MARCH 24, 2008 -- Clearfield Inc. (search for Clearfield) today announced its FieldSmart Fiber Scalability Center (FSC), which it claims is a first-of-its-kind complete PON offering for managing up to 576 distribution fibers for an outside plant FTTx application. FieldSmart FSC sets the bar for density, says the company, providing up to 288 fibers in a compact 16x16x32 footprint or 576 fibers in an equally smart 33x16x32" design.

With Clearfield's Clearview Cassette at its heart, the FieldSmart FSC changes the rules of fiber management, say company representatives. Core to the design is that fiber is protected in sub-units of 12 fibers. Jacketed cable storage is eliminated because the 900-um tight buffers have shed the outer riser-rated jacket in favor of the cassette that protects it not only from human accidental damage, but also provides full bend radius protection throughout. The FieldSmart FSC accommodates all fiber management needs plus all the required slack storage for a 288 home-served Patch & Splice configuration in just four cubic feet of cabinet space, contends the company.

Vantage Point, an engineering consulting firm based in the Midwest, has long been a proponent of the use of Patch & Splice within an outside plant enclosure. "By splicing in the cabinet, cables are easier to manage, and it eliminates the worry of a splice case being installed wrong and taking on water," explains director of OSP operations Todd Sapp. "Further, if a jumper is damaged, a new jumper can be routed to the appropriate tray inside of the cabinet without going back into the case--saving time and money."

"The cost savings of eliminating the splice case and the 100 foot cable stubs--as well as the time it takes to prep it--are added benefits," Sapp continues.

"The Patch & Splice approach to OSP cabinets results in a cost savings of more than $900 per cabinet," estimates Johnny Hill, vice president of product development and management at Clearfield. "FieldSmart takes Patch & Splice a step further. Due to the 'nesting design' of the Clearview Cassette, splice trays are integrated into the protection of the Cassette itself, allowing the field splicer to still capture all the convenience of a Patch Only configuration, such as splicing in an environmentally protected trailer," he explains.

The FieldSmart FSC is shipping in April.

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