CommScope Drop Cable User Manual
Broadband Applications
& Construction Manual
Drop Cable Products
Table of Contents 0.1
Drop Cable Applications and Construction Manual
Table of Contents
Section 1 ................Introduction
1.1 Forward
1.2 Drop Cable Issues
Section 2 ................Description of Cable Types
2.1 Coaxial Cable Description
2.2 The Importance of Braid Shielding
2.3 UTP Cable Description
Section 3 ................Cable Selection Guide
3.1 Distance of the Drop
3.2 Indoor/Outdoor and Shield Selection
3.3 QR
3.4 F11 Cable Types
3.5 F6 Cable Types
3.6 F11 Cable Types for NEC 830
3.7 F6 Cable Types for NEC 830
3.8 UTP and Fiber Optic Cables
Section 4 ...............Planning the Run
4.1 Overview
4.2 Attachment Examples
®
320 Cable Types
Section 5 ................Aerial Installation
5.1 Overview
5.2 Pulling Cable
5.3 Span Attachment
5.4 Connecting the Coax
5.5 Attaching the Cable to the Residence
5.6 Running to the Grounding Block
Section 6 ................Buried Installation
6.1 Overview
6.2 Plowing Overview
6.3 Trenching Overview
6.4 Placement of the Pedestal
6.5 Connecting the Drop
6.6 Connecting the Drop
Section 7 ................Attaching to the Ground Block per NEC 830
7.1 Connecting to the Aerial drop
7.2 Connecting to the Buried Drop
0.1 Table of Contents
Drop Cable Applications and Construction Manual
Section 8 ................Attaching to the NIU per NEC 830
8.1 Attaching to the NIU
8.2 Connecting to the Buried Drop
Section 9 ................Residential Interior Cabling
9.1 Overview
9.2 Planning and Pulling the Cable on the First Floor
9.3 Cutting Outlet Holes
9.4 Going Through an Exterior Wall
9.5 Walls from Below
9.6 Planning and Pulling the Cable on the Upper Floor
9.7 Fishing Cable into Place
9.8 Hiding the Cable
9.9 Coax Connectorization
9.10 QR
9.11 Connectorization UTP Cable
9.12 Trim-out and Finish
Section 10 ..............Multiple Dwelling Units (MDUs)
10.1 Overview
10.2 Planning and Pulling the Cable
10.3 One and Two Story Buildings
10.4 Taller Buildings Outside
10.5 Taller Buildings Outside
10.6 Inside the Residence
®
320 Connectorization
Section 11 ..............Commercial Installations
11.1 Overview
11.2 Wiring Schemes
Section 12 ..............Drop Cable Descriptions/Specifications
12.1 Specifications and Part Numbers
Section 13 ..............Appendix
13.1 Safety Overview
13.2 OSHA and NEC Standards
13.3 NEC and Other Ratings
13.4 NESC Standards and Construction Grades
13.5 Wire Clearance
13.6 Pole Lease Agreements and Other Codes
Section 14 ..............Broadband Resource Center
Introduction 1.1
Forward
How to Use This Guide
The Drop Cable Applications and Construction Guide is written for the cable installation professional who, due to
the diverse services offered by CATV and telecommunication service providers, needs a quick and handy reference
to practical installation information, especially in the case of retrofitting.
We’ve tried to simplify the decision-making process as to which cables to choose for what installation, taking into
account factors such as performance over distance, preventing RF interference and fire/safety codes.
We also want to introduce you to some products that may ease some of your installation headaches, such as
BrightWire
®
anti-corrosion treatment for braid shields, and QR® 320, an ultra-long reach coaxial cable.
One of the big changes in our industry is the introduction of powered broadband services, which are addressed in
the National Electrical Code’s Article 830. This manual shows you when to use NEC 830 cables; sections 6 and
7 cover specific issues involving installation clearances; other chapters carry special callouts concerning NEC 830
issues.
Most attention is paid to residential installations (section 9) which has the most ‘practical’ information, especially
for trim-out. Sections 10 and 11 (MDU and commercial installations) are more general, and will refer you back to
section 9 for the specifics of finishing out the installation.
It is impossible to cover every single situation an installer may run into. These guidelines are no replacement for
your good common sense and experience.
It’s always good to know that you have backup should you run into a difficult installation. If you find you need
advice, call CommScope’s BRC (Broadband Resource Center
TM
) toll free at 866-333-3272 from
9 am to 5 pm ET Monday through Friday. We’re always glad to help out a fellow professional.
1.2 Introduction
Drop Cable Issues
CommScope Drop Cable
During the last years of the 20th century, new words were added to the vocabulary of both installers and subscribers of cable and telecommunications providers; terms like digital, broadband, multimedia and smart homes entered
our everyday language. Coaxial cable, formerly a one-way conduit for TV, is now a two-way conduit for specialty
programming, HDTV, stereo radio, internet access, telephony and more. And within the home and office, coaxial
and UTP cables - even fiber optics - carry these services with a speed and clarity that were once thought impossible.
Here in the 21st century, as providers of broadband services upgrade their plants to deliver the features demanded by millions of customers, we must keep in mind that the last
mile, in fact the last few hundred feet of cable, is the essential component in the network.
All of the digital high-speed gigahertz power promised by your company is nothing more
than a dark screen if the cable that runs from the tap to the wall is poorly installed and
connected.
CommScope
delivers
on the
promise of
broadband
services
with a
Coax, UTP, fiber optic - CommScope makes all of the cables that make the broadband
revolution possible. That’s why we offer:
for the system buyer, a selection of cables that perform under extreme conditions,
including sun, heat, cold, moisture and heavy RF interference. We also offer cables that
resist corrosion and meet critical riser and plenum standards for indoor installation.
for the craftsman, cables are available in convenient lengths with features that ease installation. We also offer
toll-free technical assistance at 866-333-3272 if you need a fast answer on an installation issue.
CommScope is proud of our 30+ year relationship with the cable installer. We know you’ll discover that
CommScope cables deliver all the quality and features you need to make the digital revolution a success.
family of
high-speed
craft-friendly
cables
Cable Descriptions 2.1
Coaxial Cable Description
Coaxial Drop Cable
The three types of cable used to carry broadband services to and within business and residences are coaxial, fiber
optic and unshielded twisted pair (UTP). Coaxial (or coax) cable is the most common; it is the ‘cable’ in the term
‘cable TV.’ The vast majority of broadband networks are constructed using some type of coaxial cable. Coax is
made up of these basic components:
The center conductor carries a low-voltage RF or electronic digital signal and may also carry up to 150 volts
of power (see Safety Standards, Section 13.3). For optimum strength and performance, CommScope uses copperclad steel for our coax - other types (solid copper, silver coated copper clad steel) are available;
The dielectric is a polymer insulation that supports the conductor. CommScope enhances the performance of its
coax by using foamed (or cellular) dielectrics that offer lower loss;
The shield defends the signal from RF interference. CommScope
uses a foil/aluminum wire braid combination for long-term protection and performance; our highest performance QR
®
320 cables use
a welded and bonded .013 in (0.3 mm) thick strip of aluminum as
a shield. Shielding corrosion can be prevented with CommScope’s
BrightWire
Heal
®
treatment, and a braid shield impregnated with Migra-
®
flooding compound will resist moisture migration;
The jacket protects the entire assembly. Jacketing materials will vary
depending on the application - tough polyethylene (PE) is used for buried installations; lower smoke-and-flame producing polyvinyl chloride
(PVC) is used aerially and indoors, as are plenum-rated fluorinated
ethylene propylene (FEP) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF).
For aerial installations, a messenger wire is built into the cable for
support. CommScope also offers Multi-Reach
®
cables that add up to
six voice-grade UTPs for discrete phone service or powering.
copper-covered
steel conductor
foamed dielectric
foil/braid shield
combination
messenger wire
jacket
2.2 Cable Descriptions
The Importance of Braid Shielding
Braid Shielding and Coaxial Cable Performance
A coaxial cable must have, at minimum, a dual shield of aluminum foil tape overlaid with a woven braid of aluminum. This braid shield greatly improves the electrical and mechanical performance of the coax;
in fact, a braid shield can vastly increase the installed life of the cable. All CommScope subscriber access coaxial
cables use a combination of foil and braid shields.
Braid Shielding Provides Low Frequency Protection
Foil shielding is usually a layer of aluminum bonded to a polyester tape. It provides
100% coverage over the dielectric and is best at preventing ingress and leakage of
high frequency signals; however, it is not that effective with lower frequency signals.
Aluminum braid shielding complements foil by containing and preventing interference
from those lower frequencies.
Braid shields
increase cable
performance
and can
greatly extend
the useful life
of the cable
Braid Shielding Helps Maintain DC Resistance
Foil shielding is very flexible but lacking in mechanical strength. Stress caused by installation or by twisting and
flexing over time (like in an aerial installation) will cause microscopic gaps to open in the foil. These ‘microcracks’
degrade the electrical integrity of the foil and cause the DC resistance of the cable to rise. Resistivity gets worse as
the cable twists.
Strong, flexible braid shielding supports the foil and helps fight the formation of microcracks. The braid wires do
not microcrack; they bridge the gaps in the foil. Braid shielding keeps its integrity and delivers low and constant
resistivity numbers even when twisting and flexing.
Braid Shielding Keeps Attenuation Low
Attenuation performance goes hand in hand with DC resistivity; high resistivity caused by microcracks in the foil will
result in higher attenuation. A history of 15,000 flexures can degrade a foil shield to the point where the calculated
attenuation could worsen by 400% or more. However, the robust nature of the additional braid shield keeps attenuation low.
Braid Shielding Keeps Connectors Connected
The additional strength provided by braid shielding gives connectors something to hold onto. In terms of pulloff
force, both compression and crimp-fitted connectors hold much tighter to cables with braid shields.
Cable Descriptions 2.3
UTP Cable Descriptions
UTP Indoor Cable
Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cables consist of two insulated conductors twisted together in a very precise fashion;
four of these pairs are then jacketed together into a cable. The angle and number of the twists acts like a shield
and helps the digital signal stay robust over longer distances. UTP is used inside buildings to distribute voice and
data signals over relatively short distances.
Through advances in construction and materials, UTP cables have a much higher bandwidth (information carrying
capacity) than their telephone wire cousins. Most UTP cables are defined by a ‘category’ or a performance designation. The categories are roughly determined by the bandwidth, or information-carrying capacity, of the cable.
Category 5 (a data cable rated at 100 mHz of bandwidth) is the most commonly used type in residences. For
higher data speeds and increased bandwidth, CommScope also offers Ultra II™ enhanced Category 5e (200
mHz) and UltraMedia™ Category 6 (400 mHz) cables.
Maintaining the twist is essential, especially during connectorization - the conductors must remain
twisted right up to where they meet the jack. The loss of just one twist can degrade the performance of the cable so
as to render it useless as a high-speed data cable.
UTP cables consist of three basic components:
solid copper conductors
24 or 23 AWG
The conductor is 23 or 24 AWG solid bare copper;
The insulation is usually a solid PE (foamed for UltraMedia)
with FEP used in plenum cables; and
The jacket is a riser-rated PVC or plenum-rated FEP or PVDF.
Because these cables are used indoors, pay special attention to
the NEC rating of the application.
polyethylene
insulation
4 twisted pair
components
PVC jacket
3.1 Cable Selection
Distance of the Drop
Coax Selection Considerations - Distance
Coax cable can be engineered for several levels of performance and cost-efficiency. For instance, a larger cable
will carry a signal over a longer distance; additional shields provide more protection from interference. Your first
consideration, however, is the overall distance of the drop. CommScope offers cables tailored for different distances:
Maximum Attenuation @ 68°F
QR® 320 F11 Series F6 Series
MHz dB/100’ (dB/100m)
5 0.24 (0.79) 0.38 (1.25) 0.58 (1.90)
55 0.84 (2.76) 0.96 ( 3.15) 1.60 (5.25)
83 1.07 (3.51) 1.18 (3.87) 1.95 (6.40)
181 1.60 (5.25) 1.75 (5.74) 2.85 ( 9.35)
211 1.73 (5.68) 1.90 (6.23) 3.05 (10.00)
250 1.86 (6.10) 2.05 (6.72) 3.30 (10.82)
300 2.04 (6.69) 2.25 (7.38) 3.55 (11.64)
350 2.25 (7.38) 2.42 (7.94) 3.85 (12.63)
400 2.38 (7.81) 2.60 (8.53) 4.15 (13.61)
450 2.52 (8.27) 2.75 (9.02) 4.40 (14.43)
500 2.72 (8.92) 2.90 (9.51) 4.66 (15.29)
550 2.85 (9.35) 3.04 ( 9.97) 4.90 (16.08)
600 2.98 ( 9.78) 3.18 (10.43) 5.10 (16.73)
750 3.34 (10.96) 3.65 (11.97) 5.65 (18.54)
865 3.62 (11.88) 3.98 (13.05) 6.10 (20.01)
1000 3.89 (12.76) 4.35 (14.27) 6.55 (21.49)
F6 & F11
(
)
187
lower numbers are better - plenum cables will have higher attenuation
®
QR
320 - these
are our highest
performance coax
and are recommended for MDU
usage (see section
12) or extremely
long runs with
their .071 in (1.80
Ask yourself
three questions:
what’s the
distance,
what’s the
environment
and how
much shielding
is needed?
mm) copper-clad aluminum center conductor.
F11 Series Cables - excellent-performing coaxial cables with a 14 AWG (1.63 mm) copperclad steel center conductor. They are recom-
mended for use in runs of over 150 ft (45
meters).
F6 Series Cables - these are made for shorter
runs, with an 18 AWG (1.02 mm) copper-clad
steel center conductor. They are recommend-
ed for use in runs of 150 ft (45 meters) or
less.
These cables are available in constructions for aerial and buried outdoor installations. They are also available for
residential and commercial indoor (general, riser and plenum) usage.
Cable Selection 3.2
Indoor/Outdoor and Shield Selection
Coax Selection Considerations - Shielding and Environment
Once you’ve determined which cable answers your need for signal over distance, you need to determine the type
of cable you’ll need for the installation environment.
For areas of possible RF interference, (pager antennas or other visible
problem as outlined in Section 3.1, or if there is a history of customer comments
concerning interference from ham radios, etc.), consider using a Tri-Shielded cable
(foil/60% braid/foil) shield. The extra layer of foil provides additional protection
against high-frequency RF signals at little additional cost. Super-Shield (Quad) cables
(foil/60% braid/foil/40% braid) provide optimum protection against RF interference.
Tri-shielded
cables offer
excellent RF
protection at
reasonable cost
For aerial installations, select a messengered cable (also called a figure-8 cable) with a polyvinyl chloride
(PVC) jacket. The messenger wire is a steel wire that is webbed together with the coax. This wire supports the coax
- under no circumstances should subscriber access coax be run without a messenger or lashed to a wire.
For buried installations, select a polyethylene-jacketed cable with MigraHeal
moisture ingress in case of damage. Article 830 considerations (see page 13.3 and Buried Installation 6.1) make
the use of cable pre-installed in conduit (CommScope’s ConQuest
®
) very attractive.
®
flooding compound to prevent
For cables that transition from outside to inside (from the ground block to the inside connection), select
a CATV cable for residential use, or select a CATV or CATVR cable for commercial buildings.
For commercial installations, CATVR riser and CATVP plenum cables are required in certain circumstances.
A riser-rated cable may be run vertically between floors; plenum cables are designed for use in air-handling
spaces, such as the area above a hung ceiling. General purpose cables (CATV) may be run horizontally within or
along walls and in raceways - they cannot transition between floors.
For locations where salt or other aerial corrosives may be a problem, CommScope offers two
aerial cable anti-corrosive treatments for braid shields: BrightWire
®
, a dry treatment that chemically combines with
metal components to protect against corrosion (and improve DC loop resistance); and APD (Amorphous Polypropylene Drop), a non-flowing polypropylene flooding compound.
3.3 Cable Selection
QR® 320 Cable Types
QR® 320 Series Selection Matrix (MDUs and Very Long Runs)
This is a quick reference for QR 320 Series cables from CommScope. Answer the questions as you read along the
diagram to arrive at the construction code for the cable required for your application.
QR 320 cables have a unique welded aluminum strip shield for superior RF protection and a large center conductor for lower attenuation over longer distances. We recommend them for use in MDUs.
Underground QR 320 cables use MigraHeal
®
flooding compound which is applied under the jacket , making it
suitable for direct burial. MigraHeal floodant is designed to flow into damaged jacket areas, sealing this area and
inhibiting corrosion.
Cable Selection 3.4
F11 Cable Types
F11 Series Selection Matrix (Runs Over 150 ft/45 Meters)
This is a quick reference for F11 Series cables from CommScope. Answer the questions as you read along the diagram to arrive at the construction code for the cable required for your application:
The XX in the part number should be filled with the code for the anti-corrosion agent you’d prefer as follows: BW
for CommScope’s dry BrightWire
®
, or APD® for the more traditional APD flooding compound.
All non-plenum high RF cables are Tri-Shielded (foil/60% braid/foil); super-shield versions are available. Plenum
cables are available only with super-shields.
3.5 Cable Selection
F6 Cable Types
F6 Series Selection Matrix (Runs 150 ft/45 Meters or Less)
This is a quick reference for F6 Series cables from CommScope. Answer the questions as you read along the diagram to arrive at the construction code for the cable required for your application:
The XX in the part number should be filled with the code for the anti-corrosion agent you’d prefer:
BW for CommScope’s dry BrightWire
®
, or APD® for the more traditional APD flooding compound.
All non-plenum high RF cables are Tri-Shielded (foil/60% braid/foil); super-shield versions are available. Plenum
cables are available only with super-shields. A 90% braid is available for 2276K.
Cable Selection 3.6
F11 Cable Types for NEC 830
F11 Series Selection Matrix for NEC 830 (Runs Over 150 ft/45 Meters)
This is a quick reference for F11 Series cables that meet NEC 830. Answer the questions as you read along the
diagram to arrive at the construction code for the cable required for your application:
The XX in the part number should be filled with the code for the anti-corrosion agent you’d prefer:
BW for CommScope’s dry BrightWire
®
, or APD® for the more traditional APD flooding compound.
All non-plenum high RF cables are Tri-Shielded (foil/60% braid/foil); super-shield versions are available. Plenum
cables are available only with super-shields.
3.7 Cable Selection
F6 Cable Types foro NEC 830
F6 Series Selection Matrix for NEC 830 (Runs 150 ft/45 Meters or Less)
This is a quick reference for F6 Series cables meeting NEC 830. Answer the questions as you read along the diagram to arrive at the construction code for the cable required for your application:
The XX in the part number should be filled with the code for the anti-corrosion agent you’d prefer:
BW for CommScope’s dry BrightWire
®
, or APD® for the more traditional APD flooding compound.
All non-plenum high RF cables are Tri-Shielded (foil/60% braid/foil); super-shield versions are available. Plenum
cables are available only with super-shields. A 90% braid is available for 2276K.
Cable Selection 3.8
UTP and Fiber Optic Cables
UTP and Fiber Optic Cables
Two factors control the selection for UTP and fiber optic cables; the speed of the network they will support and the
NEC rating required by the installation.
For UTP cables within the home, CommScope’s Category 5e UTP (product code UH58760) offers more
than enough bandwidth for most applications. These cables meet the NEC CMR (riser) designation.
If you are installing UTP in a commercial application (or require higher performance in a residential
application), see the chart below:
For fiber optic cables within the home, we recommend a two-fiber interconnect with a riser rating using
multimode fibers (construction code R-002-IC-6F-FSDOR). A plenum version is available.
4.1 Planning the Run
Overview
Planning the Run
The time you take in examining the site prior to installation is well spent and can help you avoid problems later on.
You need to be aware of issues such as right-of-way (ROW), where you will tap into the span, the distance of the
run and where you will attach and bond the cable at the customer’s structure. Refer to Section 3/Cable Selection
to determine what cable to use based on distance or NEC 830 considerations.
Look for Antennas to Select Cable Shielding
A 60% braid/foil shield works for almost all CATV installations. If you are installing
cable intended for a more active, two-way service (internet, high-speed data), you
should consider a Tri-Shielded cable. Cellular and pager towers produce radiation
that tends to raise havoc with CATV channels 19, 20 and 21. Ham radio aerials
may also signify a problem. Urban zones (like southern California or metropolitan
New York) have inherently high levels of RF pollution. We recommend Tri-Shielded
cables with a minimum of 60% braid for areas with high RF concentrations.
Know Your ROW (Right-Of-Way)
The most direct route may not be the legal route. Make sure the route you’re planning runs ONLY over the customer’s property. Generally, you can follow a parallel path to power or phone lines. However, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES lash your drop to any other cable.
Locate the Tap
While most spans have taps located next to the poles, you may occasionally find a tap in mid-span. This may be
helpful in avoiding ROW issues.
Select Your Attachment Point for Ease of Bonding and Access
NEC 820 specifies that coaxial cable must be bonded, preferably with the electrical. Therefore, try to attach the
cable to the wall or corner nearest the meter. If that can’t be reached, an exterior cold water pipe (if the plumbing throughout the building and back to the main is entirely metal) or an existing ground rod will do. If these are
impractical, you will have to hammer in a ground rod. In most cases, you will be selecting the cable entry point
into the building; however, if the NIU is already in place, try to attach your cable as close to it as you can, keeping
bonding considerations in mind.
Whether the
installation is
aerial or buried,
a simple site
survey now
can prevent
headaches later
Planning the Run 4.2
Attachment Examples
Attachment Examples for Aerial Installations
The top example shows a pretty
straightforward installation. The electric
meter is on the opposite side of the
building from the span, so attachment
near the the cold water tap is acceptable.
The middle example shows that the
most direct route would trespass on
neighboring property. Therefore, the
drop should be run along the span
and then angle to the building, eventually running toward the meter and then
back to the point of entry. Be sure to
check mid-span; it is possible that there
may be a tap there because a pole
was there at one time.
The bottom example is a tough call.
It’s marginally shorter to attach near
the point of entry, run to the meter for
bonding purposes and double back to
the point of entry.
In all cases, check your local
code requirements and
system design specifications
for your prescribed
bonding requirements.
5.1 Aerial Installation
Overview
Aerial Installation/Messenger (Figure-8) Cable
For best efficiency and lowest cost, aerial installation is generally preferred. However, local or subdivision codes
sometimes require that utilities be installed underground. There are times the customer may want the cables hidden
for aesthetic reasons. In these cases, see Section 6 for instructions on buried installations.
A typical installation is shown below. A continuous length of cable runs from the tap to the attachment point and
continues to the grounding point, called a ground/bond block. A second cable continues from the ground block
through the point of entry to a termination point within the structure.
Article 830 Considerations
Some systems use coaxial or UTP cable to carry power as well as signal to the NIU
(Network Interface Unit - sometimes called a NID/Network Interface Device). When
installing powered coax cable (carrying up to150 volts), pay special attention to the
cable-to-earth distance as shown in the diagram below.
NEC 830 also requires that cable attached to the building within 8 ft (2.5 m) of grade
must be placed within conduit, raceway or some other approved cable guard.
NIUs and Ground Blocks
NEC 830 installations will terminate at an NIU. Most NIUs have built-in connections that must be grounded at the
meter or other approved point. See Section 8/Attaching to the NIU per NEC 830.
tech tip:
when pulling
and hanging
cable, avoid
twisting,
scraping,
stepping on
or crushing it
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