Thoughts on dozer size and configuration to pull a 3" for fiber optic installation.

KSSS said: Thats crazy, I was stationed in Adak in the late 80's in the Marine Corps. Why would they waste the money putting fiber in Adak? Click to expand... Could be, that future usage 'might' require bandwidth that isn't dependent on systems that can and do fail. Only physical access can inhibit a cable and it has ultimate security potential where we cannot predict future population demand technologies and bandwidth needs. Thirty five years ago, Australia had a fully funded blue print to replace all copper with Fibre to the premise, then politics intervened, fattened up the Government entity (Telecom) and sold it off, naturally the schematic went in the bin and the money to the new shareholders'. We have never recovered from this mess, rural / regional IP is pathetic, although we do have our own National satellite (Skymuster) which has been incredible, but now its near EOL (2031). In '85 the copper came through here and the team had two D7G's with the deep shank, power tilt bull blades and two cable drums on the front for the second machine, unfortunately I didn't have a camera to share an image now. The copper install cost $5,500 (≅$3,850 USD) per kilometre fully installed forty one years ago, by 2005 we should have all had Fibre, but alas NO.

CM1995 said: Starlink? We have one for camping and used it this weekend on the highest point in AL. Cruising through the 'net and streaming TV. Click to expand... Yeah. I’m not sure how the telecom companies are going to stay in business. Musk has his Arctic satellites working pretty well

Coaldust said: Yeah. I’m not sure how the telecom companies are going to stay in business. Musk has his Arctic satellites working pretty well Click to expand... No cell phone service on Mt Cheaha where we were camping. Wife stuck the Star Link to the windshield as we trekked home and we had the net. Amazing technology.

CM1995 said: No cell phone service Click to expand... I like those places!

materthegreater said: I like those places! Click to expand... Certainly can understand that, however for those living in the 'digital divide' it isn't fun. We recently had cell outage early on Boxing day, later there was lightning and spot fires took co-ordinating when there was no cell to guide air, heavy plant and ground crews. This happens when a rush of new 'devices' hits the system and it falters due to "the high contention rate " (or congestion), which wireless / satellite technologies will suffer from over time.

LMS Construction was a company specialized in phone lines. To my knowlege they worked for one small phone company. Their along the highway work was multi pair wire cable that was armored. Tractor was a TD15 Dresser, I don't remember the letter suffix. It had a massive ?Broan? plow. I don't believe it vibrated. The owner died, the company closed. Years later, VTEL replaced all the wire with fiber. I believe all that was done with directional boring.

As kid a long time ago I remember a crew pulling a pretty good sized cable down the railroad ROW. IIRC they had a D8 plowing with a D8 pulling it. This was the early '80's.