Do you Inspect Before You Connect? The VIAVI full-size wall poster will serve as a helpful reminder that Contamination is the #1 Reason to Troubleshoot Optical Networks. Dirty connectors cause 80% of field test failures. Microscopic debris significantly degrades signal performance and can cause permanent damage. Mating dirty connectors can break apart, spread, and migrate particles. And a typical dust particle is 2 to 15 µm and is only visible with a microscope.
Professionals in the ICT industry who are exclusively working from home may have “found time,” with which they can seek opportunities for professional development or training. One resource available to these professionals—as it has been for years—is Fiber U: the Fiber Optic Association’s free online self-study program. Fiber U includes self-study programs, tutorials, textbooks, videos, and links to other Fiber Optic Association (FOA) pages that educate on fiber optics and premises cabling.
Expanded beam connectors have a high tolerance for dirt and debris, but EB fiber optic systems are not immune to contamination. They should be cleaned routinely but standard fiber optic cleaning tools simply will not work. The CleanStixx™ EB swab can clean 1.2mm and larger EB connectors. The porous, thermally-sintered, variable-density polymer tip fits over the lens of the EB connector and removes dust, liquids and finger prints delivering a fast, reliable fiber optic network
To handle higher bandwidth, improve network density, and prepare for future upgrades, more data center designers and network managers are moving to multi-fiber push-on connections or MPOs in their fiber network infrastructure. This White Paper provides an overview of all things MPO, including fiber counts, color coding, cleaning, and polarity considerations.
BICSI has published the 14th edition of The Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual (TDMM), its flagship manual. The manual is the basis for the RCDD® exam and has become a world resource in global best practices. The 14th edition incorporates significant changes that reflect the newest trends in ICT technologies, ensuring a project is designed based on the latest standards and best practices. The two-volume TDMM contains vital information on these aspects and even more.
CI&M has again published its round up of the most offputting structured cabling fiascos, as found on job sites and posted in photos to social media via Reddit’s ‘Cablefail’ and ‘Cablegore’ sub-communities. It’s hard to believe some of these are out there.
Can You Learn Fiber Optic Skills Online? If you have your own tools and components and like to learn on your own, you probably can. The Fiber U “Basic Skills Lab” has lessons for learning cable preparation, splicing, termination and testing. Just download the new workbook sections on each topic along with the VHO “virtual hands-on” tutorials, and you are ready to practice with your own equipment.
This webinar examines multiple aspects of building and managing the infrastructure to support systems within an intelligent building including, Overcoming the challenges of Wifi deployments in intelligent buildings; Twisted-pair cabling for intelligent buildings; and testing the infrastructure for intelligent building systems.
What’s bend radius? Why does it matter when installing fiber optic cable? It can make the difference between a successful install and a disaster. A very costly disaster at that. The February issue of the FOA newsletter looks at installing fiber optic cable properly and understanding cable bend radius.
FOSCO Connect recently published its informative 101 Guidelines for Fiber Optic Cable Installation. The technical article shares their top guidelines for fiber-optic cabling cabling installation including: never directly pull on the fiber itself; and never exceed the cable bend radius.
