TABLE OF CONTENTS There is very small chance that a microwave engineer working on the design and deployment of a microwave network will get involved in the details of the metallic or fiber-optic cable installation. Microwave engineer may be involved in routing of the coax cable connecting outdoor and indoor units of the split-configuration microwave radio. In addition, interfacing the existing metallic or fiber-optic network at the switch office location and hub sites is very likely. Therefore, the microwave engineer will require some basic knowledge of practical issues involved in this connection, such as bringing cables into the building, terminating them, and interfacing (and cross-connecting) other types of equipment. The National Electrical Code (NEC) identifies three different intrabuilding regions with regard to cable placement.
Plenums. A plenum area is a compartment or chamber that forms part of the air distribution system and to which one or more air ducts are connected. A room with a primary function of air handling is also considered to be a plenum space.
Risers. A riser is an opening or shaft through which cable may pass vertically from floor to floor in a building.
General-purpose areas. These are other indoor areas that are not plenums or risers.
Cables are specifically listed for use in each of these areas. The NEC allows the use of a cable with a more stringent listing to be used in an application requiring a lesser listing, but not the other way around. When a cable...
