Is it Time to Buy a Webcam?

A WebCam, or Web Camera is a video camera that is used to capture real time video images and pass them via a computer to a computer network. The most popular use for a webcam is to set up video conferencing across the Internet amongst friends and family. A lot of modern Notebooks or Laptops come with a web camera already built-in.

This type of network camera is distinct from a network video surveillance device that is used to provide real time images that can be monitored for security purposes. These type of video cameras tend to be more expensive because they have a number of features for playback and storage, and often have to be protected against the weather.

The webcam was first developed within Cambridge university in 1991 in the Science department, with the purpose of allowing lecturers and graduates to view the Trojan Room Coffee Pot, and determine how busy it was before going to order coffee. It wasn’t long before the first commercial devices were ready for the market and eventually Logitech became the biggest producer of webcams.

With the proliferation of instant messaging and Voice over IP (VoIP), many millions of people with connections to the Internet want to communicate with friends and relatives worldwide. Skype has become on of the most popular multimedia Internet communications systems on the Internet, and it all started with simple telephony, but now has added features such as video and chat. So now you can talk to your friends worldwide and view a live image of them as you do so provided you have some kind of web camera attached to your PC.

Most webcams comprise a camera lens and an image sensor, rather like a standard digital camera, with a lot of webcams now having a built-in microphone. The cheaper models come with a decent quality fixed focus lens to ensure a good quality image. Most commercial low-cost web cameras incorporate a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor which converts light energy into a voltage, which is then converted to some digital format. CMOS image sensors are fairly cheap to manufacture, hence the reason they have become popular in webcam technology. The alternative is to use a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), but these tend to be a little more expensive to manufacture and the image quality is very similar for both devices.

Most webcams are connected to a computer by means of a USB cable, unless otherwise integrated with the computer, but this is mainly with recent Notebooks and Laptops. A development known as the USB Video Device Class, or UVC for short, allows webcams to be integrated with computers, and usually doesn’t require the use of specific vendor specific device drivers. All the major operating systems such as Windows, Linux and Mac OS support this UVC standard. All this makes it easy for a user with no technical knowledge to install and run a webcam quickly and efficiently.

As well as using a webcam for simple communications, many people today also use them to produce low-cost video images for use on social websites such as YouTube. Another area where they are used extensively is online dating sites where men and women can view potential dates rather than just rely on still photographs.

It is important to note that images passed from webcams via computers are utilising some form of computer application, and all computer applications are subject to attack from hackers and mischief makers, particularly on the Internet. For this reason security is just as important for your Webcam application as it is for others such as email and other forms of file transfer. Hackers can use a variety of methods such as Trojan Horse Viruses to activate a webcam, so it is very important to make sure your Internet Security programs are up to date. If you purchase a webcam, then a useful feature to look for are LED indicators, to let you know when the device is live. This will warn you to switch off your webcam when not in use and also warn you when a webcam may be been remotely switched on by a hacker. Webcams are just as safe as any other computer device if you follow the security rules and always keep your anti spyware and anti virus software up to date.

A web camera is generally a low cost device and there are many outlets where you can purchase one of these devices. Many are purchased directly from online Internet retailers and I would recommend doing a little research before purchasing to ensure you are getting the right device, not just in terms of performance, but also in terms of additional features and methods used to attach the physical device to an existing computer or desk. Although most webcams are attached via USB cables, there are many now that allow connection via WiFi or Bluetooth too.

This article on webcams was written by David Christie, MD at NSTUK Ltd, Website http://www.ipexpress.co.uk

What is a Thermal Barcode Printer?

If your business needs to print Barcodes on labels for merchandise, then you will need some form of Thermal Barcode Printer. There are many manufacturers of label printers, with the most popular being Zebra Technologies, Intermec, Datamax and Epson. Here, we take a look at the technology used with barcode printers.

A label printer is most commonly used for printing barcodes on labels that can be attached to items for sale, so that those items can be scanned by a barcode scanner in order to provide a means of stock control and also to determine the price of an item at a retail outlet. In some cases labels need to be attached to boxes or cartons to provide address details for shipment or merely to append an EAN number to a product for stock and pricing purposes.

There are two main technologies used by label printers, these being the direct thermal and the thermal transfer method. Direct thermal printers apply heat via a print head to paper which has been specially coated with a form of heat sensitive material. When the heat is applied, the coating turns black and this provides the information. In contrast, a thermal transfer printer is used to heat a form of resin which is present on a ribbon which is moved over the material requiring the barcode information. The process of applying heat to the ribbon causes ink to be transferred from the ribbon to the paper.

Of the two types of barcode printer, the direct thermal printer is the most popular, probably because it is generally the least expensive of the two, and will often be seen as a compact desktop device in retail outlets and offices. Larger, higher capacity barcode printers will often be found in industrial premises such as factories mass manufacturing goods and in warehouse facilities.

A direct thermal printer uses a form of thermal paper which is fed between the thermal print head and a rubber roller, sometimes known as the Platen. Some kind of spring is attached to the print head to ensure there is an even pressure applied by the print head on the paper to enable a consistent print.  An electrical current is applied to the print head which generates the heat needed to activate the coating on the paper and thus provide the required printing. The areas of the paper which receive direct heat react and turn black to produce the required print image. Some of the more sophisticated direct thermal printers can provide a two colour image by applying heat to different areas of the coated material at different temperatures, resulting in an image that may be black and red for example. These models are usually a little more expensive that the model that just provides a black image.

In contrast, a Thermal Transfer Printer actually melts a coating on a ribbon, and this coating is appended to the label or material that is to receive the intended image. The biggest use for a thermal transfer printer is in the printing of barcodes or for printing plastic labels. The thermal print head is kept at a constant pressure on the label or material to receive the image by means of a spring loaded mechanism.  The thermal ribbon and the printing material are located between the print head and the rubber platen and brought into contact by the action of the spring. Both the labels and the ribbon are fed between the print head and the platen at a constant speed and the electrical current applied to the print head generates heat which is applied to the ribbon, causing the thermal coating on the underside of the ribbon to be transferred to the required labels.

Barcode label printers normally come in standard widths of 4 o 6 inches, with some being as wide as 8 inches.

If you are looking for a barcode printer for a small to medium sized retail outlet, then the important factor in your choice of barcode printer is going to be in its ability to produce labels at the frequency required. Most manufacturers will indicate the volume capacity by specifying low to medium or medium to high for example.

Barcode printers normally attach to a computer that holds the image by means of a USB cable, Ethernet network cable, WiFi or Bluetooth. When purchasing a label printer, make sure you choose a model with your preferred method of connectivity.

This article on Barcode Printers was written by David Christie, MD at NSTUK Ltd,  Website http://www.ipexpress.co.uk .

What is the Function of a VoIP Gateway?

The purpose and function of a VoIP Gateway is to provide an interface between the traditional telephone networks using digital TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) technology and that of IP Networks designed to carry IP packets containing digital speech. The VoIP Gateway has to translate the digital media format used on the local network and the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) in both directions. In addition, the Gateway will also have to translate between the different signalling protocols used on the local network and PSTN.

Today’s Voice over IP networks digitise analogue speech for telephone calls my means of a Codec which stands for Coder Decoder or Compressor De-compressor. There are a number of codecs used within VoIP systems, with the most common of these being ITU-T codecs G.711 and G.729, and the GSM codecs used within the mobile telephone networks. Two versions of the g.711 codec are used within the traditional digital telephone networks which are based largely on 64Kbps digital telephone channels. The digital telephone channels are multiplexed together using a method referred to as Time Division Multiplexing to form either T1 or E1 lines. A T1 line is designed to carry 24 digital telephone calls, whereas an E1 line is designed to carry 30 digital telephone calls. These multiplexed trunk lines are used to interconnect exchanges and also connect a traditional PBX (Private Branch Exchange) to a Telephone Operator’s exchange.

A VoIP Gateway will need to support a number of codecs, so as to be able to translate between the digital codec formats used by the PSTN and the VoIP enabled Local Area Network.

In addition to translating digital voice formats, the gateway must also be able to translate between different signalling formats. The Public Switched Telephone Network uses two main forms of signalling which are referred to as CAS (Channel Associated Signalling) and CCS (Common Channel Signalling). The former is used on the analogue telephone line between the telephone user and the exchange by passing telephone dialling codes often by means of audio tones, and this method is known as DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency). Pulse dialling is also used in some systems. Common Channel Signalling is used between exchanges and gateways to pass telephone signalling information within the wider telephone network.

SIP (Session Information Protocol) has evolved as the dominant signalling protocol within VoIP Systems, and has largely replaced the cumbersome ITU signalling protocol H.323. SIP is a simple client / server protocol that is used to setup, maintain and teardown VoIP telephone calls. MGCP (Media Gateway Control Protocol) is used by some Voice over IP systems to control the actions of a VoIP Gateway and Cisco uses SCCP (Skinny Call Control Protocol) on some older systems as a means of communicating between the end users and the Cisco Callmanager call control agent.

Signalling System 7 is the CCS system used within all the Public Telephone Networks, including land-based and mobile systems. In fact, it is sometimes referred to as the “Glue” that links all Public networks together and allows us to make calls between Mobile phones, land-based phones and VoIP phones.

Other main functions and features of VoIP Gateways include:

Fax as well as voice compression and decompression

• Packetising digital voice information

• Control signalling

• Call Routing

• Interface to other external devices such as SoftSwitches and H.323 Gatekeepers

Gateways supplied by different vendors are often packed with proprietary features as well as the standard features expected of a VoIP Gateway. Selecting the right one for your organisation or business requires careful thought and some research.

A good small business VoIP Gateway is Cisco’s SPA3102 which provides a single FXS (Foreign Exchange Service) RJ-11 connector, enabling the user to connect a single standard telephone or FAX machine on the local network side, and a single FXO (Foreign Exchange Office) port to enable connection to the local Telco. Two additional Fast Ethernet ports provide connection to the home or office Local Area Network. An additional Fast Ethernet port provides a connection to a broadband modem or router.

For additional small business capability, Cisco’s VGA204 Analogue Voice Gateway provides 4 x FXS RJ-11 ports to allow connectivity for 4 telephones or fax machines and 2 Fast Ethernet network ports. It supports all the major network signalling standards such as SIP, SCCP, MGCP and H.323v4.

VoIP Gateways are continuing to evolve as enhancements to existing protocols continue and new VoIP protocols are being developed. All the major Gateway vendors are trying to get a larger market share and so proprietary features are something to look out for, particularly in the small business market. Check out your options before jumping in and buying the first Gateway and be sure of your ultimate requirements.

This article on VoIP Gateways was written by David Christie, MD at NSTUK Ltd,  Website http://www.ipexpress.co.uk .

What is a Portable Battery Charger?

The term battery charger relates to a number of devices used to induce energy into a rechargeable battery to replenish its power supply capabilities. These days we use battery chargers for many applications, and a lot of our mobile devices and digital appliances such as cameras have rechargeable batteries that need regular topping up to ensure the device remains functional.

The amount of charging that a device requires depends on the type and rating of batteries in use with the device. Some devices can withstand a constant sustained charging source and are not damaged or impaired should that charging source remain in place even after the batteries have been fully charged. Other devices will cut off the current to the batteries once they reach full charge. Some chargers employ a trickle charge, supplying only a small amount of current that can take several hours to charge a battery, whilst others can charge batteries in under an hour.

There are many different types of battery chargers available which employ many different methods, and we will only mention one or two as we concentrate on chargers employed for mobile phones, Smartphones, iPhones, iPods and iPads, which we often refer to as a portable battery charger.

One type of charger of note is the induction charger which uses a form of electromagnetic induction by transmitting electrical energy by means of some form of inductive coupling. For quite a number of years now they have been designed for use in environments where normal chargers may represent a risk of electrocution, such as bathrooms and other areas where the user may come into contact with water. Electric toothbrushes are a good example of objects that may use an induction charger. Powermat provide a range of induction mats designed to wirelessly charge a selection of smartphones, including the iPhone range.

Probably the biggest use for battery chargers is in the mobile phone market, and in recent years standards were developed for charging mobile devices using USB connections. The microUSB connector was developed specifically to connect a USB cable to a mobile device such as a phone or a digital camera. Voltages on USB connections are designed at or around 5 Volts with a maximum of 5.25 Volts, so they are ideal in most situations due to the low voltages involved. Since 2009 most of the major mobile phone vendors agreed to standardize the use of Micro-USB as the interface on mobile phones for the purpose of charging the batteries.

A popular type of charger is the in car battery charger for use with devices such as mobile phones, MP3 players and SatNav models. They receive their power via a connection with a car cigarette lighter and have an input range of somewhere between 12 and 24 Volts and output 5 Volts at 1 Amp current. Some of these chargers even come with a selection of connector tips to make them compatible with a range of popular mobile devices. A good example of a universal car charger is the Belkin F8Z689CW which is designed to charge your Apple device such as iPad, iPhone or iPod whilst on the move. This compact device sits neatly in your dashboard and connects to your cigarette lighter, providing a 3 foot cable for connection to your mobile device.

There are a wide variety of mobile battery chargers and adapters currently on the market specifically designed for use with mobile devices, and it really just depends on the model that suits your needs. I would certainly recommend buying a model from a well known manufacturer, particularly as a lot of cheaper copies have flooded the market in recent months, some of which have been found to be faulty, and in some cases dangerous.

This article on mobile battery chargers was written by David Christie, MD at NSTUK Ltd, Website http://www.ipexpress.co.uk/Chargers-Power/b/1569153031

Why Choose an IP Camera?

An IP Camera is essentially a digital video camera  that is designed to operate on a data network using Internet Protocols. They are sometimes simply referred to as Network Cameras, as they are designed primarily as a networking peripheral device with a digital video capability.  The actual term IP Camera is normally reserved for a camera whose primary role is that of surveillance. That is in contrast to a Webcam that is designed as a device that operates on the Internet and allows two parties to communicate using both voice and video.

There is another fundamental difference between an IP Camera and a Webcam, and that is in the fact that a Webcam usually requires a host device such as a computer. The Web Camera does not connect to the network via a network cable, but normally to the host computer via a USB cable or some other physical connection. Software will normally have to be installed on the host computer in order for the Web Camera to be functional. In contrast, the IP Camera will have a built-in Web Server and is capable of being controlled remotely over the network via sophisticated control protocols.

IP Cameras have the normal video camera components such as a camera lens and some form of image sensor. In addition, they are normally built in such a way as to be able to provide processing and compressing of images, as well as  analysis and storage facilities. Any onboard memory is normally reserved for storing the operating system, as in the case of a standard computer, including networking capabilities. The networking facilities can either be via a wired Ethernet connection using standard twisted pair cable, or a wireless connection. In fact quite a number of recent IP Cameras offer the choice of either a wired or wireless connection, giving the user the flexibility of deployment. The devices themselves may, in come cases be powered from the network using Power over Ethernet, thus  relieving the device of the need for a local external power source.

As an IP Camera is primarily a surveillance camera, it is important on a network to provide a means of security, so they often use sophisticated security protocols such as encryption to ensure the resultant video streams and control protocols are secure from eavesdropping.

When deployed as a surveillance camera, these network cameras require sufficient storage facilities so that the video images can be recovered and replayed at a later date. Some devices have built-in storage facilities that enable the video recordings to be recorded directly to some storage device such as direct attached storage or network attached storage. Some network cameras form part of a system that have a centralized system of recorders, storage and alarm systems.

Just like any other network device the IP Camera will have an IP Address which is often statically configured, or can be dynamically configured via a DHCP server. Images are normally digitally converted according to an industry standard format such as MPEG or ITU-T H.264, so they can be either streamed live over the network, or previous recorded samples can be recovered and viewed as when required.

A lot of modern surveillance cameras now support some form of motion detection or audio detection, or a combination of both. The application of these cameras is constantly expanding but some examples might:

• Surveillance of pubic places such as retail outlets, airports, company buildings.
• Monitoring of access to data centres and other important installations.
• Surveillance of private property such as entrances as well as outbuildings.
• Monitoring of Car Parks, to provide peace of mind for customers when leaving vehicles unattended.

The facilities and function of Network Surveillance Cameras continues to evolve, and the price continues to fall. If you have a need for some form of video surveillance then do consider a network based camera.

This article on IP Cameras was written by David Christie, MD at NSTUK Ltd,  Website http://www.ipexpress.co.uk .

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A Laptop Docking Station is designed to provide the means to connect your Laptop or Notebook computer to a number of peripherals, so that you can use your laptop computer in an office environment with all the benefits of having a desktop computer.

Some docking stations allow you to plug in your notebook and the station connects to the main rear connectors to link notebook to selected peripherals. Some other docking stations have a single connector such as a USB connector, and all your mouse, video, audio and network connections are fed through a single USB connection.

Most of the USB Laptop Docking Stations are made my manufacturers who design them to be universal in order to be used with virtually any Laptop Computer depending on the operating system in use. This means that you only have a single connection when you return to your desktop environment, and can access all the normal resources on your Notebook.

A docking station virtually turns your Notebook Computer into a desktop device, but maintaining the mobility of your Notebooks in seconds with a simple undocking procedure. Some systems are known as cold docking, whereby the Laptop is closed down before docking and undocking. Others have a hot docking capability, allowing you to dock or undock your Laptop Computer without the need to shut down the operating system prior to completing the operation.

Some docking stations are know as a breakout dock, which are  in effect a port replicator which provides thet existing facilities available on your Laptop plus a number of additional ports.

It can be a simple fact that your notbook computers may not have enough ports to allow you to used all the peripherals you would like to. One thing that a lot of Universal Laptop Docking Stations provide you with are additional  USB Ports. A lot of these docking systems also often provide DVI, HDMI or VGA ports to allow you to connect to an external monitor or display.

The USB Laptop Docking Stations are becoming the most popular models due to their light portable design, capabilities and value for money. To models that I have looked at are the Startech.com USBDOCK2 and the Kensington 60723EU

USBDOCK2

This docking station provides USB connectivity using the USB 2.0 standard. A number  of commonly used interfaces are provided including  3.5mm mini-jack connectors for headphones and microphone, RJ-45 10/100 Ethernet connector and an additional 4 USB 2.0 Ports. At under £35 I consider this device to be versatile and extremely good value for money. This model comes with a 1 year warranty and lifetime manufacturers technical support.

60723EU

This device has a different ergonomic design to that of the USBDOCK2 model, in that it comes in the form of a stand, whereby you simply slip your Notebook computer into the stand to have almost instantaneous access to all your connections. Like the previously mentioned model, it has 4 additional USB 2.0 ports to expand your capability. The stand also has the additional benefit or raising your Laptop screen for easy viewing.

So, if you want to expand the number of peripherals available from your laptop computer or want to give your notebook the feel of a desktop computer then consider buying a Laptop USB Docking Station, it could provide you with an enhanced user experience.

This article on Laptop Docking Stations was written by David Christie, MD at NSTUK Ltd,  Website http://www.ipexpress.co.uk/Notebook-Docking-Stations-Computer-Systems/b/1848156031

Should I use Surge Suppression for my Home Appliances?

The question whether or not to protect your home appliances with surge protection devices is a personal one, but it is something you should take seriously, especially if you use sensitive or expensive equipment. The cost of basic surge protection or surge suppression is minimal compared to the price of replacing equipment such as audio or video equipment.

Surge suppression really should be used for all electronic devices such as Computer Monitors, Televisions, Printers and DSL equipment. In fact any equipment that is semi-conductor based. The components in some of these devices are very susceptible to sudden changes in voltage, in particular increases in voltage.

So how does surge protection work?

A surge protector is normally placed in the AC power line between the wall outlet and the device it is intended to protect. Some surge protection devices can also be used to protect telephone equipment by being placed in the telephone line. They are designed to protect against what are known as voltage spikes or transients in an electrical circuit that can be caused by many different actions, some of which include:

• Circuit Breakers tripping
• Short Circuits as a result of poor maintenance of wiring or corrosion.
• Power Outages
• Fluctuations in power caused by the power generating company
• Lightening Strikes

Surge suppression devices will generally protect against most of these eventualities, but lightning strikes can produce huge surges in voltage in the order of thousands of volts. Even with surge protection, if there is the possibility of lightning then the equipment should be totally isolated from the mains supply, including the surge protection device. It is worth noting that the lightning does not have to directly strike the power transmission lines in order affect the consumer supply. Other than lightning, surges in peak voltage are usually in the magnitude of several hundred volts and most commercially available protection devices will be designed to protect against power transients in that order.

A device designed to protect against voltage spikes will have a rated clamping voltage, sometimes know as the let-through voltage. This is the voltage level at which the device will divert the unwanted voltage away from the line. The clamping voltage should be a little more than the required voltage for the devices being protected. Most surge suppression devices will have a clamping voltage somewhere in the region of 330 – 500 Volts, with 330 Volts being very common.

Another parameter to consider when purchasing voltage spike protection equipment is the protectors Joules rating, where a Joule is a unit of energy. The rating on surge protection devices will define just how much energy can be absorbed when a voltage transient occurs, without the device failing.  A properly designed protection device should only absorb a certain amount of energy before failing because by absorbing energy, that energy is dissipated elsewhere in the system. A surge protection device should be designed to fail at a sensible rating, thus dissipating the energy to ground and away from the sensitive equipment. The higher the rating, the better the protection and typical ratings for surge suppression devices designed for the home should have ratings in the order of 200-600 Joules.

The time it takes for the protection device to respond to the increase in voltage is known as the response time. If the response time is too long then the damage may already be done, so look for devices with response times of around 1 nanosecond, which should ensure adequate protection.

Finally, good surge protectors will have an indicator light to give you a visual representation that the device is providing full protection. Most devices will ‘burn out’ after a number of voltage spikes, particularly if those spikes are of a high magnitude because the Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) component has a finite life. The majority of multi-socket surge strips will still function as a basic power strip without the surge protection after the MOV has failed, but without the indicator light, you would have no way of knowing.

If you currently have no surge protection or are contemplating buying new computer or video equipment then it would be wise to invest in a relatively inexpensive surge suppression device to protect your investment.

This article on Surge Suppression was written by David Christie, MD at NSTUK Ltd,  Website http://www.ipexpress.co.uk .

The term Patch Cable is used to describe many situations where two optical or electronic devices are patched together using either an optical patch cable or electrical patch cable. A patch cable is the primary means of connecting the two devices for the purpose of transmitting signalling information and serialised or packetized content. Another term used to describe a patch cable is a patch cord and the two terms are interchangeable.

The term Patch Cable is used to describe many situations where two optical or electronic devices are patched together using either an optical patch cable or electrical patch cable. A patch cable is the primary means of connecting the two devices for the purpose of transmitting signalling information and serialised or packetized content.Another term used to describe a patch cable is a patch cord and the two terms are interchangeable.

Patch Cables or cords used for Computer Networking are quite often constructed of copper cabling, commonly twisted pair, copper coaxial cable or fibre optic cable made from silica glass.Some coaxial patch cables can be used with audio equipment to carry amplified audio signals from amplifiers to speakers. Types of patch cords include:

Headphone extension cables

Microphone Cables

Audio and Video Cables with TRS or RCA connectors

Modular Ethernet Patch Cables (Twisted Pair)

Audio Multicore cables (Carrying a number of shielded twisted pair audio cables)

Copper twisted pair patch cables are normally used to connect an Ethernet switch to a Router, or a Computer or Server to a switch or hub. These patch cords come in a variety of colours to enable a colour coded plan to be observed in the network in which they are deployed. These different coloured patch cables can distinguish one type of connection from another. Ethernet patch cables consist of 4 pairs of stranded copper wire and were designed so that the Ethernet data signals were carried on 2 pairs,leaving 2 pairs for Telephone Signals. In most cases today Ethernet patch cables leave 2 redundant pairs except when the other pairs can be used for providing power to a terminal device, as in the case of an IP Phone or WirelessAccess Point receiving 48 Volts DC over the normally unused pairs.

Ethernet patch cords have minimal cable lengths depending on the Ethernet standard in use, with 100Metres normally being the maximum length for a single patch cable connecting two devices using the 10, 100 and 1000Mbps Ethernet standards. The reason for the maximum length is because of the collision detection function employed by Ethernet on 10, 100 an 1000Mbps connections in half-duplex mode.

Ethernet patch cables sometimes have to be deployed as Crossover Cables when used in certain applications with certain vendor equipment. In this situation the wires 2 pairs in use are crossed over from end to end with the wire on pin 1 connecting to pin 3 and pin 2 connecting to pin 6 end to end. Applications were this might be used include:

Computer to Computer

Hub to Hub

Switch to Switch

Router to Router

Hub to Router

Fibre Optic patch cords, or patch cables perform more or less the same function as twisted pair Ethernet patch cables, but can provide higher speed connections. The jacket on Fibre patch cables is normally colour coded to indicate which type of fibre is in use.The two main categories are as follows

OrangeMultimode Fibre

YellowSingle Mode Fibre

In addition to colour coding of the jacket or sleeve, each fibre optic patch cable will normally have a strain relief boot that protects the fibre from being damaged near the connector. These fibre optic strain relief boots are often colour coded to indicate what type of connector is in use as follows:

BlueSingle Mode Fibre Connector

GreyMulti Mode Fibre Connector

RedThis indicates high optical power is in use

Additionally, individual fibres within a multi-fibre cable may have individually colour coded jackets to distinguish one from another.

Fibre Optic Pigtails are a form of patch cord used with a optical connector on one end to connect to a specific piece of equipment, the other end being left as exposed fibre. The purpose of the exposed fibre end is to allow it to be spliced to a single strand of fibre from a multi-fibre cable. These pigtails can either have female or male connectors on one end to connect to a specific equipment type or patchpanel.

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