Cable Installation Methods &

Advances In Termination Efficiency

Terms such as cable installation and cable termination have evolved

significantly over recent years. With contractors being required to terminate
faster to meet the deadlines and with the 40 and 100 Gb/s stringent cable
demands, we can say that termination process is probably the most important
aspects of network installation. Without the right tools, knowledgeable and
trained staff, the installation can be a total disaster and or commonly prolong
the project completion and handover to the end-user drastically. In addition, by
using out-dated installation and termination procedures on todays bandwidth
hungry networks, the installer can be drastically slowed down and ultimately
add significant cost to the overall process. So where are we at today and
what is the best practice and most efficient method? This is perhaps easier to
understand when we look at the most commonly used technologies and what
tools are on offer to contractors.

Cable Installation Methods & Advances In Termination Efficiency

Fibre Installation
Lets take a look at the commonly utilised fibre installation
procedures in telecommunications industry. For years
installers have been using epoxy and polish technology.
This incorporates gluing of fibre into the connector with
epoxy and the end polished with special polishing film.
This works. It is a good long-standing process with lowest
costs, especially if you are doing a lot of connectors.
However it is a very slow process and at times may even
need to set overnight. It is also quite easy to break during
the termination and fragile thereafter. Overall it is not as
high quality termination process as, say, fusion splicing.
The other the most commonly used method, is Fusion
splicing. It is a process of fusing or welding two fibres
together usually by an electric arc. It is the most expensive
pre polished cable and connector termination method. It is
also not as convenient and can be challenging for installers
depending on the job location. Power is also required. But,
there is a positive side as it provides for the lower loss and
least reflectance, as well as providing strong and reliable
joints between fibres. Just about all singlemode splices are
fusion. Multimode fibers can be challenging to fusion splice
as the larger core with many layers of glass that produces
the graded-index profile are sometimes harder to match up,
especially with fibres of different types or manufacturers.
Several different types of terminations are available for
multimode fibres. Each version has its advantages and
disadvantages, so learning more about how each works
helps decide which one to use and when.
The most recent trend sees the telecommunications
installer market uptake of manufacturer tools for usability
on multi brand installation applications. With the current
key requirements of termination process being speed,
quality of terminations and of course the cost of tooling,
TE Connectivity has developed a Quick Termination
Technology Program for installers. This technology program
provides the installer with the right tools to perform by
far the quickest and consistent fibre, UTP/STP copper and
cable installations.
LightCrimp Plus is a quick, clean and simple mechanical
process for an installer to terminate optical fibres for
premises cabling and fibre-to-the-desk applications. Only
a few tools, and little training are required compared to
fusions splicing.

Above: LightCrimp Plus, a Quick Fibre Termination Tool.

Page 2

With LightCrimp Plus, you can terminate fibres without

epoxy, polishing papers, ovens, UV lamps, or electrical
power for field termination tooling. It was designed to make
the installers work as efficient as possible while providing
reliable and consistent terminations. In fact during the
study, this method provided the installers with by far
the quickest installation time of 1 minute. Of course my
personal opinion is that this would be hard to retain all day.
But even at 2 minutes it is a definite winner! The cost of the
LightCrimp Plus tool is another added bonus. For example,
for this most efficient way of terminating fibre, an installer
pays $1900 for the tools, while the fusion splice method will
generally cost $9000 for the tools. You do the maths.
It is also very important to start thinking about the fact
that epoxy and polish technology will not be sufficient in
future. This is because Enhanced services such as 10, 40
and 100 Gb/s Ethernet require a high quality controlled end
face. The IEC 60874-19-1 specifies the dimensional details
of fiber optic connectors in order to ensure interoperability
and performance within an ISO 11801 specified application.
These dimensional requirements are directly related to
the endface characteristics of a polished ferrule, namely
its radius, dome offset and fiber position. If these ferrule
characteristics are optimal, an Optimized Physical Contact
(OPC) between the two connectors is guaranteed. This
will enhance data transmission parameters like optical
performance, Attenuation, Return Loss and data
link stability.
Also, the optical interoperability between connectors of
different suppliers can be ensured by controlled endfaces.
As a result of OPC a stable physical contact between the
endfaces is achieved. This provides a very low Insertion
Loss as well as a high Return Loss in order to run high
speed applications like 10, 40, 100 Gigabit Ethernet.

Copper Installation
Copper is still the preferred medium in most parts of IT
networks and the number one interface on devices such
as PCs, Notebook, IP devices, switches and servers. As
an installer, we can also say we are lucky that copper
termination and installation is far easier than fibre.
Connecting cables to patch panels, traditional push down
blocks or commonly to the jacks may prove to be time
consuming when using tools such as knives, cutters, or
scissors. In contrast to fibre, there is one most commonly
used tool. Punch down tool or as many installers refer
to it as the KRONE tool can be used to terminate
cross-connect jumpers and cable runs at patch panels,
disconnect modules, and 110 blocks. This mechanical
hand held tool is very simple to use and can easily cut
through wires effectively and relatively speedy. It has a
strong handle that allows firm gripping during punch down
movement. Once the installer strips the wires off from their
insulating and protective casing, they are placed on patch
panels or push down blocks, and the tool is then positioned
on top of the wires and pushed to set the wires in place.

Cable Installation Methods & Advances In Termination Efficiency

A similar procedure is followed for termination of jacks. This
punch down technology has been working well for years
but is becoming out-dated as technology advancements in
termination tooling emerge.
There are new UTP termination methods which takes the
existing KRONE punch down tool and put it in a form
of multi pair (4 pairs at once) termination technology.
It simultaneously terminates and trims all four pairs of
conductors in one effortless action. This allows the installer
to be 4 times faster resulting in onsite job efficiency.
Furthermore you can rest assured all for pairs have been
terminated with consistent quality and accuracy. One
example of such technology is MULTIMATE Tool.

Above: MULTIMATE Tool, a Quick UTP

Termination Tool for KRONE jacks

Shielded termination is a little bit more complex and

time consuming if the right tool is not used. With the
stringent requirements for 10 and 40 Gb/s, we really need
to pay extra careful attention when terminating shielded
cable. When it comes to STP cabling environment, many
untrained installers who are in a rush to complete a job, still
terminate the cable wrong. Again, as slow as this may be,
the most common way of terminating the shielded cable is
by using a punch down tool. If you, or the end user, is going
to the effort of installing a superior cable solution, then you
really have to make sure the terminations are done extra
carefully and there is no interference at the jack level.
An SL Tool is available on the market for quick shielded
terminations. The SL Series Modular Jack Termination Tool
is the easiest, fastest and most consistent way to terminate
SL Series Modular Jacks. The SL Tool overcomes the
inherent inconsistencies in the termination process which
can contribute to overall system degradation at the time of
install. It will typically complete a termination of a shielded
Cat 6/6A/7/7A cable in less than 1 minute. Again, this tempo
would be hard to retain but it clearly demonstrates just
how fast and consistent shielded terminations can
be made.

Page 3

Above: An expert installer utilising an SL Tool, cuts the

cable and terminates simultaneously 4 pairs of STP
copper cable in 60 seconds.

Three factors can contribute to most installation

inconsistencies. These are: lacing the conductors,
maintaining pair twist to satisfy standards and producing
consistent terminations. The SL TOOL overcomes these
by several means. First it simplifies the lacing process, by
allowing conductors to stay in place while all four pairs are
laced and terminated. Second, it makes it easy to maintain
pair twist right up to the termination itself. These combine
to make the process repeatable and the terminations
consistent, even between technicians.
The SL Tool comes with a belt holster and an integrated
jacket stripper to cut and remove the cable jacketing and
foil/ screen. This means there is no need to put the tool
down and reach for another, thus increasing the time a
technician can spend on the actual termination
even further.

Cable Installation
This is one aspect of network deployment which seems
forgotten by manufacturers and no development has been
made to simplify this process for installers. Most of the
installation contractors use cable which comes in traditional
cardboard reel boxes of some sort. However, a newly
launched and a world-first cable reel, specifically created to
provide contractors with an easier, more efficient method
of cable installation is available. The new Australiandesigned ReelSpeed is manufactured with 6 inter-locking
pieces that fit together without mechanical fasteners or
adhesives, and is produced from polypropylene and glass
fibre making it both durable and recyclable.
The Cable Reels unique configuration is based on
the various installation and accessibility needs. Unlike
traditional cardboard reel boxes, the trademarked
ReelSpeed Technology offers reduced pull force and
labour, and is designed for infinite stacking options that
suit both the installers preferences as well as the space in
which they are working. The three-dimensional stacking
configuration possibilities are endless and can be suited to
the preferences and needs of the individual installer.

Efficient Cable Installer of

Today and Tomorrow
To meet the rigorous requirements of 10, 40 and especially
100 Gb/s network performance, whilst ensuring ease and
efficiency of installation, the electrical contractors should
take a better look at the termination tools available.
TE Connectivity, has a Quick Termination Technology
Program available for entire installation process. This covers
as tested by experts, 1 minute quick terminations of fibre,
1 minute termination of copper and even quick innovative
ways of cable installation. Such technologies remove the
need for epoxy and polish and the associated expense of
consumables, whilst offering 4 times faster, low loss and
consistent, reliable terminations.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mark Putica is a Regional Marketing and Communications
Manager for Australia and New Zealand at TE Connectivity.
He has been a significant termination technology market
driver for a number of years now and has extensive
experience in installer programs and over 7 years of
dedicated office networks and data centre infrastructure
marketing programs.
TE Connectivity is a global, $14.3 billion company with
nearly 100,000 employees. TE designs and manufactures
over 500,000 products and serves customers in virtually
every industryenabling smarter, faster, better technologies
to connect products to possibilities.

Above: ReelSpeed, first stackable, reusable and

recyclable cable reel. Up to 36 interlocking reels can
be stacked in any configuration and pulled at once.

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While TE Connectivity has made every reasonable effort to ensure the accuracy of the information in this document, TEConnectivity does
not guarantee that it is error-free, nor does TE Connectivity make any other representation, warranty or guarantee that the information is
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for reference purposes only and are subject to change without notice. Specifications are subject to change without notice. Consult
TEConnectivity for the latest dimensions and design specifications.
Tyco Electronics Corporation, a TE Connectivity Ltd. Company. All Rights Reserved.
314956 10/12Original 2012