02-07-2022 - Intro to Fiber Optics - Rochester, NY

Classroom Lecture

DAY 1

Fiber Basics

• Digital communications

• What is an optical fiber?

• Fiber coatings

• Optical fiber color coding

• Basic units of measure in fiber optics

• Standards committees

Fiber Optic Transmission Theory

• The electromagnetic spectrum

• Fiber optic transmitters

• Fiber optic receivers

• Optical power

• The dBm scale

• Loss and attenuation

• Refraction

• Optical reflection

• Optical dispersion

• Bandwidth

Fiber

• The physical plant

• Fiber comparison

• What is a mode?

• Multimode fiber characteristics

• Multimode optical fiber types

• Application supported distance

• Single-mode fiber characteristics

• Single-mode optical fiber types

• Application supported distance

Cable

• Cable materials and structure

• Indoor/outdoor cables

• Distribution cables

• Armored cable

• Breakout cables

• Indoor/outdoor cables

• Loose tube outside plant cables

• Ribbon cables

• Aerial fiber optic cables

• FTTx drop cables

• Fiber and buffer color codes

• Composite and hybrid cables

• Cable interconnection options

DAY 2

Connectors

• Main connector components

• Connector types

• Subscriber connector (SC)

• BFOC/2.5 (ST)

• LC connector

• Multifiber connectors

• Older connector styles

• Termination techniques

• Fiber optic connector inspection

• Cleaning methods

• Attenuators

Splicing

• Fusion splicing

• Fiber cleaving

• Ribbon splicing

• Mechanical splicing

• Pigtail splicing

Fiber and Cable Management

• Fiber management scenarios

• Rack and wall mount patch panels

• Splice panels

• Fiber distribution units

 • Splice closures

• Splice trays

• Fiber raceway systems

• Fiber distribution hubs

• Fiber access terminals

• Multiport service terminals

• Fiber transition terminals

• Vaults and handholes

• Panel and closure considerations

Installation

• Cable handling

• Guidelines for fiber optic cable installation

• Standards, regulations, and codes

• Cable installation products

OSP Installation

• Underground installation techniques

• Conduit and duct installation

• Cable pulling methods

• Tension monitoring

• Aerial installation

• Mid-span (express) entries

Test Equipment

• Optical loss test sets

• Optical time-domain reflectometers (OTDRs)*

• Key considerations for OTDRs

• Fiber identifiers

• Visual tracers

• Visual inspection

• Optical talk sets

• Testing documentation

Optical Testing

• TIA-568 testing terminology

• Test methods

• Multimode launch conditions

• Optical loss testing

• Reference test methods

• Testing transmitter and receiver power

• OTDR deadzone

• Gainers on OTDR traces

• Testing through fiber optic splitters

• Documentation

Restoration

• Typical causes of failure

• Types of fiber optic damage

• Aerial restorations

• The need for slack cable

DAY 3

Communication System Basics

• Laser light sources

• Lasers in single-mode systems

• Light sources in multimode systems

• Laser and LED spectral width

• Reflection concerns

• Typical span distances

• Repeaters, regenerators, and amplifiers

• Point to point

• Point to multipoint

• Passive devices

• Optical splitters

• WDMs and bidi devices

• CWDM and DWDM

Loss Budgets

• Loss budget basics

• 10/40/100 Gigabit networks

Safety

• Fiber optic safety best practices

• Visual safety using fiber optic sources

• Wavelengths and the eye

• Laser classifications

• Working with lasers

• Safety eyewear

• Working with optical fibers

• Personal protective equipment

• Chemicals

• Safety data sheets (SDS)

• The work area

• Installation practices

Hands-on Skills Learning

DAY 4

Connectors

• Prepare a simplex jacketed fiber for termination.

• Prepare a simplex 900-micron fiber for termination.

• Clean a fiber connector endface.

• Use inspection scopes to view a connector endface.

• Use a light source and power meter to measure loss on a mated connector pair.

• Prepare and install a mechanical splice-on connector.

• Use a visual fault locator to identify nearby bends and breaks.

Cable Preparation for Termination

• Identify fiber optic cable and jacket types.

• Prepare a stranded cable for installation into a fiber closure/panel.

• Prepare buffer tube for a splice tray.

DAY 5

Splicing and OTDRs

• Clean the test port and all connectors of an OTDR.

• Modify typical OTDR settings to obtain a clear interpretable trace.

• Recognize and interpret events depicted by an OTDR.

• Use an OTDR to test and identify events in a span.

• Use a launch box to enable identification of events close to the OTDR.

• Join fibers with a mechanical splice.

• Strip and cleave an optical fiber.

• Modify typical splicer settings to obtain a highquality splice.

• Perform arc calibration on a fusion splicer.

• Create a fusion splice.

• Learn how to install a fusion splice-on connector.

Optical Loss Testing

• Clean connector endfaces using wet and dry cleaning methods.

• Identify damaged connectors.

• Use a light source and power meter to observe the effects of a macrobend and microbend on a fiber.

• Learn one-, two- and three-cord reference testing.

• Use a fiber identifier to detect activ­­e fibers.