• Design and Installation of Fiber Optic Networks
  
• Design and Installation of Copper-based Networks
  
• Fiber Optic Cabling and Terminating
  
• Pre-manufactured and Customized Fiber
  
• Optic Jumpers
  
• Light Interconnection Units and Fiber Shelves
  
• Independent Testing and Certifications
  
• Fiber Raceway
  
• Fiber Innerduct
  
• Wall-mount and Freestanding Cabinets and Racks
  
• Fiber Optic Fusion and Mechanical Splicing
  
• Cat3, Cat5, Cat5e, and Cat6 Cabling and Terminating
  
• Pre-manufactured and Customized Patch Cords
  
• Patch Panels and Termination Blocks
  
• Cable Tray and Raceways
  
• Wall-mount and Freestanding Cabinets and Racks
  
• Wireless Infrastructure
  
• Infrastructure Demolition/Removal
  

• Installation of Fiber Optic Cabling
• Fiber Optic Cabling and Connectorizing
• Light Interconnection Units and Fiber Shelves
• Testing and Certifications
• Fiber Optic Fusion and Mechanical Splicing
• Installation and Cross Connecting of Copper Cabling
• High Pair Count Copper Cable
• Channel Banks and CSU/DSU
• Design and Installation of Campus and Building Entrances
• Manhole and Hand Holes Installation
• Splice Cases and Conduit
• Pedestals and Connector Boxes
• Engineering and Installation of Transmission Equipment (SONET)

• Engineering and Design (RCDD Certified)
• Routers, Switches, Hubs, and UPS (Installation and Troubleshooting)
• Network Design and Engineering

• Configuration, Installation, and MAC Work
• Upgrades and Traffic Analysis
• PBX and Key Systems
• Voicemail, Telephones, and Headsets
• Voice Over IP (VoIP)
• UPS and CSU/DSU

EIA/TIA 568 Commercial building Telecommunications Cabling Standard:
Aids in planning and installation of building wiring for multi-product, multi-vendor systems. Specifies
a generic telecommunications wiring system, establishing   performance and technical criteria for connecting
the various elements. The goal is to be able to install wiring systems during construction or renovation,
thereby saving considerable cost over later additions.

EIA/TIA 568   Summary:

• Minimum standards for cabling used
• Interconnectivity of components
• Cable length and performance
• Media and topology
• Useful life of cabling systems

Other EIA/TIA codes:

EIA/TIA 569 Commercial Building Telecommunications and Pathways and Spaces
EIA/TIA 607 Commercial Building Grounding and Bonding Requirements for Telecommunications
EIA/TIA-598 Color Coding of Fiber Optic Cables

ISO : International Standards Organization

ANSI : American National Standards Institution (member of ISO)

IEEE : Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (Member of ANSI)

OSHA : Occupational Health and Safety Administration

Universal Service Order Code (USOC)

State and Local Electrical and Building Codes

Long Distance Signal Transmission	Large Bandwidth, Light Weight, and Small Diameter
Long Lengths	Easy Installation and Upgrades
Non-Conductivity	Security
Designed for Future Applications Needs

Optical fiber systems have many advantages over metallic-based communication systems. These advantages 
include: 

Long Distance Signal Transmission

The low attenuation and superior signal integrity found in optical systems allow much longer intervals of signal transmission than metallic-based systems. While single-line, voice-grade copper systems longer than a couple of kilometers (1.2 miles) require in-line signal repeaters for satisfactory performance, it is not unusual for optical systems to go over 100 kilometers (km), or about 62 miles, with no active or passive processing.  Emerging technologies promise even greater distances in the future. 

The optical fiber cable in the foreground has the equivalent information-carrying capacity of the copper cable in the background. 

Large Bandwidth, Light Weight, and Small Diameter

While today's applications require an ever-increasing amount of bandwidth, it is important to consider the space constraints of many end-users. It is commonplace to install new cabling within existing duct systems. The 
relatively small diameter and light weight of optical cables makes such installations easy and practical, and saves valuable conduit space in these environments. 

Long Lengths

Long, continuous lengths also provide advantages for installers and end-users. Small diameters make it practical to manufacture and install much longer lengths than for metallic cables: twelve-kilometer (12 km) continuous optical cable lengths are common. 

Multimode cable lengths can be 4 km or more, although most standards require a maximum length of 2 km or less.  Multimode cable lengths are based on industry demand. (Single-mode and multimode fibers will be covered in detail later in this text.) 

Easy Installation and Upgrades

Long lengths make optical cable installation much easier and less expensive. Optical fiber cables can be installed with the same equipment that is used to install copper and coaxial cables, with some modifications due to the small size and limited pull tension and bend radius of optical cables. 

Optical cables can typically be installed in duct systems in spans of 6000 meters or more depending on the duct's condition, layout of the duct system, and installation technique. The longer cables can be coiled at an 
intermediate point and pulled farther into the duct system as necessary. 

System designers typically plan optical systems that will meet growth needs for a 15- to 20-year span. Although sometimes difficult to predict, growth can be accommodated by installing spare fibers for future 
requirements. Installation of spare fibers today is more economical than installing additional cables later. The dielectric nature of optical fiber can eliminate the dangers found in areas of high lightning-strike incidence. 

Non-Conductivity
Another advantage of optical fibers is their dielectric nature. Since optical fiber has no metallic components, it can be installed in areas with electromagnetic interference (EMI), including radio frequency interference (RFI).  Areas with high EMI include utility lines, power-carrying lines, and railroad tracks. Another advantage of optical fibers is their All-dielectric cables are also ideal for areas of high lightning-strike incidence. 

Security

Unlike metallic-based systems, the dielectric nature of optical fiber makes it impossible to remotely detect the signal being transmitted within the cable. The only way to do so is by actually accessing the optical fiber itself.  Accessing the fiber requires intervention that is easily detectable by security surveillance. These circumstances make fiber extremely attractive to governmental bodies, banks, and others with major security concerns. 

Designed for Future Applications Needs

Fiber optics is affordable today, as electronics prices fall and optical cable pricing remains low. In many cases, fiber solutions are less costly than copper. 

As bandwidth demands increase rapidly with technological advances, fiber will continue to play a vital role in the long-term success of telecommunications. 

Columbine Cable Company, Inc. (CCCI) is proud to offer OTDR testing and Trace Scan documentation of your fiber optic cable plant.

As more optical fiber is used in expanding communications applications, the cable industry is seeing the emergence of optical time-domain reflectometers (OTDRs) that address a growing set of diverse needs. An OTDR measures light reflection over time and helps to find the location of a fault on a fiber.

Check out our Glossary for more information on OTDR and other cabling terms!

What does CCCI do to insure you the best quality  service and testing: Performs a basic continuity test prior to installation of the cable. Performs a basic continuity test prior to installation of the cable. Without this test it would be very difficult to determine if the fibers were received broken from the factory, or have been damaged during installation. Tests the fibers from both ends. This allows us to see failures that might fall in the OTDR’s dead zone and breaks that might be near one end. Documents each cable run. Printed trace scans of each fiber strand are supplied after testing.

Why would you want OTDR testing and documentation?

In order to prevent your manpower and equipment from becoming a liability, we will be onsite with fast, reliable testing when you need us. We are pleased to provide service in Colorado and the surrounding states.

To insure that your final product is the best fiber optic network possible, we will test your fiber cable prior to installation, prior to fusion splicing and after completion.  Should a problem arise, taking these precautions will eliminate conflicts over responsibility and insure quality in the finished product.

With trace scan documentation, your customer will have a running record of the "health" of their network. Future scans can then be over-laid in order to provide your customer with a history of the cable plant and allow easy identification of problems and changes that might occur.

Another precaution that we believe is important is to have your fiber plant certified by a contractor other than those involved in the installation and splicing of the cable. This is a good selling point to your end users, who are often wary of contractors in general, and once again assures them of quality craftsmanship. If, however, you choose to ignore this advice we will be happy to provide you with fusion splicing and termination services.

We at Columbine Cable Company are extremely quality oriented and would like nothing better than to help you provide the best cable installation for your customers and instill in them the utmost confidence in our collective abilities.