|
Back to the Tutorials Menu
Tight-Buffered Cables vs. Loose-Tube Gel-Filled
Cables
Tight-Buffered
Fiber Optic Cable. Fast, easy, economical termination with no
chemical cleaning required.
Optical Cable Corporation's
Tight-Buffered Fiber Optic Cables Are the Answer
Optical Cable Corporation is committed to tight-buffered
construction as the best proven state-of-the-art design for nearly
all commercial communications applications demanding the high performance
of optical fibers. Such applications include moderate distance transmission
for telco local loop, LANs, SANs, COLOs, and point-to-point links
in cities, buildings, factories, office parks and on campuses. Tight-buffered
cables offer the flexibility, direct connectability and design versatility
necessary to satisfy the diverse requirements existing in high performance
fiber optic applications.
Loose-Tube Gel-Filled Construction Falls Short
In loose-tube gel-filled cable construction, the fibers
are contained in small, rigid tubes, generally flooded with gel,
stranded together, again flooded with gel and covered in an outer
cable jacket. Even in the relatively long straight runs for which
they were designed, these cable types may experience problems in
water penetration and chemical interaction of gel with fiber —
buffers causing weakening and brittling of the fibers with time.
Although loose-tube gel-filled fiber optic cables
are used for high-fiber-count, long-distance telco applications,
they are an inferior design for the Local Area (Private) Network
applications where reliability,
attenuation stability over a wide temperature range and low installed cost
are the priorities. With the loose-tube gel-filled cables, terminations and
any required splices demand extensive cleaning of the messy gel. Also, being
relatively inflexible, loose-tube gel-filled cables can develop stress cracks
and pinholes, which can allow water penetration and
damage to the optical fiber.
Tight-Buffered Construction is the Clear Advantage
Tight-buffered fiber optic cables from Optical Cable Corporation
incorporate the following attributes most important in networking
applications:
-
Excellent fiber protection: maximum
moisture and mechanical protection provided by multiple fiber
buffers and advanced jacket design
Easy handling: dense fiber packaging for smaller
cable diameter, tight bend radius and easier pulling with Core-Locked™
jacket No messy gel Ease of termination: direct termination of
fibers reduces mess and expense of installation by eliminating
steps and materials required A built-in ripcord speeds the stripping process Flame-retardant and UL-listed Indoor/outdoor versatility: exceptional moisture
resistance, UV resistance, material durability and extended temperature
range make the cables suitable for outdoor runs Water-blocking available to meet relevant
standards without the use of messy gel filling compound Higher survivability standards: based on military
technology for survival under mechanical and environmental stress
Cable Construction Comparison
| Optical Cable Corporation's
Tight-Buffered Cable |
Loose-Tube Gel-Filled Cable |
| One fiber per buffer — excellent mechanical and environmental
protection |
Multiple fibers per buffer |
| No gel filling needed — exceptional tight-buffered cable
construction and aramid strength members provide excellent protection
for every inch of the cable |
Gel filling needed to prevent moisture collection
in tubes
|
| No cleaning needed — no gel, easy to handle, install
and terminate, saving time and costs, and improving reliability |
Gel filling must be chemically cleaned — messy, costly
and time consuming
|
| No stiff strength member needed, more flexible cable —
easier to handle |
Requires stiff cable strength member — more difficult
to handle and install |
| Cable is "tightbound" and can be pulled around multiple
bends or hung vertically (no fiber axial migration) |
Should not be pulled around multiple bends or hung vertically
(fiber axial migration) — installation limitations |
| Easy to terminate, no breakout kits or
splicing required |
Difficult to terminate, breakout kits or splicing required
— time consuming, requires expensive equipment and skills |
| Lower total installed costs |
Cable purchase cost may be slightly lower |
| This tight-buffered cable is the CLEAR ADVANTAGE |
|
Optical Cable Corporation - A Heritage of Industry "Firsts"
First used 100 kpsi proof-tested fibers in commercial fiber optic cables many years before industry standard was established First gel-free fiber optic cable for outdoor commercial applications First dry water-blocked fiber optic cable designs First indoor/outdoor fiber optic cables to eliminate transition from outdoor to indoor rated cables First Core-Locked™ outer cable jacket technology First outdoor fiber optic cables not requiring fanout/breakout kits to terminate First easy to dispense box with decreasing cable length markings, OptiReel™
|
