Smart Tips
Shorter than a white paper but just as informational! Increase your product knowledge with these “Smart Tips” from our market managers who are immersed in the fields everyday.
Your Network is Only as Strong as Your Weakest Link. Your Weakest Link Won’t be Clearfield.
In business school, we were told a story about the CEO of a large manufacturer in the Twin Cities. In his office was a placard that read “Price, Quality and Lead Time…Pick Two.” This always made sense to me because you cannot be all things to all people.3 Ways to Overcome the Labor Shortage and Lack of Training in the Fiber Industry
As network builders pass more and more homes with fiber each year, it’s become abundantly clear the impact that properly trained technicians have on the industry. However, the number of available trained technicians has seen a steady decrease, leading to an industry-wide labor shortage.3 Ways to Overcome Barriers to Fast 5G Wireless Deployments
The long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic make delivering reliable broadband connections more critical than ever. With broadband usage increasing, the demand for both coverage and capacity of the 5G radio access network (RAN) Fronthaul, Midhaul and Backhaul must also increase.3 Ways to Radically Simplify 5G Fiber Deployment in the Wireless World
One of the biggest topics of discussion regarding 5G is the need for fiber. Due to latency and bandwidth demands, fiber must be further out in the network.3 Ways of Speeding Time to Revenue in the MDU/MTU
As people demand higher speeds and better reliability for phone, television and high-speed internet, innovative solutions are needed to provide reliable service for the customer and a fast, cost-effective deployment for the service provider.3 Considerations for Maximizing Installations in Your MDU/MTU Environment
Because both multi-dwelling unit (MDU) and multi-tenant unit (MTU) buildings vary greatly in design and number of units, they pose a challenge to both the designer and the installer.3 Tips for Saving Money on Your FTTH/FTTx Deployment
As 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), small cells and many other network demands are increasing, having reliable fiber to the home (FTTH) and fiber to the “x” (FTTx) installations are key.3 Ways to Make Your FTTH/FTTx Deployment Successful
What are the keys for building fiber to the home (FTTH) and fiber to the “x” (FTTx) networks that give customers what they want? After many years of experience with FTTH/FTTx networks, we’ve got a few tips.Clearfield Smart Tip: A Window into Wavelength Division
Windows play an important part in our lives, as shown in popular expressions such as a window of time, maintenance window, window shopping or a window of opportunity.5 Tips for Designing FTTH/FTTx Networks
Starting a new fiber project is often daunting…and fiber networks all have challenges. We’ve got 5 tips to make your installation go smoother, future proof for the future of fiber and save you time.Clearfield Smart Tip: What a Contractor Wants
Increasingly, there is a need for faster and faster fiber network turn-up times. Having the right material that contractors like to use show up on time at the site makes the contractors more efficient and positively affects the return on investment (ROI).Clearfield Smart Tip: Flex Your MDU Fiber Muscles
I talk to many customers trying to solve MDU issues. One recurring challenge is that fiber drops are unterminated when entering the fiber distribution box on the wall in the communications room.Clearfield Smart Tip: Safety First
On one of my customer visits, I spoke with a new technician who was very excited to start his splicing career.Clearfield Smart Tip: First Inspect, Then Connect
Scoping and cleaning fiber optic connections during test and turn-up are continually stressed to contractors...and for good reason.Clearfield® Smart Tip: YOURx®-Terminal
In keeping with Clearfield’s “keep it simple” approach to fiber-fed deployments, features of the YOURx-Terminal, such as...Clearfield® Smart Tip: Consider Your Pathway
The importance of a well-designed communications cabling pathway cannot be overstated in today’s bandwidth-hungry environment...
Is Your Network Ready for the Big Race?
The stock car racing season is approaching fast and much like communication networks - it’s a balance of speed…
Grounding or No Grounding – What’s Required for Fiber?
Working with customers across the country to install our duct and buried fiber delivery solutions, we’re often asked how…
Best Drop Option for Your Build Priority
Recognizing that no two networks are alike, Clearfield has developed the industry’s widest choice of drop cable solutions –…
You Get What You Pay For
Customers go to great lengths when designing and building a FTTH network. The time, labor and cost is significant.…
It’s Time to Ribbonize
Technological advancements have made building a fiber network faster and more efficient. One of those advancements is the reintroduction…
You Want Fiber Where?
I'm an application engineer for Clearfield and just when I think I’ve seen the capacity of what fiber optics…
Finding Space in an Already Occupied Duct
A large carrier needed access to businesses to provide broadband services, and was running into the same problem in…
Getting Fiber to an MDU is Simplified with the Clearfield Collaborative Approach
A Clearfield distribution partner put me in touch with a customer planning to build out three large 50+ unit…
Optical Component Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about WDM/CWDM/DWDM & Circulators 1. What is a WDM? WDM stands for Wavelength Division Multiplexer. In fiber-optic communications,…
Microduct – Cost Effective Ideas to Deliver Service to Areas Once Considered Unreachable
The Challenge: Meeting the rising need for broadband usuage. Customers think they can seemlessly access from network to network…
FieldShield Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the FieldShield Assist to install FieldShield Fiber Cable? FieldShield can be pushed by hand, but the…
Using FieldShield in the Cellular World
With the onset of LTE and other broadband hungry technologies, cell tower owners and operators have seen the need…
FieldSmart FDP-KIS Wireless Application Scenarios
Multiple Cell Back Haul Demarcation with Consolidation Point The Clearfield FieldSmart FDP-KIS box can be deployed as a stand-alone demarcation…
Using FieldShield in MDU Applications
MDU’S – In the communications industry, these three letters strike fear into the hearts of planners, engineers and construction…
Clearfield’s CWDM Information Guide
Would you like to know a little more about CWDMs? We have created this document to help define and…
Hub Collapse Cabinets
By: Tom Warren Many of Clearfield’s MSO customers have considered collapsing certain hub locations. The applications vary but the reason…
Distribution Networks
By: Brian Schrand When building a FTTH network, there are two basic architectures that you can choose from for your…
Is Plug and Play the Future of FTTH?
An FTTH Innovation Comes of Age by Brian Schrand Clearfield Senior Member of Technical Staff Service providers, consultants, engineering companies and contractors are…