Fiber Optic connections on Campus

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 Question by Clyde DePhillips posted 03 Jul 2005
 Fiber Optic connections on Campus
In a datacom study course, the project assignment is to connect a campus site with fiber optic cable. The cable is a hybrid of 24ea. s/m & m/m fibers. The project requires a bill of materials and I'm having difficulty envisioning what would be required for patch panels and or hubs. Each of 4 buildings will be connected with the above listed hybrid cable, two buildings from the building where cable enters, and the last one splits from one of the two. There is no mention how many work stations are required in each building. This project has been a stumbling block for months, please any and all help getting over this hump will be more than appreciated!! I do also have one last question reguarding the multiple strands of cable, and that is what is reasoning for them? I guess I having trouble since I'm so new to fiber over copper.

Thanks, Clyde
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 Answer by Joseph Golan posted 04 Jul 2005
Dear Clyde,

I am not in the habit of doing someones homework but maybe I can suggest an easy way for you to determine this.

As each link of fiber cable is the same, don't use larger panels at the locations that have cable entering and exiting, keeping them all the same will simplify the installation. Since you have 24 stds of SM and 24 strands of MM, the logical device is a 48 port panel equipped with coupling paqnels and couplers for 24 SM and 24 MM each. Now just draw a diagram showing your links of fiber and allow 2 panels for each run (one at each end) you should be able to figure the rest out. Without any information on the network or station requirements it is impossible to determine the number of hubs other then allowing one per building for a start. The reason for the multiple strands is for total requirements plus spares for future. Some services are better off on SM vs MM depending upon distance and application. As an example you have have multiple ethernet systems as well as some token ring, voie applications for remote PBX equipment and don't discount the security needs.

Sincerely,
Joseph Golan, RCDD

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