Abstract: A cable installation system for use by a cable installer may include a plurality of cable dispensers having different lengths of cable. In particular, each cable dispenser may also have a non-numeric, length-identifying marking associated therewith corresponding to the length of cable. Furthermore, the system may also include a cable dispenser indicator device for use by the installer to determine a distance between first and second locations, such as a cable tap and a subscriber interface. The cable dispenser indicator device may also provide an indication to the installer of the non-numeric, length-identifying marking corresponding to the determined distance so that the cable installer can select the corresponding cable dispenser from the plurality thereof. By way of example, the non-numeric, length-identifying markings may include a series of different colors and/or graphics for respective length ranges.

Abstract: A cable deployment and storage system includes a cable reel mounting device, and a cable reel for carrying a length of cable. The cable reel includes a hub that may be rotatably mounted on the cable reel mounting device during deployment of the length of cable, a pair of inner end flanges carried by respective opposing ends of the hub, and a pair of removable outer end flanges carried by respective inner end flanges to contain the length of cable therebetween during deployment. The outer end flanges may thereafter be removed to reduce a size of the cable reel. The pair of inner end flanges may store any remaining length of cable therebetween after deployment. The cable may include connectors installed at each end during manufacturing.

Abstract: A NID includes a base having a network area and a customer area adjacent thereto. The NID may also include a cable reel carried by the base. An access cover may be provided for the cable reel and the base that may include a network cover door for the network area, and a customer cover door for the customer area. The access cover may have a shape defined by at least a portion of an ellipsoid. The shape of the access cover may be defined by half an ellipsoid with major and minor axes adjacent the base, and the base may have an elliptical shape. The cable reel may be rotatable with the base or rotatable independent thereof.

Abstract: An aerial fiber optic cable system includes a distribution cable extending along an aerial route, a splice enclosure connected to the distribution cable along the aerial route, and a first sub-distribution fiber optic system extending along the aerial route in a first direction away from the fiber optic splice enclosure. The first sub-distribution system may include spaced apart fiber optic taps along the aerial route, a first sub-distribution fiber optic cable between the fiber optic splice enclosure and a first fiber optic tap, and at least one second sub-distribution fiber optic cable between adjacent fiber optic taps so that the first sub-distribution fiber optic cable and the at least one second sub-distribution fiber optic cable are arranged in end-to-end relation. The system may also or alternately include a similar lateral sub-distribution system.

Abstract: Communications cables are provided which utilize a cable jacket, twisted pairs of insulated conductors of insulated conductors, and a spacer separating the twisted pairs of insulated conductors. The spacer extends within the cable jacket and has a longitudinally extending center portion and a plurality of wall portions radiating from the center portion thereby defining a plurality of compartments within the cable jacket. In various embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of wall portions include a plurality of radiating sections with varying geometric shapes. The twisted pairs of insulated conductors are disposed in the compartments which may reduce crosstalk in the communications cable.

Abstract: The present invention is a flexible low loss coaxial cable comprising a cylindrical plastic rod, an inner conductor surrounding the plastic rod, a dielectric layer surrounding the inner conductor, and a tubular metallic sheath closely surrounding the dielectric layer. The coaxial cable can further include a protective polymer jacket surrounding the sheath. The cylindrical plastic rod supports the inner conductor in bending and can be formed around a central structural member. The present invention also includes a method of making flexible coaxial cable.

Abstract: A communications cable comprises an elongate cable jacket having an internal cavity and a plurality of twisted pairs of insulated conductors disposed in the internal cavity of the cable jacket, each of the conductors being insulated with a polymeric layer. Each of the insulated conductors within each of the twisted pairs of conductors defines a twinning helix having a first rotative direction, and each of the twisted pairs defines a bunching helix having a second rotative direction, the second rotative direction being opposite that of the first rotative direction. In this configuration, the communications cable can provide acceptable crosstalk and attenuation performance, even with foamed insulators that have demonstrated unacceptable performance when twinned and bunched in the same rotative direction.

Abstract: A jumper coaxial cable assembly includes a jumper coaxial cable and at least one solder-type connector secured thereto. The cable may include an outer conductor, which, in turn, includes aluminum with a tin layer thereon. The tin layer permits an aluminum outer conductor to be used, yet facilitates soldering of the solder-type connector onto the outer conductor. The tin layer may be a tin alloy, such as a tin/lead alloy, for example. The outer conductor may have a continuous, non-braided, tubular shape, and the tin layer may extend continuously along an entire length of the outer conductor. The tin layer may be readily formed by tin plating during manufacturing of the jumper coaxial cable. The jumper coaxial cable assembly may be joined to a main coaxial cable and/or to electronic equipment.

Abstract: A method of making a coaxial cable includes forming a conductive tube and setting a settable material therein to define an inner conductor. Forming may include advancing a conductive strip and bending it into a tube having a longitudinal seam. The settable material may be dispensed onto the conductive strip continuously with the forming. Alternately, the settable material may be dispensed onto the conductive strip prior to advancing. The dispensing may use a puller cord as the settable material or carrying some or all of the settable material. The method may further include forming a dielectric layer surrounding the inner conductor, and forming an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric layer.

Abstract: The present invention is a connecting web for side-by-side cables that eliminates the need for the use of slitting tools. The present invention includes a first elongate cable, a second elongate cable in parallel spaced apart relation from said first elongate cable and a connecting web between the first elongate cable and the second elongate cable. The connecting web is connected to the first elongate cable along a first surface and to the second elongate cable along a second surface and is capable of being pulled away from the first elongate cable or the second elongate cable without leaving a residue of the connecting web on either cable that will prevent a connector or bulkhead grommet from properly sealing around the cables. Thus, the connecting web can be removed without damaging the cables to provide good connectorization between the side-by-side cables and other cables.

Abstract: The present invention is a corrosion-protected cable, a method of making a corrosion-inhibiting cable, and a corrosion-inhibiting composition. The corrosion-inhibiting composition includes a water-insoluble corrosion-inhibiting compound dispersed in an oil, and a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of propylene based glycol ethers, propylene based glycol ether acetates, ethylene based glycol ethers and ethylene based glycol ether acetates. The corrosion-inhibiting composition is preferably applied to the outer conductor of the coaxial cable, e.g., by wiping or by immersion, and heated to provide a corrosion-inhibiting coating that is not tacky or greasy.

Abstract: A jumper coaxial cable assembly includes a jumper coaxial cable and at least one solder-type connector secured thereto. The cable may include an outer conductor, which, in turn, includes aluminum with a tin layer thereon. The tin layer permits an aluminum outer conductor to be used, yet facilitates soldering of the solder-type connector onto the outer conductor. The tin layer may be a tin alloy, such as a tin/lead alloy, for example. The outer conductor may have a continuous, non-braided, tubular shape, and the tin layer may extend continuously along an entire length of the outer conductor. The tin layer may be readily formed by tin plating during manufacturing of the jumper coaxial cable. The jumper coaxial cable assembly may be joined to a main coaxial cable and/or to electronic equipment.

Abstract: A jumper coaxial cable assembly includes a jumper coaxial cable and at least one solder-type connector secured thereto. The cable may include an outer conductor, which, in turn, includes aluminum with a tin layer thereon. The tin layer permits an aluminum outer conductor to be used, yet facilitates soldering of the solder-type connector onto the outer conductor. The tin layer may be a tin alloy, such as a tin/lead alloy, for example. The outer conductor may have a continuous, non-braided, tubular shape, and the tin layer may extend continuously along an entire length of the outer conductor. The tin layer may be readily formed by tin plating during manufacturing of the jumper coaxial cable. The jumper coaxial cable assembly may be joined to a main coaxial cable and/or to electronic equipment.

Abstract: The present invention is a corrosion-protected cable, a method of making a corrosion-inhibiting cable, and a corrosion-inhibiting composition. The corrosion-inhibiting composition includes a water-insoluble corrosion-inhibiting compound dispersed in an oil, and a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of propylene based glycol ethers, propylene based glycol ether acetates, ethylene based glycol ethers and ethylene based glycol ether acetates. The corrosion-inhibiting composition is preferably applied to the outer conductor of the coaxial cable, e.g., by wiping or by immersion, and heated to provide a corrosion-inhibiting coating that is not tacky or greasy.

Abstract: The present invention is a toneable conduit that can transmit a signal and that can therefore be readily detected by toning equipment. In addition, the conduit of the invention can be readily coupled with other conduit to provide extended lengths of conduit. The toneable conduit includes an elongate polymeric tube having a wall with an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a predetermined wall thickness. A channel preferably extends longitudinally within the wall of the elongate polymeric tube and a stabilizing rib extends longitudinally along the interior surface of the wall of the elongate polymeric tube and is located radially inward from the channel. A continuous wire is coincident with the channel in the elongate polymeric tube and is preferably coated with a coating composition that prevents the wire from adhering to the polymer melt used to form the elongate polymeric tube.

Abstract: The present invention is a toneable conduit that can transmit a signal and that can therefore be readily detected by toning equipment. In addition, the conduit of the invention can be readily coupled with other conduit to provide extended lengths of conduit. The toneable conduit includes an elongate polymeric tube having a wall with an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a predetermined wall thickness. A channel extends longitudinally within the wall of the elongate polymeric tube and a stabilizing rib extends longitudinally along the interior surface of the wall of the elongate polymeric tube and is located radially inward from the channel. A continuous, coated, high elongation wire is coincident with the channel in the elongate polymeric tube and is coated with a coating composition that prevents the wire from adhering to the polymer melt used to form the elongate polymeric tube.

Abstract: The present invention is a non-continuous connecting web for side-by-side elongate cables that eliminates the need to use slitting tools or to remove the connecting web when the cables are connectorized or fitted to a bulkhead grommet. In particular, the connecting web includes intermittent gaps and the cables can be severed within the intermittent gaps to allow the cables to be attached to a connector or to a bulkhead grommet. The present invention also includes methods of connecting cables using the non-continuous connecting web of the invention and methods of producing a communications cable include the non-continuous connecting web of the invention.

Abstract: A hanger for mounting a cable to a support structure includes a flexible resilient unitary metallic strip. The strip has a medial portion shaped in a generally circular configuration about a longitudinal axis to form a cable holding section defining a longitudinally extending passageway for receiving and at least partially surrounding the cable. The strip has attachment legs extending from opposite ends of the medial portion in opposing spaced apart relation to one another generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The attachment legs are configured for being inserted into an installation opening. The cable holding section includes a first circumferentially extending slot extending at least partially around the circumferential extent of the passageway, and a pair of second circumferentially extending slots formed in the cable holding section on opposite sides of the first slot.

Abstract: The present invention is a low cost coaxial drop cable having excellent flexibility and shielding coverage. The shielded coaxial cable of the invention includes an elongate center conductor, a dielectric layer surrounding the center conductor, an electrically conductive shield surrounding the dielectric layer, a first plurality of elongate wires surrounding the electrically conductive shield, and a protective jacket surrounding the plurality of elongate wires. The elongate wires have an elliptical cross section with a major axis to minor axis ratio of from greater than 1:1 to less than 5:1. The present invention further includes a method of making the coaxial cable of the invention.