Fiber optic continuity test

Fiber optic continuity test
A visible laser source connected to one end of the cable can be used to check the transmission to the opposite end. This type of fiber optic test is only intended to detect major anomalies in the fiber, such as macro-bends. Fiber continuity testing can also help determine if the right fiber optic cable is connected to the right patch panel.

Fiber End-Face Inspection

An optical pen (VFL) uses visible spectrum laser light to test the continuity of the optical fiber and detect faults. The red light source is visible through the coating wherever there is a large defect or defective splice. For fiber-optic links over 5 km or with limited fiber access, an optical reflectometer is used to pinpoint continuity problems.
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Optical loss measurement
When the optical source passes through the fiber, its power decreases. This drop-in power, also called optical loss, is expressed in decibels (dB). The most accurate way to measure the overall optical loss of a fiber is to inject a known light level at one end and measure the light level at the other end. This measurement, performed with an optical light source and a photometer, requires access to both ends of the fiber.

Do you want to know if you are eligible for fiber optics

Do you want to know if you are eligible for fiber optics (FttH or FttLA)? Contact Selectra to have an advisor direct you among the most competitive partner offers, depending on your eligibility: 09 75 18 80 51 (Monday-Friday 8 am-9pm; Saturday 9:30 am-6:30pm; Sunday 9 am-5pm) or ask call back for free .

Fiber optic deployment methods: FttH fiber or FTTLA fiber and Fttdp with cable termination
As part of a fiber optic deployment , it is important to distinguish the two kinds of fiber optic connections currently used by telecom operators. It is first of all the FttH optical fiber (or end to end), this directly connects the housing with the fiber and is not divided between several housings.
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The second type of optical fiber that exists is fiber with a cable termination, the latter arrives at the bottom of a building or at the beginning of a street and then arrives at the accommodation via a coaxial or copper cable (Fttdp), more rare. FTTLA fiber is not as powerful as FttH fiber, but also achieves very good throughput. This network is developed by SFR and previously constituted the majority of fiber optic connections in France but now FttH fiber has exceeded them: 14.5 million eligible homes against 9.5 for Fiber optics according to the Observatoire de l ' Arcep of 2019 .

Want to participate in the deployment of the communication networks of the future

If you are looking for a job or are considering a retraining in a dynamic sector, turn to the position of fiber optic technician!
The Actual Group presents in three points, the essentials to know about this booming profession!

What is a fiber optic technician?
A fiber optic technician's mission is to bring the very high start to each accommodation and office in urban and rural areas. With the France Very High Speed ​​plan, which aims to connect all French households to fiber by 2022, this is a job for the future  ! The position therefore meets a strong need for recruitment .

Training in the profession of FTTH (Fiber To The Home) technician does not require any specific qualification to get started. It is aimed at all profiles, whatever their situation ( job seeker , young graduate, integration or experienced person).
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What are the main tasks of a fiber optic technician?
The main tasks of the fiber optic technician are:

•      identify the place of intervention on the map,

•      note lines to facilitate wiring,

•      install the equipment and assemble the elements,

•      identify and prepare cables above and below ground,

•      prepare the connections to the boxes,

•      bring cables into compliance and secure overhead and underground,

•      maintain and troubleshoot lines,

•      update the work monitoring documents.

UNDERGROUND OPTICAL CABLE NOMENCLATURES

Underground cables are installed in ducts or directly buried. Underground cables in ducts are usually installed in 4-inch (approximately 10 cm) ducts. The underground cable directly buried is placed underground without conduit, and therefore it must be designed to withstand the rigors of the environment, such as to support the actions of fungi. The leftovers of these cables are made in the passage boxes, widely used in underground networks.

OPTICAL CABLE NOMENCLATURES FOR OVERHEAD EXTERNAL NETWORK

For the use of cables in an aerial overhead network, it is necessary to define whether the cable will be supported via a spinning cable or if it will be self-supporting. It is also important to know whether the cable will be installed in a span of up to 120 meters or longer. Below is the pattern of the names used in external network cables:

The cables of internal and external networks, also known as indoor and outdoor, have different characteristics and applications. Internal cords and cables are generally used indoors and have no protection against the weather. CFOT cables can be used indoors and outdoors, as they have an external cover with weather protection. The recommendation when using these cables externally is that they be installed spine.

Defining the flame retardancy class of cables is also important when designing a network. The cables have 4 basic designations for defining the delay, which are:

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GENERAL OPTICAL CABLE (COG):

Indicated for vertical application in pipes with a lot of occupation, in places without forced airflow, in installations in the same environment or in places with fire propagation conditions similar to these.

OPTICAL “RISER” CABLE (COR):

Indicated for vertical application in a lifting pit (“Shaft”), in installations where the cables exceed more than one floor, in places without forced air flow, in pipes with little occupation or in places with fire propagation conditions similar to these.

OPTICAL “PLENUM” CABLE (COP):

Indicated for horizontal application, in confined places (between floors, ceilings, gutters, etc.) with or without forced air flow or in places with fire propagation conditions similar to these.

Low smoke and halogen-free cable - “Low Smoke and Zero Halogen” (LSZH):

Indicated for applications in paths and horizontal and vertical spaces where there is no forced air flow, or in places with fire propagation conditions similar to these.

Below are some nomenclatures recorded on internal and external cables:

The time-domain optical reflectometer (OTDR)

OTDR tests

The time-domain optical reflectometer (OTDR) uses techniques such as a radar to create a fiber drawing of a fiber optic cable installation. The drawing, called signature or layout, contains the information about the fiber length, the losses in the fiber segments, in the connectors, in the splices and the losses caused due to the tension during the installation. OTDRs are used to verify the quality of the installation or to solve problems. However, tests with OTDR should not be used to determine cable losses.   

OTDRs have limited resolution based on distance and may show undesirable results when testing short cables, characteristic of internal plant installations. If you want to perform an OTDR test in the wiring of internal plant facilities, experienced personnel should assess whether it is appropriate. 

OTDR tests should only be performed by trained personnel, using certified equipment designed for it. The technicians who carry out the tests must be trained, not only in the handling of the OTDR but also in the interpretation of the OTDR paths. 

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Use this procedure to drag from one end:

Use this procedure to drag from one end:

Pull the cable out of the conduit or corrugated subduct and support it on the floor in the form of a large figure of 8. The size of 8 will be determined by the size and stiffness of the cable, but between 2 and 4 meters is a common size. The end of the cable will be on the floor (you will need a tarp or plastic sheet to keep the cable clean). Gently pull and rest the cable in the form of a figure of 8 to prevent it from twisting.

Several installers must lift the cable and flip it so that the end to be pulled is up. 

Hook the end of the pull belt with the appropriate hitch swivel and continue with the run.

For an intermediate drag, follow the instructions below:

This procedure eliminates the need to turn the cable in the procedure in figure 8 on the floor.

Locate the cable coil at an intermediate point in the long section (making sure not to exceed the maximum tensile length in both directions).

Pull one end of the cable into the underground conduit towards one end of the section.

Unwind the coil cable and leave the rest of the cable as an 8 figure on the floor. The end of the cable will be on top of the figure of 8. 

Pull the second end of the cable into the conduit towards the other end of the section.

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Eye safety

Many people think that the most dangerous thing about working with fiber optics is the possibility of hurting their eyes with the laser light on the fiber.  They seem to confuse the optical fiber for communications with the high-power laser-coupled optical fiber used to cut metal, so that the doctor burns warts or they may have seen many science fiction movies.

In fact, most fiber optic systems do not have the power to cause damage to your eyes. In addition, the light that comes from a fiber expands, so that the further you are from the end of the fiber, the lower the exposure.   That said, consider yourself warned. In recent times, some fiber optic systems have sufficient power to be dangerous, and some fiber optic inspection techniques used in operating systems may increase the possibility of damage. However, this is not the biggest danger that installers face. 

The key to understanding the problem of electricity is to understand the power levels, the wavelength and the nature of the transmission of light in the optical fiber.

The fiber optic medical laser systems used for surgeries and mechanized laser systems have sufficient power to cause damage to the eyes, as well as to burn warts or produce some types of materials.   These systems use high power laser, in general CO2 laser, which emits radiation at a wavelength that is heat instead of light, of around a 10 micron wavelength. This wavelength is quickly absorbed by the materials and heats them quickly, cutting them easily. 

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Provision of test equipment for the installer

Installers also need test equipment. There are many test equipment options depending on complexity and cost. A good choice can reduce the cost of equipment and the cost of test work. The type and quantity of test equipment needed will depend on the type of work. 

All installation technicians must have a visual continuity plotter or a visual fault locator. The plotter is a light source, a flashlight or LED source that is used with multimode fibers to verify continuity and to ensure there are no defective connectors. A visual fault locator is a high-power laser that can be used with single-mode or multi-mode fibers, but it also allows you to find other faults such as breaks in most simplex or duplex cables ( zipcord) or flat fibers. Visual plotters or fault locators are not very expensive but they are invaluable during installation and troubleshooting processes.

Each of the fibers in a cable network requires loss tests with a light source and a power meter, also called optical loss testing equipment (OLTS). The OLTS will confirm that the fiber was installed and the terminals placed correctly, by means of the point-to-point loss test and by comparison with the estimated loss in the calculation of estimated optical loss made during the design stage. Large jobs will require more than one team to finish on time.   Loss testing equipment is available in different versions, such as equipment that is sold as a test kit that brings a light source and a separate power meter; an OLTS that is a single instrument that includes both the light source and the power meter; or modules to transform the equipment for tests on copper networks in OLTS. The light source and the power meter separately are always the most economical solution, especially in the case of small jobs, since they can be carried separately, taking one technician and one technician the other, one to each end of the cable to be tested. If an OLTS is used, two technicians are needed to test a point-to-point cable, but two fibers can be tested at the same time, saving labor costs. OLTS adapters for copper network testing equipment are not economical, but you can take advantage of the data handling of these expensive equipment for detailed reporting. Contractors usually choose these adapters if they have already invested in a test equipment for copper networks.

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planning of the installation is a critical stage

nstallation Checklist



The planning of the installation is a critical stage of any project, since it involves the coordination of activities of many people and companies. The best way to keep everything in order is through a design-based checklist. The checklist below is extensive, but each project will have unique requirements that must be added. 



The checklist before installation

·      Main contact point / director of the chosen project

·      Requirements for ready communications links

·      Requirements of equipment and ready components; chosen suppliers

·      Route of the chosen link, permits obtained

·      The components of the cable network and the chosen suppliers

·      Coordination with the facilities and with the electricity personnel ready

·      Complete documentation and ready for installation, preliminary restoration plans ready

·      Complete test plan

·      Program and established start date of the installation, all the people involved notified

·      The ordered components and the coordinated delivery date; plans to receive the materials (time, place), security requested in case they are left outside or at the construction site

· Contractor/installer chosen and coordinated start date

·      Tour with the contractor (s) on the link route

·      Review with the contractor (s) of construction plans

·      Review with the contractor (s) of the chosen components

·      Review with the program contractor (s)

·      Review with the contractor (s) of safety standards

·      Review with the contractor (s) of the remaining materials that will be saved for restoration

·      Review with the test plan contractor (s)

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Equipment for restoration

A big problem is to bring the two cables close enough to be able to splice. It takes about one meter of cable at each end to strip the cable, splice the fibers and place them in a splice closure. It is recommended to design the cable network with local storage of the loop-shaped service cable. If the ends of the cables are very short, a new part of the cable must be spliced, which must be separated from the surplus after installation.

What else should be in a restoration kit in addition to cables and cable network hardware? A termination or mechanical splicing kit and appropriate supplies. In the case of splices, splice closures with adequate space for as many splices as there are fibers in the cable will be necessary. All this should be put in a box duly marked with a copy of the cable network documentation and stored in a place that is safe and quickly accessible for people who may need it.

Staff Preparation

Personnel must be properly trained to use this equipment, troubleshoot and restore. Of course, it must also be available at the time it is required. The greatest delay in restoring a fiber optic communications link is usually the chaos that results while staff decides what steps to follow. The most important issue is that the responsible staff knows the plan.

Large fiber optic users have restoration plans in place, trained personnel and kits with ready-to-use supplies. It is not common that most users in the internal plant are ready for this type of contingencies. For users, it is not profitable to have all this expensive equipment. They prefer to have an economic check-up team consisting of a VFL and an OLTS at each end of the link and call an experienced contractor to restore it.
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