Commercial Cam Installs using Fiber

[Steven C Hardy]

Hey guys, some what new here, been reading the forums since February. This is my first post. Ok here's my questions, i finally convinced my small company to use fiber for these long distance between buildings, between switches or NVR and switch runs instead of burried cat5 in conduit. I have fiber splicing background from splicing fiber for Verizon back when they first brought FiOS to Florida. Ive done some 200+ splices of fiber when I was at Verizon. So I feel confident I can splice ends on the fiber if need be. My boss's concern is the splicing equipment can be costly. We're small company like said, only 8 total employees. We have been doing a lot of storage facilities, cameras access control and fire alarms. I've been totally confused today about the different fiber types and ends just to gather some prices for my boss. Is there a website to clarify the different fiber types and fiber ends or what do you guys recommend as for fiber ends and types. It would be nice if I could use some of the glue on Fiber connections instead of having to splice a fiber end on. I'm looking for practical solutions to use fiber in long distance runs through conduit inbetin bn the buildings.

 

[Aengus4h]

lots of info out on t'internet re mono/multi mode fibre, typically end connections would be SC or LC going into the appropriate GBIC at the switch and equipment end. Never done it myself as I've always had specialist contractors run this stuff for me, but if you are doing a long run its worth blowing in extra fibre pairs so you've quick options in case of transmission problems, if possible also lay a second set on a diverse path, just in case someone digs through it... guess that'll depend on criticality and cost of doing the civils.

 

[Aengus4h]

I should add too - do you have the appropriate test gear to certify the fibre you've made up as good with correct length and signal quality? If not then you're gonna be just hoping its ok and that makes fault finding a pain. Problem is its not inexpensive gear.

 

[hank rizzo]

there are mechanical connectors where splicing is not needed. they make it so easy now a days anybody can terminate fiber.

 

[MixManSC]

If you want to spend the time to measure just get the couple of fiber cables you need pre-terminated. These days most everything is LC-LC. I have a property where I have two buildings with about 40 feet between them but between where the network closets are in each, accounting for running a cable in the best manner, I need about 140 feet of cable. I "could" use regular ethernet cable but each building has a different business but we share internet and want to provide redundant data backup between each so I went with fiber. The two buildings had an existing unused 1" conduit underground between them. So I bought this -https://www.ebay.com/itm/192544520853 - For the price it is an excellent deal, particularly since they build a pulling eye in. Certicable does not state it in the listing but that is genuine Tinifiber (Armored Fiber Optic Cable - TiniFiber Micro Armor Fiber™ it is top notch cable that is incredibly thin) armored, indoor/outdoor fiber. Pic attached I just took showing it next to a Cat6 cable - it is about a third the diameter of the Cat6 cable. That company also has a ton of other cable options including unterminated, etc. For our use - I have 10GB network switches on each end for servers and for the uplink between the two switches. There is also a separate NVR in each building each with its own set of cameras. Then we just use Smart PSS to connect to both NVR's for one person to be able to view up to all 32 cameras.

The only catch to pre-terminated cables is of course you need a hole at least a tiny bit larger that the connector on each end so with LC - you need at least 3/4" holes and conduit.