Drop Connector Training · •Cable preparation & Connector installation •6-Series and 11-Series ... SAFETY FIRST! •Wear Eye Protection: −Working with power drills, other power

Telecom Security Marking 1.

© 2017 Corning Incorporated .

.

Drop Cable Preparation

& Connector Installation



.

Drop Quality - Your Connection to Customer Satisfaction

Session overview:

• Safety

• Basic overview of Cable System

• Inspection of the drop connection

• Cable identification

• Connector selection

• Cable preparation & Connector installation

• 6-Series and 11-Series

• Torque wrench operation

© 2020



.

Every Day Should begin with a focus on Safety….

© 2020



.

SAFETY FIRST!

• Wear Eye Protection:

− Working with power drills, other power tools

− Working with wire, connectors, and hand tools

• Wear Work Gloves:

− Prevent injury from hand tools, wire, power tools, etc.

• Wear your Hard Hat:

− When there is a potential for a head injury

• Wear your Safety Vest:

− Anytime you are within 15 feet of a roadway

• Wear your Positioning Strap & Body-Belt:

− When working from a ladder or utility pole to prevent falls

© 2020



.

Basic Overview of Cable System

Signal Origination

- Off Air

- Live Studio/News

- Satellite/Network Feeds

- Internet

- Information Services

- Stored Media

Headend

- Signal Processing &

Combining of Multiple

Channels

- Asset Management System

to Store, Move & Send Media

at Scheduled Times

- Signals Multiplexed into a

Light Beam (Laser)

A two-way HFC (Hybrid Fiber-Coax) system to distribute media over a network

of Fiber and RF Cables starts with…

© 2020



.


Primary Distribution

- Fiber to Nodes

- RF Hardline Coaxial Cables

- Aerial

- Underground

- RF Signal Amplifiers, Line

Extenders

Residential Areas

- Aerial

- Pedestal

- Directional Taps

- 11-Series Coax

- 6-Series Coax

© 2020



.


Residential Demarcation

- Outdoor Box

- Outdoor Passive Splitter

Inside The Home

- Typically 6-Series Coax

- Indoor Passive Splitter

- Cable Modem

- WiFi

- Digital Phone

- Gaming

- Laptops

- Security

- Set-Top Box / DVR

- Smart TV

© 2020



.

Basic Signal Delivery

• Media delivered to Consumers using RF Signals

• RF (Radio Frequency) transmitted through coaxial cable and

light pulses through fiber-optic cables

• This training will focus on RF cable & drop connectors

• Purpose of coaxial drop cable…

− contain the RF signal and prevent ingress (other signals entering

the system)

− prevent egress (Cable TV signals leaking out of the Cable

System)

• Purpose of Connectors:

− interface the coaxial drop cable to equipment

− Provide mechanical, electrical and environmental integrity

© 2020



.

Radio Frequency (RF)

• RF is the oscillation rate of a signal from 20 kHz to 300 GHz

− We work with frequencies up to ~1.8 GHz, soon 3 GHz

• RF is characterized by…

− Frequency – Number of times a signal does a full AC cycle in one

second, measured in Hertz

− Amplitude – Difference between the maximum and minimum

value during one cycle, measured in volts

− Wavelength – Distance between signal peaks in one cycle

© 2020

W

A

Time (seconds)



.

• Result of poor / deteriorating / corroded installations.

• Digital pixilation caused by lost data packets!

• Inspection & upgrade of the Drop System required.

System impairments caused by Poor RF Connections…

© 2020



.

System impairments caused by poor RF connections…

• More than 70% of all faults are found at the subscriber premise.

• Typical performance impairments

• Poor (Earth) Grounds – Coaxial Cable must be “Bonded” to the Bond

Block (Ground Block) prior to entering the Residence, ultimately connected

to the electrical power ground to be at the same “potential.”

• A difference in potential can create stray currents, noise and interference.

• A difference in potential can damage sensitive electronics, cause cable modem

problems, and even cause a house fire.

• Common Path Distortion – 2nd, 3rd and higher order intermodulation

products created from the downstream signals when connections are loose

and/or corroded. Generates beat products (analog) or raises noise floor

levels (digital)

© 2020



.


Signal AFrom HeadendTo House (Ch 2)

Signal BFrom HeadendTo House (Ch 3)

OriginalSignal A

OriginalSignal B

NewA - B

NewA + B

Dissimilar Metals create and add in new, unwanted signals(Corrosion / Galvanic Action)

Intermod Distortion

Signals in 1 Direction

(i.e. Channel Viewing)

© 2020



.


Signal X

From Headend

(Ch 2 Downstream

To House)

Signal XTo House New X+Y

Signal

Dissimilar Metals create a Diode, impacting Return Path(Corrosion / Galvanic Action)

Signal YReturn

New Y+XSignal

Signal Y

Return Path

(Cable Modem

From House)

Common Path Distortion (CPD)

Signals in 2 Directions

(i.e. Channel Change)

© 2020

Downstream (to House) is 55 MHz to ~1.8 GHz.

Return Path (from House to Headend) is 5 MHz to 30 MHz.



.


• More than 70% of all faults are found at the subscriber premise.

• Typical performance impairments

• Response Roll Off- A short center conductor may transmit high

frequencies, but as frequencies decrease signal attenuation is exponential.

Correct Incorrect

• Signal Ingress/Egress Problems- Can be caused by cutting off cable

braid, incomplete connector compression, loose connections.

© 2020



.

Identifying Cable - Construction

Center Conductor

Conductor Adhesive

Dielectric Foam

First Shield

Second Shield

Third Shield (Tri shield)

Fourth Shield (Quad shield)

Flooding Compounds

Jacket

Messenger

© 2020



.

Identifying Cable - Sizes

• Series 59

• Series 6

• Series 11

Series

59

Series

6

Series

11

Center Conductor

Dia.

0.032 0.0403 0.064

Dia. over Dielectric 0.144 0.180 0.280

Dia over Tape 0.152 0.188 0.288

Dia over Jacket -

Dual Shield

0.240 0.273 0.400

Dia over Jacket -Tri

Shield

0.244 0.278 0.400

Dia over Jacket -

Quad Shield

0.265 0.297 0.407

© 2020



.

Match The Connector & Cable

• Mini Coax

• 59 Plenum

• 59-Series PVC/PE (Single Braid, Tri-Shield, Quad Shield)

• 59 Headend

• 6 Plenum

• 6-Series PVC/PE (Single Braid, Tri-Shield, Quad Shield)

• 7-Series (Single Braid, Tri-Shield, Quad Shield)

• 11-Series (Single Braid, Tri-Shield, Quad Shield)

• 320-QR

• 500 TX1015 Flex Feeder

© 2020



.

GF-EFC-59 & 6 Connector Identification

Series 59-Small bore &

green gripping member

Series 6- Large bore &

black gripping member

• Proper connector selection is critical for reliable

performance.

• Post diameters for series 59 & 6 are visibly

different with series 6 having the larger bore.

• EFC connectors will fit a range of cables from

60% through quadshield.

Series 59- grooved shell Series 6- no grooves

© 2020



.

Corning Recommended Tools…Well maintained, good quality tools will make your job easier!

• Cable cutting- Diagonal

cutters or lineman pliers

• Cable trimming- Cable

preparation tool examples

• Connector installation-

Connector compression

tool examples

CablePrep

CPT-6590-1SCablePrep

CPT-1100

Ripley

DDT-59611

Ripley

CAT-AS

Optional-

Braid brush

Calibrated

Torque wrenchLineman

pliers

Diagonal

cutters

Sargent

9000-US

© 2020



.

Identifying Cable – Jacket Types

• PVC – Poly Vinyl Chloride

• PE – Polyethylene

• Plenum

• Flooded

• Messenger

MessengerFlooded

Plenum

© 2020



.

Your Goal- Textbook Cable Preparation

Cable Trim Lengths

• 5/16” Center conductor exposed beyond the dielectric

• ¼” Dielectric and foil

• ¼” Braid folded evenly around jacket

1/4”

1/4”

5/16”

© 2020



.

Cable Preparation- Let’s Begin

Correct- Straight with Square Cut End

Incorrect

• Straight cable will allow prep tool blades to

cut evenly around the jacket

• A square cut cable end will allow proper

center conductor protrusion when using

prep tools that have a built in cable stop.

Bent

Crushed

Angle cut

© 2020



.

Messenger and Siamese Cables

Correct Incorrect

Messenger removal or splitting Siamese

cables should be done by tearing 90

degrees apart. For a proper seal to

connector, all of the web must be

removed.

Improper removal will not allow the connector to properly seal.

© 2020



.

Cable Preparation- Trim Tool Operation

Properly insert the cable into the trim tool.

• Be sure to insert the cable into the

tool in the direction of the arrow.

• Cable should come flush with the

edge of the tool.

• This will give approximately 5/16”

of center conductor protrusion.

Avoids overly long conductor

lengths and eliminates the need to

cut center conductor after the

connector is installed.

• If the tool has a built in stop, make

sure to insert the cable firmly

against the stop.

© 2020



.

Cable Preparation – Trim Cable

Correct Incorrect

• Correct trim lengths

• Clean center conductor

Remove all residual dielectric

from center conductor.

Cause

- dull tools

- bonded dielectric

Effect

- Intermittent contact with

mating connector/equipment

© 2020



.

Cable Preparation - Potential Problems

• Dull tools can cause a single strand of braid or a piece of the tape to contact the

center conductor of the cable causing a short.

• Long braids that are folded back against the jacket can create a moisture path

leading to braid corrosion and intermodulation issues or loss of ground.

IncorrectIncorrect

© 2020



.

Cable Preparation – Tri Shield

Strip cable as shown Remove outer tape.

Fold braid back evenly

against jacket.

Old

Style

New

Style

© 2020



.

Cable Preparation- QuadShield

Quad Shield Preparation

Fold back outer braid.

Remove outer tape.

Fold back inner braid.

Fold back both braids.

© 2020



.

The Outer Layer of Foil MUST be Removed

The foil gets wadded up

along with the braid wires

The wadding of the foil &

braid forces the connector

off-center resulting in the

connector cutting into

the dielectric/foil as it is

seated on the cable

It may seem like a shortcut,

BUT…

© 2020



.

Do NOT Cut the Braids Off

• Cut off braid wires may be pushed down under the jacket.• The result:

➢ Connector may not install fully➢ Shielding can be compromised➢ Cable retention reduce; cable could pull out➢ Connector may not seal to jacket allowing moisture

ingress

© 2020



.

Cable/Connector Installation

• Following proper cable preparation

and connector selection, install the

connector onto the cable.

• Feed the cable core gently into the

connector center post. Be careful not

to skive the bonded foil shield.

• Continue to push the cable into

the connector until the dielectric is

flush with the center post inside the

nut end of the connector.

Click on image above to view video.

© 2020



.

Cable / Connector Installation – Applies to 59 & 6 Series

Incorrect

Dielectric left short will cause

an impedance mismatch and

can leave braid hanging out

the back of the connector.

Dielectric pushed past

interface will not permit the

connector to properly mate

with the equipment port.

Incorrect

© 2020



.

Cable/Connector Installation

Correct

Dielectric should come flush

with the end of the post for

proper installation.

Correct

1/8”

Cable center conductor

should protrude approx.

1/8” past the end of the

coupling nut. 5/16”

© 2020



.

Is My Center Conductor Length Correct?

Don’t have a ruler handy? Grab an unused connector and place it’s

coupling nut up against the nut of the connector you’ve just installed…

¼” cc length looks like this. It is the

shortest conductor length allowable by

SCTE standards. CC reaches half

way across smooth area of nut.

5/16” cc length looks like this. It is the

median SCTE conductor length.

THIS IS THE IDEAL CC LENGTH

3/8” cc length looks like this. It is

longest conductor length allowable by

SCTE standards. CC should not reach

the notch on nut hex.

© 2020



.

Connector Compression

Insert connector into tool at

an angle.

Be sure connector is properly

seated into the tool prior to

compressing.Fully compress connector.

© 2020



.

Abandon Old Habits

• Do not cut center conductor flush

with nut, different tools cut different

distances from face of the nut.

• The conductor may be too short to

make reliable contact with the

equipment’s center contact.

• If the center conductor is obviously

too long and cutting is required, be

sure to cut it to leave 1/8”

protruding beyond the end of the

nut.1/8”

5/16”

© 2020



.

Connector Compression Check

Not fully compressed

Fully compressed

Over compressed (flared)

No flaring. A minor gap between

rear shell and shoulder on body

may be allowable.

Very large gap. Connector performance may be

compromised. Tool adjustment or replacement

needed.

May affect security shield tool

application. Tool adjustment

needed.

© 2020



.

Closeup - Gap vs Chamfer

Incorrect,Shows a Gap

(Red Color)

Correct,Only Shows

Component

Part Chamfers

© 2020



.

Cable Preparation

Series 11

© 2020



.

Series 11 Cable Preparation

Cable Trim Lengths

• ¼” Center Conductor

• ¼” Dielectric

• ¼” Braid

1/4”

1/4”

1/4”

© 2020



.

Series 11 Cable Preparation

• Use the trim gauge on the connector body to correctly adjust cable

center conductor length to ¼”

¼”

1/4” trim gauge

© 2020



.

Series11 Cable Installation and Push Out Pin

The cable center conductor pushes the pin out

as the cable enters the connector.

The pin grabs the cable center conductor.

Once the cable is inserted, do not remove.

© 2020



.

Connector Installation- Push Out Pin

• Pin pushes out as cable is inserted, giving positive confirmation of

proper cable insertion.

• Pin should protrude 1/8” beyond end of nut.

© 2020



.

Connector Installation

• Guide the cable center conductor into the hole in the plunger. Pull the

cable into the spring operated tool gates.

• Compress the tool handle fully.

© 2020



.

Indoor Installation

Tighten ALL connectors to system

specifications.

• Finger tight on all customer owned

equipment– i.e. VCR

• Wrench tighten to 30 inch pounds

on all other connections– Company owned equipment

i.e. Directional Tap, Splitter

© 2020



.

Outdoor Installations - Correct Seal Ring Positioning

Small Inside Diameter

One Inside Diameter

(No Co-Bore)

Small Inside Diameter

Larger Diameter, Deep Co-Bore

Larger Diameter, Shallow Co-Bore

Outer Shape Varies. Small Inside

Diameter Goes Over Port First.

© 2020

(Corning-Gilbert Style)



.

Outdoor Installation – Grommets

Install grommets on all outdoor ports.

Thread connector onto port.

Using a torque wrench, tighten the

connector to mating port. Recommended

torque is 30 inch pounds.

Connector grommets prevent moisture ingress into threads and prevent galvanic corrosion

between different metal alloys (die cast splitters)

© 2020



.

Too much? Too little? How Does One Know?

• Most torque wrench users employ incorrect

hand placements shown on the right. This

technique may cause:

• A higher torque than desired due to the

application of force too close to the pivot

point of the wrench.

• A lower torque than desired due to the

clockwise rotation of the hand instead of

a 90 degree pull.

Pivot

point

Applied

force

WRONG

WRONG

© 2020



.

Understand the Wrench Manufacturers

Recommended Operating Instructions

• The torque applied to an F connector coupling nut

can vary depending on:

• Hand placement on the wrench handle

• The exact spot on the handle where the force is

applied

• Twisting of the wrist

• There is a precise location where the hand or finger

force is to be applied on the handle. The

manufacturer may have that “sweet” spot identified

by markings on the wrench handle.

Wrench with “PULL HERE” indicator

© 2020



.

Drop Adapters

Remember to Tighten All Drop Accessories…

❑ Finger Tighten connectors on Customer Equipment

❑ Average person can finger tighten roughly 5 in lb (range is 3 to 12)

❑ Torque connectors on all other Indoor & Outdoor MSO Equipment

❑ Includes Directional Taps, Splitters, Terminators, Splices, Right-Angle

Adapters

❑ Theft Proof Terminators: Tighten Firmly Using Security Tool

© 2020



.

Summary – Cable Prep & Connector Positioning

1/4”

1/4”

1/4”

6-Series GF-EFC-6 11-Series GAF-URS-11-MH

1/4”

1/4”

5/16”

© 2020



.

Any Questions?

Thank You!

Documents

Drop Connector Training · •Cable preparation & Connector installation •6-Series and 11-Series ... SAFETY FIRST! •Wear Eye Protection: −Working with power drills, other power