95W of power per device per port over 4-pair Ethernet.

SOLUTION: Read up on blogs and go to product labels to see how much power your devices require. That way you can install switches and cabling to support the more sophisticated, feature-laden devices becoming available right now. Your client will see the value of the money spent for the installation in direct correlation to the benefit delivered by the end device that cable supports.

5. Do not assume your installation is a one-and-done.

Instead, assume that things could change and that others will need to get to your installation to adjust or add to it. Add a door rather than sheet rock. Mount your hub inside of a utility room or IT closet. Know that the easier it is for the next guy to make repairs, the easier it will be on your client.

Nothing inspires the desire to rehire quite like a job well done. Besides the person who comes in later to do more work might actually be you.

SOLUTION: Plan in the ease of administration into your original design. Even if you’re not the original designer, be sure to add ways to capture that ease of access into your proposal. Your client will be grateful in the long run.

6. Do not run cable near devices that generate electrostatic.Office Blueprint

That means electrical closets, microwaves, and noisy manufacturing floors. It is a good idea to review the building plans before designing your topology. A stitch in time saves nine. It’s easier to avoid trouble than have to constantly manage it.

SOLUTION: Check with the facilities manager to see where power sources, kitchens and labs, and manufacturing “hotspots” are for electrostatic. They may know of upcoming renovations that might not appear on a set of building blueprints. Save yourself a headache and ask.

7. Do not ignore the potential for the future.

Running an extra cable or two could save expense and time down the road. Find out from your client where potential expansion may happen and the future and plan that into your installation. Labor is one of the most expensive parts of a cable installation. Your client will think very highly of this kind of advice.

SOLUTION: Understand how more cable up front could save a bundle down the road. Be ready to explain this to your customer. You’ll not only make their lives easier but make them look good to their management team.

8. Do not ignore networking terminology.

Many of your clients will be IT networking insiders, but some definitely won’t. Be ready to explain some of the basic concepts to your client. Terms like backbone and segment should not only appear in your conversation but also on your plans.  It will show them that you know whereof you speak and will help themconcepts to to communicate within their company.

SOLUTION: This tip isn’t bad for the DIY homeowner either. The more you know, the better the choices you will make.

9. Do not ignore the benefits of different media.

Each type of cable offers different features. Coaxial and existing copper may also play into this picture. These may be easily repurposed for some of the upcoming technologies. For this article, though, we will look at the following.Fiber Cable

Fiber optic is expensive but it is fast, can span long distances, and weather harsh temperature extremes. It’s an excellent choice for industrial environments. Read more here.

Ethernet is much less expensive and is becoming faster and more powerful. It offers the potential to deliver power and data over a single cable. It cuts down on installing additional power sources, and the devices it supports are becoming much more sophisticated. More here.

Wireless is getting ready for the big 5G boom. The wireless access point can be connected with either Ethernet or fiber. There are plenty of advances headed our way. One notable ability to recharge smartphones over wireless.

SOLUTION: The possibilities are many. Pick the option that gives your client the biggest bang for the buck.

10. Do not forget to take advantage of the real estate overhead.

One of the cabling options that is disrupting business as usual is the overhead modular option. You can read more about it here. Simply put, this option will allow work spaces to become much more responsive to the people doing business.

SOLUTION: Discuss the possibilities with your client. This approach is sure to become a standard for campus new builds because of its phenomenal versatility.

That’s it for this piece. If you need help putting together an equipment sheet for your next installation, we would love to assist you.

Spotlight: George Zimmerman of Ethernet Alliance Tlaks Ethernet Technology Infrastructures and More

Spotlight: George Zimmerman of Ethernet Alliance Talks Ethernet Technology, Infrastructure & More

We’d like to thank George Zimmerman of the NBASE-T and Ethernet Alliances, for taking time out of his busy schedule to talk to us about his journey from the NASA SETI project and how solving the problem of noisy signals helped lead us to the Ethernet technology we have today.

Opinions expressed here are his own and not those of the IEEE-SA or the Ethernet Alliance.

For the last 7 years, Zimmerman has served as president and principal consultant at CME Consulting, working on high-performance wire communications technology and solutions, specializing in wireline communications. He is also serving as a chair within the IEEE P802.3cg Task Force Group and is tasked with building consensus to fill out the low end of the BASE-T1 single-pair ecosystem.

George kindly identified an old article we needed to update and in the process—much to our delight—consented to an interview.

Lesson: be willing to learn. You will inevitably meet great people who have something worthwhile to share. Following is our discussion. We thought this would give the professionals who follow our blog some insight into both Power over Ethernet and Wireless and why we’re at this stage of development. Enjoy!

***

“My whole career has been figuring out how people can use lousy channels to get great signals,” George says pragmatically. Though he has much experience he could boast of, that isn’t what comes across. He’s simply one of those people who love what they do.

I have a doctorate in communications theory from CalTech. I taught there for a little while, and worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for about 10 years, doing deep space communications.

Among other amusing things, I was the systems engineer for the SETI program looking for extraterrestrial signals. The whole thing about looking for signals from extraterrestrials is how do you avoid the interference that’s out there?

So, fast forward and I leave JPL for a company Pairgain Technologies, in 1995, as Henry Samueli was stepping out to go found Broadcom. If you said Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) to somebody in those days, they looked at you funny. They didn’t know what you were talking about.

I spent the next 5 years doing a bunch of the primary work for broadband access:

All of the original DSL standards that ended up getting rolled out—that was the kind of thing that I was involved in—and it’s the same kind of a problem.

That is: we’ve got all these lousy telephone wires out there in the ground, and nobody’s going to spend the money it costs to rip them out, so let’s do something with them. It costs a fortune to dig a trench.

How do you repurpose the wires? You apply some computing and some signal processing at either end of the link. And that’s what I do for a living—is computing and signal processing for communications.

In a nutshell:

  • You correct signals.
  • You build models of the wire.
  • You equalize them, which is simply a way of expanding the bandwidth of them.
  • You reject the noise that you get over the wires.

And lo-and-behold, you’ve got higher data rates. So instead of having better wires, you actually have better signal conditioning.

Repurposing Infrastructure aka building better delivery and deployment over old equipment

The thing is, why did all this matter? This will tie to Ethernet. This actually goes all the way back to the time that I was at JPL.

The way that a lot of communications had been set up in the past, telephony or deep space communications like with Voyager 1 and 2, was based on how much computing you could do at the time.

Back then, if I had an 8086 processor on a spacecraft, that was a good computer. Your smartphone runs circles around that.

But we developed ground systems that we’re able to do 100,000 times that type of computing between the time we launched the spacecraft to Jupiter, and the time it got there.

So we’ve learned to build really good computers and condition signals. And in the process, we learned that the boundaries we carefully defined for computing didn’t really exist.

The world changed because now we have fast computers. Go to DSL and chips that are going into line cards or modems and we find that the computations that go into a modem are on the order of the same speeds that go into a 486 processor.

So again, it’s computing applied to the channel.

Take this principle and now apply it to existing copper

In 2001, at the peak of the telecom crash, I left Pairgain to start my own company. The objective I took on was: how to apply these techniques to Ethernet?

The same dynamic happened.

You have copper wires. Early 1990s saw Cat5e cable [and some Cat6] put into buildings all over the place. Once it’s there and it’s hard to replace. They generally don’t replace it as easily as they put it in.

So the problem to solve became let’s make 10Gb Ethernet work on existing wiring. That was 10GBASE-T.

I founded a company called SolarFlare Communications, which was the early player in 10GBASE-T. The guys I work with now at Aquantia, chip makers, were later players that came in.

I got into Ethernet because I’m a communications guy at heart, and Ethernet was the biggest market around. For me, it’s all about existing wires. How do you use the fact that you can compute faster and faster all the time to get more out of your existing infrastructure?

Lately, I’ve been working on 25Gbps and 40Gbps problems—that’s using the new cable, Cat8.

Most of Ethernet is the Cat5e and Cat6 that you see everywhere. There’s not much Cat7 and Cat8 isn’t out yet.

Why Cat5e and Cat6 have such longevity

People don’t realize how big getting an appreciable amount of the existing wiring infrastructure replaced is. It’s a 10-year cycle just to replace Cat5e and Cat6 with Cat6a, and Cat6a was introduced in 2006. It’s happening, but 10 years is along the order of what I’ve seen in cabling industry studies.

That’s why there’s such a push to get more out of existing wiring.

It’s also why there’s a move toward wireless. Their technology is developing a lot faster–from .11N to .11AC in 3-4 years. We’re already at .11AX now, like 3-4 years later.

It’s moving a lot faster. Wired had to keep up.

Wireless Speeds

To connect the wireless in, we went back to lower speeds, but using the Cat5e and Cat6 cabling already installed. It started only a few years back first with the NBASE-T Alliance, and then in IEEE and IEEE 802.bz. Now, NBASE-T and IEEE 802.3bz are essentially merged. NBASE-T took the technology base that had been in 10GBASE-T, modified it a little bit, lowered the rate, applied some lessons learned, and proposed a solution that would run 2.5 and 5 Gbps on existing wires.

They then brought that to IEEE, and said, “We want to have an industry standard on this.” And the industry worked through the consensus process and architected it so that, in the end, they had a standard (802.3bz) and NBASE-T spec that were interoperable.

In fact, most of the specs are identical.

That’s because the same people worked on both standards, and they developed the specifications with that in mind. There are some differences, but they are fine points. We’ll end the discussion here.

Final Thoughts

George and the IEEE working group have done a great job. Again, Versa would like to thank him for his generosity in sharing his time for the interview. It was really fun hearing about Ethernet from an insider.

Power over Ethernet (802.3bz) and even aspects of wireless technology (802.11ax) have grown from an effort to preserve existing infrastructures. They are the technological embodiment of the green movement. The preservation and repurposing of valuable assets have, in some ways, forced us to look at problems differently.

They have inspired collaboration and dared us to push through boundaries and achieve things we didn’t think possible.

If you have questions or would like a custom quote, please feel free to reach out.

Net Neutrality | The Issues and Arguments

Net Neutrality | The Issues and Arguments

Net Neutrality has been a hot button issue for the past few years, and things have only been heating up over the past few months.

Of course, like many controversial news items, the truth may be slightly different from what you’ve been told. We’re not here to decide which side of the argument is valid, but we do want to take a closer look at the most valid points each side has made in recent months.

One thing is certain… comprehensive consumer protections need to be put in place. On that point everyone seems to agree.

As you’ll soon see, the argument isn’t really over whether or not the consumer should be protected from profit-focused ISP giants. In reality, it’s more about who will grant and determine those protections. Further, at issue is who will be tasked with keeping a watchful eye on the aforementioned grantor.

But first, let’s take a look at where each side stands.

Proponents of Net NeutralityPro Net Neutrality

Those in favor of net neutrality have long been arguing that the fees for internet access should be the same regardless of your intended use of the internet.

In short, whether you are using email, downloading music files or watching movies from your favorite streaming media service, your monthly fee shouldn’t differ. Further, as long as you’re not breaking any laws, your bandwidth shouldn’t be throttled by your ISP.

Last but not least, is the argument concerning companies that provide services over the internet. Net neutrality defenders posit that smaller providers and companies should not be passed over if a competitor is a higher bidder for “premium” download speeds.

In short, advocates of net neutrality believe that the Internet should be freely and equally available for any and all.

Those Against Net Neutrality

The opposition mainly consists of ISPs, networking hardware companies and pro-market supporters. Their primary concern is that net neutrality stifles business growth.Netflix bandwidth consumption

They argue that the money gained from higher rates and exclusive partnership deals would open the door for much-needed investments in the country’s network infrastructure. In turn, this would improve services and speeds for end consumers in the long run.

Another concern opponents of net neutrality have voiced, is that the percentage of bandwidth required to stream video and music services is disproportionately large.

In their latest Global Internet Phenomena Report, Sandvine reported that Netflix consumes a stunning 35.2% of broadband in North America alone. And that doesn’t include any  peer-to-peer activity.

One can see where the ISPs are coming from in light of this surprising data.

What Could an Ideal Situation Look Like?

According to the FCC, there are 3 basic rules that must be obeyed regardless of the outcome of the net neutrality fight. Let’s take a look at each in turn.

1. Transparency

Internet Service Providers must maintain records and publish performance reports.

2. No “Unlawful” Blocking

The issue here is of course, what constitutes “lawful” blocking and what doesn’t.

Even the government will be under public scrutiny as to why the need has arisen to block a website. Certainly, nobody will be able to take money to block competitors including the competition for an ISP.

3. No Slowing of Internet Speeds

An ISP may not slow Internet speeds for those who are paying for High-Speed Internet. You can drive a bus through the loopholes here and it clearly needs some refining. Balancing data delivery is a critical issue for both sides.

So what has been done up to now to make this vision a reality? What has been put in place to control traffic on the Internet highway?

To give you a context, here’s the historical progression of Internet access rights up until the present day.

Historical Timeline

FCC codifies its Net Neutrality “principles”

Net Neutrality timeline2008: FCC rules that Comcast is liable for interfering with peer-to-peer file transmissions between users of BitTorrent

2010: A 3-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals overturns the above 2008 FCC ruling.

2014: The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit strikes down the FCC’s Open Internet Order in the case of Verizon v. FCC.

2015: A government commission approves new and stricter net neutrality rules. Providers like Google, Facebook and Netflix expressed concern at possible FCC overreach. Congress clarifies issue of reclassification.

2016: The one and only formal net neutrality complaint is filed against Verizon.

2017: FCC gets new leadership and new government leadership sparks efforts to undo the “utility” reclassification of the Internet. This would remove sole regulatory power from the FCC.

Many would argue that the Internet has certainly taken on the importance of a utility in our day to day lives. After all, we do now rely on it for business needs, personal habits, and everything in between.

Who’s Watching the Watchdog?

What’s easy for both sides of the privacy argument to lose sight of, is that the battle is really over who gets to be in charge.

The FCC historically has wanted to maintain full control and keep the FTC out of the picture. By reclassifying the Internet as a utility, that is exactly what they got. But is someone watching the FCC?

If the “utility” classification were removed, the FTC would be back in the picture. They would then have a hand in monitoring and penalizing businesses for unfair play. This would (in this case) likely include bandwidth-throttling smaller competitors.

So What Do Policy Makers Advise?

If net neutrality remains classified as a “utility,” things will undoubtedly be safer for consumers. But it leaves the industry subject to the judgment of a few insiders for things like pricing and service availability.FCC-FTC-scale

On the other hand, if it’s moved back into the private realm, there is the possibility of much greater investment in infrastructure and service improvements. That being said, consumers will be at greater risk as protections could end up being quite scarce.

Larry Downes of the Georgetown Center for Business and Public Policy thinks there is a third alternative: make Net Neutrality a matter of federal law.

He argues that if we went this route, there would be a healthier balance between the FCC and FTC.  That way, each commission could function as a check and balance on one another to prevent overreach.

Final Thoughts

Will this simple suggestion of taking an alternate route and steering net neutrality down the federal law road actually take place? At this point in time, your guess is as good as ours.

No matter what pans out, this has been a fascinating debate to watch unfold over the past few years. Here’s hoping that cooler heads prevail and a productive path forward is reached with concessions from both sides.

3 Steps to Pitch Network Equipment to Government Agencies

3 Steps to Pitch Network Equipment to Government Agencies

Last week the Washington Post announced a White House pledge to spend a massive $1 trillion on a road, waterway, and airport infrastructure overhaul initiative.

For most people and industries, infrastructure repair is nothing but a headache. But for some specific verticals, it means big business. So for those of us that bid on government contracts, we’re going to be busy in the coming years.

If you haven’t yet thought about how you might go about capturing some of this cash, this is the time to start.

Expanding your clientele to the public sector isn’t always as hard as you may think. You just need a roadmap. A guide if you will. Something that can walk you through the process step by step.

In this article, we’ll highlight the first crucial steps you’ll need to take in order to start making bids and landing government contracts for network installs.

Let’s dive in!

Step One: Check the Small Business Administration Website

The small business administration website is loaded with information, training, and access to mentoring. There’s so much good info on there that you could honestly go down the rabbit hole for hours on end.

So to cut to the chase, here’s a link to the government contracting process overview they’ve pulled together. If it seems like too much information, that’s okay, don’t fret. They provide links to tutorials on each page that give additional context and should help make everything crystal clear.

First, you’ll need to find your NAICS Number.

NAICS stands for North American Industry Classification System. You’re probably going to qualify as a 238210 under the NAICS 2017 industry code. It’s on the census.gov website. But if you’re unclear, you can call them to confirm:

NAICS # 238210

https://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/2017NAICS/2017_NAICS_Manual.pdf, Page 135

As a small business contractor, you can work for Uncle Sam on a particular job in either of 2 ways…

1) as a prime contractor working directly with the governmentUncle Sam

2) you can subcontract for a prime contractor to get in the door

Regardless of which path you choose, you’ll still need to qualify as a small business and register as a government contractor. Here’s the page where you’ll get started.

Follow these three steps to determine your eligibility:

  1. Enter your industry number [NAICS]
  2. Enter your business size
  3. Get a determination result

Assuming your business qualifies, next you’ll need to set up a SAM profile.

Step Two: Register on the System for Award Management (SAM) Portalresume

This is where things get interesting. You’ll probably want to dust off that resume to help with this step.

Start with some research. You can go online to see how other bidders have set up their profiles.

In short, this is not the time to be shy. But do be mindful and only include relevant experience you/your business has.

Afterwards, the system will give you a DUNS number. You apply for that number.

Make sure you have your taxpayer ID handy before you start this part of the process. The DUNS number is a unique 9-digit number for each physical location of your business. Don’t worry, it’s free to obtain.

DUNS #

Think of your SAM profile as a business promo of sorts. It’s not too far off from the purpose a landing page would serve on your website.

You want to put your best foot forward. Highlight skills and experience from the standpoint of the agencies you’ll be working for.

It usually takes about 3 days for new profiles to upload and populate in the system. So sit tight, and check in on day 4!

Note: SAM also enables automatic payments once you’ve been awarded a job. Very convenient!

Step Three: Check the IFB portal for Requests for Bids

The final, and perhaps most important step, is to look for requests for bids and to actually start making bids yourself!

The IFB site provides step by step instructions on how to write your own bids.Bidding for a Porject

If you want to save yourself some frustration (and who doesn’t), download “bid packages” from the specific agencies you’re going to submit bids or proposal to.

Each bid will contain particulars, so pay attention to the details.

All of this seems like a lot of effort, but don’t get discouraged. It can be well worth the time and energy invested. In fact, most of the contracts are worth over $100k! So, like we said, put your best foot forwards!

Where Do You Go From Here?

To be fair, this article barely scratches the surface of government contract bidding. It’s a complicated process that includes a noticeable learning curve.

That being said, at it’s most basic level, the process can be explained as follows:

Remember, the U.S. Government is currently gearing up to spend some serious cash on infrastructure.

If you want to obtain your share of the incoming work installing network equipment, the time to get familiar with the process is now!

As always, we’re more than happy to answer questions about the networking equipment and to help spec out the perfect configuration for your client (whether it be a private business or a government agency).

So don’t hesitate to reach out!

ALOHA Cabled Observatory

How The ALOHA Cabled Observatory Snagged A Million-Dollar Cable For A $1

Deploying network cables underwater is an expensive feat, oftentimes costing hundreds of millions of dollars, but the ALOHA Cabled Observatory (ACO) paid a mere $1 for one of AT&T’s retired telecommunication cable.

The cable was originally the first fiber optic cable that connected continental U.S. and Hawaii. With the help of a former AT&T engineer, ALOHA Cabled Observatory received a custom board that converts the proprietary AT&T signal into standard 100-Base-FX (or 100 Mbps Ethernet over fiber optics). The fiber optic cable sends power and Ethernet connectivity to the ocean floor at a depth of 4,728 meters, making it the deepest power and Internet connection in the world.

Receive a Complementary Consultation

Installed in June 2011, the cable was initially deployed in 1988 and operated until 2002. The cable, named HAW-4, is a first generation cable that only supports 100 Mbps full duplex downstream rates. Though the cable is now obsolete for telecommunication services, the speed provides sufficient bandwidth for marine research at the University of Hawaii’s Aloha Cabled Observatory.  According to the Founder and Director of Aloha’s Cabled Observatory, Brian Chee, the cable provides more than enough bandwidth and power (1,800 watts) for an observatory that is “the size of a VW Beetle”.

Underwater Observatory

The small observatory packs a large punch. Touted as the deepest underwater observatory, the site has proved as an invaluable resource to marine biologists measuring and collecting statistics such as water pressure, oxygen levels, currents, oceanic temperature, salinity, and many other data points. The ALOHA Cabled Observatory’s audio/visual library features recordings of a variety of different whales as well as oceanic life and footage of scientific crew.

ALOHA Water Pressure

One of the main advantages of the observatory is its wired Power and Ethernet connectivity. It’s Power and Ethernet connectivity eliminates the need of having to rely on external battery supplies and the station can feed real-time data to the cable landing station. The wired aspect of the observatory eliminates the need to rely on satellite transmission which can get costly if using high-bandwidth transmission. The observatory’s Power and Ethernet connection also eliminates the need for scientists to visit the site directly to collect data.

It’s easy to forget that the world-wide-web is connected via expensive undersea cables that connect networks across continents. With wireless access to the internet, we oftentimes forget that our networks rely on wired infrastructures to enable us to surf the internet. And we’re much less aware that in order for the world-wide-web to achieve global connectivity, telecommunication companies deploy transatlantic submarine cables. These cables cost millions to deploy, the most recent venture was completed by Google. The company deployed a submarine cable and named it as “Faster” that connects Japan to Portland, Oregon as well Los Angeles and San Francisco, California.

Best PoE Units

Related Posts:

Google Fiber Brings Low-Cost Connectivity To Kansas City

Exploring Powered Fiber Cable Systems (PFCS)- Is It Time For Power and Data to Divorce?

Why PoE Will Power the Smart Building of the Future

 

 

PoE Smart Building

Why Power over Ethernet will Power the Smart Building of The Future

You know Power over Ethernet as the cabling technology used in information technology that transmits both data and power using a standard Ethernet cable. PoE gives users the ability to deploy powered devices at any location, regardless if electrical outlets are present. It is this characteristic that makes Ethernet the ideal default cabling medium that will connect the smart building of the future.

One of the main advantages in utilizing Ethernet as the main cabling technology is its ability to give each connected device its own IP address. Utilizing the universal cabling medium simplifies the management, configuration and maintenance of the connected devices. With Ethernet, network administrators and system integrators can rely on the universal language of TCP/IP to troubleshoot devices helping maintain operational costs low.

Leveraging the Simplicity of PoE for Smart Buildings

Siemon ConvergeIt, a network cabling solutions provider, has released a demonstration video showcasing how Ethernet can power the ecosystem of a smart building. With Ethernet, powered devices can rely on Power over Ethernet (PoE) for power. PoE allows system integrators or network administrators to deploy powered devices at any location, regardless if a site is devoid of electrical outlets. PoE also eliminates the need to add new electrical power outlets in a building which requires professional installation and conduit permits. PoE can deliver power to low-voltage devices, up to 30 watts of power under the current highest-powered standard, 802.3at. However, IEEE currently has a new PoE standard in the works, 802.3bt, that will deliver between 60-100 watts of power.  Though the standard is expected to finalize in 2017, there are many 802.3bt readily available for customers seeking greater power output. Visit our sister site, PlanetechUSA to view our full suite of 802.3bt Ultra PoE networking gear. 802.3bt utilizes all four twisted copper wire pairs to deliver power and data.

Receive a Complementary Consultation

With Ethernet, smart building installations can utilize a single cabling medium and utilize PoE to power wireless access points, IP surveillance cameras, VoIP networks, PoE lighting, thin clients, and mobile clients for example.  These powered devices rely on switches or other similar power sourcing equipment (PSE) to receive low-voltage power. Switches are particularly adept at converting AC to DC power and they provide less power loss than when using traditional electricity. These units offer a centralized management location that facilitates the troubleshooting of powered devices.

In addition, utilizing Ethernet as the main cabling medium simplifies the notion of transforming a traditional building into a smart building. Though there are a myriad of smart devices designed for smart buildings, utilizing Ethernet eliminates the need to settle on one particular connectivity standard. Enterprises can re-use their existing network switches to power a PoE Lighting system for example.

Smart buildings combine energy efficiency and technological innovation to create a dynamic networking environment of interconnected devices that offer remote control. Higher-end/higher-tier smart buildings support smart devices that can communicate with other devices without the need for human input. With Ethernet, many of the components that communicate with the internet gives users the ability to customize their preferred settings via an app.

Smart Buildings

 

The Edge—A Smart, Sustainable Smart Building

The Edge, a smart building located in Amsterdam, exemplifies this type of technological innovation.  Touted as the greenest and smartest smart building, the smart building reuses rain water to flush toilets and to irrigate plants. It also features an atrium to make use of natural sunlight. The building received a 98% BREEAM score, a benchmark that attests to its sustainability. Furthermore, the Edge gives its office workers the ability to customize lighting and other HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning) components via an app. The building uses a concept known as “hot desking”, a seating arrangement where workers don’t have any pre-assigned seats. With PoE lighting, office workers can utilize the app to see vacant seating areas.

Instead of having these components operate independently, The Edge exemplifies a modern smart building that integrates components such as Lighting, HVAC Systems, access control and other smart devices into a dynamic ecosystem that inform each other. The edge integrates technology from the moment an employee enters the building. A camera will identify a member’s license plate to permit access the building’s parking. Towel dispensers in bathrooms for example, notify janitors when bathrooms are experiencing particularly heavy traffic. In addition, because the Edge comes with PoE lighting with occupancy sensors, the smart building knows which rooms have remained unused and can be skipped for cleaning.

PoE Lighting— The Future of Smart Lighting

Power over Ethernet can be used to power LED systems such as a Phillips’s Light over Ethernet (LoE) Led systems. Many LED lights powered by PoE also integrate sensors to better monitor the usage of a room. An occupancy sensor for example, can be programmed to collect historical usage data and even notify cleaning personnel when to skip cleaning un-unsed rooms. Office workers can also utilize the app to find their colleagues, remind the espresso machine of their preferred settings, pair their smart phones with LCD monitors, and even order their favorite meals from the building’s cafeteria. To learn more about how PoE lighting works, click here!

Best PoE adapters

Time Capsule Alert! The Earliest Ethernet Advertisement

IRobert Metcalfen 1973, Robert Metcalfe wrote a memo that would serve as the founding concepts for the technology that we now know as Ethernet. Xerox Parc assigned Robert Metcalfe with the task of connecting a group of personal computers to a printer. Along with his co-inventor David Boggs, Robert Metcalfe invented the cabling technology that would transform a computer from a static workstation to a dynamic host that could communicate with other computers. It was not until 1979 that IEEE fully standardized the 802.3 Ethernet standard. The first 802.3 Ethernet standard specified for 10 Mbps using coaxial cabling (known as thicknet) but twisted copper pairs proved more efficient and quickly replaced coaxial cabling.

But Ethernet’s versatility has far outgrown its original use-case. Ethernet is more than twisted pair copper terminated with an RJ45 connector. The Ethernet Alliance defines Ethernet as a wired technology that supports a variety of media/medium including backplanes, twisted pair, twinax, multimode fiber and single-mode fiber [2016EthernetRoadMap.pdf]. These additional iterations enable Ethernet to provide speeds beyond the traditional 1 Gigabit rates that end-users are traditionally familiar with. Ethernet can deliver terabit speeds to Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) as well as core networks such as hyperscale datacenters.

This rare footage, now part of the Computer History Museum, showcases an early advertisement showcasing Ethernet. (Note the lack of an RJ45 connector!) Xerox’s advertisement envisions Ethernet as the panacea to data information overload (little did they know it would only augment it). But it was its inventor, Bob Metcalfe’s, entrepreneurial grit (not Xerox) that established Ethernet as the plumbing pipes of the Internet.

Copyright Owner © Computer History Museum 

IEEE’s Pursuit of Slower Ethernet Speeds

Since the original 802.3 Ethernet standard, IEEE has introduced new Ethernet standards that have steadily increased data transmission rates. However, in recent years, not all new Ethernet standards will guarantee higher transmission rates. Study groups have formed around proposed Ethernet standards that do not necessarily operate faster than existing standards. Ethernet standards are following a non-linear evolution that pursues both faster and slower speeds than existing standards. For example, after having finalized the standardization of 40 gigabit Ethernet(GbE) in 2010, network equipment manufacturers formed a consortium around 25 gigabit Ethernet (GbE) in 2015 to show IEEE their growing interest in a slower standard than the already available 40GbE. Hyperscale data centers with top-of-rack switches have outgrown 10GbE. But at the same time, upgrading to 40GbE represents a hefty investment. 25Gbe would provide a cost-effective alternative that would allow cloud providers to make a cost-effective (and scaleable) upgrade that will help them keep up with the growing demand in cloud computing.

Ethernet Standards Timeline

 

The pursuit of multigigabit Ethernet standards also demonstrates a new divergent trend that showcases its non-linear evolution. IEEE is expected to pursue 2.5GbE and 5GbE, also known as multigigabit Ethernet, in response to the release of the 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard. 802.11ac wireless access points can deliver nearly 7 Gbps rates in optimal networking conditions. As Wireless Access Networks (WANs) continue to provide increasingly faster rates, they concurrently drive the demand towards faster wiring infrastructures in Local Area Network’s (LANs).

IEEE’s Pursuit of Faster Ethernet Speeds

 

Receive a Complementary Consultation

Nonetheless, IEEE is also continuing to pursue incrementally faster Ethernet rates as well. Upcoming terabit speeds include 400 GbE and 200 GBE whose estimated standardization is expected to finalize in 2017 and 2018 respectively.  Former President of the Ethernet Alliance, Scott Kipp, forecasts that the “200GbE [will be] applicable to the low cost/ high volume switch market while 400GbE will be suited for the high cost/low volume router market.”  These terabit speeds will not only be used in hyperscale data centers, but also in a variety of Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) including Internet exchange points, telecommunications companies, cable TV companies, and content delivery networks (CDN).

In regards to POE, IEEE has continued pushing towards standards that increase power output. PoE is a technology that can simultaneously transmit Power and data. This gives network administrators the ability to deploy powered devices such as IP surveillance without having to rely on additional power sources. For more in-depth information about PoE click here.  Be sure to check out our timeline of PoE standards here.

Best PoE Units

Related Posts:

https://www.versatek.com/blog/unanticipated-evolution-poe-prevents-market-saturation/

 

PoE Standards

How the Unanticipated Evolution of PoE Prevents Market Saturation

Why is Power over Ethernet (PoE) far from reaching market saturation levels?

Power over Ethernet has evolved since its inception in 2002. IEEE has introduced PoE standards with increasingly higher power outputs to account for the evolving use-case scenarios for PoE. But even though the technology has been around for over a decade, PoE has not quite yet achieved market saturation. PoE use-cases are evolving beyond common computer networking applications. Early in its introduction, PoE port growth was driven by VoIP (Voice-over-IP Phones) installations. IP surveillance cameras also contributed to the growth of PoE. As the utility of PoE technology expands beyond common networking applications, Leviton predicts that PoE will experience similar growth rates that were originally seen after its introduction in 2003. A recent Dell Oro presentation confirms the forecast, attributing the growth of PoE port shipments to future PoE lighting installations. Click here to learn more about PoE lighting.

The continuing evolution of PoE use-cases along with IEEE’s standardization of higher power upgrades will continue to fuel the growth of PoE.

Receive a Complementary Consultation

What is PoE?

PoE simplifies network installations by delivering both power and data via a standard networking cable. Another factor contributing to PoE’s appeal is cost-effectiveness. PoE remains unencumbered with the strict conduit regulations associated with installing electrical circuitry. PoE allows network installers and system integrators to utilize the same wiring cable to deliver power and data to sites that lack access to electrical outlets. For example, PoE makes it possible to deploy a powered device (PD) such as an IP camera in a warehouse without electrical outlets. With PoE, remote power provisioning becomes as simple as connecting a PoE-capable powered device (PD) to a switch using a standard networking cable.

A Timeline of PoE’s Evolution

The following depicts the evolution of PoE standards since its introduction in 2002.

PoE Standards

The Evolution of PoE Standards:

  • 2002 marked IEEE’s introduction of the 802.3af standard which specified 15.4W of DC power using 10BASE-T and 100BASE-T. The standard utilized only two of the four twisted pairs in Category 3 Ethernet or higher.
  • 2009 marked IEEE’s introduction of 802.3at or PoE+ which specified for 30W of power. The standard also introduced 1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet over CAT 5 and 6. Similar to 802.3af, the new standard also only utilized two out of the four copper pairs to transmit power. Compliant PoE+ power sourcing equipment features backwards compatibility and can power 802.3af powered devices, as well as devices that require less power than 15 W.
  • 2011 saw the emergence of a new high-wattage PoE solution known as Universal Power over Ethernet (UPOE) by Cisco. Cisco’s proprietary technology utilizes four copper cables to transmit 60W of power.
  • 2012 introduced Power over HDBaseT (PoH). Even though the standard is capable of delivering 100W of power using all four pairs of Cat5e or Cat6 cable, it is based on the 802.3at standard. HDBASE-T simplifies the connection of television media hubs with its ability to transmit video, audio, power and 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet. The Power over HDBaseT (PoH) was standardized by the HDBaseT Alliance.
  • 2013 introduced IEEE’s official study group for 802.3bt, a high-wattage PoE solution that promises to deliver between 60-100W of power. 802.3bt can introduce new use-cases for banking, financial, healthcare, and retail sectors. Official standardization is expected to finalize in 2017.
  • 2016 After the official standardization of 802.3bw 100-BASET1 Ethernet for automotive usage, David Law, chair of the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Working Group, announced the intention to specify a Power over Ethernet (PoE) via automobile Ethernet in the future. Click here to learn more about the new 802.3bw standard.

PoE simplifies the deployment of powered devices such as IP surveillance cameras in locations that lack convenient access to electrical circuitry. Click here for a more in-depth overview of PoE. 

Want to experience the simplicity of PoE? Click on the link below to overview our PoE equipment.

Best PoE Units

 

 

802.11ax

802.11ax – The Wi-Fi Standard Faster Than 802.11ac



802.11ax802.11acintroduced gigabit speeds to the 802.11 body of Wi-Fi standards, but the Wi-Fi alliance has already begun exploring 802.11ax, a follow-up standard that is promising to deliver double-digit gigabit speeds. The new standard is led by Huawei and the Wi-Fi Alliance. Huawei has reportedly achieved 1.5 Gbps speeds using the 5 GHZ frequency band in laboratory settings. Market Wired estimates more conservative figures predicting real-world 802.11ax speeds to surmount to 2 Gbps. FierceWireless anticipates that “the speed would not necessarily be delivered to an individual smartphone or tablet, but it does set the stage for possible gigabit speeds direct to devices.”

Multi-Carrier Support with OFDMA

The new speed is not expected to achieve official ratification until 2019. 802.11ax will utilize the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency currently in use, but FierceWireless also predicts the possibility of utilizing 1 GHz and 6 GHz. 802.11ax will also utilize a MIMO-OFDMA (Multi Input Multiple Output Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access). In contrast to 802.11ac’s OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) where each subcarrier is reserved for one user, OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) has the capacity of supporting multiple users per subcarrier. Both 802.11ac’s OFDM and 802.11ax’s OFDMA rely on an orthogonal signal structure that turns signals in right angles to allow for a closer stacking of the signals and allow for a simple de-multiplexing as explained by Extremetech. However, unlike OFDM, OFDMA can talk with multiple stations simultaneously. Chuck Lukaszewski, Vice President of Wireless Standards and Strategy at Hewlett-Packard Enterprise has confirmed that both OFDMA and MIMO will be able to support bi-directional downlink and uplink transmission.

Receive a Complementary Consultation

 

802.11ax Will Make Multi-Gigabit Ethernet Essential

802.11ax will continue to preserve backwards compatibility with older 802.11 models. These faster Wi-Fi standards will put a strain on Gigabit Ethernet and will continue to drive the demand for 2.5 Gb and 5 Gb Ethernet, also known as Multi-Gigabit Ethernet. The MGBASE-T Alliance and NBASE-T alliance have worked together to drive the finalization of Multi-gigabit Ethernet. Multigigabit Ethernet, known as IEEE’s 802.3bz study group is expected to finalize in 2016. Click here to learn more about the 802.3bz standards and the alliances driving the development of the standard.

Current customers have access to 1000BASE-T Ethernet as well as 10GBASE-T using CAT6A cable wiring. Even 802.11ac Wave 2 adopters need to update their infrastructures to be able to properly achieve the high-speed rates of 802.11ac.

Looking for 802.11ac Wireless Access Points? Click on the link below!

best access points

Related Posts:

 

IEEE analyst hour

PoE Market Forecasts from the Dell’Oro Group

Did you miss the Ethernet Alliance’s Analyst Hour on Power over Ethernet? The Ethernet Alliance’s webinar discussed the outlook of the industry and future factors that will drive PoE growth. Keep reading to catch up on the latest market research conducted by the Dell’Oro Group for insight on the PoE industry.

Who is the Dell’Oro Group?

The Dell’Oro Group specializes in providing market research for the telecommunications, network and data center market segments to keep businesses informed about the industry.

What is driving the growth of the PoE industry?

IEEE has reported that PoE is “growing well beyond shipments of 100M ports per year” and the webinar noted that the figure will continue to increase with the growing adoption of 802.11ac Wireless Access Points (WAP) and the popularization of PoE lighting.

What role do Ethernet switches have in the PoE ecosystem?

IEEE analyst hour

Alan Weck overviews the role that Ethernet switches have in the PoE ecosystem and notes that users are increasingly relying on WLAN (wireless local area network) as opposed to wired connections to connect to the internet. Alan Weck notes that Ethernet switching has evolved “from a role of user connectivity to one of infrastructure”. As the 802.11 Wi-Fi standards continue to improve, wireless connection performance will begin to rival the speeds of wired connections. This has become a dominant trend in mobile computing where users choose wireless connections over a wired connection. Faster WLANs will increase the demand for the adoption of faster wireless access point, and this, in turn, will increase the demand for faster Ethernet speeds beyond the current 1 GB rate.

What is the main factor influencing faster Ethernet speeds?

As users become increasingly mobile and rely on WLAN (Wireless Local Area Networks) to access the Internet, the demand for faster wireless access points (WAPs) will continue to increase. 802.11ax, the pre-standard faster than the current 802.11ac standard, is expected to arrive in 2019. The new pre-standard promises to deliver up to 10 Gbps rates. The improvement of wireless access points will push towards the adoption of 2.5 GB and 5 GB in the future. Alan Weck discusses that one of the main factors hindering the adoption of these two relatively new Ethernet rates are cost. But WLANs will continue to grow and place faster bandwidth demands on the backhaul of networks. IEEE PoE Analyst Hour

How will IoT influence PoE Port Growth?

When it comes to PoE port growth, Dell’Oro found that in terms of the Internet of Things (IoT), PoE lighting is the only sector expected to substantially fuel PoE growth. PoE lighting allows users to deploy low-powered LED lights using Power over Ethernet. This simplifies the deployment of lighting installation and removes the need for professional electrical installers and expensive electrical permits. To read more about the benefits of PoE lighting, click here.

What can threaten the growth of PoE lighting?

One of the main advantages that can fuel PoE lighting is the lack of legal permits needed to deploy a network. But a high volume of PoE lighting deployments running at full output power can potentially make for a fire hazard. Even though the scenario represents an extreme example, the analysts discussed the possible effects of regulation and how that would discourage new adopters.

The market penetration of PoE lighting can unintentionally encumber traditional Ethernet deployment once regulation enters the picture. Alan Wecker discussed that “Lighting and building infrastructure is highly regulated. Traditional Ethernet is ubiquitous and cannot be burdened with regulation. If everything in Ethernet gets regulated because of this use case, many other use cases will look for alternatives outside the Ethernet ecosystem.”

PoE is Awaiting the standardization of 802.3bt. How does the pending standard affect the Ethernet ecosystem?

Though regulation is highly unlikely with current PoE standards, PoE is awaiting the standardization of the 802.3bt standard. The new standard promises to deliver up to 100 watts per PoE port. Power Sourcing Equipment that supports these new ultra PoE power levels justifies the fledgling concern for possible future regulation demands for the wiring technology.

PoE is currently a cost-effective alternative to installing new electrical circuitry. It allows network administrators to deploy PoE in locations without the expense of electrical conduit permits. Regulation would only hinder the growth of PoE port shipments and discourage prospective PoE lighting customers from adopting the Ethernet ecosystem.

Other PoE market forecasts:

Alan Weck mentioned a couple other market observations in relation to switches. The market for Fast Ethernet switches will continue to decline. In addition, the bulk of the market will consist of 1 Gigabit Ethernet units while the 40 GB market will continue to decrease. The following diagram also includes market projections for 25/50/100 GB Ethernet and 2.5/5/10 Gigabit Ethernet units. 

IEEE PoE Analyst Hour

Will IP telephones or VoIP phones impact PoE port growth?

IP Desk phones, as noted by Alan Weck, drove PoE port growth before 2008. With the introduction of instant messaging platforms and social media, experts predicted a sharp decline in the Enterprise IP Telephony market share. However, Dell Oro’s findings report neither a growth nor decline in IP Telephony.

Do these market forecasts include automobile Ethernet?

Unfortunately, these market forecasts do not include automobile Ethernet. Automobile Ethernet will be considered an entire breed of its own. IEEE recently introduced 802.3bw standard, which “specifies 100BASE-T- 100Mbps over a single twisted pair for automobile applications”. Click here to find out more about 802.3bw.

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive new product notifications, deals, and offers!

Fill out my online form.

Related Posts:

LoadingLoad more...

Have a question? Need help with a custom order? Want to talk to an engineer about your project? CALL NOW or GET HELP

Shopping cart