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As fiber first rolled out, fiber splicing was as much art as function, microscopes and cameras were bulky, LED's were expensive and each fusion splicer hand tuned. The machines modernized with the industry with better CCTV cameras, smaller mirrors, more automatic positioning techniques -- the original form may have shrunken but has remained virtually unchanged as economy of scale techniques have been used to bring down overall system prices.
Not a huge surprise when you consider most product testing is done in a lab environment by lab techs for white coat inspectors. In our service lab we see a dozen different splicers from as many as seven different manufacturers every day: profile alignment, LID, core alignment, V-groove, 60 pound beasts from the early days, and even today's small "handhelds" that splice a dozen times and then beg for a new battery.
With brighter LED's why are there still mirrors to clean? With the advent of better definition CCTV chips why are multiple cameras still required? With a steady movement toward uniformity of raw fiber production, why are all the dust attracting gels, sprays and clamps even necessary anymore?
A fiber splicer's laboratory is his or her truck, or its tailgate on a good weather day. With the plethora of units available for sale these days, it's hard to determine what features and tech you need. We're here to help you make good educated decisions.
If you’re new to fiber or just brushing up before your next project bid -- here are some common fiber optic basics. So let's dive into some Fiber basics to help you become more familiar.
EasySplicer Pro & MK2 Arc-Fusion Fiber Splicers
Fiber is made up of a core surrounded by a cladding layer. Both are glass but each has its own index of refraction.
Basic Types of Optical Fiber
In use today are two general types of optical fiber:
Singlemode (SM) fiber is designed for use with a signal of one wavelength of light, typically at invisible 1310, 1480, 1550 or 1625nm wavelengths. Most often with a core diameter of 250µ (micron), singlemode fiber is commonly used for long distance regional or inter-city transmissions of data.
Multimode (MM) fiber is based on the ability to combine different wavelength signals in the same fiber path, typically at invisible 850 or 1300nm wavelengths. Most often with a core diameter of 900µ (micron), multimode fiber is commonly used for short distance curb to house, or patch cable transmissions of data.
Fiber optic lines are made up of a core surrounded by a cladding layer. Both are glass but each has its own index of refraction. The light signal is applied to the end of the optical fiber and then bounces down the optical path.
Singlemode fiber is designed for use with a signal of one wavelength of light, typically at an invisible 1310 nm, 1480 nm, 1550 nm or 1625 nm wavelengths.
Multimode fiber is based on the ability to combine different wavelength signals in the same fiber path, typically at an invisible 850 nm or 1300 nm wavelength.
Common signal connection between transmission systems use ST or SC for multimode (generally jacketed in orange protective cabling), ST, SC, FC and LC for singlemode (generally jacketed in yellow protective cabling). Angled connectors are also prevalent in cable video applications: ASC or AFC (generally color coded green for quick identification).
Typical multimode connection losses are 0.2 to 0.5 dB, singlemode connection losses typically 0.5 to 1.0 dB - this is why even today so many inside applications show a preference for multimode connections requesting pig-tailing.
There are two ways to join fiber optic cable (working with glass fiber, of course, you can't twist it together or tie it in a square knot):
Mechanically - Two finely polished fiber ends are mated in a mechanical device with a small amount of index matching gel.
Arc fusion - Simply cleaving and melting the two fiber ends into one solid glass fiber to ensure minimal loss.
Typical mechanical connection losses are 0.3 dB and fusion are 0.03 dB. These losses, plus the typical loss of the fiber type you are using should fall within the loss budget.
Used for the greater part of the last century, the “twisted pair” is a twisted thin gauge copper wire pair that only allows a single analog data connection. Today, twisted pairs are used in everything ranging from telephone wires to computer networking cables.
Twisted pairs rely on the use of hardware switching equipment to combine mass amounts of data to be carried over distances, and can be susceptible to interference and/or security concerns.
Revolutionizing the telecommunications industry, optical fiber strands transmit digital (binary) data at the speed of light. This throughput allows each individual fiber to transmit an incredible amount of data, for example tens-of-thousands of telephone calls. As an added bonus, optical fiber strands are very secure and immune to radio frequency interference.
However, unlike the twisted pair, to connect two separate fiber strands you cannot just simply twist them together. A mechanical or fusion splicer must be used to align the fiber cores in order to continue the transfer of data.
Because fiber is glass, you cannot simply tie two optical fiber ends in a knot. There are two methods to properly “splice” two fiber ends together.
Mechanically - Two finely polished fiber ends are mated in a mechanical device with a small amount of index matching gel. The aligning of cores is very important (mismatches drastically increase fiber loss).
Mechanical Splices tend to be ugly resulting in larger loss from .2 and beyond. For comparison, an ideal precision tool core-aligned splice has 0.0 to 0.05 loss.
Arc-Fusion - Melting of the 2 fiber ends into one solid glass fiber ensuring core alignment and minimal loss.
An ideal core-aligned splice has 0.0 to 0.05 loss.
Protective coating applied directly on the fiber.
The lower refractive index optical coating over the core of the fiber that "traps" light into the core.
Center of an optical fiber which light is transmitted.
Shown as: dB
A unit of measurement of optical power which indicates relative power.
A measure of allowance for the speed of light in a material at nm wavelengths.
The protective outer coating of a cable that contains fiber optic lines.
A short fiber cable with connectors on both ends to interconnecting other cables or test devices.
A reference fiber optic jumper cable of a calibrated length and loss for accurate loss testing.
Tolerable or acceptable amount of total power lost as light is transmitted through fiber, splices, and couplings.
The total power lost within a physical connection, affected by cleanliness and alignment.
An onscreen estimate of a completed splice's loss within a fused fiber.
The loss caused by the insertion of a component such as a splice or connector in an optical fiber.
Loss in fiber caused by bent or looped fiber.
Actual measured amount of total power lost as light is transmitted through fiber, splices, and couplings.
Accepted budget loss(es) of cable attenuation inherent to fiber per km by wavelength.
The calculation of any additional amount of loss that can be tolerated in a tested link.
A fiber with a core diameter larger than the wavelength of transmitted light allowing many modes of light to propagate.
Used with LED sources for shorter distance links. Typical Loss: 850nm 3.5dB/km, 1300nm 1.5dB/km
A connectorized short length of fiber attached to a fiber for termination.
A fiber with a small core that only allows one mode of light to propagate.
Commonly used with laser sources for high speed, long distance links.
Typical Loss: 1310nm 0.35dB/km, 1550nm 0.22dB/km
An instrument that splices fibers by fusing or welding them, typically by electrical arc.
The EasySplicer PRO and MK2 are excellent choices for fiber splicers.
A physical connection between two fibers made with an index matching fluid or adhesive.
Preparing the end of a fiber to connect to another fiber or an active device, also called connectorization.
A visible light source that allows visual tracing and finding jacketed fiber breaks and bends.
"Long wavelength" generally calls for 1310/1550nm singlemode.
"Short wavelength" 850/1300nm multimode.
Join the fiber and also provide a loss measurement of the splice, typically .02 db.
Various brands from manufactured globally. The most recognizable brands are Sumitomo, AFL / Fitel, EasySplicer, and Inno.
Some models cost much more because of additional features that may or may not be necessary for your requirements.
Optical Time Domain Reflectometer
OTDRs come in three basic versions:
Back Reflection Test (BRT)
Measure the ratio between the optical power into a component or system to its reflected optical power (back reflection), in units of power shown in dB.
Optical Return Loss (ORL)
ORL's measure actual insertion loss, so the lower the number, the better.
BRT's display return loss, so the higher the number the better.
Precision cleaning for low loss fiber ends.
Verify, with a crystal clear connection, communication with another technician at the other end of the fiber.
Kinda like the optical version of a butt-set.
Chosen for compatibility with the type of fiber in use (singlemode or multimode with the proper core diameter) and the wavelength desired for performing the test.
A signal source is required for an optical loss measurement.
Calibrated to read in linear units (milliwatts, microwatts and nanowatts) and/or dB referenced to one milliwatt or one microwatt optical power.
The best meters offer a relative dB scale for laboratory loss measurements.
Attenuators are precision adjustment of the level of signal in fiber.
Fiber Scopes are hand held microscope with a universal adapter to inspect connectors more closely.
Cable breaks, bending losses caused by kinks in the fiber, bad splices, etc. can be quickly detected visually with a visible light source.
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GRELLY Tech
1320 Arrow Point Dr
STE 501-80
Cedar Park, Texas 78613
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Phone: 830-347-3559
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Office Hours: 8:30am to 7:00pm (CST)
Tuesday thru Friday
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