FXL: Tough Enough for the Harshest Desert Yet Flexible for Every Bend - Riyadh Saudi Arabia

In 2011, a major supplier of mobile communications technology in the growing Riyadh market needed a feeder cable solution for monopole transmission towers that could stand up to this punishing environment— while providing the flexibility during installation to make critical bends between the monopole and a nearby shelter.

This job needed a better, reliable option suited to the harsh environment and complex bends it required—particularly in the critical bending points between the base of the tower, around the cable tray and into the adjoining shelter. The telecommunications company found the answer in HELIAX®   FXL smoothwall cable from CommScope. With over 100 million feet (30 million meters) deployed worldwide under some of the roughest conditions, it was easy to see why FXL was the strategic choice.

The right cable solution for extreme environments

Harsh conditions and multiple difficult bends called for a better feeder cable solution. HELIAX®   FXL smoothwall from CommScope met every challenge.

Fully Triple Bonded  for Superior Performance, Easy Handling

The patented design of HELIAX  FXL makes it truly distinct from traditional corrugated

copper cable—and the perfect alternative for this application. Its smoothwall outer conductor design permits full triple bonding throughout the cable for enhanced performance and weatherproofing characteristics.

FXL features a unique triple-bonded smoothwall construction with a filled center conductor resulting in outstanding electrical and PIM performance even in tight bends.

This unique design makes HELIAX  FXL virtually impervious to water migration and offers enhanced resistance to wind, abrasive sands and vibration. Plus, its smoothwall construction prevents performance degrading damage during installation, so users can often specify smaller cable diameters—as much as 30%  smaller— and still ensure superior performance and reduced attenuation. That option makes HELIAX  FXL less expensive to install, lighter to transport and easier to handle than traditional corrugated copper cables.

HELIAX FXL gets the job done

HELIAX FXL’s smoothwall design prevents kinking during install and bends easily, precisely and permanently—so smaller, less expensive diameters still get the job done.

Flexible Enough to Bend, Rigid Enough to Hold Shape

The real test arose in the way HELIAX  FXL handled three bends between the base of the monopole and the adjacent shelter. The tight turns in this installation required a solution that would bend easily and hold its shape without assistance.

CommScope technicians installed six FXL-1873 (1-5/8”) smoothwall cables. After adding connectors to the cables, the installers successfully made the three critical bends without difficulty using standard installation and automated cable preparation tools:

1. From the monopole onto the cable tray

2. Around a 90-degree turn on the cable tray

3. FXL-1873 (1-5/8”) cable exiting the monopole onto the cable tray and into the shelter 

CommScope hoisting grips prevented any slippage during the process, assuring a trouble-free installation.

HELIAX FXL competitive advantage

In this installation alone, the customer saved 50% and can realize a 9% improvement in performance over a similar copper installation.

A Smooth Advantage in a Growing Market

• Engineered for low-PIM performance
• Fully bonded  design provides excellent weather resistance
• Up to 30% lighter, three times stronger and 200% more crush resistant than copper  corrugated cables.
• Easy to handle and 70% more stretch resistant than corrugated cable.
• Smoothwall construction holds desired bend shapes without assistance.

The result is a feeder cable assembly ready for anything the desert throws its way with reduced future maintenance costs. CommScope’s telecommunications customer saved 40% on the installation compared to the material cost and added labor of using traditional copper cable. Plus, the unique design of HELIAX  FXL means a potential performance improvement of up to 9%.

Now this telecommunication company is ready to meet increased demand in Riyadh and ensure the performance of its tower installation, while CommScope is proud to play an important role in the success of another wireless network story.

 

Your success is our story

As a trusted resource and partner around the world, we’re invested in you: your people, your networks, your success. It inspires us to build relationships and infrastructure…connect people and technologies across protocols, oceans, and time zones…and share what we learn along the way. We’ll never stop connecting and evolving networks for the business of life at home, at work, and on the go. This is our promise to you.

 Original Source