Technology
Discussion on Inclusion/Exclusion of Fiber Optics and UTP Cabling Design for Gates Widget Company
Fiber Optics an UTP Cabling in Design
Mr. B. Gates the owner of Gates Widget Company has ordered to design a cable network that will be used for the three buildings in the companys premises namely, Day care, factory and the administrative building. The focus of discussion in terms of inclusion and exclusion of cabling technology is for the administrative building. There are two types of cables that will be used in the design. First is the UTP or unshielded twisted pair which has a maximum VDV (voice, data and video) transmission speed of 100 Mbps (2 pair) for a maximum length of 800 meters. The other type of cable to be used is single mode Fiber Optic which can virtually go as far as necessary in length and can still provide high-speed and high bandwidth (Florida Center for Instructional Technology, 1997-2011). Before the design can be drafted, there has to be a few factors that needs to be considered in choosing which cable goes to which area in the building. In the EIA/TIA-568 or the Commercial Buildings Telecommunications Wiring Standards, there are six subsystems specified such as the building entrance, equipment room, backbone cabling, telecommunications closet, horizontal cabling and work area. Each of these areas has specified standards as to which type of cable is most appropriate.
However, these standards are not mandatory and the interoperability standard is only voluntary. The decision to include or exclude the either type of cable still depends on the environment in which the cables are to be installed. Electromagnetic disturbance within the building has to be checked because UTP is more prone to electrical noise as compared to fiber optic cable. Therefore, optic cable is a better choice considering its immunity from electrical disturbances. However, optic fiber cables are more expensive than UTP, project cost would be in question if the network will run entirely through optic fibers. Mr. Gates has specified the budget for the project. Therefore, the network design will have to use combination of the two cables in consideration to purpose, cost, standards, topology, distance and requirement.
In designing the cable networks in relation to the six subsystems described earlier, distance and special needs is crucial in determining the type of cable to use. For the building entrance, this is the point where the outside cabling interfaces together with the backbone cabling within the building. Usually located at the first floor, this is where the public and private connection interchange happens in the network. Since the building entrance is where the external and internal networks meet. It should entirely use single mode optic fiber cables because data transmission has to run smooth and fast in this subsystem and not to mention that building entrance leads to the backbone subsystem as well. The disadvantage using fiber optic in this subsystem is primarily the service entry pathway, space and entrance point. The fragile nature of the cables have to be considered and because of that conduit methods need to be planned carefully such as the size and the cables have to be buried underground (Quang Dung Technology Distribution Company, 2006, p.14). UTP can also be used in this subsystem. However, it cannot guarantee the maximum speed and bandwidth size that optic fiber can provide. UTP cables can be installed in aerial method because of its durability and effort of installation, but aesthetic aspects needs to considered well as the copper cable's reaction to electrical noise such as lightning.
The backbone subsystem can use either fiber optics or UTP, or a combination of both. In most commercial networks and large facilities, fiber optics is the primary choice. However, the Gates Widget Company is not as large enough to consider network distance. The fact that the building only comprises of three floors, UTP is good enough to provide networking strength to support both telecommunciations closet and the equipment room. Cost-wise, using UTP is economical because backbone subsystem can support either of the cables without comprising speed and bandwidth size delivery. Therefore, the second floor of the building can house the telecoms closet where most of the patch panels, grounds, HVAC and panel hubs are located.
In the equipment room where more complex equipment are located, it can be placed at the third floor of the building. The cabling type that can be used for this subsystem is a combination of optic fibers and UTP. Optic fibers can carry large amount to data at any given time since the equipment rooms is usually where the CCTV controls are located, it should be supported by the optic fiber cables to accommodate large video data transmissions coming from the cameras itself going to the equipment room. Fiber optics is also necessary in connecting to the patch panels and backbone. The reason that telecoms closet can also used UTP is because it normally supports the telecommunication media such as telephone, which doesn't necessarily needs higher bandwidth. From the telecoms closet, the horizontal cabling will follow to be installed all throughout the entire building. This subsystem will deliver the LAN connection to devises such as workstation computers, fax machines, printers and telephone lines. The fact that fiber optics costs more than UTP it is not advisable for the horizontal cabling because, horizontal cabling is subject to movement and needs to be changed from time to time and because future upgrades are also expected.
The last on the subsystem is the work area, this is the finish line of the network cabling within the Gates Widget Company's Administrative building. This subsystem component is consists of information and telecommuncitions outlet stations. It is simply the work area represented by desktop computers, printers and other telecommunication and information equipment. Wiring requirements in this area needs to be simple. Therefore, optic fiber is not suitable for this subsystem, again because of the cost. The other reason is that the work area subsystem is subject to constant changes, additions and moves. To easily manage changes in the work area, UTP cables preferable CAT5 for information or CAT3 for pure telephone communication are needed to be installed. In general, the fiber optic cables are only needed in the high traffic subsystems and the rest can be handled by UTP.
References
Florida Center for Instructional Technology (2011). Chapter 4 Cabling: Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTS) Cable . An Educator's Guide to School Networks. Retrieved July 11, 2012, from http://fcit.usf.edu/network/
Quang Dung Technology Distribution Company (2006). ANSI/TIA/EIA 569-A. Commercial Building Standard for Telecommunication Pathways and Spaces, 14.
