CPRI Outdoor Fiber Cable Assembly
Many cable types have special features designed for outdoor use. For instance, loose tube cables are small plastic tubes that hold a dozen or more 250 micron fibers. They’re air-blown, making them easy to upgrade as needed.
Most outdoor cables have water-blocking gel or dry water-blocking tape or powder in the center of the fibers. This prevents moisture from entering the cables and damaging them.
Rugged and Weather-Resistant
CPRI cables are rugged and built to withstand outdoor conditions. They can be strung along telephone poles (aerial), installed inside of ducting or direct-buried below ground. The cable assemblies are made up of two primary components: the fiber optic cable and the fiber connector. The cables can be single mode or multimode and may be armored or non-armored based on the application. The fiber optic cable is terminated with a waterproof connector, such as ODVA, PDLC, NSN, Mini SC, Mini MPO and AARC, designed to withstand harsh outdoor environments.
Waterproof cpri cables have a gel or moisture-blocking material that prevents the fibers from being exposed to water. This is typically a feature of loose tube and ribbon cables used outdoors, but some tight buffer cables also use it, especially for short outdoor runs like between buildings on campus or to an outdoor wireless base station.
Besides being durable and waterproof, cpri-outdoor-fiber-cable-assembly is fire-rated to meet building requirements. The cable assemblies have a PE outer jacket that can be removed to reveal a PVC UL-rated indoor jacket for use inside buildings. This eliminates the need for termination at the entrance point. Cables that contain conductive metal, such as metallic armor or strength members, must be properly grounded and bonded to ensure safety.
Commscope’s wide array of cable solutions can help you build the perfect network infrastructure for your environment and business needs. From cpri to optical fiber patch cables and more, our products offer performance, versatility, and future readiness.
High-Speed Data Transmission
High-speed data transmission is required for wireless network applications. CPRI LC outdoor cpri-outdoor-fiber-cable-assembly cable assemblies have been designed to meet these needs, with the ability to transfer large amounts of data between remote radio heads (RRHs) and baseband units (BBUs) in mobile networks.
The cladding that covers the individual fibers in the cable is designed to protect them from environmental conditions such as moisture and UV radiation. These cladding materials are often chosen based on the type of environment in which the cables will be installed. For example, outdoor cables may be installed aerially or buried underground. For both of these installation methods, the cladding must be able to withstand impact, extreme temperatures and moisture.
For indoor installations, the cladding is generally made from flame retardant LSZH. This material is also highly resistant to a wide range of chemicals. As well as being chemical-resistant, LSZH has good crush resistance and is highly flexible.
For outdoor deployment, loose tube cables with single-mode or multi-mode fiber are usually used. These cables can be terminated by splicing pigtails onto the fibers or using a breakout kit, sometimes known as a furcation or fan-out kit which sleeves each of the individual fibers. They can also be connected directly to equipment with a standard LC connector. This connector has a bayonet locking system for easy one-hand mating and a robust bulkhead cut to allow the removal of a transceiver when it needs replacing.
Customizable
Depending on your network’s needs, you can customize your cable assemblies with different connector types and fiber count. You can also choose different cable lengths and jacket materials to suit your environment. This flexibility gives you the ability to build a complete solution for your OSP installation.
For example, you can use armored direct burial cables for underground installations. These cables are designed to withstand rodents, freezing weather, and light crush forces. Their all-dielectric gel-free construction eliminates bonding and grounding, and they work with industry-standard wedge clamps. This cable type can also be used in aerial applications, making it a versatile choice for outdoor infrastructure.
Another option is a tactical assembly, which includes a Kevlar pulling string that runs the entire length of your cable. This makes it easier to pull your cable through conduit. It fiber optic cable assembly industry also helps protect the back side of your connectors from flapping during installation. You can also choose a pull hook to attach to the pulling string for easy deployment in the field. In one instance, a military-grade tactical assembly was used at a medical center in Venezuela to provide high-speed internet. As a result, patients could be treated faster, and their recovery times were reduced. This made a significant difference in the quality of care that patients received. The high-speed connection also allowed them to access critical online training and support resources.
Low Signal Loss
As a critical component of FTTA (fiber-to-the-antenna) network infrastructure, CPRI LC outdoor cable assemblies enable reliable wireless communications. They deliver high-speed data transmission between remote radio heads (RRHs) and baseband units (BBUs) in mobile networks, including LTE (Long Term Evolution) and 5G networks. The cables have a high-speed interface that supports Gigabit per second data transmission and low signal loss, making them a vital component of the wireless communication system.
The cable assemblies come with a variety of connector types to suit different network architectures and deployment scenarios, and are available in a range of lengths to accommodate varying distances between the RRH and BBU. They also feature a rugged, weather-resistant jacket that can be installed in harsh environments. In addition to protecting the fibers from environmental conditions, these cable assemblies also ensure that the signals travel with minimal loss over long distances.
Some cables have a metallic strength member bonded to the core of the fibers for additional strength and stability. Others feature a central fiberglass rod used for additional strength and stiffening to prevent kinking or damaging the fibers. Generally, these strength members are attached to swivel pulling eyes for pulling and clamps in splice closures or patch panels when the cables are spliced or terminated.
Cables rated for direct burial have a gel or dry, water-blocking materials filling the entire outer jacket that protects the fibers from moisture damage. The outer jacket can also be armored to withstand rodents, freezing temperatures, and light crush forces.
