Two New Fiber Management Solutions From Clearfield

MINNEAPOLIS — Clearfield, a specialist in fiber management solutions, aims to increase FTTH configuration flexibility with its new FieldSmart Small Count Delivery (SCD) Case - a modular enclosure system that accommodates any drop-cable media in all application environments, including strand, pole, above-grade pedestal or below-grade-level vault. Having a single enclosure for any deployment topology lets service providers reduce installation and maintenance costs in the access network.

Integrated With Miniflex QuikPush
Although the FieldSmart SCD Case supports all industry-standard drop cable media, it has been optimized for use with the Miniflex QuikPush assembly. The only North American manufacturer authorized to connectorize the Miniflex assembly, Clearfield is teaming with Miniflex to simplify field installation with a pushable (rather than the more traditional pulled) design. The Miniflex solution can be pushed through TuffDuct microduct directly into the SCD Case for ease of access and rapid user turn-up. Available with a fiber-enabled Clearview xPAK, the SCD Case is currently shipping at less than $200.

“We like the way Clearfield thinks,” comments John Walker, senior project engineer at Mid-State Consultants. “The industry needs a scalable solution for drop cable deployment that recognizes that FTTP deployments come in all shapes and sizes – and can’t all be pre-engineered off-site. This is a real-world solution that reflects the field-proven design concepts that are apparent throughout the FieldSmart product line.”

The modular approach of the FieldSmart SCD Case allows the removal of the cable management bulkhead for cable prep, termination or splicing in a conditioned environment such as a splice trailer. Dual round entry-exit ports allow for direct landing of feeder cable and mid-span techniques. The SCD Case accommodates the plug-and-play technology advantages of the Clearview xPAK and Miniflex drop cable system or traditional flat drop cable solutions that use industry-standard or HFOC connectors. The SCD Case also provides for splicing of the drop directly to the feeder or to the outbound legs of 1x4, 1x8, or 1x16 splitters in distributed split architectures.

CraftSmart Pedestals and Vaults Also Introduced
Clearfield also introduced a new optical protection system, CraftSmart, in conjunction with the SCD Case. The CraftSmart Fiber Protection Pedestals and CraftSmart Fiber Protection Vaults are optimized to house the SCD Case in above-grade and below-grade installations, respectively.

The combined solution provides an “any application, any media, anywhere” approach to the challenges of delivering last-mile drops. The Fiber Protection Vaults also support integration of Clearfield’s OSP cabinets and traditional splice point slack and closure storage. The CraftSmart line is RUS-listed and is currently shipping.

“Retrofitting legacy copper solutions in the field is expensive and time-consuming,” explains Johnny Hill, chief operating officer for Clearfield. “Clients have asked for an OSP environmental enclosure line that could reduce the cost of field deployment by providing complete hardware compatibility. CraftSmart optimizes fiber protection and storage while ensuring industry standards. Utilizing tried-and-true methods of sealing and below-grade protection, along with that Clearfield innovation, we have developed a complete, turnkey solution for the deployment of passive optics from the central office/headend to the customer premises.”

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