Author Archives: Jess Petrohoy

OTT

OTT
Comprehensive fiber characterization is a complex subject that requires detailed knowledge of many aspects of fiber optics and considerable skill and judgment in defining test programs carry out the tests, validating the data, analyzing and interpreting the results to provide comprehensive, authoritative documentation that is often used as a basis for making very expensive decisions
Due to this complexity FiberOptic.com has developed the special “Certified Fiber. Characterization Engineer” course so that delegates can learn how to characterize fibers with confidence, with the full back up and support of OTT and Richard Ednay, the UK’s Principal Expert on fiber testing (BSI GEL86/1,2 & 3, acts, IEC SC86C WGI, ITU-T SCI 5, SC86C & ISO/IEC JTC Acta 19 WG3 liaison).
The course includes a formal assessment that provides successful candidates with the “Certified Fiber Characterization Engineer” (CFCE) status.
Having written the ITU-T G.650.3 Recommendation on fiber characterization then OTT is setting the standard for competence in performing fiber characterization with the “Certified Fiber Characterization Engineer” course and qualification scheme.

FiberOptic.com Updates Fiber Characterization Standards

Comprehensive fiber characterization is a complex subject that requires detailed knowledge of many aspects of fiber optics and considerable skill and judgment in defining test programs carry out the tests, validating the data, analyzing and interpreting the results to provide comprehensive, authoritative documentation that is often used as a basis for making very expensive decisions
Due to this complexity FiberOptic.com has developed the special “Certified Fiber. Characterization Engineer” course so that delegates can learn how to characterize fibers with confidence.
Having certified thousands of students and tested thousands of fiber spans, FiberOptic.com’s services division know as Adtell Integration is setting the standard for competence in performing fiber characterization and also education with the “Fiber Characterization Tech” course and certificate.
Fiber Characterization Training (3 Days)

Training Code: TR-FCT

Objectives:

In this extensive hands-on training each student will:

  • Learn about the tests that are required for fiber characterization
  • Learn about transmission limits as a function of bit rate and application
  • Learn about the effects of Chromatic Dispersion and Polarization Mode Dispersion on high speed signals such as 10G, 40G, and 100G
  • Learn about OTDR theory and bi-directional splice characterization
  • Learn about ORL and the consequences of high ORL
  • Learn how to measure Chromatic and Polarization Mode Dispersion
  • Conduct all tests required for fiber characterization
  • Test one complete span and compile all test data into a comprehensive report
  • Use an OLTS, OTDR, CD and PMD tester

Summary

This three-day course will provide you with all the knowledge and requirements that are needed to effectively characterize your optical infrastructure. You will learn about all the requirements for engineering and for qualifying the optical fiber links that utilize specific bit rates in regards to both metro and long haul spans.

After taking this course, students will have a detailed understanding of advanced OTDR configuration, cause and effect of trace events, and other advanced trace analysis techniques including bi-directional splice characterization and optical return loss testing.

Course Type

This course includes a hands-on portion and must be taken at one of our training locations. An online option for this course is currently not available.

Brief Course Synopsis

  1. Introduction to Fiber Characterization
    • What is Fiber Characterization?
    • Why is it needed?
    • Legacy Networks and Today’s Networks
  2. Fiber Optic Basic Review
    • Transmission Basics
    • Light Propagation
    • Causes of Optical Loss
    • Types of Fiber
  3. Inspection and Cleaning of Fibers
    • Inspection Tools
    • Proper Cleaning Practices
    • Inspection Assessment
  4. End to End Loss
    • Connector Loss
    • Splice Loss
    • Power Budget Calculations
    • Test Methodologies
    • OTLS Functionality
  5. Optical Return Loss
    • Consequences of High ORL
    • ORL Limits
    • ORL Test Tools
    • ORL Testing
  6. OTDR
    • How an OTDR Works
    • Reflectance
    • Dead Zones
    • Setting up the OTDR
    • Manual Measurements
  7. Chromatic Dispersion
    • Causes of Chromatic Dispersion
    • Limits of Chromatic Dispersion
    • Chromatic Dispersion Testing
    • Compensation
  8. Polarization Mode Dispersion
    • Causes of PMD
    • Mode Coupling
    • PMD Limits
    • PMD Testing
    • Isolating High PMD Areas
  9. Bi-Directional Trace Analysis
    • Post Analysis Software
    • Creating Templates
    • Applying Templates
    • Generating Splice Reports
  10. Reports
    • Transferring Data
    • Compiling Data
    • Generate Report
  • Hands-On Workshop (Optional) – This optional hands-on workshop is designed for those who desire more intensive hands-on training for immediate entry into their        specific field of study. Students typically take advantage of this workshop by adding an additional day to any of FiberOptic.com’s hands-on training courses.

Target Audience

This course is designed for installers, system managers, technicians, engineers, designers, contractors, and supervisors.

Although not required, Fiber Characterization Basics (TR-FCB) is the recommended online prerequisite for this course.

Benefits

After taking this course, students will have a detailed understanding of advanced OTDR configuration, cause and effect of trace events, and other advanced trace analysis techniques including bi-directional splice characterization and optical return loss testing.

Fiber Characterization Standards – (TIA/EIA)

National/regional
Nowadays there is good harmonization of national, regional and standards international standards, so generally the relevant national standards bodies (such as the British Standards Institution in the UK, ANSI in the US etc.) and regional standards bodies (such as CENELEC in Europe) adopt the international standards and just add their own prefix to the standard to indicate that it has been ‘rubber stamped’ by them – egg. BS EN 60825 (laser safety).
In America the Telecoms Industry Association (TIA) and the Electrical Industry Association (EIA) have been active in developing and setting standards – and in the UK the Fibreoptic Industry Association (FIA) has developed some guidance notes. Often these bodies now feed their work into the international standards work

Fiber Characterization Standards – (IEC)

Fiber Characterization Standards – (IEC)

The International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) sets standards for products and defines test methods. The Technical Committee 86 deal with fiber optics. Under this there are three Sub Committee:
  • SC86A: – deals with fibers and cables
  • SC86B: – deals with fiber optic interconnecting devices and passive components (connectors etc.)
  • SC86C: – deals with fiber optic systems and active devices (installed links, amplifiers etc.)
The 61 280-4-x series covers tests on installed cabling links, including attenuation, return loss and PMD.
61 280-4-2: – covers attenuation testing of singlemode links. Richard Ednay of OTT has been appointed as project leader to substantially re-write this standard to produce an initial draft in October 2008. This will also include return loss measurements that were originally destined to (40 into a separate 61 280-4-3 standard.
61280-4-4: – covers PMD test methods for installed links and the Technical Report 61282-9 provides further guidance on PMD test methods.
I IEC 61 300-3-35: – is a new standard for fiber optic connector end face inspection, due for publication in 2008.
The IEC website is at www.iec.ch

Fiber Characterization Standards – (ITU-T)

Fiber Characterization Standards – (ITU-T)

The international tensions Union – Telecoms division (ITU-T) makes recommendations on all aspects of international telecoms systems including fiber optics.

The G.650.1 & 2 standards cover the testing of fiber and cable in a factory environment.

In June 2007, an initial version of G.650.3 was published that was meant to cover testing of installed links. Unfortunately this version of the recommendation was very poorly written. Richard Ednay of OTT then joined ITU in order to re-write this Recommendation and the revised version was published in March 2008.
This second edition includes, for the first time anywhere in the standards, a definition of fiber characterization as given in the introduction to this module.
This Recommendation calls up the relevant IEC measurement standards for installed links detailed below.
AII ITU-T published, in-force, Recommendations are now available for free download from their website at www.itu.int
The International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) sets standards for products and defines test methods. The Technical Committee 86 deal with fiber optics. Under this there are three Sub Committee:
SC86A: – deals with fibers and cables
SC86B: – deals with fiber optic interconnecting devices and passive components (connectors etc.)
SC86C: – deals with fiber optic systems and active devices (installed links, amplifiers etc.)
The 61 280-4-x series covers tests on installed cabling links, including attenuation, return loss and PMD.
61 280-4-2: – covers attenuation testing of singlemode links. Richard Ednay of OTT has been appointed as project leader to substantially re-write this standard to produce an initial draft in October 2008. This will also include return loss measurements that were originally destined to (40 into a separate 61 280-4-3 standard.
61280-4-4: – covers PMD test methods for installed links and the Technical Report 61282-9 provides further guidance on PMD test methods.
I IEC 61 300-3-35: – is a new standard for fiber optic connector end face inspection, due for publication in 2008.
The IEC website is at www.iec.ch
There is a joint ISO/IEC Technical Committee 1 that deals generally with IT systems, Subcommittee 25 deals with “interconnection of information technology equipment” and undercoat there is a working group three that deals with “customer premises cabling”. Richard Ednay acts as liaison between this group and IEC SC86C.
National/regional
Nowadays there is good harmonization of national, regional and standards international standards, so generally the relevant national standards bodies (such as the British Standards Institution in the UK, ANSI in the US etc.) and regional standards bodies (such as CENELEC in Europe) adopt the international standards and just add their own prefix to the standard to indicate that it has been ‘rubber stamped’ by them – egg. BS EN 60825 (laser safety).
Trade bodies
In America the Telecoms Industry Association (TIA) and the Electrical Industry Association (EIA) have been active in developing and setting standards – and in the UK the Fibreoptic Industry Association (FIA) has developed some guidance notes. Often these bodies now feed their work into the international standards work
Having certified thousands of students and tested thousands of fiber spans, FiberOptic.com’s services division know as Adtell Integration is setting the standard for competence in performing fiber characterization and also education with the “Fiber Characterization Tech” course and certificate.
OTT
Having written the ITU-T G.650.3 Recommendation on fiber characterization then OTT is setting the standard for competence in performing fiber characterization with the “Certified Fiber Characterization Engineer” course and qualification scheme.