Got a computer-related question, or a better answer to a previous query?
Send it to The Query Column by mail, e-mail (question@cj.gol.com), or fax
(03-3447-4925).
Wiring for Data
by Thomas Caldwell
Another headache for the editor. This time, it was moving from the old,
dilapidated, crudded-out hole of a structure in which the company I work
for was located, to a brand new, high-tech, state-of-the-art office building
-- one that (hopefully) will survive the next "Big One" earthquake.
Again, I missed the deadline. But it gave me far more interesting things
to talk about in this month's column.
Getting wired
Next to an earthquake, moving to a new office is a great way to clean out
all the old wiring, cabling, and antique equipment that has a way of being
pushed everywhere but out the door. (Dot matrix printers and short, stubby
secretarial chairs are the worst offenders.) But when one has to replace
all those old kilometers of wire with new kilometers of wire, where does
one go in the Tokyo area for the best selection?
In Akihabara, there is a small shop on the west side of the main drag, directly
underneath the Sobu Line train bridge (across the street from the train
station/component arcade complex). The place is called Oyaide Denki (headquarters
phone 03-5684-2151, fax 03-5684-2150). This store stocks almost every type
of cable imaginable, in almost any length. The salespeople know their stuff,
and the store has been in business for over 40 years (Japanese language
only).
Satellite data feeds
Receiving computer data from overseas via satellite is becoming more and
more popular as satellite channels come down in price. If your office has
a roof with a clear view of the southern horizon, and you are spending a
fortune on receiving regular data over a long-distance land line, you might
look into an orbital solution.
In an upcoming column, I'll list the different satellite companies and how
they compare for price and service. If your company already has a satellite
frequency it can tune into, though, here are some tips on setting up your
very own "earth station."
First, make sure that the signal can reach your dish without interference.
This requires a team of people sitting on your roof with equipment designed
to pick up any problems with reception for an extended period of time. The
standard in Tokyo is for someone to monitor the signal for an entire day,
but this is not always sufficient. Experts tell me that an entire month
of testing is optimal (and very, very expensive), but two or three days
should be sufficient. Select a weekday plus a Saturday.
Don't have your site tested just on a Sunday. Electromagnetic interference
that can screw-up a signal is always lower on weekends, because most of
the offices are closed. (One horror story of a weekend test concerns a company
that spent a fortune on setting their system up only to then discover the
office on the top floor had equipment that screwed up their signal.)
Also, make sure that the engineers who test your roof use the exact same
receiver you plan on setting up in your office. A simple signal analyzer
is not always 100% accurate with weaker signals. The company you hire to
install the satellite may insist this isn't necessary (it's more work for
them to lug the thing up to the roof), but absolutely insist on it. It's
your money and -- if the thing doesn't work -- your neck.
Putting a dish on your roof or your balcony technically is not very difficult
-- provided it is a small one. But many of the frequencies used for data
communications require a dish about 1.8 meters in diameter. This larger
size requires more room to install, and a very strong mount to withstand
typhoon-force winds. It is legal in Japan to install it yourself -- but
if it blows off and kills someone, you are responsible. Companies that specialize
in putting up dish antennas carry special liability insurance, so it is
best to let them take the risk.
The other thing to make sure of is that the cabling is done right. Many
of the engineers I have spoken to insist on using at least one-grade higher
than the recommended specifications (most companies in Japan do this anyway)
because of the amount of interference in major Japanese cities. The cable
from the roof to your system should be as short as possible -- and never
run it down the side of a building. The antenna cable should be run down
a duct that doesn't contain any power cables.
There are several good companies out there that can get you into the space
age. One I can recommend that can do everything from A to Z when it comes
to satellite antenna installation is Yokohama-based Sagikyo Corporation
(phone 045-932-0255, fax 045-933-5380). They do a lot of work with foreign
companies and have a native English-speaking engineer named Stephen Poole
who knows how to get things done quickly in regulation-happy Japan.ç
Thomas Caldwell @ Shinjuku West, Tokyo
Freelance writer and radio journalist
caldwell@gol.com
http://www2.gol.com/users/caldwell
(c) Copyright 1996 by Computing Japan magazine