Wireless Service Providers → Re: A dumb mistake a green WISP operator once made.

I don't think he specified he used indoor rated cable, "insualation" is a vague term. I used outdoor, and UV rated cable but the same issue occured. It just happens. I think gel filled is the only solution, but not the runnier stuff as gravity takes it toll also.

Be aware that gel-filled cables were originally designed for buried/horizontal applications. I do not know if any formal long-term studies have been done for aerial/vertical deployments, but obviously it is working well.

A proven long-term outdoor solution is silicone epoxy encapsulation which makes a cable bundle impervious to heat, cold and chemicals. Unfortunately this is a costly custom job until some company starts selling pre-made CAT5 and Coax.

I've had some Superior-Essex OSP cable up for about 6 years. There was a small amount of leakage when first installed but for the most part all of the gel is still there. I took one down about a year ago and cut into it and it was still filled with gel near the top of the run.

I almost always use Belden 7919-A stp osp cable for all tower site runs. I'm a stickler for install quality however so I make sure all runs make it to the top unscathed otherwise we re-run it. When our wisp was originally installed by the last guy before me there was some damaged cables and questionable runs due to twists and bends that were not within factory spec/typical install standards. I wrecked out almost 4k feet of the stuff (originally bestronics stp) and reran them cleanly. Never since then have i had a problem. It really comes down to that if you use the proper cable for the particular application AND you use some smarts on the install you really shouldnt have any problems.

I agree, however, the direct bury gel filled cables I have used, have a much heavier gel/grease that just doesn't seem to fall to the bottom with gravity. The jacket is UV rated and shielded as well. I have some on a 55' tower and nothing has come out at the bottom and is working fine for 4 years.

That's basically what I use on all of my installs. Superior-Essex OSP is UV rated, shielded and direct burial. It is not cheap but I think it is worth it.

Oh yea icky pic will migrate more so if the cable is exposed to direct sunlight. I have worked in terminals where the icky pic has migrated out when heated and later when cooled pulls back water with it and after about a year one has a cable filled with a semi conductive sticky brown mass and a thoroughly destroyed section of cable. Another problem with ick cable is the gel is not compatable with some of the insulation compounds used in air core cable and it attacks the plastic causing it to become brittle and fall off leaving lots of shiners to short out. In the shot it can be clearly be seen where the y/g of the ick cable was not bothered by the gel but the insulation on the w/g on the air core had been ruined by the migrating ick. Imagine what it might do if leaked onto and into the electronics and internal wiring of a radio?

FWIW any air core cable will wet if left exposed to water long enough the reason being the jacket no matter how undamaged and impervious it seems has microscopic pores in it. Therefore any cable that will be exposed to water on a continuous basis must have something within the jacket to mitigate the water intrusion. The two most popular methods are air pressure and gell aka icky pic.

However for about a year now we have been using a direct buried powder filled CAT5 cable for cell sites. The powder reacts with moisture by expanding and sealing any leaks and so far the results have been excellent compared to standard screened cable.

I pulled out and replaced a lightning hit run at a site in Coral Springs where the conduit was filled with water. I tied the old cable to the fence found the rip cord and stripped the entire jacket off of it and other than where the lightning burned thru the jacket the conductors where perfectly dry and it could be seen where the powder had changed sealing up a few dozen pores.

The cable is a dream to work with you open it and the pairs are covered with seems like talc none of that nasty icky pic to have on your hands and tools and later oozing out all over the base of the NEMA box and Sjack housing.

When I get to the office Tuesday I’ll get the manufacturers name and post it.

Wayne

I've worked on some fibre optic cable that has a dry tape instead of icky pic. It works just like the powder, reacting with water. When you work with fibre, you need to strip back a lot more than your traditional CAT5 install and end up with icky pic all over everything.

On vertical CAT5 runs, after thoroughly cleaning off the icy pic, put a dab of epoxy at the end of the jacket before crimping. It will keep the icky pic from migrating.

Your salvation is just over the rainbow.

»www.rainbowtech.net/cata ··· 67&cat=8
»www.rainbowtech.net/cata ··· 97&cat=8

That stuff works great at cutting icky pic off fiber.

Wayne

Ja, I know about the stuff. I've also used the wipes that are impregnated with cleaner but then you have cleaner all over your hands instead of icky pic. Not sure which feels worse. You need to develop a regimen whereby you discard the wipes so you don't pick it back up and get it all over.

If you want to entertain yourself, coat some bread with honey on both sides and watch the raccoons obsess over it. Like us with icky pic, they like to have clean hands.

Apologies for responding a week late but I must point out that I did not make the above comment about gel-filled cable. The best oudoor solution today is to encapsulate the cable in silicone epoxy but that is a custom job mainly done for offshore and desert oil rigs and military instalations.