FTTA Outdoor Fiber Cable Assemblies
FTTA outdoor fiber cable assemblies are an indispensable component of telecommunication base station deployments. They facilitate wireless communication between remote radio units (RRUs) and the baseband unit (BBU), as well as power to RRUs.
Unlike coax cables, which limited the distance between antenna and BBU to around 100 meters due to signal losses, FTTA uses optical cabling to bridge this gap.
FTTA Cable
As mobile data traffic continues to surge, network operators are shifting from ftta-cable traditional copper-to-the-antenna setups to fiber-to-the-antenna (FTTA) infrastructures. This move to FTTA outdoor fiber cabling is critical for efficient network performance and scalability.
FTTA uses optical fiber to replace the coax cabling that runs from the remote radio unit (RRU) to the baseband unit (BBU) on the tower or roof of a cell site. Optical fiber can run far greater distances than coax, which eliminates signal losses and provides increased bandwidth for cellular services. It also reduces power consumption by eliminating the need for tower amplifiers.
To ensure a successful FTTA network deployment, it is essential to have a good understanding of the technology and its capabilities. In addition, it is important to know how to identify and repair any potential problems with the fiber optic connections. To this end, it is helpful to have basic training and a FOA CFOT certification or at least a familiarity with fiber optics technology.
Discrete FTTA solutions are ideal for tower, rooftop and small cell deployments that require design flexibility and lower initial cost. Separating the fiber and power cables allows for a more customizable solution and minimizes non-recyclable waste. It also allows for easy troubleshooting without having to reach the top of the antenna. Raycap’s Discrete FTTA solutions also include Lightning Protection for Macro Antenna Sites, which protects DC power lines and communication signals against the damaging effects of lightning strikes.
FTTA Patch Cable
Fiber-to-the-antenna is a wireless site architecture that replaces traditional coax cables with optical fiber to the antenna. With FTTA, the high frequency and power electronics are moved from the base station to remote radio heads (RRH) that are closer to the antenna. This helps to reduce tower weight and wind resistance, as well as provide greater bandwidth. Optical fiber also allows for more antennas to be deployed on a tower, and is essential for newer base stations that require higher capacity transmissions and larger transmitting power.
FTTA patch cable are water-proof CPRI cables that have been designed to withstand harsh outdoor environments. They are factory-terminated with waterproof ODVA, PDLC, NSN, Mini SC, Mini MPO and AARC connectors, making them easy to install. These cables are available in a variety of lengths to meet installation requirements.
The ODVA connector end incorporates an SC type connection within a sealed and threaded polymer housing, which is easy to connect to a multi port terminal or in-line extension receptecal. The connector is rat-proof, ensuring that it can withstand a variety of harsh conditions. It can be used in a variety of wireless communication systems, including FTTA and FTTH connectivity, army field military equipment diagnosis, airborne or ship borne equipment and other outdoor optical cable system temporary connections.
FTTA Jumper Cable
FTTA jumper cables are an ideal solution for connecting wireless base station remote radio heads (RRH) to the distribution box and power supply unit on cell towers. These pre-terminated fiber optic cable assemblies are shipped on large spools and feature both copper power conductors and optical signals in one cable with LC-type connectors. They are designed to meet FTTA specifications including Telcordia GR-20 and GR-326.
These FTTA cables are built with Corning fiber cable and LC UPC duplex connectors that are highly reliable in harsh environments such as rugged outdoor cellular site applications. They also 5G˴Fibre to the home offer superior crush resistance and a high degree of flexibility due to the armored tube. The LSZH jacket is flame retardant and resists chemicals commonly found in industrial environments.
These cables are ideally suited for use in 3G and 4G mobile base station tower deployments to connect RRU ports with the BBU port inside the distribution box or at the top of the cell tower. Using a FTTA jumper cable to connect the two eliminates the need for expensive tower amplifiers that can introduce noise and degrade signal quality. The shorter jumper also reduces energy consumption by eliminating the need for tower fans to cool the amplifiers.
The LC-type connectors used on the jumper cable provide a secure connection and are easily mated together. The connectors feature an insertion and positive latching mechanism to prevent accidental disconnection. Typically, the connectors are single-mode (SM) or multimode (MM) depending on the BBU/RRU requirements of the specific network.
FTTA Hybrid Cable
FTTA hybrid cables combine both optical fiber and copper power conductors in one cable to deliver both data and DC current. This type of cabling allows the use of standard hard line coaxial cable hangers and offers a more economical alternative to individual fiber and power cables. The hybrid cables may be either multimode or singlemode, depending on the specific requirements of the BBU/RRU units at the top of the tower. These cables typically have a polymer jacket to protect the core and conductors and are available with a choice of duplex or quadplex LC connectors, again depending on the requirements of the electronics at the BBU/RRU units.
Using hybrid cables with pre-terminated fiber connectors can help to simplify installation on towers and reduce inventory and maintenance costs. In addition, the hybrid cables allow for a more forgiving handling of the optic fiber, which is more sensitive to dust and dirt than metal wires.
CommScope offers a modular, future-ready approach to Fiber To The Antenna (FTTA) at cell towers and small cells that is highly flexible and fast to deploy. The HELIAX portfolio includes configurable FTTA trunk cables, breakout boxes and plug-and-play jumpers that give MNOs more control over their network infrastructure. By separating the fiber from the power, HELIAX solutions enable greater design flexibility, less non-recyclable waste and lower installation costs than OEM bundled solutions.