Today, aerial fiber optic cables are common in optical communications. We can see the aerial fiber optic cable hanging from the pole around you. The materials used to make aerial fiber optic cables must be strong and durable because they are exposed to harsh outdoor conditions. The aerial fiber optic cable is available in a variety of designs to suit different types of overhead applications. This article can help you learn more about the aerial fiber optic cable.
An aerial fiber optic cable is an insulated cable that usually contains all the fiber needed for a telecommunications line and is suspended between telephone poles or power towers because it can be tied to a wire rope sling with even small gauge wires. The strand is tensioned to withstand the weight of the cable over the span length, and it is suitable for any harsh climate, such as ice, snow, water, and wind. The aim is to keep the cable as stressed as possible while maintaining the sling and preventing the cable from falling to ensure safety.
In general, aerial fiber optic cables are typically made of heavy-duty sheathed and sturdy metal or aramid strength components with excellent mechanical and environmental properties, high tensile strength, light weight, ease of installation, and low cost.
Depending on the installation method, aerial fiber optic cables can be divided into two types: self-supporting and catenary types.
(1) Self-supporting aerial fiber optic cable:
Self-supporting cable is connected with insulated steel or fully insulated messengers to provide support. Examples of self-supporting aerial fiber optic cables include all-dielectric self-supporting (ADSS) and figure-8 cables.
ADSS is a fully dielectric (no metal elements inside the cable) self-supporting cable. It is usually used with power lines, or in areas where lighting occurs frequently, while figure-8 self-supporting slings are steel strands, which are metal, and in the structure of figure-8 cable, the central strength member can be steel wire or FRP. The non-self-supporting aerial fiber optic cable should be suspended below the sling.
(2) Catenary aerial fiber optic cable:
Catenary aerial fiber optic cable is a common outdoor loosely cased cable that can be tied to a sling or another cable (common in CATVs).
According to the structure and material of the aerial fiber optic cable, it can be divided into three main types: GYTC8S, GYXTC8S and GYXTC8Y.
GYTC8S:
GYTC8S is a typical self-supporting outdoor optical cable. It is suitable for overhead and pipeline as well as buried applications. It provides excellent mechanical and environmental performance. The steel wire reinforcement can ensure tensile strength; the corrugated steel tape and PE outer sheath can ensure compression; the water resistance system can improve waterproof capacity. It has a small cable diameter, low dispersion and attenuation characteristics.
GYXTC8Y:
GYXTC8Y is a lightweight self-supporting cable with a figure-8 cross section suitable for installation in overhead environments for long-distance communications, piping and buried applications. It offers high strength loose sleeves resistant to hydrolysis, with excellent mechanical and environmental performance, small cable diameter, low dispersion and attenuation, medium density polyethylene (PE) sheath, and low friction mounting and other characteristics.
GYXTC8S:
GYXTC8S is also suitable for installation in an airborne environment for long-distance communication. It offers excellent mechanical and environmental performance, corrugated steel tape and PE outer sheathing to ensure compression resistance, water resistance system to improve water resistance, small cable diameter, and low dispersion and attenuation characteristics.
The aerial fiber optic cables are used to transmit electronic signals, such as telephone communications, optical cable services, and even as part of a local community power distribution system.
In addition, aerial fiber optic cables are used for outdoor overhead applications, long distance and local area networks (LAN), metropolitan area networks (MAN), user network systems, connected communication systems, CATV, and computer network systems.
The aerial fiber optic cable can use the original overhead pole laying, saving construction costs, shortening the construction period. It is suitable for flat and less undulating areas.
