You’ve heard of the Bro Code and seen all the different Bro Tips, right?  Well, OCC is abiding by the Pro Code and we’d like to start sharing some of our Protips™ that everyone in the structured cabling business should know about!

This week’s blog comes from OCC Regional Technical Manager, John Awad
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OCC products fit into a wide array of applications and industries. Our Limited Axcess solution is particularly geared toward the healthcare industry and needed segmentation in hospital room installation. This solution is appropriate any time you need to control who is accessing an open RJ-45 outlet, but still want certain appropriate persons or equipment to have immediate access. Keyed and color coded equipment cables are assigned for use to specific persons or departments, allowing access to the appropriate designated persons.

When it comes to hospitals and other healthcare facilities, wall outlets and equipment rooms now may contain a variety of different services being accessed through copper data patch panels mounted in racks and cabinets. Multiple structured cabling systems in a hospital or clinic might contain a Cat6 data network, Cat5e voice network, Cat6 television network, POE security camera system, access control systems, core network cross connect patch panel fields, and a separate 10G Cat6A data network for high speed and high bandwidth service. In addition, these specialized facilities such as hospitals and laboratories can contain electronic chart systems, patient monitor systems, electronic bed systems and bed alarms, overhead paging and background music, and specialized audio/ video systems. Different technicians or service providers are often assigned to each system, and they all historically have the same RJ-45 footprint.

For these applications, choose our Limited Axcess jacks at the wall outlet and in port panels in the equipment room. This keyed and color coded system limits access to particular outlets to only using the correct keyed and color coded patch cord and blocks out access by standard RJ-45 patch cords. This way, you are able to assign different colors and keys to individuals or systems in the cross connect area, equipment room, wall outlets or patient rooms without fear that they will access infrastructure or systems that they are not authorized for. The security keyed and color-coded end-to-end solutions put an extra level of security and separation into each service in the facility. This system is Cat6A rated and backwards compatible so you can use this for Cat6A, Cat6 or Cat5E needs.

OCC has many products and solutions to offer the healthcare industry. Be sure to ask your sales rep or local distributor about some of the products mentioned above when discussing your healthcare application needs!

Bill Smith, OCC’s Business Development Specialist, serves as a member of Society of Broadcast Engineers and has over 20 years of experience in Technical Sales in the Communication Industry.

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OCC’s reputation for providing products in harsh environments fits perfectly into the broadcast industry where down time is not acceptable. We have, and continue to provide, the broadcast market with fiber optic cables that are field-tested to withstand the most extreme handling. Our accessories for the broadcast market are no exception.  OCC’s MARS reels are a significant improvement over the standard steel reels that traditionally have been used for many years in the industry. These steel reels are not only cumbersome in weight and size, but after only a few deployments, they tend to rust or even bend.  As a result, companies are forced to discard these reels and purchase new ones which can be very costly to large companies or even sole proprietors.

What makes OCC’s reels different from the rest?  The MARS Reels are a lightweight, modular system constructed of an impact modified polymer that is easily transported and is ideal for applications where cable needs to be deployed and reeled in quickly and stored efficiently. Companies that invest in our reels can maximize the use of these reels for many years without having to replace them due to environmental complications.

Due to the size and scope of events in the broadcast industry, cabling needs to be accessible to cameras and audio equipment in a fast and efficient manner. MARS reels have the flexibility to be fitted with fiber optic cable, power conductors, and copper communication cables. The MARS Reels are also offered in five sizes that can accommodate most applications.

Here are just a few of the applications where the MARS Reels are being used in the industry:

• Production and recording studios
• Rental companies supplying cables for new production shoots
• Lighting and rigging companies supporting communication cables and control wiring.
• Remote satellite farms, for testing and configuration
• Microphones and multipair cables for stage performances
• Tactical Broadcast – command post to audio or video sources
• Audio snake cables
• Remote production vehicles for cable storage and management at job sites
• Studio SMPTE cables
• Live concerts
• Sporting events, stadiums, marathons, skiing events,  & pro golf events
• Political events, debates, conventions, weekly news briefing
• Fly packs

OCC is always looking for ways to better improve this product as new designs for different applications are requested. You can expect to see more of these improvements in the future as we continue to tailor our products to the industry’s needs.  Be sure to look for us at NAB in April to learn more about our products and solutions!

OCC is very excited to have launched some new features and tools on the OCC website last week that we hope you will find to be helpful when perusing our website! Today we’re giving you a brief overview of some of the key tools and features you can expect to find on our updated website:

Industry Illustrations – To further promote OCC’s integrated product solutions, one of the new features on the OCC website is the addition of industry illustrations. These illustrations show industry specific diagrams that help identify where OCC products fit into that particular application. The diagrams open in a new window and OCC products are represented by red dots that appear in the diagram. When you click on these dots, a window appears detailing what the product is as well as gives a link to the product page on the OCC website.  Initially we will be featuring the Oil and Gas Pipeline illustration. However, other industry specific illustrations will be added soon.

Video Integration – OCC has been busy over the last two years building a video library that we hope all of you have had a chance to view! This video library is housed on the OCC YouTube channel, but as part of our website updates, we have made our product videos available directly from our website under the Library tab of the main menu.  In addition, we have integrated the videos into our product pages to give users a more virtual experience when looking at our products. OCC has also been creating more support videos that include termination instructions and installation best practices. All of these videos can now be found under the “Support” tab of the website. Although most of our videos are now available on the OCC website, please be aware that not all videos are available on the website. Please be sure to continue visiting and subscribing to the OCC YouTube channel for the most up to date listing of our video library.

Division 27 Spec Builder – Another exciting tool we are pleased to introduce is our Division 27 Specification Builder. This tool is available under the “Support” tab and is only assessable by Registered Users.  So now is a good time to become one if you aren’t already!  As part of a Master Spec for a project build, Division 27 (formerly Div 16 or 17) encompasses the communications section. This Builder allows users to create a complete Division 27 Spec that specifies OCC products.   Unique features of the Division 27 Spec Builder allow users the ability to print, save, or return to started documents at a later date. This tool saves Architects, Engineers and Consultants (ACEs) time and money by completing and writing the Specification document for them.

Part Number Configurator- Finally, one of the major changes being implemented with the website updates is the addition of the part number configurator. This new tools gives you the capability to build your desired cable online and then download the spec sheet for that particular cable once complete. Registered Users will also have the option to contact their ISR/OSR directly if they require further information. The part number configurator is currently available for 90% of the cables featured in the OCC catalog and you will have the ability to save, print, or attach the generated spec sheets to emails.

With the addition of so many new tools on the website, we hope all of you who aren’t already Registered Users will become one so that you can fully take advantage of all the features on the OCC website. As with any new updates, we are aware that there have been some glitches on the website and are working to get all of these problems resolved as quickly as we can to better serve you!  Be sure to comment below and let us know what you think!

You’ve heard of the Bro Code and seen all the different Bro Tips, right?  Well, OCC is abiding by the Pro Code and we’d like to start sharing some of our  Protips™ that everyone in the structured cabling business should know about!

Each year, the BICSI Winter Conference is one of the biggest annual trade shows for the data communications industry.  This show continues to be a great venue for contractors, installers and end users to learn about new technologies, products and solutions whether attending the various conference sessions or visiting the over 150 booths of exhibitors.  In addition to all the great technology and products showcased,  this year is BICSI’s 40th anniversary and OCC’s 30th anniversary, which made this definitely a show to remember!

OCC was very proud to be showcasing two of our newest products at this year’s BICSI Winter Conference.  OCC’s new Cellular Distribution System (CDS) 4G which we originally launched at the BICSI Fall Conference in Anaheim, CA certainly received a great deal of praise at this year’s show!  Our new CDS product provides wireless enhancement to help resolve all your low cellular strength issues for in-building applications.  It is designed as a complete kit so that you have everything you need to mitigate your 4G communications dead zones while also supporting legacy 2G and 3G services.  Those who stopped by booth #410 certainly loved that particular feature of OCC’s CDS!  We also showcased our Procyon™ solution that was first launched at BICSI last year in Orlando, FL We were very excited to have so many customers, old and new, stop by our booth to check out our new Procyon™ system and learn more about how it can be implemented in their workspace.

Another great thing that we love about BICSI every year are the daily presentations.  This year, DAS was undoubtedly a hot topic and OCC was excited to attend several sessions on the subject.  One of our favorite sessions that we really enjoyed attending was the “Enabling Wireless Broadband Indoors and on Campus through DAS and Small Cell Deployments.”  It was interesting to learn that most of the DAS providers and carriers, such as AT&T and Verizon, are focusing on the larger installations rather than the smaller ones.  This was another confirmation that OCC’s development of a DAS solution optimized for small to mid-size installations, simplified to enable traditional structured wiring contractors to install was the right decision.

OCC is continuing to make tremendous steps forward with our developments of new products and solutions and 2013 will be no exception!  Stay tuned to OCC’s Blog and Social Media outlets to get your first look at some of the exciting developments we are bringing to the data communications industry.

You’ve heard of the Bro Code and seen all the different Bro Tips, right?  Well, OCC is abiding by the Pro Code and we’d like to start sharing some of our  Protips™ that everyone in the structured cabling business should know about!

You’ve heard of the Bro Code and seen all the different Bro Tips, right?  Well, OCC is abiding by the Pro Code and we’d like to start sharing some of our  Protips™ that everyone in the structured cabling business should know about!

Optical Cable Corporation is pleased to announce the addition of a HDMI (High Definition  Multimedia Interface) Feed-Thru coupler to our KMJ Keystone Adapter product line. 

HDMI technology has become the de facto standard for  interconnecting HD equipment. HDMI transmits uncompressed, high-definition digital video, multi-channel surround audio, and advanced control data through a single cable.

OCC’s HDMI KMJ Coupler easily snaps into any OCC KMJ faceplate and is ideal for commercial or residential applications such as conference rooms, class rooms, or media rooms.

Visit our website to learn more about OCC’s exciting new product!

You’ve heard of the Bro Code and seen all the different Bro Tips, right?  Well, OCC is abiding by the Pro Code and we’d like to start sharing some of our  Protips™ that everyone in the structured cabling business should know about!