LEVITON.COM/CROSSTALK 1

NEWSLETTER> US

IN THIS ISSUE

Support Smart Homes with Wireless Structured Media Centers

Using MPTL with Ease and Confidence

Standards Snapshot

Register for Our Tech Sessions at 2019 BICSI Fall

News You Can Use

Tech Tips

Ask The Experts

LEVITON POLL

For 40, 100, 200, or 400 Gb/s deployments in an existing network, what would be your structured cabling plans?

Single-Mode

Multimode Single-Mode

OM3 or OM4

INSTALL NEW USE EXISTING

23%

32% 34%

11%

From a June 2019 Leviton customer survey.

UPCOMING EVENTS

BICSI Fall Conference & Exhibition September 29 - October 3 Las Vegas, Nevada

The number of Internet-enabled or “connected” devices in homes has grown steadily over the past ten years. But in just the past few years, connected technologies have seen even more dramatic growth as a result of the adoption of smart home devices. In one year alone — between December 2017 and December 2018 — smart speaker adoption jumped from 66 million to 118 million in North America.

As a result of this growth, builders, developers, and property managers are turning to technological updates as a way to stay on top of customer demands. For example, recent studies find that the majority of renters value smart home amenities over traditional benefits such as a pool or rooftop deck. According to property management company Entrata, the most important smart home amenities include security cameras, smart thermostats, keyless entry, security systems, and outlet controls that automatically shut off power if an appliance is left on. Nearly 60 percent of renters surveyed by Entrata said they are willing to increase their rent payment for this type of higher-tech apartment.

What’s more, over the next 10 years, Gen Z — the first generation born into a world of smart phones and connected technology — will expand from 8 million in the U.S. workforce to 55 million. Renters and homeowners in this tech savvy demographic will bring even higher expectations for smart home solutions.

continued on pg. 2

Today’s networking systems have evolved. Historically, the majority of network computing devices were in offices or equipment rooms, with the horizontal cabling terminating at a panel or equipment outlet, and devices connected with a conventional patch cord. However, with the Internet of Things (IoT) and intelligent buildings, increasingly more devices — such as security cameras, Wi-Fi access points and IP clocks — are becoming IP enabled and connecting to the copper horizontal

Vol. 10 | Sep/Oct 2019

Using MPTL with Ease and Confidence

cabling infrastructure. Often, it’s impractical or unsafe to connect these types of devices to a typical panel.

This is where a Modular Plug Terminated Link or MPTL comes in. With an MPTL, there is just one patch cord in the telecommunications room, and the permanent link is terminated at the other end with a plug, so it can be inserted directly into the device – eliminating the equipment cord.

The benefits of using an MPTL include:

• The cost-effective ability to adhere to the code requirement of only placing plenum-rated products in air-handling spaces

• Better security and aesthetics by avoiding exposed patch cords that can be accidentally or intentionally disconnected

As time goes on, the MPTL application has become more and more common.

continued on pg. 3

Support Smart Homes with WIRELESS Structured Media™ CentersAs homes become more intelligent, networks require a more robust infrastructure

Your Source for Industry News & Insight

CrossTalk

LEVITON.COM/CROSSTALK 2

1 Structured Media Center

2 Data Patching and Distribution

3 Telephone Patching and Distribution

4 High-Flex Patch Cords

5 User or Service Provider Active Gear

6 Premium and Passive CATV Splitters

7 Integrated Power Supply

Support Smart Homes with Wireless Structured Media Centers continued from pg. 1

THE BRAIN BEHIND THE SMART HOMEAs more internet-enabled devices permeate all areas of residential and light commercial buildings, property managers require stronger wireless and wired network infrastructure to support occupants and

provide a market advantage. By consolidating network equipment in Leviton’s Wireless Structured Media Center, users can boost network functionality, eliminate clutter, and have an easily accessible location to manage all

connected devices. Since these enclosures are made of robust ABS polymer, they won’t hinder the full reach of wireless signals like metal enclosures can.

Historically, structured wiring enclosures housed passive connectivity. But with today’s increasingly connected homes, enclosures now support a greater amount of active gear, which has the potential to generate excess heat that can affect the long-term performance of the equipment. To address this issue, Leviton designed vented doors for the Wireless Structured Media Centers that promote better intake of cool air and outward flow of warm air, extending the life of the active equipment.

Leviton Plastic Enclosure

Other Plastic Enclosures

Thermal Image Testing

The U.S.-made Wireless Structured Media Center enclosures, doors, and covers — available in 14, 28, and 42 inches — support a wide range of building types and floor plans. They are compatible with Leviton’s full line of Connected Home patch panels, voice, data, video, and audio quick-connect distribution modules.

STRIKING A BALANCEEven with a stronger infrastructure for wireless devices, structured cabling for wired devices still has an important place. Bill Slater, marketing manager for Connected Home solutions at Leviton, notes that the best residential networks strike a balance between wireless and wired devices.

“Even though so many smart devices have the capability to connect to a Wi-Fi router, placing too much strain on your wireless network bogs down your bandwidth and slows your access speed. The best home networks will use the latest wireless routers to provide a strong Wi-Fi signal to smart devices in the home, and wired connectivity for stationary devices such as PCs, set-top boxes, and gaming consoles.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WIRELESS STRUCTURED MEDIA CENTERS AT LEVITON.COM/WIRELESSSMC.

VERSATILE ENCLOSURES FOR FULL WIRELESS SIGNAL REACH

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New Leviton Wireless Structured Media Centers create the ideal central distribution point to manage both wireless and wired residential networks. The enclosures and Vented

Hinged Doors use a pioneering Ratcheting Hinge & Latch System for fast, tool-free door installations. The unique ratcheting feature adjusts to varying wall-board thicknesses and compensates for minor

dry-wall imperfections for a professional-looking flush fit.

The Vented Hinged Doors also allow for a 180-degree swing that won’t swing shut and can be positioned to open left or right, providing flexibility in tight spaces. The new doors and covers are also available as a stand-alone product and are ideal for retrofitting existing metal Leviton enclosures to improve wireless signal coverage.

The contractor-friendly enclosures are available in bulk packs for large projects, using a unique nesting feature that ensures the enclosures will not stick together when unpacking.

LEVITON.COM/CROSSTALK 3

NEWS USEYOU CANIN THE PASTWhile the industry began recognizing the practical use of links that terminate to a

plug and eliminate the equipment cord several years ago, there were previously no

specific test requirements specified by the TIA. BICSI had recommended that these

connections be tested using the Modified Single-Connector Permanent Link testing.

This was achieved by attaching the main testing unit at the patch panel with a

permanent link adapter, connecting the remote unit at the far end with a channel

adapter and then choosing the “Mod 1-Conn Perm. Link” application on the tester. But

the problem with using a channel adapter was that the field terminated plug at the far

end was excluded from the test.

Finally, in 2018, an MPTL certification was approved under the TIA 568.2-D standard.

The new, official MPTL test procedure uses a permanent link adapter on the main

unit, and a single patch cord adapter on the remote unit at the far end. An MPTL has

a maximum length of 90 meters, and the same electrical requirements as a Jack-Jack

permanent link. The patch cord adapters used need to match the category of the

cable being tested.

PermanentLink

Adapter

BEGIN MEASUREMENT

END MEASUREMENT

Horizontal Cabling

Interconnect Optional Consolidation Point

ModularPlugTermination

NOTE: Mated NEXT of plug and test head included inmeasurement. Centered test head required for testing.

The essential component of an MPTL installation is the field-terminated plug, and

Leviton offers industry-leading options. Our Cat 6A Universal Tool-Free Plug allows for easy field termination without special tools. It

features a robust die-cast housing that provides

durability and shielding benefits, and a long

release latch that ensures easy insertion and

removal in confined spaces.

MPTLs are eligible for a Berk-Tek Leviton

Technologies System Warranty. We offer our

certified contractors and integrators an industry-

leading limited lifetime product and performance

warranty for qualified installations. This warranty

applies not only to qualified MPTL installations,

but also copper, fiber optics, pre-terminated

assemblies, enclosures, cable management,

platforms and related hardware.

For more information, visit BerkTekLevitonTechnologies.com/Warranties.

INDUSTRY IN AUGUST 2019, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) established a certification program for 942-standard-conformant data centers. The accreditation scheme will put facilities through audits to confirm and certify their conformance with the ANSI/TIA-942 standard. This will be done by the formation of independent conformity assessment bodies (CABs) which will verify data center compliance.

PRODUCT FASTER ORDER FULFILLMENT FOR PATCH CORDS Cat 6A High Flex Patch Cords can reduce patch cord density in a 24-port patch panel by 25 percent when compared to typical Cat 6A patch cords. And now, order fulfillment for the cords will be faster, with lead times reduced to just five business days. Manufacturing of this product has switched to a U.S. based Leviton-owned factory, which allows for reduced lead time for orders of fewer than 500 cords.

THREE-DAY ORDER FULFILLMENT FOR PREMIUM PLUS FIBER OPTIC PATCH CORDS AND PIGTAILS Premium Plus Fiber Optic Patch Cords and

Pigtails provide exceptional performance within structured cabling systems. Now, these

products will be shipped faster, with just a three-day lead time for all orders up

to 100 patch cords or pigtails, or 20 pigtail kits. The cords and pigtails

are manufactured at a U.S.-based Leviton-owned factory, enabling for quicker

delivery and more competitive pricing. Learn more.

YESTERDAY'S NEWS 1960 – Nearly 60 years ago, Echo 1, the world’s first communication satellite was launched. Echo 1 was a passive reflector, and communication signals were bounced off it rather than retransmitted like modern satellites are enabled to do today.

Using MPTL with Ease and Confidence continued from pg. 1

LEVITON.COM/CROSSTALK 4

We’re looking forward to seeing you at 2019 BICSI Fall! We’ll help you find innovative, workable solutions to your unique networking requirements, and demonstrate effective ways to maximize your return on infrastructure investment.

Make sure to attend one of our informative tech sessions, where you can learn the latest in cabling advancements from our world-class experts. Register for one or more of the following lectures:

GENERAL SESSION: How to Optimize Intelligent Building Infrastructure Kirk Krahn — Leviton Todd Harpel — Berk-Tek Tues., Oct. 1, 9:30-10:30 a.m. South Pacific Ballroom

Curing Common AV Headaches David Stoltz, RCDD — Leviton Wed., Oct. 2, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Islander F

Road to Single-Mode: Direction for Choosing, Installing and Testing Single-Mode Fiber Brett Hanson, RCDD — Leviton Jim Davis — Fluke Wed., Oct. 2, 1:30-2:30 p.m. South Pacific Ballroom

See you in Las Vegas! Mandalay Bay Hotel & Convention Center | Sept. 29 - Oct. 3, 2019 | Booth 1030

Standards

SNAPSHOTBelow are some highlights of active projects from recent committee

meetings. For a comprehensive list of the latest updates from IEEE, TIA,

and ISO committees, read the Quarter 2 Leviton Standards Report (pdf)

IEEE IEEE P802.3cg 10Mb/s Single-Pair Ethernet Draft 3.1 was circulated following the May 2019 meeting. This standard is expected to publish in September 2019. The project supports two different PHY designs: a long reach application (10BASE-T1L) for distances up to 1000 meters, and short reach application (10BASE-T1S) for distances up to 15 meters.

IEEE P802.3cm 400 Gb/s over Multimode Draft 2.1 was circulated following the May 2019 meeting, with comments to be reviewed at the July 2019 meeting. The target publication date is December 2019. The 400GBASE-SR4.2 application supports OM5 cable up to 150 meters. The 400GBASE-SR8 application supports OM4/OM5 cable up to 100 meters and OM3 cable up to 70 meters.

IEEE P802.3cu 100 Gb/s and 400 Gb/s over Single-Mode Fiber at 100 Gb/s per Wavelength. This effort was elevated from a Study Group to a Task Force in March 2019. There is no draft or target publication date yet. This standard supports 100 Gb/s (single wavelength) or 400 Gb/s (4 wavelength) operations over single-mode optical fiber up to 10 kilometers.

TIA Recently Published ANSI/TIA-569-E Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces and ANSI/TIA-607-D Telecommunications Bonding and Grounding

TIA-568.5 Comment resolution of the first ballot for TIA-568.5 on single-pair twisted-pair cabling and components will continue during the September 2019 meeting.

TIA-604.19, FOCIS 19, CS Type Connector Completed comment review of first committee ballot for TIA-604.19. A second committee ballot will be circulated for review at the September 2019 meeting. The small form factor two-pair CS connector is designed to support two 200G-FR4 or two 100G-CWDM links with four optical channels multiplexed per pair.

ISO/IEC 11801-1 AMD1 (Generic) A first Working Draft (WD1) has been circulated, with comments to be reviewed at the September 2019 WG3 meeting. A target publication date has not been established. The standard specifies cabling channels and link classes to generically support single-pair applications.

TR 11801-99xx ED1 A second Working Draft (WD2) has been circulated for comment, to be reviewed at the September 2019 WG3 meeting. A target publication date has not been established. The standard provides performance specifications for Class D, E, EA, F, and FA modular plug terminated links (MPTLs).

24383 ED1 Work has started on a new standard to address physical network security for buildings, which will address the security of the telecommunications cables, pathways, spaces, and other network elements of the telecommunications infrastructure. A New Work Item Proposal (NP) draft has been created for discussion at the September 2019 WG3 meeting.

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© 2019 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? IDEAS?

We want to hear from you! Email: crosstalk@leviton.com

Q: What is a CS Fiber Connection?

A:

The CS connector is a small push pull plug with two LC type ferrules. Its small size allows two CS connectors to fit in a standard LC duplex footprint or into a QSFP-DD transceiver port. The CS connector was developed in support of one of five 400G connectivity solutions defined in the QSFP-DD Multi Source Agreement created in 2017. Based on inclusion in the QSFP-DD MSA, the TIA is developing a standard for the CS connector (see “Standards Snapshot” on page 4).

Leviton offers several lengths of CS-LC patch cords supporting 200G-2FR4 links, using Leviton’s standard channel components of trunks, harnesses, array cords and cassettes. The “2FR4” refers to 2 x 200G-FR4 links, with a reach of 2 kilometers over single-mode fiber. Each of the 200G FR4 links has 4 optical channels operating at 50 Gb/s each, multiplexed onto one fiber pair (1 Tx and 1 Rx per 200G link). There is currently no market consensus about broad adoption of 2 x 200G-FR4 links and adoption may move to smaller form factor connectors.

ASK THE EXPERTS

TECH TIPSSimplify Your Next Home Network InstallUnsure what you need for a home cabling infrastructure project? Whether it’s a single-family home or multi-dwelling unit, you can easily configure your structured cabling and structured media components with through our online planning tool.

From WiFi-compatible or metal enclosures to patch cords and panels, we can help contractors, distributors, and homeowners find everything they need to create a fully connected home. Once the online form is submitted, a Leviton Technical Service Representative will carefully review the information and follow up to clarify any specific project requirements. The customer then receives a comprehensive list of selected products, detailing part numbers, quantities, and descriptions, as well as links to product and purchase information. We’ll respond within one business day, free of charge.

Fill out the Structured Media Center planning tool at Leviton.com/HomeConfig.

Also, you can also see examples of our most popular network infrastructure configurations, including populated Structured Media Centers for multi-dwelling units, single-family homes, custom homes, and student housing. Check them out in our Resources section at Leviton.com/ConnectedHome.

1 Wireless Enclosure with Vented Cover

2 Combo Panel

3 Non-Surge J-Box Kit

4 Universal Shelf Bracket

5 Patch Cord

6 Saddle Tie Kit

7 Integrated Power Supply

8 QuickPort Jacks

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