The Technology Of Fiber Optic Connection

As the rapid growth and development of network, we create a lot of network application updates and upgrades almost every couple of years. Facing the situation of rising demand, fiber cabling has become the best answer.

There are lots of different parameters indicators to examine the performance of different network media. Copper networks use electrical signals, as the fiber optic networks use optical signals. Whether using electrical signals or optical signals, the insertion loss, return loss, noise and interference would be the main factors affecting network performance. Obviously, the mismatch between joints brought on by the decline in network performance can also be due to the standards mentioned above.

The major characteristics of fiber optic cable, connector, jumper, optical pigtail along with other components are relatively stable in the actual utilisation of the wiring process. Because they are relatively fixed, so the stability of the connections in patch cords (ST to ST fiber patch cable, LC to ST fiber patch cable, etc.) may technically modify the actual fiber optic network. Here's an analysis and discussion of the optical fiber connection technology in two aspects.

• 1. Splicing Methods: Fusion splicing has a high rate of success, however the joint after splicing is simpler to break or failure. Under normal circumstances, the splice connection loss could be smaller, generally below 0.2dB, but the return loss is difficult to control, while in the optical fiber fusion process, external factors affecting the quality of lots of splicing, for example environmental conditions, operation of proficiency, the matching of optical fiber. Machine splicing process can't avoid too large fiber loss for individual reality. Moreover, experience tells us the real lack of worth of splicing must test in order to obtain. In the fiber core under a few more, it is easy to damage, if the test answers are not satisfactory or compliance, to be re-selected after which rework it. Following the network has been utilized , when there is have to slowly move the location to be interrupted fiber optic link, a new position in the re-splicing. The suggestions above could be the emergence of all. Let us pay a lot of splicing work and also the extra care the safety of fiber.

• 2. Connector Access: People who involved in the manufacture and manufacture of optical products factory colleagues should be fully aware of this. On-site grinding and the factory production are the two can't compare the way different factory is specialized grinding machine used by the coarse to fine of five grinding process, can't adjust the pressure field can not be consistent with manual grinding. Maybe previously, the standard low speed network is acceptable, even if there's excessive insertion loss and return loss, connection instability, etc., since the amount of fiber rich enough to absorb the impact factors. However, in today's increasingly high end network, a lot of indicators and parameters are extremely sensitive. Because the design requirements or neglect to link effort and time, so the designer or construction are headache, loss occurs beyond the network design requirements, testing such things can't occur.

In order to solve the optical fiber connection problems might be encountered, so that the design, construction, maintenance and employ of more reliable and stable, the German company has developed the pre-connect technology. According to the actual needs of the scene, the pre-connect technology can pick pre-terminated connectors at each side from the PE or LSZH for indoor or outdoor optical cable. Pre-cable is used for connecting private branch parts. The bare optical fiber cable in the output may become resistant pull, or compression of 3.0/2.0 cable. You'll be able to eliminate fiber optic network design, construction and employ of various uncertain factors that may cause damage to the fiber optic link or security implications. The entire guarantee system security meets the objective of the design requirements.

Cable connection and installing of pre-construction flow chart with a number of ways of traditional fiber optic terminals compared to pre-connect technology which uses fiber optic directly, that is, pre-terminated fiber cable with no fiber connection point.

The Technology Of Ethernet Over Fiber

If searching for the distinction of Ethernet over Fiber and traditional Ethernet technology, you will find stuff that one has to keep in mind. The more someone has used both the ethernet and fiber optic network services, the faster the first is capable of seeing the difference together. There has never been an occasion when Ethernet is perfect like it reaches this moment because of using fiber optics. Why? The need to increase internet speed is the major reason.
Companies and business people use Ethernet services to keep data and transfer information inside their institutions. Attaining internet speed is one of the reason everyone should upgrade their current bandwidth. With Ethernet over Fiber, there are better video and audio and data applications employed for businesses purposes such as advertising and business promotions every so often.

After using these applications for a while, you realize the rate where the transfer data from one spot to another varies. A paramount thing about this process is the notion that it allows for quick data transfer in one place to another through fiber optic cables. And between your traditional Ethernet devices and fiber optic network equipments, patch cables can be used for the bond. For instance, the SC to LC fiber patch cable is commonly utilized in the Ethernet cabling.

Ethernet over Fiber is an extremely cost effective enterprise answer and it thus becomes the business solution that everybody wants to go for. It is the best option of all the available technologies within the design and development market today. Its speed is higher, effective and efficient as compared to the traditional cables, wireless connections and also the satellites. In addition, Ethernet over Fiber can go up to around 50Mbps in the initial period, latter to 100Mbps, 1000Mbps, 10Gbps and even 100Gbps now.

In terms of holding capacities, this technology has a higher capacity different from every other type of connections. We've got the technology has the ability to carry data over a longer distance compared to traditional cables, wireless connections and the satellites. It's also lightweight, has a longer lifespan that other connections do not have and therefore, it's simpler to handle.

The other essential aspect with Ethernet services is they can work in any place anytime and therefore they are not location specific. For people, business owners and companies that are looking to determine a gradual change in data transmission speed, choosing the ethernet will allow them to see the difference.

The most important thing is that for the system to work faster and effectively, it is mandatory to achieve the right infrastructure installed. Many telecommunication and cable information mill putting this technology to make use of to enhance their services and productivity. Due to the interest in fraxel treatments, companies have opted to put in place the right infrastructure, which be sure that the technology itself works well and to the utmost.

FiberStore, an innovator of fiber network solution, now provides number of cables and devices in line with the technology of Ethernet over Fiber. Whether LC LC fiber, ST LC fiber, LC pigtail and Ethernet media converter, are all available.

Comparison between Factory Termination and Field Termination

Fiber optic cable termination can be mainly split into two types that are factory termination and field termination. For tighter loss budget, the best approach is factory terminated cables since it is much easier to achieve low loss and quality connector terminations in a controlled factory environment. On the other hand, field terminations provide far more flexibility in meeting system requirements. As technicians face important trade-offs in deciding which method of choose, here provides a detailed comparison on merits and choices backward and forward types.

Merits Of Factory Termination And Field Termination

Advantages:

• Factory Termination: The factory has to guarantee the quality. Fiber optic manufacturers have highly trained technicians and quality equipment for the job. Factory technicians usually are expert on fiber connector polishing plus they produce thousands of optical patch cords and fiber pigtails on a daily basis. Factory termination offers the cheapest. Since factories produce mass volume of fiber patch cords, they've reduced the price towards the most favorable point. This is actually the most economic choice.

• Field Termination: Field termination offers the best flexibility in meeting system requirements. You can just pull the fiber cables and terminate them later. That you can do on-the-spot repairs wherever there's a defective fiber link. This is actually the biggest advantage of doing the termination yourself.

Disadvantages:

• Factory Termination: Factory termination doesn't provide as much flexibility as field termination. You need to get the exact listing of fiber lengths and quantities and you've got to make certain that you've enough spare period of cable for every termination.

• Field Termination: Field termination is high cost. You need some polishing tools and supplies. Field termination quality are Suitable for multimode applications, however for single mode applications, you'd better leave that to factory termination. The field termination technician must be highly skilled. He would have to practice a great deal offline before doing the actual work. A poor termination can cost you both time and money.

Choices Of Factory Termination And Field Termination

Choosing Factory Termination:

• Factory pre-terminated cables: For this kind of business, you give a list of cable types, lengths and quantities to the factory. The factory will deliver each pre-terminated cable on the reel. You just need to pull these cables through duct carefully having a cable netting to safeguard the connectors.

• Factory pre-terminated pigtails and splicing: This can be a intermediate approach. You order cable segments with factory-mounted connectors on one end only. You have to order some fiber pigtails and then splice the pigtail towards the unterminated end from the cable. This is a fast and simple approach. However, it takes that you curently have the fusion splicers. Or else you would need to choose the less reliable mechanical splicing.

Choosing Field Termination:

• Field installation of epoxy and polish connectors: Plenty of experience technicians still prefer this way because it provides the best flexibility and the lowest possible cost. Epoxy and polish connectors overlap with used by factories. You pull the fiber first, after which terminate the fiber on the site. This involves fiber optic epoxy, high temperature curing oven, scribe tools, polishing films and fiber optic inspection microscopes. This method needs you have a fiber termination kit which includes these items.

• Field installation of quick termination connectors: Quick termination connectors really are a god bless for emergency repairs. This kind of connector functions as an optical pigtail. It is pre-polished within the factory. It features a fiber stub within the connector body. You just need to cleave your fiber, insert it into the connector body, and lock it per the connector manufacturer's instruction. However, it doesn't provide just as much long-term reliability as the epoxy and polish connectors. Also, quick termination connectors are much more costly then standard epoxy and polish connectors.

Choose Suitable Patch Panel For Particular Situations

Patch panel has two kinds which are wall-mounted and rack-mounted versions. As surmounting trouble rises, an optical fiber technician must choose the the most suitable patch panel for the situation. What should be recognized is which involves easy installation, proper termination and long term maintenance, because not all patch panels are made equally.

Fiber optic cable is robust and for that reason deserves some kind of special treatment. For example, if a horizontal copper cable is damaged, one user will be affected, while if a backbone fiber optic cable goes down, it will take lots of users down by using it. For this reason using fully enclosed connecting hardware (fiber optic patch panel) for optical fiber cable is crucial. And it is even the reason why technician must choose from using wall-mounted or rack-mounted hardware. The optical fiber density required will likely influence the technicians' choice between the wall-mounted and rack-mounted connectivity. As fiber patch cord types used by many technicians are various, choosing the right patch panel involves be considered a common thing.

Difference Between Wall-Mounted And Rack-Mounted Patch Panels

• Wall-mounted patch panels are compatible with the fiber optic cable count generally as much as 24 fibers, and may extend to as many as 144 fibers through small form factors and high density connectors. Wall-mount patch panels offer the benefit of reduced space on the floor requirements.

• Rack-mounted patch panels may be used with higher fabric counts or depending on the proximity to communications equipment where rack-mounted patch panels are preferable. 1U patch panels are designed for as much as 24 optical fiber cables with ST or SC connectors, or as much as 48 optical fibers by utilizing small form factor connectors. For extra protection, 2U to 4U patch panels can be used to handle as much as 144 optical fiber connections.

In a MPO cable, a 12 fiber MPO connector can speed installation time and increase the concentration of connection hardware. The factory terminated and tested cassettes look after breaking out the optical fibers from the MPO connectors to ST, SC, or MT-RJ connectors. The MPO cassette can double the amount concentration that is possible in rack-mount patch panels, up to 72 optical fibers in a 1U patch panel and 288 optical fibers inside a 4U patch panel, making these optical fibers perfectly fit to satisfy high density applications, such as data centers and storage space networks.

Accessibility is an issue for very long term maintenance when selecting a rack-mount patch panel. The 1U patch panels may have a an access panel to achieve the rear optical fibers, while larger patch panels could have a removable rear cover with adequate room inside to create changes or perform repairs. Strain relief and loop management for incoming cables should be provided, nonetheless management devices should be sufficiently small as to not interfere with accessibility optical fibers. Cable management for patch cords should be provided on the front of the patch panel with clear front covers and labeling arranged to ease moves, adds and changes and by ensuring that port identification is not obscured by patch cords.

Since copper patch panels need to be sufficiently strong not to flex an excessive amount of because the cables are punched down. The rolled edges around the panel sheet metal stock help to make the patch panels rigid.

Copper patch panels should provide 24 ports in a 1U height or 48 ports inside a 2U height. It is essential to make sure that the modular jacks and circuit traces on the panels are safe from debris that can short out circuits. All cable management systems must be simple to use and keep to avoid any potential problems.

Fiber Jumpers Inspection And Cleaning Methods

Optical patch cords used as jumper cables, also called fiber optic jumpers, are often used between the optical transceiver and fiber terminal box. The main purpose of fiber optic jumpers detection is to ensure the quality of system connection, reduce the failure factors, and identify the fiber point of failure in the event of a failure. There are many detection methods which are mainly divided into artificial simple measurement and precision instruments measurement.

• Artificial Simple Measurement: This method is generally used to rapidly detect the fiber jumpers' ON/OFF and distinguish fiber jumpers in construction. It uses a simple light source to infiltrate visible light into the fiber optic jumper from one end, and observe which one glows from the other side to achieve the detection. Although this method is simple, it can not quantitatively measure the attenuation and breakpoint of fiber optic jumpers.

• Precision Instruments Measurement: Using the optical power meter or optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) to quantitatively measure the fiber jumpers, the attenuation of fiber jumpers andconnectors can be measured, even the breakpoint position of fiber optic jumpers can be measured. This method can be used to quantitatively analyze the reasons of fiber optic networks' failure and evaluate optical networking products.

Fiber optic jumper is mainly used in the engine room to realize the connections between the fiber terminal and the devices, the equipment and devices, and the ports of wiring closet. It is very commonly used in fiber optic networks. We found that in network maintenance, to make a good connection between fiber optic jumpers and fiber couplers (adapters), the fiber jumpers end face's cleanliness is an important factor, which directly affects the quality of network communications.

Fiber Jumper end face means the distal section of its two connectors. It is often an easily overlooked place, because of nonstandard operation, which can easily be contaminated. In the daily operation and maintenance to the light path, operating specifications should be strictly enforced to ensure the cleanliness of fiber jumpers face. If the fiber end face is polluted, we must follow standardized procedures for cleaning. Here are how to inspect fiber end face's cleanliness and the clean-up methods.

• Visual Inspection: Under normal circumstances the most common practice is to check the face dirt: Disconnect the device pick up the fiber jumpers against the light, by observing the side facing the bright light refraction to detect whether the end is clean and smooth. Through observation, if the end face of a smooth bright light reflection is considered relatively clean, if the side face of the light is reflected light and not too smooth, it is likely there is dirt or scratches end face of such face will seriously affect the quality of the optical transmission. Of course, with the end surface inspection apparatus can be more fully understand the details of the end surface.

• Instrument Checks: Currently fiber end face inspection tools for instrument more, which optical fiber microscope is the most widely used professional inspection equipment. Under normal circumstances for multimode fiber-optic microscope display magnification of 200 times, while for single-mode fiber-optic microscope display magnification of 400 times. More advanced fiber-optic microscope magnification can not only switch between the two, but also through the LCD screen displays the fiber end, and thereby not disconnect the device detects the fiber end, but also to avoid the risk of eye injury by laser.

Cleaning Methods
In the fiber jumper end face inspection process, once the optical fiber end surface microscopy revealed the presence of fiber dirt, it must be properly cleaned to avoid triggering a decline in the quality of the communication problems. Each method has its own maintenance staff to do cleaning and maintenance, different cleaning methods to get different cleaning effect, if conditions permit, or the help of professional cleaning tools to help better. The importance of clean face a lot of companies now have noticed, and develop a variety of face cleaning tools, the author will introduce the following tools to assist in a professional and non-professional tools assisted two end cleaning methods.

In the absence of tools to assist in the case need to prepare ethanol, clean cotton balls, lens paper. Cleaning procedure is as follows.

• 1) Clean cotton ball in one hand, and then ethanol drops on cotton balls, alcohol should not drop too much.
• 2) With an anhydrous alcohol with a cotton wipe face along the same direction, the number of dirt under the end of the product.
• 3) Put a good face with an alcohol wipe three or more layers of the folded lens paper to wipe face in the same direction until the alcohol is completely dry and the end face of the light reflection of bright reflective so far.
• 4) Carefully examine each end to reflect the circumstances and phototabdus whether the fiber end face of residual debris and, if necessary, repeat the above steps 1-3 until the end clean flawless so far.

In the cleaning process should use the right cleaning tools and cleaning steps if incorrect cleaning methods not only face clean ineffective, but also may cause permanent damage to the face. After cleaning, be sure to check again and then insert the connector end to ensure that contaminants have been completely removed. If necessary, you will need to be cleaned again again, in order to ensure complete removal of the first failed to clear the dirt, so that the end to keep clean.

The above talking about fiber jumpers end face inspection and cleaning methods are simple and feasible, but in the usual course of operation and maintenance we should enhance the awareness of this aspect's cleaning. Because dust and oil will damage the fiber coupling, when the fiber jumpers are not in use, we must use protective sleeve to protecte the fiber optic connector, as well as to fiber couplers. Every time before the use of fiber jumpers we should clean the end face using a fiber paper. With cleaning consciousness, we can effectively reduce the fiber jumpers failures, and improve the quality of fiber optic lines and maintenance efficiency.

The Connection Among Fiber Terminal Box, Patch Cable And Pigtail

Generally in the network cabling, outdoors (connection between buildings) use fiber optic cables, while indoors (inside buildings) use Ethernet twisted pair cables. Then how to convert the transmission media between the Outdoor Optical Network and the Indoor Ethernet Network?

And what devices are used in the connection? What roles do they play? How about the relationship between them? The answers are as following. Firstly, the mainly used devices are fiber terminal box, fiber optic patch cable, fiber optic pigtail and optical transceiver module etc.

Connection Relationship:

• Step 1: Access outdoor fiber optic cables into fiber terminal box for the purpose of splicing the optical fiber cable and fiber optic pigtail, leading out it by using fiber optic patch cable.
• Step 2: Access the fiber patch cable into fiber transceivers to convert optical signals into electrical signals.
• Step 3: Electrical signal sent by the fiber transceivers uses the transmission medium of twisted pair. At this point UTP network devices can be connected to RJ-45 connectors. So far, the conversion of optical signals is completed.

Tips: There are many network devices which have optical ports, but if there is no optical modules (similar to the fiber optic transceiver functions), the ports can not be used.

Fiber Terminal Box is a terminal protection box for the splicing of fiber optic cable and pigtail. Fiber optic terminal box is a cable end fitting. Its two ends are fiber optic cables and pigtails, the equivalent is to be split into a single fiber optic cable equipment. Fiber terminal box is used to terminate fiber optic cable, and connect the core to pigtails. The access fiber cable can have multi cores, for example, a 4-core cable (cable has four cores), through terminal box, you can splice this optical cable to a maximum of four pigtails, that leads out of 4 fiber patch cables.

Optical Pigtail: connector at one end and the other end is a cable core breakage. By welding, is connected with the other cable core. Also known as swine pigtail cable terminal box to the device that is used for the connection between the optical fiber. Often divided into single-mode or multi-mode fiber pigtail, single fiber or dual fiber, transmission distance, as well as pigtail interface type. Commonly used in fiber optic devices currently on the market pigtail interface types are generally: FC, SC, LC, ST these four.
The role of fiber pigtail is mainly used to connect both ends of the connector, pigtail splicing fiber optic connectors at one end with the other end through a special connector (FC, SC, LC, ST) with fiber-optic transceiver or optical module is connected, constituting the optical data transmission path. Where FC and FC connectors generally used in communications transmission equipment; ST connectors are generally the first coupler adapter, and then connect to fiber optic transceiver modules.
Usually there are no pure fiber optic pigtails on sale (FIBERSTORE can supply), but we can cut the fiber patch cable from the middle, it then becomes two fiber pigtails. Pigtails for use in terminal box, connect the fiber optic cable through the terminal box coupler (adapter) to connect pigtails and fiber patch cables.

Fiber Optic Patch Cable: Its two ends are both active joints. It is used for connecting fiber optic pigtails and devices. It has thick protective layer, and is commonly used in the connection between optical transceiver and fiber terminal box. It is also called fiber jumper or fiber optic patch cord.

Fiber splice tray is used for abutting joint a two fiber optic cables into a long one. They are not interchangeable between, fiber optic cable and optical transceiver is connected via fiber optic terminal box, that is, can only be inserted on optical pigtail. Fiber terminal box and splice tray can be understood as: in which the optical fiber splice two heads, but the former is a fiber optic cable and pigtail splice, which is a fusion between cable.

Fiber optic closure and fiber terminal box are not the same. Fiber optic closure is fully sealed, waterproof but it can not fix pigtails; fiber terminal box is not waterproof, while the internal structure can fix fiber optic cables, pigtail coupler can be fixed while only connecting two pigtails and sub ​​SC/PC FC/PC interfaces, which is between fiber optic cables and pigtails spliced by splicing machines.

What is the difference between the fiber patch cable and fiber optic pigtail? Can the fiber patch cable be divided into two fiber pigtails? Only one end of fiber pigtail is an active connector, while fiber patch cables have active joints on both ends. There are many different interfaces require different couplers. Fiber patch cables can be used as a divided two pigtails with.

FIBERSTORE Introduced The Smallest OTDR: JDSU MTS-6000

October 28, 2013, FIBERSTORE introduced the smallest optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) JDSU MTS-6000, including three types of E8126MR, E8126LR and E8126LRE.

JDSU MTS-6000 is a compact and light-weight test platform designed for cellular phone and maintenance of fiber optic network, which weights just 2.4kg. Applying this OTDR tester, field service technicians can provide the best performance level on the market and reliability.

JDSU MTS-6000's modular design enables it to offer a wide range of test functionality, with over 40 different fiber modules supporting an array of applications, and may meet future fiber and photonic testing needs. This new product will go into the market with the name of T-BERD6000 in The united states, during Europe, Asia and all other locations with the name of MTS-6000.

"JDSU MTS-6000 in an extremely compact, lightweight, combined with test instrument in JDSU's MTS-8000 optical test platform multi-network technology leadership," JDSU's gm said: "with our existing fiber optic test application modules to make sure compatibility in our customers in their testing in our solutions maximize roi."

MTS-6000's performance features include an ultra long-range OTDR module. The tester is of comparable products within the first test, in several features within the combined instrument for FTTx, access, metro and core network optical applications. Advanced test head design allows this module to supply the industry's first to become reduced to less than one meter blind tester, allowing higher precision and fault-finding.

Another feature is JDSU's industry-leading UHD module. It's on the market with the highest of any OTDR instrument performance (1550nm wavelengths as much as 50dB). This module's superior performance enables it to operate faster compared to existing 40dB OTDR six times the rate to accomplish the exam, for the network installation and fault isolation saving a lot of time.

Highly integrated design to make sure maximum versatility for triple play, 3G, agile optical networking, FTTx and other new high-speed optical fiber transmission systems are changing the machine structure of the installation and maintenance of way. MTS-6000 OTDRs meet the required cost function for everybody test objectives, and also meet the new test requirements.

MTS-6000 is a highly integrated modular platform having a large high visibility color display (with optional touch-screen display), a high-capacity lithium-ion battery , an optional video fiber scope, and built-in optical test functions for example visual fault locator, power meter, light phone with loss tester. Additional features automatic two-way analysis, insertion loss and optical return loss testing conserve to 50 percent from the ages.

MTS-6000's versatility allows it to satisfy another test applications, for example polarization mode dispersion (PMD), chromatic dispersion, wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) and spectral attenuation measurements. MTS-6000 also because the smallest on the market today dispersion tester sets the standard for such testing instrument.

FIBERSTORE has previously introduced the JDSU MTS-2000 and JDSU MTS-4000, that are a lot more cheaper than the MTS-6000 OTDR and also have good performance along with the new generation. For more product information, check out FIBERSTORE.