IN THIS ISSUE

UPCOMING EVENTS

Counterfeit Cables: More Widespread Than You Think

Leviton Holds Termination Speed Record using Cat 6 Connectors and JackRapid Tool

Connections

Tech Tips

News You Can Use

Ask The Experts

SEPTEMBER 28 - OCTOBER 2BICSI Fall Conference & ExpoAnaheim, CA

DECEMBER 9 - 11National Veterans Small Business ConferenceAtlanta, GA

DECEMBER 9 - 11AFCEA TechNet Asia-PacificHonolulu, HI

LEVITON.COM/CROSSTALK 1

Counterfeit Cable: More Widespread Than You Think

The shady-looking character in a trench coat on a street corner leans toward you and whispers, “Psst … buddy, wanna buy some cable?” While this image may be more stereotypical for selling fake Rolexes, counterfeit cables are a growing problem in the global marketplace for networking solutions. It is important to avoid the traps set by low-end manufacturers and sellers who present deceptive products. Counterfeit and non-compliant cable can result in a variety of risks, including costly repairs, legal issues, property damage, and even loss of life.

A 2012 independent study of offshore-manufactured cable discovered some startling results. The tests, commissioned by the Communications Cable & Connectivity Association (CCCA), sampled cables from the inventory of six distributors in North America. The six chosen brands were considered “unknown” by most buyers. The tests found that five of the six samples failed to meet minimum National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) code requirements for low flame spread and/or smoke generation. In addition, four of the five cables that failed the fire requirements also failed to meet minimum electrical performance required by Cat 5e and Cat 6 standards.

continued on pg. 2

By Bill Slater, International Marketing Manager, Leviton Network Solutions

Leviton Holds Termination Speed Record using eXtreme® Cat 6 Connectors and JackRapid™ ToolIn speed tests conducted by Leviton, installers using Leviton eXtreme Cat 6 connectors and the Fluke JackRapid Punchdown Tool consistently terminated cable in under 20 seconds. In fact, the fastest time came in at 12.21 seconds! We have yet to see any other connector and tool combination reach those times.

The eXtreme Cat 6 connectors feature Pair Separation Towers that make it easy to untwist and separate conductors, while the JackRapid tool dramatically cuts down on installation time by seating and cutting all wires at once.

You can see an example termination at leviton.com/videos: “How to Use the JackRapid Tool.”

VOL. 5 ISSUE 5 SEPT / OCT 2014Your Source for Industry News & Insight

Counterfeit Cables: More Widespread Than You Think • continued from pg. 1

These types of failures have huge ramifications when installed in a commercial building. So if you’re specifying, buying, or installing cable, it is important to recognize the signs of counterfeit and non-compliant cable.

Counterfeit CableBrand names are important and valued assets of a corporation, and they communicate to the consumer a level of quality and expected performance standards. When a low-cost, low-quality manufacturer tries to use a respected manufacturer’s brand, they are stealing from both the consumer and the name-brand manufacturer. We call those goods “counterfeit.” But a variety of other dishonest or deceptive practices have been detected in the marketplace.

A cable might be properly identified as coming from a given manufacturer, but it can be falsely labeled as complying with industry standards and being certified (e.g., using UL or ETL marks), giving a deceptive claim as to the cable’s review by a third-party testing laboratory. These cables are described as “bearing counterfeit certification,” and put networks at risk by deceiving an end user as to the verified properties of the cable. Counterfeit cable may also include misleading or false claims, such as being “plenum rated”. In 2010, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) fought back against counterfeiters by requiring holographic certification labels on cable reels and boxes.

Non-Compliant CableSome cables or patch cords may not be falsely labeled, but could be deceiving nonetheless. If the product does not state that a given standard is adhered to, but the seller claims or implies that it does, this can cause additional problems for the end user. Cables sold for abnormally low prices or by distributors without a track record with a given brand are suspect. The CCCA recommends that the best way for end users to protect themselves is to specify and then validate their cable is from a well-known supplier with a well-recognized brand. Another CCCA test found an 85 percent failure rate for Cat 6 patch cords with unknown brand names, and a zero percent failure rate from reputable brands.

1 Very low price, well below market norms

2 Low performance materials substituted for jacket and insulation

3 Poor printing and typographical errors

4 Lighter weight: boxes of cable with copper-clad aluminum weigh considerably less than solid copper cable

5 Private-labeled, unfamiliar brands from offshore manufacturers

6 Supplied only through website or local storefront distributors

7 No information on factory location or country of origin

8 No spec sheet available

9 Use the CCCA CableCheck mobile app or go to cccassoc.org for help

WAYS TO RECOGNIZECounterfeit/Non-compliant Cables

Copper-Clad AluminumA particularly dangerous type of non-compliant cable is Copper-Clad Aluminum (CCA). This cable is sold at very low prices since a large percentage of the metal is aluminum instead of copper. The problem is the performance degrades significantly with CCA and therefore does not comply with industry standards, including UL and TIA. The cable can become brittle and connections become increasingly unreliable over time. But sellers of CCA cables are relying on the attractiveness of the low price to dupe buyers into a path they will later regret.

The bottom line: if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Leviton joins with the many other members of the CCCA in committing to provide quality solutions. We encourage buyers to be careful and buy from reliable brands and distributors to assure long-term reliability of their networks. The CCCA offers a free app to help identify non-compliant and counterfeit data cable. Visit www.cccassoc.org.

“If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

92 LEVITON.COM/CROSSTALK

Email: crosstalk@leviton.com

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? IDEAS?We want to hear from you!

INDUSTRYMore vendors are offering 42U racks to 48U and 51U racks and data centers are taking note. These taller racks currently make up 10% of the market, but that number is expected to grow to 20%, according to analyst firm TechNavio. The growth in taller racks is a result of data center managers consolidating facilities amidst rising property prices. Standard 42U racks currently make up 60% of the market.

This summer, Leviton made a donation to the ALS Association. The donation followed Ice Bucket Challenges taken by Leviton staff. Every day we are seeing additional photos and videos of Leviton employees, both nationally and globally, accepting and executing the challenge. Numerous individual contributions as well as a corporate donation have resulted. We are happy we could help bring awareness to this dreaded disease and hopefully contribute in some small part to finding a cure.

LEVITON.COM/CROSSTALK 3

Fusion splicing provides a consistent, low-loss mating of fiber optic strands. While the process is fairly easy, there are a few guidelines for storing the finished assembly.

PRODUCTThe NEW Wireless 802.11n Dual-Band Gigabit Router allows multiple users to share a single, secure, high-speed broadband (DSL or cable) Internet connection, creating a private network for home, small office, or school environments. For more information, visit: leviton.com/connectedhome.

Since 2004 Chapel-Romanoff Technologies (CRT), a division of Quebe Holdings, Inc., has specialized in installing low-voltage communication cabling, security, voice, video, and fiber-optic solutions for clients throughout Ohio. CRT has worked extensively with clientele across the defense, financial services, data management, biotech, health care, education, and industrial industries, providing comprehensive communication, electronic safety and security, monitoring systems, and consulting technology services.

Recently, CRT used Leviton solutions to connect a local horse track and casino’s network infrastructure. The project took more than 12,000 man hours to complete, and required the installation of various Leviton fiber and copper connectivity products, including single-mode and multimode fiber optic pigtails, Cat 6A shielded connectors, and patch panels. For this project, CRT also installed more than one million feet of Berk-Tek Cat 6A shielded cable.

Other recent projects include upgrading several schools across western Ohio with Leviton Cat 6 and Cat 6A solutions. “We choose Leviton because it is the best product available for a project,” said Dennis Severance, Vice President of Operations. “Leviton manufactures the best performing Cat 6A solution on the market.”

www.quebe.com/chapel-romanoff-technologies-llc-crt.html

Leviton Certified Contractor Profile

YESTERDAY’S NEWS1994: IEEE approved 10BASE-F, defining 10mbps over Ethernet using fiber.

WEBThe Network Solutions Summer/Fall 2014Product Linecard is now available online.

You can download it at leviton.com/ns/litlibrary.

The professional-grade, 8-port Gigabit Switch connects computers and peripheral devices in remote locations. The switch offers plug-and-play installation,

a user-friendly design, and can easily accommodate the increasing number of connected devices used throughout the home or small office. For more information, visit: leviton.com/connectedhome.

Installing Heat Shrink Splice Sleeves in Splice Holders

250μm or 900μm fiber in inner shrink tube

Outer shrink tube

Strengthening rod

SPLICE SLEEVE - END VIEW

CORRECT INSERTION

INCORRECT INSERTION

INCORRECT INSERTION

Strengthening rod installed first. If fiber needs to be removed, force is applied to strengthening rod, not the fiber.

Fiber first can damage or compress fiber. If fiber needs to be removed, excessive force is applied to fiber.

Fiber rotated can damage or compress fiber. Holder walls are forced out as each splice sleeve is loaded. If fiber needs to be removed, excessive force is applied to fiber.

Heat shrink splice sleeves have three components: the outer shrink sleeve, the inner shrink sleeve and the strengthening rod. As the sleeve is heated and reduced around the fiber and strengthening rod, the assembled sleeve becomes oval in shape. The strengthening rod protects the fiber from stress, but if splice sleeves are installed either fiber first or with the fiber and strengthening rod parallel to the base of the fiber holder, excess stress can be placed on the fiber holder, splice sleeve, and the fiber itself.

COMPANY

ASK THE EXPERTSQ: What are “launch cables”?

A: A launch cable is a jumper cable of known good quality that is attached to a light source on one end and a fiber under test on the other end. Once calibrated with the light source for output power, it is used for testing optical loss in a fiber optic cable. The launch cable provides an opportunity for the signal to achieve modal equilibrium, eliminating any possibility that fiber anomalies near the light source can affect the test results.

• Landscape or Portrait?

• Color or Black and White?

• White text or Color/Black and white text?

• Recycled logo/percentage? (if applicable)

Which FSC logo should I use?

The actual FSC logo will be chosen based on the type of paper being used. In general all the logos look similar to these. Printing Control will choose the correct logo to use based on stock, we just need to know what style of logo you want.

Customer Name12345 Main Street North

City, XX 12345

Leviton Network Solutions 2222 222nd Street SEBothell, WA 98021

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

US POSTAGEPAID

SEATTLE, WAPERMIT NO. 1482

CROSSTALKVOL. 5 ISSUE 5 SEPT / OCT 2014

Have a question? Would you like to subscribe or unsubscribe to CrossTalk? Drop us a line at crosstalk@leviton.com.

© 2014 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.