Optical Cable Corporation - Industry Solutions

Security

Optical Cable Corporation is built on a tradition of innovation and dependability for the most severe duty applications, including critical security requirements. In the early 1980s, Optical Cable Corporation was a pioneer in the design and production of special tight-buffered cables for demanding military field applications. Today, Optical Cable Corporation builds on this technology at its ISO 9001:2000 registered facility in Roanoke, Virginia, where a broad range of fiber optic cables are manufactured for high bandwidth transmission of data, video, and audio communications for today’s demanding security applications. Fiber optic cable solutions for security by Optical Cable Corporation provide a comprehensive and versatile set of products to address the security industry's voice, data, and video cabling requirements.

Technology Trends

Whether extremely low or very high bandwidth, the most demanding security applications are using optical fiber. Why? Fiber optic cable provides the most reliable and secure mode for transporting signals from one place to another. Fiber’s well known immunity to EMI and other interferences makes it the most reliable medium. The nature of optical fiber and light transmission make fiber optic cable naturally the most secure mode of signal transport.

Cameras and other security equipment are requiring increased bandwidth for improved resolution. Therefore, newer cameras provide built-in fiber connections via fiber interface. Older cameras are using fiber by locally installing media converters from a very large number of suppliers, connected to traditional electrical camera outputs.

Of all the alternatives, fiber optic cable is the clear choice for the transport of security signals. Media converters make concern over protocols and other technical parameters relatively easy to address. Simply insure the media converter bandwidth meets or exceeds the camera output.

What is Media Conversion?

Media converters enable network administrators to connect one type of media with other, dissimilar media – for example, coax/twisted pair to fiber optic cable. Media converters are physical layer networking devices that simply receive data signals for one media, convert and transmit them to the other media, while remaining completely transparent to other networking devices and higher protocols.

Why Media Conversion?

Distance, cost savings, and flexibility. Media conversion from copper cable to optical fiber will allow the network to extend to far greater distances. Media conversion provides flexibility by enabling seamless interoperability between legacy structured wiring systems and the latest optical switches. Media converters play an important role in today’s mixed media enterprise cabling systems by satisfying the requirements for data throughput, cabling bandwidth, distance, and security.

FIBER +	OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION'S EXCELLENT CABLE DESIGN	= OPTIMUM SYSTEMS
Highest signal integrity Greatest signal-carrying capacity (bandwidth) NO E.M.I (Electromagnetic Interference)* NO R.F.I. (Radio Frequency Interference)* Completely unaffected by radar microwaves* (including airports, transmission towers, etc.) Extended transmission distance	No lightning protection required* Extensively used in safe combustible areas (including oil refineries, chemical plants, ammunition and explosive storage areas, and high-risk fire or explosive storage areas, and high-risk fire or explosion zones)* Not susceptible to electrical charges* Withstands extreme environments (desert, snow humidity, etc.) Works with the security equipment you already have (easily adaptable via Media Converter) Less time and money on fiber installation vs. copper installation	If you need maximum security at any level, there is only one choice. Finer optic security cables are hard to tap, bypass, or intercept without detection. Contact Optical Cable Corporation for a "future-proof" cable design to match your security network requirements.





*Not applicable for fiber optic cables containing copper

Fiber Optic Security Applications

The extensive use of fiber optic cables in the telecommunications industry has provided the technological and economical platform for practical deployment in many other applications. Current industries using fiber optic cables for demanding security applications include:

Aerospace
Bridges
Nuclear Facilities
Highways and Traffic Intersections
Military Installations
Public Transit Corridors
Department of Energy
Parks and Public Spaces
Utility Substations
Water Reservoirs and Distribution Pipelines
Mining
Water Treatment Plants
Government
Military/Secure Manufacturing Facilities
Shipping and Docking Facilities
Containerized Freight Handling Facilities
Remote Communications Towers
Airports (public, private, and freight)
Auto and Storage Lots
Prisons
Private Estates/Palaces
Embassies
Sports Arenas
Convention Centers
Residential Surveillance and Alarms
Small Business Intrusion and Video Surveillance

Typical Security Systems:

CCTV Video Surveillance
Perimeter Intrusion Monitoring and Surveillance
Intrusion Alarm Systems
Process Monitoring and Alarms
Video Motion Detection Systems
Covert Surveillance Equipment
Facial Recognition Systems (Biometrics)
Access Control Systems
Traffic Surveillance
Traffic Signaling
Amber Alter

Cost Comparison

Optical fiber as a technology platform is tried and proven over time. Fiber optic security cable is now a more sensible choice for long-term "future-proofing" and scalability; especially with today’s trend towards converged LAN and WAN networks, IT security systems, physical premises security systems, and building/plant automation systems.

Feature	Coaxial Cable	CAT-5e/6 Twisted Pair	Fiber Optical Cable
Cost	$$$$$	$$$$	$$$$$
Lightning Protection	Required	Required	Not Required
Ground Loop Protection	Required	Required	Not Required
Transmission Distance	1,000 ft. no repeaters 2,400 ft. w/repeaters	1,000 ft. w.balun 6,000 ft. w.balun at 64k data speed	22,140 ft. No repeaters required
Bandwidth	100 MHz at 1,000 ft.	100-250 MHz at 1,000 ft.	500 MHz at 3,280 ft.
Security	Not Secure	Not Secure	Secure
Cross-Talk	YES	YES	NO
Shorts and Shock Hazard	YES	YES	NO
System Expansion and Upgrades	NO	NO	YES
Multiplexing Capabilities	Fast-Scan Technology	Real Time	Real Time
Future Proof	NO	NO	YES

Fiber optic security cable is now practical and preferable due to:

Massive telecom fiber deployments

Manufacturing “economies of scale”

Fiber production technique improvements

Electronics improvements, cost reductions
Cost to increase copper bandwidth

Seamless integration.

The first prerequisite for seamless integration is the melding of like products to work together.

In May 2008, Optical Cable Corporation acquired SMP Data Communications, a company internationally recognized for its role in establishing data communication connectivity standards, through its innovative and patented technologies, and offering a full range of fiber optic and copper data communication connectivity products.

SMP Data Communications, headquartered near Asheville, North Carolina, is internationally recognized for its role in establishing the world’s data communications standards, through its innovative and patented technologies. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Optical Cable Corporation (NASDAQ GM: OCCF).

The uncompromising principles that led to the development of the first OCC products remain a constant influence on the design, production and service at Optical Cable Corporation. End-users benefit from fiber optic cables and connectivity products that are easy and economical to install, provide a high degree of reliability and deliver exceptional performance.

Optical Cable is committed to building on the spirit of innovation while staying focused on meeting the changing needs of customers worldwide.