trade comment


There’s something in the air… CAI senior executive Tim Jenks looks at how the signal distribution industry is attempting to maintain cable standards within a price driven economy


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round-the-clock news appears to have latched on to a building recovery that promises so much


for those at the sharp end of service provision in new build homes and offices. When it comes to delivering digital audio visual around a building – from the individual home to a multi-dwelling block containing hundreds of homes – our scariest confrontation is the cable that’s been plumbed in at first fix. The analogue TV world up to the year 2000


forgave us a million sins. The UK atmosphere was alive with signal that swamped many a metropolis to the end that the cheapest UHF TV aerial fed into the cheapest coaxial would deliver a working result at the TV


set. Sky’s early adoption of digital satellite delivery then uncovered some major misdemeanours. The obvious one was the loss of signal that occurred on cheap coaxial cable when relaying high frequency satellite channels over longer distances. The other cause of trouble was ingress of unwanted signals into cable that destroyed the wanted signal. For Sky to gain its foothold in the UK TV market, a keen satellite installation price was paramount. The usual price-cutting followed and with prices driven downwards, corners were cut on installation material, cable proving a major saving as copper prices began to soar on the continental markets and cheap substitutes sourced. Failures and call- backs became significant.


Keep on running


Stay fit and raise funds for those in need, says the Electrical Industries Charity


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pring is in the air so why not put a spring in your step by taking part in a sponsored run for the Electrical


Industries Charity. The Charity has joined forces with www.


runforcharity.com to give the electrical industry access to a wide range of running events which include the Milton Keynes half marathon, The Mudnificent Seven as well as a number of fun runs and 5K races across the UK. Running is a fabulous way to stay in shape


and keep fit and signing up to a sponsored run to raise funds on behalf of your industry charity gives you a great reason to stick to your training plan.


Operations manager Jill Nadolski says:


“We’re delighted to be able to offer this great opportunity to take part in a wide range of charity running events. Millions of pounds are raised every year by charity runners and by taking part in just one event you can make


a big difference to the lives of people in our industry when they need assistance. “Whether you’re a complete beginner,


returning to running after a break or a seasoned racer you will find plenty of events to choose from so why not pick an event and start your run for charity journey today.” Whether you fancy taking part in a half marathon or a more leisurely 5K, sign up for an event now at www.runforcharity.com and put your training plan into action. www.electricalcharity.org


•The Electrical Industries Charity is the national charity for the electrical, electronics and energy industries. It aims to look after people from these industries whenever they or their families need help with life’s challenges


In collaboration with the broadcasters


- BSkyB and the then incumbent of digital terrestrial TV, ONdigital - the CAI set about contriving a certification scheme that would set a benchmark for coaxial cable feeders used in TV and radio signal distribution. Failure in the digital home could be combated by the use of quality cable feeds. The resultant ‘CAI Benchmark’ covered three different gauges of coaxial. The common single dwelling aerial feeds which had a centre feed over 1mm, the 1.25mm intermediate feeds and the 1.75mm long- distance trunk feeds for large commercial systems. The certification and specification for the benchmark was based on British and European Standards, ensuring a robust screening efficiency and ability to carry fault current for providing a safety mechanism. Over 15 years later we are now looking to


make the CAI Cable Benchmark a European standard in its own right. The necessity to provide a safety mechanism on cabled networks which link homes together is a commandment found in CENELEC standards. The outer braid of the coax is bonded to the building earth, transferring nasty currents to earth and operating a trip that cuts off the power. A cable of integrity is required to deliver the fault current necessary to operate the mechanism. This is built into the CAI certification specification. The switch to digital triggered the move


to benchmarking of TV antennas and the advance of mobile broadband drives it on further. The ingress of powerful mobile transmission makes protection of existing signals being networked even more demanding. The electrical industry - both hard wiring for data delivery and the retail sector of consumer electronics - need to be very mindful of the demands our new internet based environment is bringing. Lay the cheapest feeders you can buy and you are buying into aggravation beyond measure. ‘Buy cheap, buy twice’ - so the saying goes.


Better still heed the words of John Ruskin: “There is nothing in this world that some man cannot make worse and sell a little cheaper and the people who buy on price are that man’s lawful prey.”


March 2015 www.innovativeelectricalretailing.co.uk | 17


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