wavelengths magazine

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Pub 2010-73D.indd 1 10-05-14 15:01

WaveLengths 1

6

24 Installing CommunicationsCable in Conduit

Introduction to Video in the Enterprise

20

30 Optical Spectrum Analyzers in Next-Gen Networks

Contents

Editor’s Intro - Packin’ HeatTimes - and Technology - Have Changed

Product Tool Box

COMic Relief

Market Perspectives

Tech Tips

Newest ‘Paper View’ Videos

2

36

37

38

28

Departments

Fiber Optic Connector Face-OffWhat are the best connectors and termination methods available today? See featured articles on pages 6 and 16.

Choosing Fiber Optic Connectors for Target Applications

Pros and Cons of Optical Fiber Termination Methods

40

16

Learn the pros/cons of fi ber opticconnectors, page 12

Does High Back Refl ection Infl uence Bandwidth in 10 Gig Systems? 34

Copyright Notice: Advertisements, guest articles and cartoons are protected by copyright ofindividual contributors. All other material © 2011 Fiber Instrument Sales, Inc. All rights reserved.

Editor’s Letter

WaveLengths Staff

Executive Editor

Shawn Lawlor

Editor-In-Chief

Charles Carino

Graphic Designer

Jessica Natale

Webmaster

Brian Smith

Distribution Coordinator

Amy Howlett

Technical Advisors

Jim Inman

Ray Wertz

Joe Ceklovsky

John Bruno

FIS Publishingwww.fispublishing.com1.800.5000.FIS(347)

161 Clear Rd Oriskany, NY 13424

2 FIBER OPTICS COPPER WIRELESS www.wavelengthsmagazine.com 3

Packin’ HeatHot New Fiber Tools

Whenever there’s a copper wire that needs terminating, I’m the guy that can take care of business. I just strap on a 45 (RJ-45 connector), give the ol’ crimper a squeeze, and bang I’m done. No pussy footing around. We’re talkin’ copper here.

Fiber, on the other hand, is a whole ‘nother matter. For one thing, you have to decide the best way to attach the connector to the fi eld fi ber. In the old days, your only option was to glue the connector to the fi ber using messy epoxy. I’d rather change a diaper.

All That Has Changed

Check out the info on Splice-On Connectors (SOCs) on page 15. This new type of connector makes terminating fi ber almost as easy as copper. Only instead of smushing the connector assembly with a crimper, you zap it with a fusion splicer to weld the fi ber to the connector. It’s as easy as that.

Some of the new SOC-capable fusion splicers, such as the Fitel S123C, are small enough to fi t in a tool belt so they’re ready for action when needed.

Armed with these new tools, I now enjoy terminating fi ber. With my trusty fusion splicer at my side, I’m packin’ heat.

1 - 800 - 5000 - FIS www.fiberinstrumentsales.com

the new Cheetah SOC makes termination elementary

To Find out how the Cheetah SOC can earn you a free fusion spl icer visit :

www.fiberinstrumentsales.com/cheetahsoc

Magazine

Fluke Networks offers network professionals solutions that span network deployment, network performance management and troubleshooting, as well as security and performance monitoring.

Fluke Networks provides innovative solutions for the installation and certifi cation, testing, monitoring and analysis of copper, fi ber and wireless networks used by enterprises and telecommunications carriers. The company's award-winning solutions provide network installers, owners, and maintainers with superior vision, combining speed, accuracy and ease of use to optimize network performance.

Headquartered in Everett, Washington, Fluke Networks has over 600 employees worldwide and distributes its products in more than 50 countries and are used by 98 of the Fortune 100 companies.

Contributors

4 FIBER OPTICS COPPER WIRELESS

Craig Fleming is a senior systems engineer for Tyco Electronics

BICSI is a professional association supporting the information technology systems (ITS) industry. ITS covers the spectrum of voice, data, electronic safety & security, and audio & video technologies. It encompasses the design, integration and installation of pathways, spaces, fi ber-and copper-based distribution systems, wireless-based systems and infrastructure that supports the transportation of information and associated signaling between and among communications and information gathering devices.

Our Inventory... Our Inventory... Our Inventory... Our Inventory... Our Inventory... Our Inventory...

Your Warehouse!Your Warehouse!Your Warehouse!

1-800-5000-FISwww.fi berinstrumentsales.com

We hold inventory so you don’t have to. FIS stocks over 7,000 products in order to meet any need and ships over 90% of those products same day.

Justin AngletonAccount Executive

EXFO is a leading provider of test and service assurance solutions for network operators and equipment manufacturers in the global telecommunications industry. The Telecom Division, which accounts for almost 90% of the company’s revenues, offers a wide range of innovative solutions to access optical networks, from the core to access, as well as next-generation IP infrastructures and related triple-play services.

American Polywater Corporation has an extensive product line that includes twenty different formulations of pulling lubes for every type of wire and cable imaginable, as well as a broad range of cleaners and other specialty chemicals. In addition to serving the communications and power utility markets, the company’s products are sold to the general electrical trades, CATV, MRO industrial, and data communications markets in over fi fty countries worldwide.

American

CorporationPolywater®

How to Choose Fiber Optic Connectors For Target Applications

Randomly choosing fi ber optic connectors is a lot like throwing darts blindfolded. You’ll miss the requirements of your target application if you leave things to chance.

This article will help you zero in on what you need to know.

By Charles CarinoEditor-In-Chief

www.wavelengthsmagazine.com 7

Optical Loss

A Critical ConsiderationWhether a fi ber optic connector must interface with a simple transmitter or the latest ROADM multiplexer, the connector interface is of critical importance because of its unique loss characteristics. To illustrate this point, consider the difference between fi ber optic vs. copper wire connectors.

Power loss for both types of connectors are stated in decibels (dB). That’s about where the similarity ends, because copper connectors and fi ber optic connectors have opposite loss characteristics.

Copper connectors produce negligible loss when compared to losses produced by the copper cabling to which they are attached. With fi ber, the exact opposite is true. In a typical fi ber optic system, fi ber optic connectors produce far more loss than that produced by the fi ber optic cabling. That’s why careful connector selection, particularly in regard to a connector’s loss specifi cations, is so crucial.

Other considerations that affect connector loss involve how the connector is joined to the fi eld fi ber, and how meticulously fi ber optic connectors are cleaned and inspected prior to coupling.


Optic Target ApplicationsTarget ApplicationsTarget Applicationsarget Applications

FIBER OPTICS COPPER WIRELESS FIBER OPTICS COPPER WIRELESS

Narrowing the FieldThere are nearly 100 styles of fiber optic connectors, so choosing the right connector for a particular application might seem daunting. However, this connector guide simplifies the selection process by focusing on the most useful and popular connector styles currently available. A companion article on page 16 will also help you choose the right termination method.

In many cases, the types of connectors that you must use are dictated to you, especially if you are upgrading a legacy system. In that case, you may have to use the same type of connectors that are already in place in order to accommodate existing equipment and cabling. Even so, it’s a good idea to know the loss characteristics and other attributes of the connectors that you are working with. For example, a connector’s “insertion loss” specification relates to optical loss that results from differences in concentricity, endface geometry or other irregularities. Knowing the connector’s insertion loss specification can be useful when testing.

In some cases, such as a new install, connectors may or may not be specified. If connectors are not specified, you will likely be presented with a loss budget for cabling and connectors that you must adhere too. In this case, you have to give some serious thought to selecting the best connectors for the job. You also have to take into account the connector termination method (e.g. fusion splicing, epoxy, or mechanical termination) because this can have a significant impact on optical loss and back reflection characteristics.

Choosing The Right ConnectorThe following are considerations for selecting fiber optic connectors.

Talk Like a Pirate....ARRG!ARRG stands for Alignment, Ruggedness, Repeatability and Geometry. When choosing connectors, this memory aid will help you recall desirable connector qualities. The following attributes apply to most connector styles.

Alignment - A quality connector will keep fiber properly aligned with the fiber to which it is mated. Proper alignment is especially critical for singlemode fibers which have a very small fiber core through which signals are transmitted. Always buy quality connectors and mating sleeves from recognized manufacturers to ensure that connectors are manufactured to high tolerances and provide optimal alignment.

*It is possible to be within the loss budget but still have connections that produce unacceptable levels of back reflection. An Optical Return Loss (ORL) Test Set can be used to measure the level of back reflection. Also, an OTDR is useful for identifying the location of high-ORL events such as defective splices and connectors so that corrective action can be taken.


Ruggedness - Will connectors be installed in high-traffic areas? If so, a good choice are epoxy-style connectors, which have the fiber bonded to the ferrule. This resists optical disconnects cause by tugging, temperature changes and other external forces. As added protection, consider a spring-loaded “non-optical disconnect” connector, such as the SC connector, which is specifically designed to prevent optical disconnects. For harsh outdoor environments, “hardened” connectors are available.

Repeatability - Will there be a number of occasions when your connector will be disconnected? If so, consider using a connector that is known for good “repeatability.” The term repeatability refers to the performance of any class of connectors that are known to provide consistent loss performance that varies by a relatively narrow margin. Such connectors are typically keyed,or contain a keyway feature that prevents endface rotation. Keyed connectors ensure that connectors that are decoupled from one another maintain the same endface orientation when they are recoupled, resulting in connector losses that are predictable, consistent and “repeatable”.

Geometry - The shape of the connector endface has a major affect on interface loss. For example, PC connectors have ferrules that have a domed endface surface to insure contact at the core of two mated fibers, which helps to reduce insertion loss. Other connectors have an angled endface (APC connectors) which helps to minimize back reflection by directing endface reflections away from the core of the fiber. Knowing how endface geometry affects loss is important when selecting connectors, especially if you plan to polish your own connectors. Polishing procedures vary for different endface geometries.

Now that you know the general qualities you are looking for, it’s time to choose a specific connector for your application. The following approach uses a simple 3-step process of elimination.

Step 1. Weed Out Connectors that Can’t Meet the Loss Budget - Loss budgets will usually have connectors and cabling losses broken out separately from the rest of the network. Except for very long fiber links, losses for fiber optic cabling are usually negligible, so you’ll want to focus most of your attention on choosing the right connectors. Begin by narrowing down your possible connector choices to those that can stay within the loss budget of your application. For each connector being considered, simply multiply the number of connectors

required by the dB loss specified for that type of connector. Now add cabling loss to that number. If you are still within loss budget, great. You can proceed to Step 2.*

Step 2. Consider Installation Time, Material Costs, and Skills Required - After narrowing your list down in Step 1, it’s time to consider the costs associated with each type of connector, including installation skills required. Will you have to put your best installers on the job?(See examples at right)

Step 3. Your Own Preferences - After completing Steps 1 and 2, let’s say that you have narrowed your connector list down to two possibilities. Now you can use your own personal preference to make the final decision. Simply choose the connector for which you are most comfortable and proficient. This will increase your speed and productivity on the jobsite and helps to ensure quality terminations. Tip: When trying new connectors and termination procedures for the first time, do enough of them in the shop to become proficient. Experimenting in the field is never a good idea.

Termination Options

Interface Loss + ‘Termination Loss’ = True Connector Loss

Important Note - The method that you choose to terminate fiber has greater impact on a loss budget than your choice of connector!

The connector charts on the following pages show dB values in terms of interface loss (i.e. loss at the connector endface). For a true estimate of connector loss you must add to that value the additional loss produced by the termination method that you choose, which for the sake of discussion we will call “termination loss.” This additional loss occurs at the point where the connector is joined to the field fiber. (See related article on page 16)

Most fiber optic connectors fall into one of two categories; they are either “quick termination connectors” or they are “epoxy style” connectors.

Quick Term vs. Epoxy ConnectorsWhich is Better?Quick Termination Connectors and Epoxy Connectors each have their own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the application and options you choose.

Connectorization Examples

Quick Term Connector Options“Quick-term” connectors provide a “quick” way to terminate fiber. These connectors are available with factory-polished endfaces, so no time is required for field polishing. Also, they do not require time to cure epoxy.

Option 1: ‘Mechanical’ Quick-term Connector 2-3

Option 2: ‘Splice-On’ Connector (SOC) 2-3

Legacy technology contains three mechanical connections, resulting in relatively higher loss.

New technology reduces mechanical connection to only one, minimizing loss and back reflection.

Option 2: Factory Polished Connector 3

Only one mechanical connection(lowest loss)

Option 1: Field Polished Connector 5

Only one mechanical connection,minimizing loss and back reflection. (Fusion spliced to field fiber)

Quick-Term Connector Options

Epoxy Connector Options

Skill Level Required(1= Lowest; 5=Highest)

See page 10 for details

Skill Level


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Quick term connectors offer two main options:

Quick Term Option 1 – “Mechanical” Quick-Term ConnectorMost “mechanical” quick-term connectors use a mechanical device to hold or “splice” the fi eld fi ber to a fi ber stub within the connector body. These connectors are great when... • Speed is of the essence, e.g. emergency restoration• Installers do not have the skill or experience to assemble and hand polish connectors in the fi eld• Fusion splice connectors and equipment are not available

Examples of “mechanical” quick-term connectors are:• UNICAM Pretium from Corning• Bobtail Connector from Fiber Instrument Sales (FIS)• Fast Connectors from AFL• Mechanical Field Connectors from Sumitomo

Quick-Term Option 2 – “Splice-On” Connector (SOC)Similar to “mechanical” quick term connectors, SOC quick-terms have a factory-polished fi ber stub within the connector body. The difference is that SOC’s use a fusion splicing process to join the fi ber stub to the fi eld fi ber instead of mechanical means, resulting in lower loss.

SOC’s typically have lower loss than fi eld-polished epoxy connectors. The factory polish on an SOC is of higher precision than that which can be achieved by hand polishing in the fi eld.

Insertion Loss Comparison (mated pair):SOC Connector: Mating Loss .4 dB + Per Splice Loss<.05 dB = .5 dB total loss

Field-Polished Connector: Mating Loss .75 dB + 0 Splice Loss = .75 dB total loss

Back refl ection considerations are greatly improved by factory UPC polish (-55 dB) versus typical hand-polish PC (-40 dB).

Using fusion spliced APC connectors provide a distinct advantage of -65 dB back refl ection, ensuring high data-rate performance. Field mechanical APC mated connectors require a cleaved angle of 8 degrees that increases insertion loss but will reduce the back refl ection.

SOC’s also provide a signifi cant advantage over another “fusion-splice” termination method, namely connectorized pigtails. Unlike pigtails, SOC’s do not require an external splice protection sleeve or splice tray, which saves rack space.

SOC’s are available from a various manufacturers including: • Fiber Instrument Sales (Cheetah SOC)

• AFL (FuseConnect )• Sumitomo (Lynx 2)• Fitel and Seikoh Giken also offer SOC’s

Epoxy Connector OptionsWith epoxy connecters, the fi eld fi ber is permanently bonded to the connector ferrule, providing a very reliable connection. Epoxy connectors offer two options:

Epoxy Option 1 - Field Polished ConnectorWith this termination method, the fi eld fi ber is routed through the connector body and ferrule, then fi eld-polished as part of the ferrule endface. Since no splicing is involved, there is no “termination” loss as defi ned earlier.

Advantages:• Capable of low insertion loss and low back refl ection• High quality and reliability when installed properly• Lowest cost per connector

Disadvantages: • Special tools for curing epoxy/hand- polishing• Long assembly time (including epoxy cure time)• High level of training is required• Precise endface geometry diffi cult by hand polishing

Most fi eld-polished epoxy connectors use industry-standard epoxies. The 3M Hot Melt Connector uses a proprietary adhesive that does not require epoxy cure time.

Epoxy Option 2 – Factory Polished ConnectorEpoxy connectors can be purchased with factory-polished endfaces and are typically sold as...

Pre-terminated Cable Assemblies – Custom cable assemblies pre-terminated with connectors of your choice.Connectorized Pigtails – Factory-polished connectors can be purchased that have attached pigtails for splicing to the fi eld fi ber.

Advantages of Factory Polished Epoxy Connectors:• The precision endface fi nish can provide lower loss than that achieved by hand-polishing • Less training than for hand-polished connectors• Quick installation

Disadvantages:• More complicated cable management• Pre-polished connectors cost considerably more per unit are higher but labor costs are lower)• Connectorized pigtails have a higher equipment cost (a fusion splicer is required).

For additional information regarding termination options, see page 16. For details about popular fi ber optic connectors, see pages 12 thru 14.

than hand-polished connectors (materials costs

Most Popular Connector Styles

• Name: SC Connector• Mode: Singlemode and Multimode • Applications: Wide variety of singlemode applications especially datacom and telecom including premises installation. Often found in older corporate networks. It was designed to replace the ST connector. • Ferrule size: 2.5mm • Ferrule construction (typical): Pre-radiused zirconia• Connector body: Composite. Similar in appearance to LC connector, except the SC is larger. Color coded according to fi ber type; blue or green for singlemode, beige for multimode. • Styles available: Simplex and duplex • Latching mechanism: Push-pull, snap-in design • Optical loss: Insertion loss: SM 0.10 - 0.30 dB; MM 0.10 - 0.40 dB Repeatability: 0.20 dB • Meaning of name: Subscriber Connector, Square Connector or Standard Connector • Advantages: An excellent performer. Non-optical disconnect design (an advantage over the ST connector which the SC is replacing). Minimum back refl ection when ultra-polished. Push-pull design helps prevent endface damage during connection. Square shape allows connectors to be packed closely together. Can fi t into smaller spaces where the ST or FC cannot. The SC’s push-pull design allows quick patching of cables into rack or wall mounts. • Disadvantages: Smaller LC connectors are replacing SC connectors in high density applications where space is at a premium.

Fiber Optic ConnectorsFiber Optic ConnectorsFiber Optic Connectors

• Name: ST Connector

• Mode: Multimode and Singlemode

• Applications: The ST is an older style connector,

long the most popular connector for multimode

LANs, including campuses. Also popular for industrial

applications, security systems, CCTV and naval

applications. • Ferrule size: 2.5mm

• Ferrule construction: Most are ceramic; metal and

composite also available

• Connector body: Keyed metal body

• Reliability of the connector: Reliable and durable

fi eld installation. Allows installers to crimp the back of

the body directly onto the cable jacket and Kevlar® to

eliminate pull-away.

• Latching mechanism: Bayonet twist-lock

• Optical loss: Insertion loss: SM 0.10 - 0.30 dB; MM 0.10 - 0.40 dB

Repeatability: Typical singlemode: 0.40 dB;

multimode 0.20 dB• Meaning of name: ST (Straight Tip). Connector

sometimes referred to as BFOC (Bayonet Fiber Optical

Connector) • Introduced by: AT&T in the late 80s

• Termination tips: Take care that these spring-loaded

connectors seat properly when installed. Reconnect

them if experiencing high loss.

• Advantages: Easy to install and relatively inexpensive.

Keyed body helps keep mated fi bers in alignment when

they are coupled and decoupled.

• Disadvantages: Lacks the non-optical disconnect

feature. APC fi nish not possible. Installers may have

diffi culty grasping the ST retainer nut with their fi ngers

in applications where connectors are spaced closely

together. The ST is being replaced by more compact

Small Form Factor (SFF) connectors.

• Name: LC Connector

• Mode: Singlemode and Multimode

• Applications: System rack mounts and high density

applications involving large fi ber counts.

• Ferrule size: 1.25mm

• Ferrule construction (typical): Pre-radiused zirconia

• Connector body: Compact, Small Form Factor

(SFF) design • Styles available: Simplex and duplex

• Latching mechanism: Push and click

• Optical loss: Insertion Loss: SM 0.10 - 0.30 dB; MM 0.10 - 0.40 dB

Repeatability: 0.2 dB

• Introduced by: Lucent Technologies

• Termination tips: Easily terminated with a variety of

adhesives • Advantages: A solid performer, the LC has become

the Small Form Factor (SFF) connector of choice for

many singlemode applications. At half the size of

the ST, the LC is ideal for high-density applications.

Also, the duplex LC has the same small footprint as

a copper RJ-45. This is useful, for example, when

converting a copper LAN to a fi ber network since

fewer tools and adapters are required. Pull-resistant

“non-optical disconnect” design provides stability in

system rack mounts.

• Disadvantages: Some people with large fi ngers

may have diffi culty installing such a small connector.

• Name: FC Connector • Mode: Singlemode and Multimode • Applications: Datacom and Telecom. Popular for many years, the FC is being replaced by SCs and LCs. • Ferrule size: 2.5 mm • Ferrule construction: Available in zirconia or stainless alloy• Connector body: Keyed metal body• Reliability of the connector: Threaded coupling provides durable connections • Latching mechanism: Threaded, screw-on coupling • Optical loss: Insertion loss: SM 0.10 - 0.30 dB; MM 0.10 - 0.40 dBRepeatability 0.10 dB • Meaning of name: Fixed connection • Termination tips: Before tightening, check to see that the key is correctly aligned in the slot. • Advantages: Non-optical disconnect; low back refl ection. Good isolation from vibration due to fl oating ferrule design and threaded coupling mechanism. • Disadvantages: Care must be taken when inserting ferrule into receptacle due to risk of scratching the endface. This is of less concern with push-pull type connectors, such as the SC and LC, which are replacing the FC in many applications. Like the ST, installers may have diffi culty grasping the FC retainer nut with their fi ngers in applications where connectors are spaced closely together.


approach was much faster and required less skill. Some of the problems associated with this approach is that fusion-spliced pigtails require a protection sleeve, which typically has to be housed in a splice tray. This arrangement takes up a lot of rack space and otherwise complicates cable management.

SOC’s - Problems SolvedSOC’s provided a simple, elegant solution that solved all of these problems at once. Leading the pack of new SOC’s is the Cheetah, the industry’s top value in an SOC.

Splice Up Your LifeCheetah Splice-On Connector

A Low-Cost Solution

FIS Universal Splice HolderYou don’t necessarily have to buy a new fusion splicer to use Cheetah SOC’s. FIS offers a Universal Splice Holder that enables the Cheetah to be used with a variety of fusion splicers that have removable splice holders. If you already have a compatible splicer, this patent-pending device provides a low cost solution for you. Only $4.95.

Or, if you are in the market for a new fusion splicer, FIS offers SOC-compatible fusion splicers from leading manufacturers. For more information, contact your FIS Sales Representative, 1-800-500-0347 or visit www.fi berinstrumentsales.com.

• Name: SMA 905 & 906 Connectors

• Mode: Multimode

• Applications: Telecom multimode, industrial lasers,

military.• Ferrule Size: 3mm

• Ferrule construction: Stainless alloy or stainless

steel. SMA 906 has a stepped shaped ferrule and

is available as a keyed connector for spectrometer

application.

• Latching mechanism: Screw type

• Termination tips: When installing 906 SMA’s into 905

SMA mating sleeves, a 1/2 sleeve must be installed on

the 906 ferrule. The 1/2 sleeve is often provided with

connector purchase.

• Advantages: Commonly used on large-core fi bers.

• Disadvantages: Over-tightening might crush fi ber.

• Name: MU Connector

• Mode: Singlemode and Multimode

• Applications: High density applications, mostly

popular in Japan

• Ferrule size: 1.25mm

• Connector body: Small Form Factor, resembles a

miniature SC

• Advantages: Compact size for high density

applications

• Disadvantages: Not commonly found in the U.S.

• Name:• Mode:• Applications:

military.• Ferrule Size:

• steel. SMA 906 has a stepped shaped ferrule and

is available as a keyed connector for spectrometer

application.

• • SMA mating sleeves, a 1/2 sleeve must be installed on

the 906 ferrule. The 1/2 sleeve is often provided with

connector purchase.

• •

• Name: MT-RJ• Mode: Multimode • Applications: Backbone and horizontal duplex cabling systems, LANs and telecommunication systems • Ferrule construction: Composite, houses two fi bers • Connector body: Small Form Factor, available with or without alignment pins. The pinned version is used on patch panels for mating with non-pin connectors that are used on MT-RJ patch cords.• Styles available: Duplex; male and female versions• Latching mechanism: User-friendly RJ-45 type • Advantages: Smallest duplex connector available. • Disadvantages: Relatively diffi cult to terminate, being phased out in favor of LC.

• Name: MTP/MPO (See article on page 16)• Mode: Singlemode and Multimode• Applications: Used with ribbon cable. The MTP is ideal for high-density applications given its ability to quickly and reliably connect up to 24 fi bers. Four and eight fi ber MPT connectors also available. A version is available for distribution cable.• Ferrule construction: Singlemode ferrules are angled at 8 degrees. Composite body.• Optical loss: Typical Singlemode: 0.2 dB - 0.7 dB; Multimode: 0.2 dB - 0.5 dB• Advantages: Quick and reliable way to connect multiple fi bers. • Disadvantages: Damage to a single connector can potentially result in the loss of up to 24 fi ber connections. Polishing and inspection require special equipment and high skill level.

Other Connector Styles


Cheetah Video TagFor viewing instructions see pg. 40

Splice-On Connector

(Advertisement)

Splice-On ConnectorLess is MoreWhen the innovative Splice-On Connector (SOC) was introduced several years ago, it caused quite a buzz in the fi ber optics industry. Finally, there was a way to make fi ber optic termination quick, easy and simple. The concept was to use a fusion splicer to fuse the fi eld fi ber directly to a pre-polished fi ber stub inside the SOC connector. No muss, no fuss.

Advantages of SOC’s include:

• Quick fi ber termination• Simplifi ed cable management• Saves rack space – no splice trays required• No external splice protection sleeve required. SOC’s have a built-in sleeve.• Minimal training required

The Cheetah - Lean, Mean and AffordableBecause SOC’s are new, they haven’t yet benefi ted from production economies. As a result, most SOC’s are currently more expensive than other connector alternatives. The exception is the Cheetah Splice-On Connector from FIS which is available for as little as $5.95.

• Nineteen styles • Singlemode, multimode and 10 Gig OM3• Use on 900μm fi ber optic cable• Inexpensive Universal Holder accommodates a variety of fusion splicers including AFL, Sumitomo and Fitel. Fulfi lling a NeedPrior to SOC’s, there were two principal ways that installers could achieve low loss terminations in the fi eld and each of these methods had disadvantages.

Hand Polishing Connectors One of the fi rst approaches adopted by installers, which is still popular today, is to hand-polish epoxy style connectors in the fi eld. A drawback to this approach is that hand polishing connectors properly requires considerable time and training.

Fusion Splicing Connectorized PigtailsAs fusion splicers became more compact and affordable, installers took a shine to pre-polished connectors that could be purchased with factory installed pigtails. The pigtail enabled the installer to fusion-splice the connector to the fi eld fi ber. Compared to hand polishing connectors, this

By Craig Fleming, Senior Systems Engineer Tyco Electronics

Plug-and-play trunk cables are round 12-fiber cables that are preterminated in the factory with MPO connectors on both ends. These trunk cables are purchased in predetermined lengths and are typically easier to manage than traditional ribbon cables. They can be quickly connected to the MPO plug-and-play cassettes at the cross-connect or interconnect in the MDA, EDA, or other areas of the data center. This method eliminates the need for onsite optical fiber termination and splicing. Consequently, customers can rapidly complete optical fiber connections in high-density applications.

Advantages to plug-and-play MPO solutions include:• Reduced labor cost—Less time is required for plug-and-play installation versus splicing or field termination. Less expertise and resources are required of installation staff.• Enhanced performance—MPO connectors are factory-terminated and tested in a clean environment with comprehensive quality control processes and documented test results that correspond to serial numbers stamped on each assembly.• Easiest and fastest installation—MPO solutions offer the easiest and fastest installation because they are easily plugged in. MPO 12-fiber trunk cables are also more robust and easily pulled through pathways.• Better manageability and density—MPO cassettes offer the highest density for optical fiber connections, maximizing space savings in the data center. They are easily deployed in a cross-connect scenario for better cabling management.• More environmentally friendly—The use of plug-and-play MPO solutions eliminates the waste and consumable associated with splicing and field termination and requires less packaging material.• Better prepared for beyond 10-gigabit (Gb)—Speeds of 40 and 100 gigabit per second (Gbps) on multimode optical fiber will likely require parallel optical fibers where data is transmitted and received over multiple optical fibers. MPO connectors are more prepared for this technology because they already encompass multiple optical fibers.

Disadvantages to plug-and-play MPO solutions include:• Increased material cost—Plug-and-play MPO solutions are typically more expensive than other options.• Higher return loss and insertion loss—The additional mated pair increases the return loss and insertion loss. Insertion link loss with MPO solutions can account for an additional 0.5dB per cassette, requiring careful planning of the loss budget• Limited access to individual circuits—With 12-fiber MPO

As bandwidth and storage requirements evolve, optical fiber links are more vital than ever for transmitting data to and from a large number of sources. As enterprises implement more optical fiber cabling to support the bandwidth and storage requirements in the data center and backbone infrastructures, termination methods are under intense scrutiny.

The Prosand Consof Optical Fiber TerminationMethods

With so many types of optical fiber, connectors, and deployment strategies available, data center

professionals have become increasingly concerned with making the best termination choice for their environment

to ensure performance, rapid deployment, manageability, and reduced total cost of ownership, as well as scalability for future growth. Making an informed choice requires understanding the key performance, installation, management, and cost considerations surrounding the three primary optical fiber termination methods:

• Pre-terminated plug-and-play multi-fiber push on(MPO) Solutions• Factory-terminated pigtails with splicing• Field termination

Preliminary ConsiderationsEvery data center environment is unique with several aspects to be considered. Determining answers to the following questions will help data center managers as they explore the pros and cons of each optical fiber termination method:

• What type of optical fiber and connector interface is required for bandwidth and equipment?• How many optical fiber terminations are required both now and in the future?• What is the overall insertion loss budget?• How quickly do systems need to be deployed?• Is expertise and equipment on hand for termination and splicing?• Can cabling lengths be easily predetermined?• How much space is available for terminations, cable slack and splices?• How frequently will moves, adds and changes (MACs) need

• What is the overall material and installation cost budget?

Option 1: Plug-and-Play MPO SolutionsThe MPO connector is a high-density, multifiber connector that typically terminates 12 optical fibers in one connector approximately the same size of a one SC style optical fiber connector. MPO plug-and-play cassette include an MPO interface on one side broken out to 12 individual optical fiber interfaces on the other side. These cassettes can be deployed in an optical fiber distribution frame for higher density applications or in optical fiber panels to connect the main distribution area (MDA) to the equipment distribution area (EDA) in the data center.

trunk cables, individual circuit access to backbone cabling is limited. However, when used in a cross-connect scenario, individual circuits should not need to be accessed once installed.• Predetermined lengths required—MPO trunk cables are made to order in predetermined lengths, thus lengths and lead time must be part of the planning process. In addition, measurements need to be exact or slack storage will be required.

Option 2: Factory-Terminated Pigtails with SplicingWhen cable runs are longer than 25 meters (82 feet) or a degree of permanency is required, using factory-terminated pigtails at both ends and splicing optical fibers together offers an attractive alternative. With this method, a splicing unit can be located at one end of the optical fiber run or in a central location. At the patch panel, factory-terminated pigtails plug into the back of the panel. Some vendors’ intra-facility cables ship with the optical fiber panel and blocks, leaving a factory prepared stub end ready for splicing to the individual strands of the cable.

Advantages to factory-terminated pigtails with splicing include:• Reduced material cost—Factory-terminated pigtails are less expensive than plug-and-play MPO solutions• Best performance and insertion loss—Factory terminated pigtails are prepared in an environmentally controlled setting with quality inspection and documented test results that correspond to serial numbers stamped on each assembly. The connectors are polished and terminated in an automated clean environment that is not as subject to human error as field termination. Splicing is also a low loss method of attaching two optical fiber strands together.• Easy and fast installation—Preterminated pigtails are fast and easy to connect, and trained technicians can splice two strands of optical fiber together in as little as 5 minutes compared to 15 minutes per field-terminated connector. Theefficiency of splicing becomes more pronounced when comparing splicing a 24-fiber cable to field terminating it – 2 hours versus 12 hours. Stub-ended cable is also more robust and easier to pull because there are no connectors attached.• Exact length and slack storage not required—Because


Some vendor’s intra-facility cables are available already loadedinto optical fiber termination panels and blocks, leaving afactory-prepared stub end ready for splicing.

MPO Plug-and-Play Cassettes

to be made to individual circuits?

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Automated Fiber Polishing & Inspection

backbone cable is cut to length before splicing, it is not

necessary to predetermine lengths, which decreases lead times. Cutting and splicing also

eliminates the need to implement slack storage.• Individual circuit access—Unlike 12-fiber MPO

solutions, preterminated pigtails and splicing enable access to individual backbone circuits.

• Better flexibility and management—Several splicing solutions are available for managing

and storing splices either at the equipment end or at a central location. Once the splicing is

complete and backbone is in place, all MACs can be performed via patch cords at the cross-connect.

Disadvantages to factory-terminated pigtails with splicing include:• Increased labor cost and expertise—Higher labor rates are typically required for technicians with fusion splicing equipment and expertise. Fusion splicing equipment and expertise should be readily available.• Lower modularity and not prepared for parallel optical fibers—Factory-terminated pigtails and splicing typically required 144- or 192- count optical fiber compared to the 12-count optical fiber used with MPO solutions. Because pigtails are broken out to individual connectors, it also is not as readily prepared for parallel optical fiber technology.

Option 3: Field TerminationWhen optical fiber is terminated in the field, the cable must be pulled between points and attached to patch panels at both ends of each run. Before it can be attached to the panel, technicians must attach connectors to each strand.

Advantages to field termination include:• Lowest material cost—Typically, purchasing cable and connectors is the least expensive material cost with no preterminated pigtails or assemblies required.• Exact lengths and slack storage not required—Because backbone cable is cut to length before adding connectors, it is not necessary to predetermine lengths, which can cut down on lead times. This also eliminates the need to implement slack storage. • Individual circuit access—Unlike 12-fiber MPO solutions, individual optical fiber connectors enable access to individual backbone circuits.• Easy cable pulling— When using field termination, bulk cable can be easily pulled from either end of the circuit.

Disadvantages to field termination include:• Highest labor cost and slowest installation—It takes longer to install field connectors, increasing labor costs and requiring additional time for installation.• Termination quality concerns—The yield of acceptable connections is directly related to the skill level and experience of the technician, and reliability is jeopardized as field-terminated connectors can fail or perform below acceptable signal loss tolerances. This can require the cost of redoing work that has failed, as well as the cost of additional

connectors. Field termination may be less expensive at time of purchase, but extraneous expenses encountered in the field can rapidly increase.• Least environmentally friendly—Field termination results in more waste and consumables and typically requires more packing materials for individual connectors and cable.

Cost AnalysisData center managers have continually faced the decision of terminating optical fiber in the field or purchasing factory-terminated solutions. With today’s struggling economy and budget constraints, the cost of the chosen optical fiber termination method now needs to be considered more than ever, as well as the total cost of ownership associated with each method. That requires considering material cost, labor cost, and potential costs incurred over the life of the network.

The cost analysis shown in Figure 1 was conducted for a typical data center optical fiber MDA cross-connect using laser-optimized multimode optical fiber and 8,000-fiber ports housed in optical fiber panels.

The cost analysis clearly demonstrates that factory terminated pigtails with splicing is the least expensive option. Because this termination method also offers the highest performance, it will likely ensure better reliability and bandwidth capabilities over the life of the system.

For those customers who do not have the capability or expertise to splice optical fibers, plug-and-play MPO solutions can be a better choice than field termination. While field termination is typically a total lower cost option, labor hours associated with the plug-and-play MPO option can be less than half that of field termination. Therefore, deployment

can be faster, which can potentially lower the total cost of ownership. Plus, plug-and-play MPO solutions avoid theneed for field termination expertise and redoing any field terminations that have failed.SummaryToday’s business environment leaves little margin for error. In most instances, the cost savings and performance enhancement associated with using factory-terminated pigtails and splicing makes it the best choice in optical fibertermination methods. Plug-and-play MPO solutions are also an attractive option for those customers requiring extremelyhigh densities and fast deployment in the data center.

Optical fiber termination in the data center has much to do with a customer’s overall preference and with the method the customer has traditionally been comfortable with. However, increased optical fiber links in the data center and backbone infrastructures may justify re-evaluation of opticalfiber termination methods. Not only do factory-terminated cables and MPO solutions eliminate the labor costs associated with installing connectors in the field, they also eliminate the need to spend money on redoing work that has failed, potentially losing thousands of dollars associated with network downtime. It can truly be a situation of pay nowor pay later.

Reprinted with Permission from BICSI News Magazine January/February 2009


Figure 1: Cost Analysis Detail

Recently, a study commissioned by Cisco Systems® made a prediction that added a new word to the lexicon of the network engineer and IT director: zetabyte. The study predicted that by 2013, two-thirds of a zetabyte of video traffi c would be on corporate networks. Many people quickly researched the term and found that it equates to one billion terabytes of traffi c, a staggering number. That same report also predicted that 55% of all corporate traffi c would be video, a dramatic change in the composition of information on the corporate network from what is currently there. Where will all of this video traffi c come from? What forces will cause this? And why should network engineers pay attention?

An Introduction to

This technology primer is an extract from the “Fluke Networks Guide to Deploying and Troubleshooting Video in the Enterprise” that became available in fall of 2010, written by industry expert Dr.Phil Hippensteel. It describes the different types of video traffi c that are commonly found on today’s enterprise network, how they are implemented and the requirement that they have on the network.

The invasion of video traffi c

Video, the dominant component in most streaming applications, is certain to be on our networks more frequently and in greater quantities for many reasons. So, throughout this article we will interchange, as is done in industry, the terms streaming media, video and the term audio/video. The increase in video traffi c will come from:

a) The increase in the popularity of video. It is easier and less expensive to produce video than it has ever been. For about one hundred dollars you can buy a video capture card and the editing software and begin make movies,

editing those that were produced by other sources, and use what you captured with your digital camera, web cam, or wireless phone. You can create the output in formats that vary from high defi nition to low enough resolution to be viewed on another phone.

b) A wide variety of endpoints can capture and play sound and video. Phones, cameras, hallway speakers, digital signage, and televisions have all joined the IP network as endpoints.

c) Travel costs are up, driving the need for video conferencing (VC). Like the broader video industry, conference endpoints scale from high defi nition room systems with surround sound to desktop clients. The underlying technologies are making it possible to interconnect individuals using both the corporate IP network and the Internet.

d) Social networking sites such as YouTube and Facebook are being used to share streaming media fi les for business purposes such as messaging, training, and explaining the assembly and repair of products.

e) The line between conventional network television and so-called web TV is blurring. Employees on the job and on the road catch up with episodes they’ve missed by going to sites such as hulu.com.Nearly every major CATV, satellite and telco delivering broadcast TV is doing a pilot project in which popular programs are delivered over the Internet. Hospitals and universities have discovered that by taking a carrier’s TV feed and separating the channels, they can encode each on a multicast IP address and deliver the channels to hundreds or even thousands of TVs without using any bulky coax cables.

f) Security, surveillance and traffi c monitoring can be delivered effi ciently to multiple viewing sites including mobile devices such as patrol cars.

The proliferation of video traffi c on the Internet and corporate networks posts new challenges to network professionals whose job is to maintain delivery of critical services over the network:

1) Video often consumes vast amounts of bandwidth when compared to conventional data applications. While new compressions technologies such as H.264 mitigate part of this problem, compressed video can demand from ten to one hundred times the bandwidth that a database query or email might require.

2) Video technologies vary considerably in the way that they are transported over IP. We haven’t had a lot of experience in troubleshooting all of the different forms of video. Some are carried in TCP; others in UDP. Some use HTTP; others use RTP. The vast majority of the training, tool usage and experience with these protocols involved data applications and voice, not streaming media or video.

3) Because of the reasons cited in 2, the effect of network problems on video output can vary considerably. Sometimes packets with errors that are dropped can be insignifi cant. With a different form of video, the same error level could be devastating.

Clearly, it is important for us to learn a lot more about the various forms of video in order to be effective in dealing with them in our networks.

Four major video types in IP networks

There are four types of video that are more common than any other type in IP networks: IPTV, Adobe Flash, Microsoft SilverLight and Video Conferencing.

IPTV While the term IPTV is sometimes confused with several forms of video, it is characterized by three distinct things:1) It uses a delivery mechanism called an MPEG transport stream.

2) It is the technique most frequently used by service providers such as cable companies and telcos to deliver IP video.

3) This form of IP video is much more sensitive to network packet loss than any other form of video.Gradually, though, as we said earlier, enterprise customers are beginning to realize that it has advantages in certain campus settings such as schools and hospitals. We consider it fi rst because it best reveals how video distribution over packet networks function.

Adobe Flash Various reports have indicated that from one half to 90% of all Windows computers have Adobe’s Flash Player installed.Whatever the exact amount, it is a very common tool used to download streaming media.Consequently, Flash media will continue to comprise a signifi cant amount of bandwidth on corporate networks.

Microsoft Silverlight Silverlight is a recent addition to the various streaming technologies.It appears to be quickly gaining in popularity. Recognizing the desire of the marketplace to choose HTTP based streaming over the various proprietary implementations, Microsoft introduced its Silverlight architecture and called the streaming method smooth streaming.

Video Conferencing Most video conferencing systems followed one of the ITU standards in the H.260 family, either H.261 or H.263 to compress the video.Before IP was introduced, video conferencing was very proprietary in nature and required expensive leased circuits from the telephone company. But with the introduction of IP to the conferencing networks, almost everything changed. While H.263 codes were still used, the vendors began to support the idea of H.264 compression. This would bring them in line with the rest of the video industry in using a standard packet format and standard compression technologies.

Unlike the other video types, video conferencing has two critical requirements:1) The video must be symmetrically passed between all endpoints.

2) There cannot be more than about one half to one second of delay between the source and the destination.

By Dr. Phil HippensteelIntroduction by Fluke Networks

Video in the Enterprise


Understanding how streaming applications work

Video that is distributed in any system usually goes through a sequence similar to what is shown in Figure 1.

In my complete Guide, I explain the essential parts of each step and I take a more detailed look at how the performance of steps 2, 4 and 6 impact step 7.

Real-time direct video streaming – IPTV

At the source, if video is captured into a file, it is often referred to as a container. Popular formats for this file include avi, mpeg, and wmv. If the file is intended for immediate delivery and play out, such as in IPTV provided by a service provider, the file is encapsulated in a transport stream and delivered in near real-time. In these cases, UDP protocol is used and retransmissions of lost data are not possible. At the destination, the video is buffered very briefly for the purpose of smoothing play out with a set-top box (STB).This delay is usually no more than a few seconds.

Browser-based video

The second scenario, and the one that is rapidly becoming popular, has the same essential steps as the first. However, play out is done in the software by a video player that replaces the role of the set-top box. One of the major advantages to this approach is that the video player can use the buffering, decoding and control functions of the computer in which it is imbedded. Sometimes the player is a separate pierce of software such as Windows Media

Player, Adobe Flash Player or VideoLan’s VLC Player. However, there is an increasing tendency for the player to be downloaded with the video file for automatic execution or imbedded in the browser such as Internet Explorer® or Firefox®. Figure 2 shows the essential steps in this method.

Since a video file is transferred from a server to a client PC in this method and played out whenever the player has enough video for presentation, the transfer is almost always a form of TCP based file transfer, similar to when data files are moved using FTP (file transfer protocol). If packets are lost or delayed, retransmission is automatic. Both Microsoft and Adobe use this technique. YouTube, Facebook and many sites that offer television episodes often use this method of streaming as well.

Delayed video streaming

The last of the streaming techniques that involves delivery from a source to individual users is shown in Figure 3. What is unique about this method is that the video has been stored at or near to the source and the user who wishes to view it, requests it, and is authenticated by paying a fee. In this case the entire video container file is stored on a server and is encoded/encapsulated for delivery when the source control function grants permission. Pay-per-view (PPV), video on demand (VOD) and content delivery networks (CDN) use this technique. Often TCP/FTP is used to transfer the file from the origin server to a caching server near to the potential

customer. However, when the video is streamed to the requester, it will use one of the other techniques discussed above involving either IPTV or a browser.

Video conferencingThe last streaming technique is unique because it generally involves two-way delivery of the video. This is video conferencing (VC), shown in Figure 4.

For years the VC industry depended on Telco circuits such as ISDN and T-1. Today, virtually all VC systems use an IP backbone and many use the Internet.

Conferees on a call have cameras and microphones to generate the audio and video signals. However, practically no buffering of these signals takes place at the source and they are compressed, encapsulated in IP and sent immediately. If two parties are conferring, the packets are nearly always carried in UDP using Real Timer Protocol (RTP).When the third and successive caller joins, a device comprised of hardware and/or software called a bridge is used. The audio and video from each source is transferred to the bridge. In the bridge, the signals are combined to create an image that shows two or more of the participants. This combined signal is sent to each participant allowing all conferees to see and to hear the current presenter. Each of the individual source streams and the combined stream are delivered using unicast addressing so the amount of bandwidth consumed can be considerable. The Video Conferencing industry has not yet embraced multicast addressing but there are reports that several vendors have products under development that will incorporate it.

Conclusion

Video traffic is growing fast on the Internet and in corporate networks – it is important to understand the various types of video traffic and the different video delivery methods as each have their own specific requirements to the network. The goal of this article is to provide an introduction to video in the enterprise; in future articles, we will provide a more in-depth look at the specific types of video traffic and delivery methods along with best practices for deployment and troubleshooting.

Figure 1: Steps in Video Delivery: IPTV

Figure 3: Delayed Video Delivery

Figure 4: Video Conferencing

©2011 - Fluke Corporation. All rights reserved.


Figure 2: Browser-based Video

Both outside plant and premise communications cable are often in conduit or duct, because the conduit provides protection from both physical and environmental abuse. In underground installation, conduit protects cable from shifting rocks, aggressive rodents, and/or damage from hand shovels. Underground cable in conduit is easy to replace or upgrade; the old cable is pulled out of the conduit and the new pulled in without extensive and expensive digging.

In metropolitan areas, multiple conduits are installed as “duct banks”. Placing cable into empty ducts in these banks allows changes and growth of the cable infrastructure without major traffic disruptions from cutting and trenching of the street.

A large percent of underground fiber optic cable is in conduit for the simple reason that conduit offers protection for the cable. Because of its light weight, fiber optic cable has lower breaking strength and is more easily damaged than traditional twisted pair copper cable. It is also critical not to bend any cable tighter than the minimum bend radius specified by the cable manufacturer.

Cable Blowing and Micro Cable BlowingA common way to install cable in conduit, especially suitable for lightweight fiber optic cable, is laminar high-speed air installation or “cable blowing” (Figure 1). Compressed air flow of greater than 150 cubic feet/min and an entry pressure of greater than 175 psi carry the cable through the conduit using the blowing air force pushing on the jacket. Larger diameter conduits require more airflow, at the same psi.

A condition of blowing cable is that the innerduct or conduit system must be airtight to achieve long distances.

Friction in Cable Blowing and Micro Cable Blowing Rather than lowering tension, friction reduction while cable blowing reduces the resistance to the combined mechanical

First, thread a line through the conduit; attach the line is to the cable; and then the line is used to drag the cable back through the conduit. For more than 50 years, millions of miles of electrical and communications cable have been installed using this basic method.

There is a “technology” of cable pulling, which provides information on these questions: What is the maximum distance to pull a cable without damage? How to minimize splices and splicing expense? How much lubricant to use? Accurate answers to these questions allow better, more efficient cable installations, with lower labor costs, less damaged cable and longer cable life.

Cable Strength Limitations in PullingThe first question in pulling any type of cable is how hard can you pull on it without damaging it; i.e., with how much force? The maximum recommended tension varies with both the size and type of cable. Fiber optic and coaxial cables typically have tensile strengths of 25 to 600 pounds. Large copper cables may have tensile strengths of 1,500 pounds or more. Cable manufacturers provide the maximum installation tension for any particular cable; the installer should respect this maximum allowable tension.

Frictional Force in Cable PullingConstraints on the length and number of bends in a conduit run limit the cable’s maximum tension. Force is required to pull cable through conduit to overcome the cable’s frictional resistance to movement. Frictional resistance is defined by a “coefficient of friction”. How can we define this “coefficient of friction” (COF)?

Let us start with a simple physics class example . . . a wooden block (say, 10 pounds in weight) on a horizontal steel plate. Say it takes 4 pounds force to pull (drag) the block across the plate. The coefficient of friction (wood on steel) is defined as the ratio of this “dragging force” (4 pounds) to the normal force (weight of 10 pounds). In this case, the friction coefficient would be .4. Note that COF is a dimensionless number.

Experience tells us that if we replace the wooden block with a 10-pound rubber block, it will take a greater force to drag the rubber block (say 12 pounds force). The measured coefficient of friction (rubber on steel) would be 1.2. What is important to note in these examples is that there is no one coefficient of friction. The friction coefficient varies with the two rubbing surfaces.


Replace the block with cable and the plate with conduit, and we have cable pulling . . . with a few complications. Neither the cable nor the conduit is flat. There may be more than one cable, which can result in complex rubbing surfaces. Pulls are not straight, so forces other than gravitational weight occur at conduit bends. Importantly, pulling lubricants change and lower the friction coefficient.

Cable Pulling LubricantsPolywater Pulling Lubricants play an important part in efficient pulls. Lubricants reduce the coefficient of friction, and thus the force required to pull the cable. In practice, this can mean a reduction in tension of 35 to 95 percent, depending on conduit route and cable jacket type. Not only must the lubricant be slippery, but it also must be compatible with the cable jacket with no long-term adverse effects.

While oils and greases sound like fine cable pulling lubricants, they are not, because these materials swell and weaken the plastic jacket on the cable. Some of the wax and soap lubricants used on electrical cables are not suitable for communications cable, as they can stress crack polyethylene jackets. Modern Polywater Cable Pulling Lubricants are water-based polymer materials, with various friction reducing agents, specially compounded for different types of cable and pulling environments. Polywater Lubricants have installed over 100,000,000 feet of cable in the last three decades.

Tension Estimation in Cable PullingOnce we have determined a valid coefficient of friction, cable pulling tension is calculated using the cable pulling equations, which apply the physics from our block/table example to the unique character of cable pulling. This includes the non-gravitational forces in conduit bends.

Looking at a simplified form of the equations will clarify:

Note how significant changes in μ (friction coefficient) can affect pulling force, especially in conduit bends, where this friction variable is in the exponent. Inaccurate coefficients of friction lead to poor correlation of tension calculations with actual tensions. Unfortunately, it is in multi-bend pulls, where the tension and sidewall pressure are of most concern, that the use of an inaccurate coefficient of friction produces the greatest error.

40 20 0 -20 -40 -60 -80

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7Air Pressure (Bars)

Tens

ion

into

Con

dui

t (N

ewto

ns)

UnlubedPrelubed 2000

Figure 2. Force Data from Cable Blowing Experiment

Pulling RopeCable

Figure 3. A Simple Schematic of Cable Pulling

Straight Conduit Tout = Tin + LWμ

Conduit Bend Tout =Tin e

Where Tout = Tension Out Tin = Tension In L = Length of Straight Run W = Weight of Cable (per length) μ = Coefficient of Friction 0 = Angle of Bend e = Natural Log Base

μ0

By John Fee, President and CEO American Polywater Corporation and Win Miller, Vice President Telcom, American Polywater Corporation

and moving air pushing forces. This means the cable goes farther before it stops (longer installations) when all other variables are held constant.

Figure 3 presents data from a lubricated and an unlubricated blowing experiment. The mechanical pusher is deactivated, and the force required to push a cable is measured vs. incoming air pressure. The data indicates an unlubricated COF of .5 to .6 and a lubricated COF of .1 to .2 using our Polywater® Prelube 2000. Cable is blown 2.5 to 5 times farther with differences of this magnitude.

Lubricant Application in BlowingPolywater Prelube 2000 lubricant is preferably coated on the conduit walls before inserting the cable in the conduit, and cable blowing begins. This may be done with a sponge spreader, which is blown through the duct with the lubricant in front of it.

For micro blowing a specialty blowing lubricant like Polywater’s Prelube 5000 is recommended.

Cable PullingPerhaps the most common method of installing cable into conduit is “cable pulling” (Figure 3). Cable pulling occurs throughout the world, although equipment may vary widely, and hand pulling is common in some developing countries.

High Pressure,High VolumeAir Flow

Mechanical Drive

Figure 1. A Simple Schematic of Cable Blowing

Installing Communications Cable in a Conduit


Pull-Planner™ 3000 Has Friction Data BaseWe have seen that coeffi cient of friction varies with cable jacket, conduit type and lubricant type, and that it’s necessary to use accurate coeffi cients to calculate meaningful pulling tensions.

American Polywater’s laboratory has developed extensive friction data for different cable jacket and conduit types. This data is in an internal database in our Pull-Planner 3000 Software.

The Pull-Planner 3000 provides a convenient way to calculate cable pulling tensions on a personal computer. It enables “what if” scenarios with cable, conduit, pull length, COF, incoming tension, and more. Lubricant quantities are calculated, and calculations for the pull can be saved or printed out. The full version of the Pull-Planner 3000 is available in metric or English units.

Go to www.polywater.com for more information.

Innerduct Reel Memory as a FactorFiber optic cable pullers have learned that both the type of duct and the method used to place the duct affect the tension in a fi ber optic cable pull. Experienced cable pullers know it is not possible to pull fi ber substantial distances in innerduct dropped and buried in an open trench. The undulations in the innerduct, because of reel memory, introduce too much bend.

These differences are due to the “duct factor” in continuous reeled type innerduct. Duct factor is a measure of how close the placed duct is to a true straight line. This duct factor variable has limited the use of the traditional cable pulling equations to predict tension in fi ber optic pulls. Can we quantify the duct factor to get better tension estimates when pulling fi ber optic cable into innerduct?

We can determine the amount of bend in an innerduct with a regular displacement by modeling it as shown below. Here the regular conduit displacement is treated as a two-dimensional wave with a defi ned height (amplitude) and length (period).

Using this approach, we determine geometrically how much bend (in degrees per unit of length) is in the duct. The following table presents some calculations from this model.

Appropriate amplitudes and periods depend on fi eld specifi cs. The period generally results from innerduct memory and reel diameter, and numbers in the range of 15 to 45 feet seem typical (remember this is actually two displacements as the drawing shows).

The amplitude depends on the physical restraint containing the duct and the force straightening the duct during installation. For innerduct dropped in a trench, the amplitude could be 6 inches or more per period. For innerduct in a 4-inch conduit, the amplitude is probably less than 1 inch.

The table shows that with zero (0) amplitude, there is no bend in the conduit, as we expect. At typical displacements, the hidden bend can run from a few hundredths of a degree per foot to 3 degrees/ft or higher.

A displacement of ± 1 inch every 30 feet is hardly noticeable in laid out duct. While the calculated bend of 0.17 degrees/ft does not seem like a lot, it is 170 degrees per thousand feet of pull. To understand what these levels of bend mean, we need to extend this model into tension calculations.

Tension Calculations Using the ModelThe bend calculated from the model is combined with friction data on Polywater Lubricants (bends versus straight sections) to determine the duct factor. The higher the duct factor, the higher the pulling tension compared to pulling in a truly straight duct, which has a duct factor of zero (0).

The table below shows the duct factor, the calculated tension for a 2500-foot pull using the duct factor and the total bend in the pull. The amplitudes and periods are those used previously.

Fortunately, reel memory is not a factor in cable blowing.

Lubricant Application in PullingThere are a number of forms and packages for Polywater Lubricants to support different types of application. Liquid lubricants work well in underground situations where the lubricant is poured into the up-turned duct or cable feeder tube. For hand application, gel lubricants work the best.

It is a good procedure to put some of the lubricant in the conduit just before the pull and to spread it with a sponge or rag tied to the winch line during the pull. This deposits lubricant in front of the cable. In larger conduits (>2 inches) with bigger cables, Front End Packs® (bags of lubricant) can be attached to the winch line and slit open as they enter the conduit in front of the cable. It is important to get the lubricant spread throughout the conduit to every point where the cable rubs.

Lubricant pumps are available from American Polywater.

Unique Fiber Optic Placement TechniquesSeveral techniques exist to place almost unlimited lengths of uninterrupted (unspliced) fi ber optic cable. In “fi gure-eighting,” the total length of cable is pulled through the fi rst section of conduit. The excess is laid out neatly in a fi gure-eight pattern (counter twists). The fi gure-eight of cable is then fl ipped over and the pulling is begun again into the next section of conduit. This procedure can be done a number of times. Care should be taken to keep the cable clean and protected while it is laid out.

Bi-directional pulling also involves fi gure-eighting, but no excess is pulled through the fi rst conduit

segment. Instead, the second pull is in the opposite direction after the cable is fi gure-eighted off the reel onto the ground. The reel effectively sits at the middle of the run. Mid-assist pulling involves special intermediate pullers usually based on large diameter capstans or parallel caterpillar tracks. These devices actually pull on the cable and then feed it back into the next section of conduit with no tension. In a sense, the installation becomes several shorter pulls with several simultaneously operating pullers. For shorter, light pulls, manual mid-assist (hand-over-hand) will lower tension with a conscientious and properly coordinated fi eld crew.

SummaryPulling or blowing cable is not diffi cult. Installers must be careful not to put excess tension on the cable as it’s installed. The special lubricants and equipment made for this task can make it straightforward and effi cient, with no damage to the cable.

Authors: John Fee and Win Miller, American Polywater Corporation

Amplitude Period Duct Tenison in Total

inches feet Factor 2500 ft Bend

0 30 0 56 lbs 0°

0.5 30 0.89 137 lbs 212°

1 30 1.78 231 lbs 424°

2 30 3.55 1076 lbs 848°

6 30 6.78 30400 lbs 1694°

2 20 7.47 63600 lbs 1908°

2 10 15.93 >10 ^ 9 lbs 7606°

Assumes a cable weight of .15 lbs/ft, Polywater® F high shear friction coeffi cient of 0.15, and no incoming tension.

Amplitude Period Bend

0 in 30 ft 0°/ft

0.5 in 30 ft 0.085°/ft

1 in 30 ft 0.170°/ft

2 in 30 ft 0.339°/ft

6 in 30 ft 0.678°/ft

2 in 20 ft 0.763°/ft

2 in 10 ft 3.04°/ft

P

A

A = AmplitudeP = Period

New Product Submissions Welcome, email: [email protected]

THE

TOO

L B

OX

Watch the Fur Fly with the Cheetah SOCMake fast work of fi ber termination with the new Cheetah Splice-On

Connector (SOC) from FIS. Besides being fast, the Cheetah simplifi es cable management by eliminating external splice protection sleeves and splice trays. The Cheetah works with SOC-capable fusion splicers from leading manufacturers including Sumitomo and AFL Telecommunications.

See the Cheetah in Action! Use your ‘Mobile Tag’ enabled cell phone to view the instructional video embedded in the symbol at right. (See page 40 for information on enabling your cell phone.)

Versatile Connector Cleaner The M250 is a highly versatile IBC brand cleaning tool from US Conec. It cleans inside bulkheads and unmated 2.5mm fi ber optic connectors including SC, ST, FC, E2000 as well as Military/Aerospace

connectors. The unit provides over 525 cleanings, making this one of the lowest cost per-cleaning devices on the market.

Backpack Tool KitThe new Backpack Tool Kit from FIS keeps your hands free, making it ideal for aerial work that requires climbing. It’s also great on the ground, again keeping your hands free as you work around the job site. Rugged construction, large tool capacity and comfortable to wear!

Enhanced Om4 CableFIS offers OM4 Enhanced 50 micron fi ber optic cable that supports 10 gigabit Ethernet up to 550 meters. OM4 cable can provide signifi cant cost savings when used in conjunction with 850nm VCSELs for long building backbones and medium size campus backbones. OM4 supports 10Gb/s Ethernet, Fibre Channel and OIF applications over distances up to 550 meters.

Compact SOC-Compatible Fusion SplicerThe FITEL S123C hand held fusion splicer offers next-gen solutions including the ability to use Splice-On Connectors (SOCs). Within its compact housing, the S123C combines portability, power,

fl exibility and fi eld ruggedness to provide fast and consistent splicing. Ideal for every splicing need including FTTx, LAN, backbone and long-haul installations.


For more information on any of these products, see the new 2011 FIS Product Catalog or contact your FIS Sales Representative. To shop online, go to www.fi berinstrumentsales.com.

Watch the Fur Fly with the

Make fast work of fi ber termination

Connector (SOC) from FIS. Besides being fast, the Cheetah simplifi es cable management by eliminating external splice protection sleeves and splice trays. The Cheetah works with

Cheetah Video TagFor viewing instructions see pg. 40


Several high-bandwidth networks have recently been upgraded to include reconfi gurable optical add/drop multiplexers (ROADMs) to improve effi ciency and fl exibility. ROADMs allow networks to remotely change the amount of dropped or added wavelengths on the express route in order to optimize bandwidth, for example, by not dropping wavelengths when bandwidth is not required.

At the heart of a ROADM is a wavelength-selectable switch (WSS), which is used to redirect any wavelength to any direction; the WSS operates independent of color, direction and contention. While this does in fact offer network fl exibility, scalability and security, it also changes testing rules.

The function of the receiver is to provide the demodulator with the cleanest electrical signal it can extract from the optical signal it receives. To determine how good a signal traveling through a DWDM system is, an optical spectrum analyzer (OSA) is used to measure the optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) of that signal. The OSA can characterize the “head room” between the peak power and the noise fl oor at the receiver for each channel. This value provides an indication of the readability of the received signal, a parameter of increasing interest as the limits are pushed farther and farther to accommodatelong-distance applications.

The OSNR is the ratio between a signal, or meaningful information, and the background noise. OSNR provides indirect information about the bit-error rate (BER), which makes it the most useful parameter available from the measured spectrum and that is why it is listed as an interface parameter in ITU-T RecommendationG.692 and in ITU-T Recommendation G.959.1.

CONVENTIONAL OSNR MEASUREMENT METHODSThe conventional method for determining the OSNR is called interpolation, as defi ned by the IEC-61280-2-9. It requires that the noise level be measured at the mid-point between two peaks and that a linear interpolation be performed. The noise under the peak can then be estimated and the OSNR is calculated.

This method makes two assumptions, which were accurate for non-next-gen networks: fi rst, it assumes

that this noise is fl at across the analysis band; and second, it assumes that the signal between channels does in fact go down to the noise level.

Assumption 1: Flat NoiseA schematic of a ROADM is illustrated below. ROADMs are typically placed at important nodes and since they replace routers, there is no signal regeneration within the ROADM itself. Therefore, an optical line amplifi er is used to boost the signal before entering the ROADM. The WSS is then used to select which wavelength goes where at any given time.

A broadband signal, such as the amplifi ed spontaneous emission noise of any of the amplifi ers going through any WSS, gets fi ltered, and the output is more or less an image of the fi lters (or cascaded fi lters after several ROADMs).

It is clear, in this case, that the assumption that the noise is fl at does not hold true. Using the interpolation method will therefore under-estimate the noise level, leading to an erroneous assessment that performance is better than it actually is and creating a false sense of security.

Using Channel 13 in the image below as an example, a traditional OSA using the interpolation method would have measured the noise at the level of the red bar, whereas the true noise is at the blue bar. OSNR is not as high as measured and perceived, so it must be

measured where it is signifi cant; i.e., under the peak, referred to as in-band OSNR.

Assumption 2: Reaching Noise Level between ChannelsThe advent of faster bit rates, such as 40 Gbit/s for example, brings with it a much more complex and broader spectral shape, as shown in the image below:

In an effort to have as much bandwidth as possible, since most long-haul and metro networks are already prepared for 50 GHz channel spacing, this spacing needs to be kept when handling faster speeds. This means that optical signals are closely spaced and may overlap, thus hiding the noise baseline between them.

Using the interpolation method will lead to over-estimation of the noise level, which in turn would suggest that the performance is not as good as it really is and that there is a problem on the network.

Using Channel 73 and 74 in the image below as an example, a traditional OSA using the interpolation method would have measured the noise at the level of the red bar, whereas the true noise is at the blue bar. OSNR in this case is higher than measured and perceived. As mentioned previously, noise must be measured where it is signifi cant; i.e., under the peak, referred to as in-band OSNR.

Optical SpectrumAnalyzers in Next-Gen Networks

By Francis Audet, Senior Product Manager, Optical Business Unit

P1 + N1

N(λ1 - ∆ λ) N(λ1 +∆ λ)

OLA 1x2 Splitter

Express WSS

Optional EDFA

Demux

DropAdd

2.5G 10G 40G

Pow

er

λ

N1


The second highlighted zone, from Channel 11 to Channel 22, reveals the other problem: larger signals hide the noise line (plus the fact that the noise is not flat):

So regardless of what type of next-gen network you have or are planning to deploy, if it includes either ROADMs or 40 Gbit/s and faster modulations, any traditional OSA will fail to produce a proper result. Next-generation OSAs, based on a technique known as polarization-resolved optical spectrum OSNR (PROS OSNR), are required for accurate in-band OSNR measurements.

Channel # Interpolation OSNR (dB)

True OSNR(dB)

Error (dB)

1 24,09 21,27 2,82

2 23,28 22,57 0,71

3 22,84 21,93 0,91

4 22,80 20,65 2,15

5 22,41 19,90 2,51

6 22,00 19,34 2,66

7 22,48 19,28 3,20

8 23,08 19,79 3,29

9 23,14 20,40 2,74

10 23,92 20,49 3,43

Channel # Interpolation OSNR (dB)

True OSNR(dB)

Error (dB)

11 14,98 17,73 -2,75

12 14,32 16,65 -2,33

13 14,44 17,93 -3,49

14 13,4 18,1 -4,70

15 15,28 19,12 -3,84

16 14,63 18,1 -3,47

17 14,85 17,49 -2,64

18 14,55 18,55 -4,00

19 13,4 17,63 -4,23

20 13,63 17,79 -4,16

21 15,06 18,39 -3,33

22 17,69 20,35 -2,66

If Bigger is Better...

www.usconec.com

MACK DADDY !Then this is the

828•323•[email protected]

• The largest effective cleaning region commercially available for 2.5mm connectors• The IBC™ Brand Cleaner M250 is the universal 2.5mm connector cleaner and will clean SC, ST, FC, E2000, MIL 83526 and OptiTap® connections• Cleans unmated connectors and connectors in the adapter• 525+ cleanings per unit

OptiTap® is a registered trademark of Corning Cable Systems

DEALING WITH THE MIXA complex next-gen network can very well have both 10 Gbit/s and 40 Gbit/s signals, all going through cascaded ROADMs, therefore applying both above-mentioned situations/assumptions. Here is an example:

The first highlighted zone, which includes the first 10 channels, is a condition of 10 Gbit/s transmission, where the noise floor is quite visible, but the noise is obviously not flat (the section before 1545 nm proves this). Highlighted below is the mistake a traditional OSA would make:


Does high backrefl ection affect the bandwidth carrying capability of OM3 and OM4 fi bers, particularly in regard to quick-term mechanical connections?* This is a question that customers have been asking more and more lately and they are not alone in searching for answers. In today’s market there are many termination choices, with quick-term solutions becoming ever more attractive and prevalent due to their ease of use and relatively short training curve.

The debate tends to heat up when mechanical quick-term connectors are discussed. Traditionally, quick-term connectors can introduce backrefl ection due to the method in which the fi ber is mated, namely by mechanical means. In contrast, newer “fusion splice” quick-term connectors drastically reduce or eliminate this refl ective event due to the method in which they are attached, which is by fusion splicing.

Is it better to use a “fusion” splice-on connector over a “mechanical” splice-on connector?

Although there are many standards and studies related to the effect that backrefl ection has

on singlemode systems, a limited number of defi nitive studies have been done on the effects of backrefl ection in 10-gig multimode networks. However, in the hope of hedging our bets, “fusion” splice quick-terms appear to be the safer solution.

Traditionally the CATV and Telco industries have had to come to grips with the effects of backrefl ection in 10-gig fi ber networks. The majority of the

providers have relied heavily on the use of fusion splice-on Angled Physical Contact (APC) or Ultra Physical Contact (UPC) connectorized pigtails in their networks to minimize the effects of optical return loss (ORL). This helps to eliminate errors in the transmission of data and leads to a limited use of mechanical splices in these systems except in a temporary emergency restoration situation. It has been shown by testing that putting a potentially high refl ective event such as a mechanical splice near a transmission laser can either damage the light source or cause a deterioration of the signal bandwidth being sent down the fi ber by introducing a higher bit error rate (BER) in the signal. Or, the refl ective event may limit the overall distance that a 10-gig signal will travel in the fi ber.

Every time you choose to use a fusion splice connector in your network (instead of a mechanical splice connector) you eliminate the possibility of the above effects from happening. Five years from now you may have helped to future proof your network against advancing technology by allowing your installed fi ber to maximize its potential today.

A Few Things to Consider

1. What is the future potential of my network?

2. What are the specifi ed loss and refl ection characteristics of the network?

3. Do mechanical quick-term connectors provide a higher detectable BER than other methods?

4. Are current standards in tune with changing installation trends?

By Ray Wertz FIS Technical Support, R&D

Does High Back Refl ection Infl uence

Bandwidth in 10 Gig Systems?


mechanical means. In contrast, newer “fusion splice” quick-term connectors drastically reduce or eliminate this refl ective event due to the method in which they are attached, which is by fusion splicing.

Is it better to use a “fusion” splice-on connector over a “mechanical” splice-on connector?

Although there are many standards and studies related to the effect that backrefl ection has

on singlemode systems, a limited number of defi nitive studies have been done on the effects of backrefl ection in 10-gig multimode networks. However, in the hope of hedging our bets, “fusion” splice quick-terms appear to be the safer solution.

Traditionally the CATV and Telco industries have had to come to grips with the effects of backrefl ection in 10-gig fi ber networks. The majority of the

*A “mechanical” quick-term connector can be defi ned as a connector that attaches to optical fi ber or cable by mechanical means such as gripping mechanisms. In contrast, a “fusion splice” quick-term connector uses a high-temperature “fusion” splicing process to fuse the connector to the optical fi ber.

?makingwaves

Fiber Optic Connectors: Global Markets - A new BCC study analyzes the market for fi ber optic connectors (FOC’s) and identifi es growth opportunities in regional areas around the globe. In 2011, global value is projected to increase to more than $1.9 billion, as the global economy begins to improve. By 2016, given a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.6%, total global value for the FOC market is projected to be nearly $3.1 billion. According to the report, telecommunications is the primary application for fi ber optic connectors.

Fiber Optic Fusion Splicer Global Market Forecast - ElectroniCast Consultants has released the second of two study reports in 2010 covering the worldwide market for fi ber-optic fusion splicers. The report presents a forecast of global market consumption value, volume (quantity), and average selling price of fi ber-optic fusion splice machines in optical communication applications.

For handheld/rugged fusion splicers, the telecommunications industry remains the market share leader in terms of worldwide consumption value in 2010. The fastest growth during the 2009-2014 timeframe will be in the specialty applications, as

well as in the fi ber optic component manufacturing production lines.The consultants have found that more and more of the rugged smaller handheld splicers are fi nding their way into use. Based on recent interviews of FTTx installation managers, there is an increase in novice technicians in the last-mile installation arena, and the clad-alignment splicer modulesare increasingly popular.

Electronic Connectors Poised for Growth - Bishop and Associates, Inc. recently released a 23-chapter report providing a detailed analysis of Connector Types and Technologies Poised for Growth. This report addresses 19 specifi c connector types that are expected to experience greater than average growth in either volume or sales based on the rapid expansion of markets for existing and new products that utilize these interfaces.

Each connector type is defi ned with a product description including key mechanical and electrical performance characteristics, as well as the rational for its selection. Typical applications are also identifi ed. The report includes a global market forecast to 2013 that provides growth expectations for each connector type. Also included is a discussion of market trends that are changing the way electronic connectors are being used.

An Expanded Beam fi ber optic connector has a ball-shaped lens attached to its ferrule, which expands the diameter of the light path between two mated fi bers. This arrangement gives the unique connector some remarkable capabilities. Which of the following are true or false? (Answers on page 40)

1. Dust and other foreign particles have less impact on expanded beam connector performance than they do on conventional fi ber optic connectors. True or False?

2. Expanded beam connectors can be coupled/decoupled far more times than conventional connectors. True or False?

3. Expanded beam connectors have lower loss than conventional fi ber optic connectors. True or False?

4. Because optical fi bers do not touch within mated expanded beam connectors, this technology can be used to mate counter-rotating fi bers. True or False?

5. Expanded beam connectors are less sensitive to vibration than conventionalfi ber optic connectors. True or False?

?

Market PerspectivesTelecom humor inspired by true events.

Do you know of an unusual incident that happened on the job? Send your story to: [email protected]. If we use it, you’ll receive a WaveLengths coffee mug!

Although the recession may be over, unemployment remains high. A post-recession study reveals that 44 percent of applicants are unqualifi ed for the positions for which they apply.

Problems can arise when pulling cable. Many can be avoided by following the cable installation procedures explained on page 24.

comic relief


Bumper Snickers:

Cable Installers

Conduit BetterWireless Installers Do It with Frequency

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Fiber Instrument SalesIf any other suggestions for events please email us at [email protected]

Tech

An Optical Time-Domain Refl ectometer (OTDR) is an extremely versatile device used for testing fi ber optic networks. An OTDR can estimate fi ber length, optical return loss and attenuation, including optical loss produced by splices and mated connectors. The device is also used to locate breaks and excessive bends in fi ber optic cable that result in attenuation.

Fluke Networks offers the following “tips and tricks of the trade” when testing with an OTDR.

Keep connectors and the OTDR port clean.

Start with automatic OTDR settings and use Pass/Fail limits. In most cases, the OTDR will acquire and analyze traces better and faster than the best technician. The trick is to use stringent pass/fail limits, then use manual settings to enhance the troubleshooting experience when a failure is identifi ed.

Test at multiple wavelengths. Always test at both the shorter and longer wavelengths, even if the job or design specifi cation doesn’t require it. This allows comparison of traces for the same fi ber at different wavelengths and faster identifi cation of problems such as dirty connectors.

Use bidirectional averaging for increased accuracy. It is common to see a gainer or negative loss value due to a mismatch in backscatter coeffi cient between the launch fi ber and the fi ber that is being tested. The solution and most accurate OTDR testing procedure is to test in both directions on the same fi ber, then use software to average the losses recorded in opposing directions.

Use qualifi ed launch and receive fi bers and utilize launch-fi ber compensation. To accurately measure the fi rst and last connector on a fi ber a launch and receive fi ber must be used. The launch fi ber must be longer than the attenuation dead zone for the maximum pulse width. Keeping the end faces of launch and receive fi bers clean and protected from damage is key.

Choose a results management software package that is easy to use for reporting and analyzing after testing is long over. The ability to email trouble traces is also useful. A program such as Fluke Networks LinkWare Results Management allows a user to send test results to colleagues, engineers, or industry experts at the Fluke Networks Technical Assistance Center.

FIS Fiber Optic TrainingPittsburg, PA

FIS Fiber Optic TrainingPhiladelphia, PA

FIS Fiber Optic TrainingBaltimore, MD

TCEI Belton, TXISC West Las Vegas, NV

NABLas Vegas, NV

FIS Fiber Optic TrainingJackson, MS

FIS Fiber Optic TrainingBrightside

FIS Fiber Optic TrainingNew Orleans, LA

Calendar2011


Tips

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29 30

FIS Fiber Optic TrainingChicago, IL

FIS Fiber Optic TrainingDetroit, MI

FIS Fiber Optic TrainingAtlantic City, NJ

UTC TELCOMLong Beach, CA

TIA 2011Dallas, TX

WindpowerAnaheim, CA

31


July Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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Now you can access text AND video using the procedures outlined on this page. For example, scanning the Mobile Tag at right will present one of our newest videos on your tag-enabled cell phone.*

Picture This - You are enjoying WaveLengths Magazine over coffee at your local diner. In one of the articles you see a Mobile Tag symbol, similar to the one at right. Using the camera on your cell phone, you snap a picture of the Mobile Tag. Like magic, the information you are seeking appears on your cell phone screen.

How it Works - The Mobile Tag shown (above) has a web address encoded within it. If your cell phone is properly equipped, it can read the code and take you to the website that has additional information, in this case a video. Just snap the Mobile Tag with your camera phone - there’s nothing to key in!

Setting Up Your Phone 1. Determine if your cell phone can accept Mobile Tag application software. For a list of compatible phones, go to the Microsoft site:

www.microsoft.com/tag/content/faq/allDevices.aspx

2. Download the free Microsoft Mobile Tag reader at:www.microsoft.com/tag/content/download

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There has been a frenzy of corporate Mergers and Acquisitions within the datacom and telecom industries, much of which was triggered by the last recession. Now that the dust has begun to settle, WaveLengths will take a look at what these consolidations mean to you and the industry at large.

We’ll explore the impact of mergers on contractor jobs, new product development,and pricing for products and services. Read about this and more the next issue of WaveLengths Magazine!

The Urge to MERGE



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