Welcome to 2025
Review Of 2024 And Looking To 2025
OFC Turns 50
FOA News
What's New And Popular On FOA Website News
FOCUS On Submariiinge Cables And Operations
Submarine Cables In The News
Baltic Sea Cable Sabotage?
FCC Review Of Submarine Cable Rules
FTTH Training Video In French
Technical Fiber Optic Ducts And Microducts
What Technical Advisors Are Telling US
Aerial Cable Plant Workmanship
Is SM Fiber Loss Directional
Important Change in Singlemode Fiber
Updated OTDR Trainer
Worth
ReadingLots of interesting
articles to read, watch or listen to. Q&A
Interesting questions from our readers
Workforce Training/FiberU
Types Of Work Done By Fiber Techs
FOA-Approved School News
Fiber U
MiniCourses Resources
New FOA Technical Resources
Trademarks:
The FOA logo and name, CFOT® (Certified Fiber Optic Technician) and
Fiber U® (the FOA online learning site) are
registered trademarks of the FOA.
To
keep your FOA certifications active, you need to
renew them when they expire every 3 years. Now we have a new more
convenient way to renew - an online store at Paypal
- where you can quickly and conveniently use your
PayPal account or your credit card to renew your
certifications.
We
always like to start off the New Year with a review of the past year
and some thoughts on the coming year. For the last few years, we used
the word "uncertainty" often in our New Year review, and this year is no exception.
2024 At FOA
Last year FOA
reached
an amazing milestone - 100,000 certified fiber optic technicians who hold over 130,000 FOA certifications. The CFOT® Certified Fiber Optic Technician was
the vast majority of certifications, with the CPCT Certified Premises
Cabling Technician, Splicing, Testing, OSP, Design and FTTH
certifications also popular.
With all the discussion about the need to expand the fiber optic
workforce, it is notable that the FOA has been working behind the scenes
for decades to create a network of training organizations capable of
training the fiber optic workforce the industry needs. Reaching this
milestone shows the capability of the FOA worldwide network of training
organizations.
The FOA network of approved training organizations
grew substantially in 2024. In the US, several states adopted the FOA
program for both college curriculum and continuing education. We finally
see some adoption at the secondary school level, a critical time for
recruiting for the trades. FOA's partnership with the IBEW/NECA
electrical training Alliance training centers continued to expand in
both locations and curriculum. The FOA network of schools outside the US
remains the choice for service providers, telecom ministries and
contractors worldwide.
2024 saw a major update of the FOA basic fiber optics textbook, The FOA Reference Guide to Fiber Optics, with updates to the FOA guide and recommended curriculum along with the book. Next year will see a similar update for the Design textbook.
The popular FOA online credentials got a few minor updates also. Those
holding current FOA credentials can now print a wallet-size card as well
as a certificate for their certification.
2024 In Fiber Optic Components
In 2024 the important developments in fiber
optics were focused on improving fiber density in installations. One
change, modifying singlemode fiber to bend resistant designs similar to
G.657.A1 has allowed the size of cables to be reduced and increased
their ruggedness.
144 & 288 fiber microcables
Reducing the size and weight of fiber optic cables is important today,
as the demand for bandwidth leads to the need for more fibers in long
distance and middle mile networks. Smaller cables with more fibers allow
installing more cables in existing underground ducts or using
microtrenching for less costly and disruptive construction. It
also permits lashing more cables to current aerial cable bundles without
overloading the messenger.
The other change in new cables is the move to flexible ribbon designs,
with a dozen fibers loosely bound together to allow packing more fibers
in smaller cables. Ribbon splicing can also be done in a fraction of the
time required for single fiber splicing. That means contractors need to
add a modern ribbon fusion splicer to their tool kit, and those tools
have been improved as well.
Several new fiber optic connectors have been standardized that increase
density at patch panels, a necessity with the new high fiber count
cables. These connectors use LC ferrules but align them vertically
instead of horizontally, allowing higher density of connectors in patch
panels.
Other major component changes have been made with fiber optic
transceivers for networking equipment. As speeds continue to get faster
to allow more bandwidth, coherent transmission is being adopted for
speeds of 100 Gb/s or higher. What was once a complete printed circuit
board in a system is now available in a plug-in module. Likewise, the
passive optical network (PON) head end system called an optical line
terminal (OLT) has also been reduced to a plug-in module, allowing a
service provider to eliminate a rack-mounted OLT with an Internet router
and a plug-in module. Both these reduce system size and costs, making
network expansion easier.
2024 In The Fiber Optic Industry
Fiber optics is a number of diverse applications, so taking a
year-end snapshot of the industry requires taking some very different
points of view. One of the more important applications is one of the
smallest, the submarine cables connecting the world. It also seems to be
one of the most stable, with demand for bandwidth rising, the demand
for cables seems unending. According to Telegeography
there are currently 559 cable systems with 1,636 landing points in use
or under construction, up from 529/1444 a year earlier. The world
depends on these cables so the cable failures in the past year were
troublesome, especially those suspected of sabotage. (See News below)
Once you move to land-based systems, the numbers are undoubtedly
large but hard to actually enumerate. Africa and South America are
continuing to catch up, bringing submarine landings inland. FTTH has
become commonplace, data centers are being built wherever power is
available and cellular networks continue expanding and upgrading. The
most interesting news about land-based systems was that ITU (International Telecommunications Union) was heading
a consortium trying to map the world's fiber optic networks.
In terms of applications, the most attention was focused on
data centers and FTTH. The drive behind the data center frenzy was AI -
artificial intelligence. The problem was power for the new high speed
processors needed for AI and some of the solutions were puzzling, fusion
power, small nuclear reactors onsite, restart Three Mile Island or coal
power plants - just about everything but developing the area around
Chernobyl!
In the US, the government programs to connect everybody to
broadband got most of the attention and fed the hype machine almost
daily. The programs were however complex to start up and
administer so by the end of the year only saw the allocations completed
but it seems no projects funded at the state level.
2025 Will Bring....
We don't have a crystal ball so we don't do a lot of
speculation, but we are willing to share what we are watching for. We
expect both land and sea systems to continue to be strong. Data centers,
we're not so sure about.
While investors continue to fund AI startups with $billions needed for data centers dedicated to AI, we know investors
are poor predictors of market success because they follow the hype. The
cracks in the the AI hype are already starting to appear. Some claim it
has already been trained on all the data on the Internet, possible
since that is how search engines work, so now it's training on the
misinformation it created itself or users are finding it is unable to
reason simple tasks like word problems in math. And the power
consumption problem is not easily solved. Like 5G, the hype overshadowed
the reality at first, but reality eventually won out.
FTTH continues strong everywhere
because it is a sensible
solution, new products ease installation and the cost has become
reasonable. In the US, FTTH is going to face a new problem and it is not
cost, it's politics. The change in US administrations may signal a
decline in funding for fiber broadband and a move to use low earth
orbit satellites instead.
It is interesting (scary?) to consider how technology markets
are so vulnerable to hype. Fiber optics has weathered economic
fluctuations in the past, but has proven highly vulnerable to hype. The
hype over the Internet in the late 1990s created a frenzy in the fiber
optics marketplace, but the bursting of the Internet bubble in 2001
devastated the industry. The hype over 5G had a smaller but similar
effect. More recently we've seen the hype over US government funding of
broadband, especially BEAD, which has already caused chaos in the
supplier market, first in oversupply and then the actual BEAD funded
projects which have yet to materialize - and may never happen.
May you live in interesting times!
Top Articles From FOA Newsletters In 2024
January 2023 Year in Review, Are Shark Bites The Cause Of Submarine Cable Failures? February What Is Broadband? Geopolitics Of Submarine Cables? March Broadband: Economics, What's Unserved? April April Fool's Joke, Or Not? May Aerial Cable, What Is A Fiber Tech & Their Future? June Updated OTDR Trainer, The Role of Manufacturers In Training July An Important Change in Singlemode Fiber, Can You Trust Your OTDR? August New Fiber U Course on Safety, Troubleshooting Networks September New FOA Badge In Fiber Optics, Inside Look At Corning Manufacturing October Aerial cable Workmanship, Fiber optic Cable Plants As Sensors November Q&A On Restoration And Repair, ITU To Map World's Fiber Optic Networks December FOA Reaches 100,000 Certifications, Telecom Jobs Top "Launchpad" Jobs
For 50 years the Optical Fiber Communications Conference and
Exhibition (OFC) has showcased the emerging technologies of researchers
and industry for the optical networking and communications community. Throughout the years, OFC has been the conference to communicate and share the technical advances in fiber optics.
Come celebrate 50 years of optical networking and communications
achievements that the OFC community has facilitated to connect
individuals and businesses across geographic and oceanic boundaries.
Classroom
Resources For STEM Teachers In K-12 And Technical Schools
Here is the POF kit sent to teachers for demonstration.
Teachers in all grades can introduce their students to fiber
optic technology with some simple demonstrations. FOA has
created a page for STEM or STEAM (science, technology,
engineering, arts
and math) teachers with materials appropriate to their
classes. Fiber
Optic Resources For STEM Teachers.
As FOA celebrates our 100,000th CFOT® certified technician,
introduces the "FOA Badge In Fiber Optics" for others working in the
field and adds new courses at Fiber U which offer a "Certificate of
Completion," it's a good time to explain the differences between them. FOA has created a page to explain the differences in certifications, certificated and badges.
All FOA
Certification Credentials Are Now Online
All FOA Certified Fiber Optic Technicians now have their certification
credentials online. if your FOA certification has not expired you should have been notified you have an
online credential. If you did not get notification it may be because
FOA did not have a valid email for you. Contact FOA to inquire about your certification credential.
And now, introducing a new FOA credential: The "FOA Badge In Fiber Optics"
An industry-wide credential for professionals working in fiber optics FOA is best known as the certifying body for the nearly 100,000 FOA-certified fiber optic technicians
who build worldwide networks. FOA has been asked many times about credentials for other
professionals in fiber optics.
Besides the technicians that design,
build and operate the fiber optic networks the world uses for
communications, there are many other professionals that are essential
for the success of the fiber optic and cabling industries. These
professionals manufacture, sell and distribute fiber optic components or
plan and manage the projects that include fiber optics.
New Fiber U Course: Fiber
Optic Safety Covers Construction And Installation
This
new Fiber U course focuses on safety in fiber optic installation. There are two lessons in this course,
fiber optic construction and fiber optic installation. The dividing
line between the two courses is the installation of the fiber optic
cables. Construction leads up to and/or is completed when the cables are
installed. Installation begins when the fiber tech installs the cable,
then completes the splicing, termination testing and documentation. The
overlap between the two is the installation of the cables where both
construction personnel and fiber optic techs are involved.
Here is the new Fiber U "Fiber Optic Safety" self-study program. Take the course and get your certificate of completion.
We bought one ourselves - it's well made and distinctive.
New Edition of FOA's Basic Fiber Optics Textbook
It has been 5 years since we have updated the FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics,
so it is certainly time for an update. The latest version is different
enough we call it a new edition. Many of the updates are for new
technologies which are reshaping the fiber optic industry like coherent
transmission, BI fibers, etc. We've also added a section on the fiber
optic workforce which has much relevance because this book is used to
train those entering the workforce. We've also worked on making the book
more readable, adding formatting that eases reading and a new
comprehensive index.
Inflation was an issue, but the price only goes up $2 to $29.95 for the paperback and $12.95 for the Kindle version.
The new edition of the FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics is available from Amazon and booksellers worldwide.
FOA Guide To The Fiber Optic Workforce
- what we've learned in developing the fiber optic workforce over more
than a quarter century and almost 100,000 certified techs.
Undersea ROV Maneuvers With 11 km Fiber Optic Tether (Video)
Undersea exploration with ROVs (remote operated vehicles) has
led to many interesting discoveries like Dr. Robert Ballard of Woods
Hole Oceanographic discovering the Titanic. (FOA Newsletter 03/23)
An important part of the development of ROVs has been the fiber optic
cable in the tethers that allow transmission of video up from the ROV
and control signals down to it.
AUS-ROV has a new undersea exploration ROV called Maestro ROV
that has an 11 km fiber optic tether, a technical achievement provided
by Linden Photonics. AUS-ROV has a short video about Maestro on YouTube. Also interesting is to go to the AUS-ROV website and just watch the video playing continuously on the page!
Linden Photonics has been involved in many exciting projects on land, under the oceans and in space. You can go to the Linden Photonics News page and read about these very interesting projects.
Warning: The links to the AUS-ROV and Linden Photonics websites may cause you to spend a lot of time online!
Submarine Cables In The News
FOA has covered the submarine cable news often, usually Telegeography
announcing new cables or new technology to increase the bandwidth of
existing and future cables. But submarine cables have been in the news
recently for another reason, cable failures and investigation into the
cause of failure. Increasingly, suspicion that the failures were caused
by sabotage have been in the news.
Last month we reported on suspicion that sabotage has caused the failure
of a cable between Germany and FInland, reported just below. That
incident has been a subject of many articles since then, which we cover
below.
The geopolitical intrigue on the incident detailed below in last month's
FOA Newsletter was not the last we heard of this problem. Read the
article then see the news articles below it to understand the concern
nations have over these incidents.
Germany suspects sabotage after undersea internet cables are severed
The C-Lion1 cable between Finland and Germany was
severed in the Baltic Sea, its operator said, after damage was reported
to another cable linking Lithuania and Sweden. An underwater
communications cable connecting Finland and Germany was cut Monday
morning, its operator Cinia said, a day after damage was reported to a
separate internet cable linking Lithuania and Sweden, also in the Baltic
Sea. While it was still unclear what exactly happened,
Germany’s defense minister said the cutting of two undersea internet
cables appeared to be deliberate acts of “sabotage.” The incidents are
“a very clear sign that something is going on here,” Boris Pistorius
told reporters in Brussels ahead of a meeting of European Union defense
ministers Tuesday. “Nobody believes that these cables were accidentally
severed.”1
1/19/2024 Washington Post
The following articles indicate how this has become an international geopolitical concern.
Chinese-Flagged Ship Suspected of Cutting Cables Remains Halted Weeks Later
After fiber-optic cables under the Baltic Sea were cut last month,
European officials hurried to stop the Yi Peng 3. It’s still at anchor
there, with no update on three nations’ investigation.
When two fiber-optic cables were severed under the Baltic Sea last
month, European officials acted fast, with some declaring sabotage. They
sent coast guard vessels to halt a Chinese-flagged commercial ship that
their governments suspected of involvement.
Today, the ship, the Yi Peng 3, remains anchored in the Baltic Sea,
watched over by a rotating host of coast guard vessels while Sweden,
Finland and Lithuania investigate. But if officials have gained any
greater insight into what happened to the cables — or whether the ship
was involved — they are not saying. 12/12/2024 NYTimes
Note the incident above was last month; another cable in the same region
was cut on December 25, 2024. The articles below refer to the latest
incident.
Traficom and other authorities investigate cable damage in the Gulf of Finland
The National Cyber Security Centre Finland (NCSC-FI) at Traficom was
informed about damage to several electricity transmission and
telecommunications cables in the Gulf of Finland on 25 December 2024.
The NCSC-FI has begun special monitoring of the incidents. In accordance
with normal preparedness procedures, traffic via the damaged cables was
immediately routed to backup connections, ensuring that
telecommunications connections between Finland, Europe and the rest of
the world are fully functional. 12/28/2024 Traficom
Police investigating incidents in the Gulf of Finland in cooperation with other authorities
The police, in cooperation with other authorities, are investigating the
rupture of the Estlink 2 power transmission cable within Finland's
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Gulf of Finland on Wednesday, 25
December, 2024. The police are also looking into other possible damages
in the maritime area.
Due to actions taken by the authorities, Eagle S, a tanker registered in
the Cook Islands, entered Finland's territorial waters. The vessel’s
involvement in causing the rupture is under investigation.
The Helsinki Police Department and the Border Guard have conducted a
tactical operation on the vessel. The authorities have taken
investigative measures on the vessel, with access there provided by the
Finnish Border Guard and the Defence Forces helicopters.
At this stage, the case is being investigated as aggravated criminal
mischief. In this respect, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is
responsible for leading the criminal investigation. Customs is making
preliminary inquiries on-site in regard to an aggravated regulation
violation and is looking into details concerning the cargo.
12/26/2024 Poliisi
Finland seizes ship in probe of undersea cable damage
Damage to the power cable in the Baltic Sea is the latest in a spate of
murky disruptions to undersea cables that have put European authorities
on high alert. Finnish authorities seized an oil tanker as part of an
investigation into the cutting of an undersea cable connecting Finland
and Estonia, they announced Thursday. The tanker, suspected by European
authorities to be part of the Russian shadow fleet intended to evade
sanctions, is believed to have caused the damage with its anchor.
12/26/2024 Washington Post
What We Know About the Ship Finland Seized Over Fears of Sabotage
Finland seized an oil tanker that authorities
believe might have deliberately cut vital undersea cables. Finnish
authorities believe the tanker may be linked to Russia.
The authorities in Finland said they had confiscated material from
onboard the ship, the Eagle S, an aging oil tanker registered in the
Cook Islands in the South Pacific. The vessel is being held under police
and naval guard in the Gulf of Finland, the police said on Friday.
The authorities said the tanker might be part of Russia’s “shadow
fleet,” which President Vladimir V. Putin has used to circumvent
Western-imposed sanctions on Russian oil exports and to conduct acts of
sabotage.
12/27/2024 NYTimes
Joint Statement by the European Commission and the High
Representative on the Investigation into Damaged Electricity and Data
Cables in the Baltic Sea
Yesterday’s incident involving undersea cables in the Baltic Sea is the
latest in a series of suspected attacks on critical infrastructure. We
commend the Finnish authorities for their swift action in boarding the
suspected vessel. We are working with the Finnish authorities on the
ongoing investigation. We stand in full solidarity with Finland,
Estonia, and Germany.
We strongly condemn any deliberate destruction of Europe’s critical
infrastructure. The suspected vessel is part of Russia’s shadow fleet,
which threatens security and the environment, while funding Russia’s war
budget. We will propose further measures, including sanctions, to
target this fleet.
In response to these incidents, we are strengthening efforts to protect
undersea cables, including enhanced information exchange, new detection
technologies, as well as in undersea repair capabilities, and
international cooperation. We remain committed to ensuring the
resilience and security of our critical infrastructure.
Has Russia’s Shadow Fleet, Built to Evade Sanctions, Added Sabotage to Its List?
Russia has assembled a fleet of hundreds of vessels to covertly ship its
oil. With so many ships at sea, the idea of using some to cause havoc
may be proving irresistible to the Kremlin. 12/28/2024 NYTimes
ITU Sets Up Group For Submarine Cables Resilience (Reliability)
The International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable
Resilience was established by the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) in partnership with the International Cable Protection Committee
(ICPC) in November 2024, with the aim of promoting dialogue and
collaboration on potential ways and means to improve the resilience of
this vital infrastructure that powers global communications and the
digital economy.
ITU
In an increasingly interconnected world, submarine
telecom cables serve as the lifelines of the global digital economy,
facilitating over 99% of international data exchange. These cables
enable communication, finance, cloud services, and vital infrastructure
to operate seamlessly across borders. Yet, despite their critical
importance, submarine cables face a range of vulnerabilities, from
natural disasters to ageing infrastructure to accidental human activity
such as fishing and anchoring.
Disruptions can affect industry and government operations, as well as
the ability of individuals to access education, healthcare and
financial services. Over 200 cable repairs were reported worldwide in
2023 by the ICPC - equivalent to more than three cable failures per week
on average. With the world's reliance on stable, high-speed Internet
growing every day, the resilience of these cables is paramount.
FCC Launches First Review Of Submarine Cable Rules Since 2001
The Federal Communications Commission (US) voted
to launch a major, comprehensive review and update of licensing rules
for submarine cables that transmit information between continents and
fuel economic activity. Since the agency’s last review in 2001, the
technology, economics, and national security environments surrounding
these systems have greatly changed.
Oversight of submarine cables traces back even before the existence of
the Commission itself. The Cable Landing License Act of 1921, Executive
Order 10530 of 1954, and even the Submarine Cable Act of 1888
highlighted the importance of such communications systems and the
importance of securing them. Still today, this infrastructure is vital
to global communications and economic activity. There are 84
FCC-licensed cable systems and, as of December 2022, cable landing
licensees reported more than 5.3 million Gbps of available capacity and
6.8 million Gbps in planned capacity for 2024.
The Commission seeks comment on how best to improve and streamline the
submarine cable rules to facilitate efficient deployment of submarine
cables while ensuring the security, resilience, and protection of this
critical infrastructure.
One of the FOA schools recently asked us "We
receive sometimes inquiries submarine fiber cable certification from our
clients. Is a plan to add such a specialized course to the FOA
certifications?".
The submarine cable industry is a very small industry, only about 6
companies make the cables and most do their own installation. There are
only 50-60 ships laying transoceanic cables and probably no more
installing cables on coastal routes. There are some videos on the
procedures but none get into real details; the manufacturers consider
the technology proprietary.
The cables are made in a factory, spliced together and fiber amplifier
repeaters added in manufacture. The cables are tested then loaded on
ships, taken to the proper location and laid on the sea floor, usually
in plowed trenches on shallower depths. During loading and laying,
the cables are generally transmitting data to ensure that any damage is
detected immediately so the laying can be stopped, the cable pulled up
and fixed.
What does a submarine cable tech need to know? Basic fiber optics, of
course, like a CFOT, and also fiber splicing and testing techniques. The
rest of their training depends on the manufacturer and their processes
and will be done by them on the job.
If a tech wants to work on submarine cables, we recommend a CFOT plus
specialist certifications in splicing and testing, CFOS/S and CFOS/T.
Telecom, Electrical Jobs Among Top "Launchpad" Jobs
A launchpad job is the term used for jobs that allow achieving career and economic success without a college degree. Groundbreaking research from American Student Assistance and Burning Glass Institute
studied the careers of millions of workers who went directly to work
after high school to identify the Launchpad Jobs that offer the best
chances of long-term success
Almost one in five workers without a degree out-earn the median
college graduate, and around two million nondegree workers earn over
$100,000 per year, according to a new report from the American Student
Assistance® (ASA) and Burning Glass Institute (BGI), two national
nonprofits that focus on advancing data and research on topics related
education and economic mobility. The research, which tracked the career
paths of millions of nondegree workers, found systematic patterns of
success, with the first job out of high school a crucial choice.
The report, “Launchpad Jobs: Achieving Career and Economic Success Without a Degree”
– commissioned by ASA, and conducted by BGI – explores the entry-level
jobs commonly filled by those without degrees and provides
recommendations on how to bridge the information gap in order to ensure
that all young people are aware of the breadth of quality job
opportunities available to them following high school.
Look at Table 4: "Highest-Ranking Stable
Jobs—Those with Decent Pay, High Retention, and Low Automation Exposure
and Unemployment Risk." Telecommunications line installers and repairers and Electrical power-line installers and repairers are both among the highest ranked jobs.
FOA School Creates FTTH Training Video In French
Serge Rodrigue of Fibre Zone, the FOA School in
Quebec, Canada, has created a short video on fiber optics and FTTH in
French. Serge teaches fiber in Canada and Africa in French.
L'école FOA crée une vidéo de formation FTTH en français
Serge Rodrigue de Fibre Zone, l'école FOA du
Québec, Canada, a créé une courte vidéo sur la fibre optique et le FTTH
en français. Serge enseigne la fibre au Canada et en Afrique en
français.
Découvrez notre nouvelle capsule Formation Express et plongez dans
l’univers du FTTH, la technologie fibre optique qui transforme les
réseaux de demain
Quote Of The Month/Year (maybe Century!) (this is worth repeating)
Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia +
Technology Conference, AT&T’s CEO John Stankey said, “There’s a
fallacy to say there’s fixed networks and wireless networks. There are
only fiber networks with different access technologies on the end of
them. That’s where this is all going.”
Technical
Fiber optic
technology, standards, equipment, installation,
etc.
The FOA
Update Pagecovers the new technology
and applications we covered in this newsletter
recently. Now you can review all that new tech at
once.
Cross Reference To FOA Technical Reference Materials
The FOA has almost 1,000 pages of technical information on the FOA Guide,
100+ videos and two dozen online courses at Fiber U, all this can make
it difficult to find the right information.
Cross Reference To FOA Tech Materials
To help this, we have created a cross reference guide to the textbooks,
Online Guide and Fiber U courses, all the FOA technical information.
Besides the textbooks, online Guide and Fiber U, each section of the
Guide also includes links to the 100+ FOA videos available. Cross Reference Guide to Textbooks, Online Guide and Fiber U
FOA Videos
We have also rearranged the 100+ FOA videos in similar categories on the
Contents Page of the Online Guide, making the videos, especially the
lectures, much it much easier to find a video on a particular
topic. FOA Videos Guide.
Want to know more about fiber optics? Study
for FOA certifications? Free
Self-Study Programs are on Fiber
U®
Fiber Optic Ducts and Microducts
Vladimir Grozdanovic
Underground cable installation in ducts can be done with either standard
ducts or microducts. Optical cables are installed in the ducts by
pulling or blowing/jetting. Ducts can be characterized into the
following types:
• Main PVC (polyvinyl chloride) duct, also called
conduit, with a diameter of 100–110 mm, in which smaller ducts for
individual cables are installed,
• Standard HDPE (high-density polyethylene) ducts or
sub-ducts with diameters ranging from 18 to 63 mm (40 or 50 mm are
common sizes),
• Micro HDPE ducts with diameters ranging from 3 to 16 mm
• Microduct Bundles(tight, loose, round or flat ducts).
Ducts can either be directly buried or installed within existing
larger-diameter ducts. The main difference between standard
ducts/sub-ducts and microducts is their diameter. Over the past 20
years, both ducts and cables have become smaller to allow installing
more fibers or cables in the same ducts.
Using microducts reduces construction costs and increases the capacity of underground installations.
What FOA's Instructors And Technical Advisors Are Telling Us
In the October FOA Newsletter we ran a long illustrated feature article offering
guidelines for aerial cable plant installation, illustrated by some
"excellent" bad examples. That article elicited quite a few comments,
especially from the instructors at some of our FOA schools around the
world, and led to some discussions with others in our field, including
manufacturers. Several topics seem to warrant further discussion, so we
thought it would be interesting to share some of our notes and encourage
more inputs before we cover the topics in detail in future issues of the
newsletter.
Here are some of the topics of the comments. Some, we promise, are controversial! Feel free to comment.
Aerial Cable Plant
Do people still use aerial cable plants? The problems aerial
cables have with weather make them unreliable and not cheaper when they
have to be repaired after damage during disasters. Many areas around the
world are putting all new cables underground.
Some areas don't use messenger wires on aerial cables because of
the problems with lightning strikes. Others complain about the weight of
the messengers causing strain on the poles. They use ADSS cable
instead. ADSS cable is easier and faster to install, even costs less.
Why are ADSS cables still mainly marketed to electrical utilities?
They are popular with utilities because they can be installed closer to
power conductors, but they also make sense if you are installing new
fiber optic cables, especially in rural areas, maybe anywhere.
Who allows cables to be installed with such poor workmanship? Don't the cables get inspected before they are accepted?
Pulling vs. Blowing Cables
Microcables and microducts are becoming more widely used so cables are being blown into ducts not pulled.
Microcables now include cables with more fibers, making them a choice for most installations.
Microducts are easier to install, even possible in currently used
ducts, and easy to include multiple ducts for future expansion.
Microducts are not just for microtrenching. Their small size
allows multiple ducts to be placed when only a single typical duct would
be placed, simplifying the "Dig Once" policy (installing extra ducts
whenever doing underground construction.
Microtrenching vs. Directional Boring
It seems some users prefer directional boring as less disruptive.
Malibu, CA just installed ~7.5 miles (12 km) of duct along the Pacific Coast Highway by directional boring.
Flexible vs. Hard Ribbon Cable
Some cable manufacturers have said traditional hard ribbons are obsolete and future cables will be flexible ribbon cables.
There are so many hard ribbon cables already installed that the need to know how to prepare and splice them will not go away.
Some contractors say they prefer hard ribbons which they claim are are easier to splice.
We've also been told that some flexible ribbons are easier to work with than others. Likewise fusion splicers.
There is a lot there, isn't there? It provides us lots of topics for
investigation and future articles. Should all cables be made like
microcables? Should all cables above a certain number of fibers be
flexible ribbons? Should all aerial cables be ADSS? Who makes the
"best" fusion splicer or other tools? None of these questions have
"black or white" answers, but all merit discussion.
What topics do YOU think should be added to this list? Let FOA Know.
Watch the future FOA Newsletters for more coverage about these issues.
The FlowScout MPO OLTS, which is capable of testing duplex LCs, 8-fiber
MPOs, and 12-fiber MPOs in addition to 16-fiber MPOs and 16-fiber MMCs,
performs the 16-fiber test in 6 seconds.
New Idea For Cable Marking And Identification
Marking cables at patch panels or equipment is
important for making proper connections and keeping documentation up to
date. Most techniques for identification use color codes or printed
labels. A Canadian company has another idea, adding a NFC (near field
communication) chip to the cable and also providing color codes.
PUL-R Technologies Inc.
from Canada, now offers Heli(TM), which is a miniature, fully re-usable NFC
cable tag. The use of NFC as an RFID makes it compatible with any smart
phone which can read NFC tags. The NFC has a non-volatile memory with
60 years of data retention, which allows it to encode circuit
information and optical parameters such as circuit length, insertion
loss, return loss, etc.
While PULR has developed this product for FTTH applications but it
should be highly useful in any application where it can be used to
identify cables at a patch panel or at equipment.
Heli is available for both fiber optic cables and UTP (Cat 5) cables and other cable types. They offer an iOS app for programming and reading the labels.
Is It Just The OTDR Or Is Singlemode Loss Really Directional?
Our series of articles on the compatibility and splicing of G.652 and G.657 summarized below and explained fully here raised another question from a knowledgeable reader.
"When you do a bidirectional OTDR test and average, you remove
the backscatter differences. But it seems to me that two fibers of
different MFDs would have an actual directional loss difference, much
like mismatched MM fiber. Do you have any information that addresses
this?"
One of FOA's technical contacts at a fiber manufacturer gave us this explanation. "With singlemode fibers there is simply one mode. The loss is simply the
overlap of the modes in the two fibers and is the same in either
direction since only one mode propagates and all other modes are
cladding modes." So there you have it -
Singlemode splices showing different losses in bidirectional losses are just a artifact of how the OTDR tests
Averaging the loss in the two directions gives the actual splice loss
The actual splice loss the same in either direction.
A Quiet But Important Change In The Fiber Optic Cable You Buy
With so many cable designs today,
like microcables or high fiber count cables, requiring bend-insensitive
fibers, would it make sense to make all or most singlemode fibers as
bend insensitive fiber?
Two manufacturers (Corning and OFS) told FOA the industry is moving towards a G.657.A specification
in fiber, because the industry is moving towards smaller denser cables
in the network & the bend resilience is a requirement for the cable
design. So singlemode fiber is moving to being BI fiber, exactly what happened
with 50/125 laser optimized fibers a decade ago. With most new fiber,
compatibility is not an issue. But it is recommended to check with the
cable manufacturer if you are not sure what fiber is being used in the
cable you are purchasing.
OptConn
is a value-add re-seller of optical connectivity products, services and
solutions. With over 30 years of experience in the fiber optics
industry we are here to serve your requirements from fiber optic
training with FOA certification to products, materials and supplies.
We have partnerships with industry leading
manufacturers to support your installation, splicing and testing needs.
Our goal is to guide, support and recognized our client’s requirements.
FOA has rewritten the FOA OTDR Trainer around Fiberizer. The Fiberizer PC
software was the version we used for creating the Trainer, but the basic
techniques apply to all versions of Fiberizer. FOA provides a folder of
sample traces in 3 categories - Parameter Traces, Sample Traces and PON
Traces - around which we build the trainer. If you set up Fiberizer,
you can complete the FOA OTDR Trainer lessons and then use the same
software to analyze other traces you may have, even from other brands of
OTDRs, as long as they are .sor files.
The FOA OTDR Trainer is ready to help you learn about OTDRs. Go to the OTDR Trainer page, tech/ref/testing/OTDR/OTDRsimulator.html, choose your version of Fiberizer, download the FOA Traces and you are ready to go.
FOA wishes to thank VeEX
for permission to use their Fiberizer® software in our OTDR trainer.
And our compliments to them for making the ap available on multiple
platforms that ensure anybody can use it.
How Good Are Your OTDR Launch/Receive Cables?
FOA received an inquiry about some OTDR traces that
showed failures. Quite a few fibers failed at the final connection to
the receive cable, indicating that there could be a problem with the
connection - dirt of a bad connector on the receive cable. Have you
checked the connectors on your OTDR - or OLTS - reference cables
recently? You should inspect and clean them regularly - every few
connections - to ensure they are good. If they are bad, they will cause
false failures on the cable under test.
NECA/FOA 301 fiber optic installation standard
withdrawn
The NECA/FOA 301 fiber optic installation standard has been
withdrawn. It's almost a quarter century old and a decade since the
last update. It has been decided the standard needs to be replaced with a
more modern document covering current technology and written in a
format that allows easier updating.
In the meantime, there is lots of useful information in the standard and you can still download a free copy from FOA.
Learning Important Information From A Found Cable Scrap
While walking down the street near the FOA office, we found this cable
laying in the gutter. What a find! A short length of Corning Rocket
Ribbon 864 fiber cable left over from an installation by a contractor.
We brought the cable back to our office with the intention of opening it
up and creating a video about the construction of this modern high
fiber count cable, but something got our attention first. The cable had a
very
long line of printing on it with lots of interesting and useful
information. So before we started deconstructing it, we decided to
photograph the printed information and interpret it. That turned out to
be an important part of the information we learned from the cable. Then,
as you will see below, we dissected the cable and learned even more.
The most common way to track projects is the Gantt Chart, a
chart of activities that tracks the progress of projects along a
timeline. each activity is represented by a bar and the position and
length of the bar represents the starting date and duration of the
activity. This allows you to see what activities are needed for the
project, when the activities start and end so it can be used to track
the progress of the project visually. Here is what a Gantt Chart for a
fiber project might look like:
You might remember an article in the FOA Newsletter in April 2022 or the FOA Guide page on Project Management about the timing of a fiber optic project where we showed the progression of steps in a project like this:
The Gantt Chart is simply this list converted to a Gantt Chart
using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. You can download a copy of the FOA Gantt Chart spreadsheet (xlsx file - 16kB)
and use it to create your own Gantt Chart for any project. All you have
to do is to input your own data and change the activity names as
necessary. You can also follow the directions from Microsoft to create your own version.
Help On Color Codes (Including Copper Cabling And Fiber Optics)
The FOA has created a print-your-own pocket guide to fiber
optic color codes. It has
color codes for fibers and buffer tubes, connectors and premises cables
inside and on the back, QR codes to take you directly to the FOA Guide
and Fiber U. The FOA
Guide page on Fiber Optic Color Codes is one of the most read pages on the FOA
website and the Fiber Optic Color Codes minicourse on Fiber U very popular also.
FOA received an inquiry about whether techs
working on restoring OSP links should be concerned about eye safety if
the link used fiber amplifiers. To answer this question, we had to do some research on fiber amplifiers.
The short answer is YES, you should be concerned. The long answer is
more technical and includes details that every OSP tech needs to know.
FOA
has written many articles about loss budgets,
something everyone involved in fiber optics needs to
know and needs to know how to calculate. We've
created a online Loss Budget Calculator that does
the work for you. Just input your cable plant data
and it calculates the loss budget. It works on any
device, especially smartphones and tablets for field
use and even allows printing the results.
Recent articles from The FOA Newsletter
Fake OTDR Traces Submitted For Testing Documentation January 2023 Tech
Using OTDRs To Test Transoceanic Cables And PONs February 2023
POF - the Other Fiber March 2023
What Do Employers Expect From A Fiber Optic Tech? April 2023
Are Standards Ignoring The OSP? May 2023
FOA Has Proven Results In Fiber Optic Workforce Development June 2023
BEAD Funding For States Announced And Analyzed July 2023
Wisdom From The Street (Analyzing the printing on a fiber optic cable) July 2023
Focus On Disasters August 2023
FOA's Role In Education and Work Done By Fiber Techs September 2023
The Workforce: New US DoL Bureau of Labor Statistics Telecom Tech Category October 2023
How Many Telecom Techs Do We Need and How Big Is The Fiber Optic Market November 2023
Guidelines For Fiber Optic Project Planners December 2023
2023 Year In Review. Kentucky Shows The Value Of Fiber January 2024.
What is Broadband? History of the Cable Modem February 2024
It's Just Economics. Things you need to know. March 2024.
Fiber To The Shore - Undersea cables along the coast April, 2024.
The Future Of The Fiber Tech May 2024.
Worth Reading (And
Watching Or Listening):
December
Broadband expert Levin says Trump’s approach to telecom is unprecedented - LIGHTWAVE The architect of the 1996 Telecom Act and Broadband Plan says the
choice between fiber and satellite service is a political, not a policy,
issue. Too Few Middle-Skills Credentials to Meet Future Job Demand - Inside Higher Ed Most providers have to double the number of credentials they
produce for well-paying jobs that don't require a bachelor’s to avoid
workforce gaps, a new report finds. The Fiber Optic Association Reaches Milestone - ISE Magazine FOA certifies over 100,000 fiber optic technicians. Exxon Plans to Sell Electricity to Data Centers - NYTimes The country’s largest oil company is designing a natural gas
power plant outfitted with carbon capture technology to meet the
voracious power demand of technology companies. AT&T outlines strategy to enhance fiber, 5G presence - Broadband Communities Magazine AT&T has unveiled a strategy the telecom giant says will help maintain both 5G and fiber subscriber growth. How SMF-28® Contour Optical Fiber Is Changing the Density Game - CORNING With a growing demand for faster, more efficient networks,
fiber optic cables need to evolve. Smaller, lighter cables that can
still handle vast amounts of data are essential to meet growing demands
for increased network capacity and connectivity — and these demands are
only expected to grow in the future. Top 10 Countries In Connectivity - AIRGAIN Countries with the most advanced broadband and mobile
connectivity are typically the most ready to harness the booming
knowledge economy, while also unlocking their greatest digital and
economic potential. The Other Fiber Optic Workforce(s) - ISE Magazine The workforce required to build BEAD-funded fiber optic projects goes beyond technicians.
Previously:
2024 Optical Fiber Reference Guide - M2 Optics A
comprehensive list of single mode and multimode optical fibers
currently available from several of the world’s leading manufacturers.
Very useful.
Podcast Telecommunications Industry Therapy Podcast: Future of The Fiber Optic Network JULY 10, 2024 by Scott Stekr and Michelle Kang of
Telecommunications Industry Forum interview Jim Hayes, President of The
Fiber Optic Association to provide clarification on what fiber
optic networks are, who builds them, and what the FOA is doing to help
train and grow the workforce.
Deep Dives (Takes a while to read but worth it)
Investing In Fiber Optic Networks -Hexatronic - not
like venture capital investing, but how financial decisions in network
design may have big effects on the total cost of a network.
VIAVI "NITRO" Fiber Sensing Solutions - VIAVI
is offering systems to use fibers as sensors for finding cabling
problems, structural monitoring and security. Focus is on electrical
power transmission, piplelines, and critical infrastructure. IT might
apply to your network.
Quote of the month, May 2024: “Middle mile is like the
middle child that keeps getting ignored. If we continue ignoring it, at
one point in time, we will not be able to connect all of these new last
mile connections that we are planning on building in the next four
years.” Sachin Gupta, Director of Government Business & Economic Development
at Centranet.
Can Our Industry Develop Fiber Talent? ISE Magazine. Learn how states, schools and training organizations must work together to develop fiber field talent.
CABL® (cabl.com)serves
the business needs of the Broadband industry (including traditional
cable TV, fiber, telecom and satellite providers) with employment
listings, classified ads, discussion forums, and more.A contractor told us it's where they find lots of opportunities for subcontracting.
Worth Reading - Magazines, Websites and Newsletters
CABL® (cabl.com) serves
the business needs of the Broadband industry (including traditional
cable TV, fiber, telecom and satellite providers) with employment
listings, classified ads, discussion forums, and more. A contractor told us it's where they find lots of opportunities for subcontracting.
As
part of celebrating 3 decades serving the fiber
optic industry as its primary source of technical
information and independent certifying body, FOA
thought it appropriate to create a short history of
the organization and how it has developed to
help the fiber optic industry. We also wanted to
recognize the contributions many people have made to
the organization over the years that made FOA what
it is today.
The FOA history is on the FOA
website where you can read it or link to
it.
The First Transcontinental Telephone Line
began operation on July 29th in 1915 - 3400 miles between New
York and San Francisco - required over 100,000 telephone poles! Wonders
of World Engineering
"Who Lost Lucent?: The
Decline of America's Telecom Equipment Industry"
This is a MUST READ for managers in telecom or any
industry! Communications Systems Grounding
Rules: Article 800 provides specific
requirements by
Michael
Johnston, NECA Executive Director of
Standards and Safety in EC Magazine How
To Build Rural Broadband, Learning From History In the August 2021
FOA Newsletter, we published a lengthy article on
rural broadband and compared it to rural
electrification in America in the last century.
Much of the comparison was based on an article
written in 1940 by a USDA economist, Robert Beall,
called "Rural Electrification." If
you are interested in or involved in rural
broadband, we recommend you read the article "How
To Build Rural Broadband, Learning From History"
in the August 2021 FOA Newsletter and
read the Beall article also.
IEC 60050 - International
Electrotechnical Vocabulary - An
extensive dictionary for fiber optics in English and
French. Highly technical - this is one definition:
"mode - one solution of Maxwell's equations,
representing an electromagnetic field in a certain
space domain and belonging to a family of
independent solutions defined by specified boundary
conditions"
DIRT
Report On Damage To Utilities Common Ground
Alliance (CGA) annual DIRT report provides a
summary and analysis of the events submitted into
CGA’s Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) for
the year 2018. The complete report is available
for download here. In addition,
there is an interactive dashboard that
allows users to filter the data more by
factors contributing to damages.
Besides
the FOA reference materials, two JDSU/VIAVI
textbooks, Reference Guide to Fiber Optic Testing,
Volumes 1 and 2, were used as references for
some of the FOA courses and are recommended for
instructors and students. The books are available
from VIAVI as eBooks and the everyone should
download them and recommend them to others.Download
yours now. Volume 1. Volume 2. Viavi Books
When readers ask us questions, we genrally refer them to FOA
resources where they can find the answer to their question and many
more. We first send them to the FOA Guide
which is the table of contents for the FOA technical resources. There
they can find pages indexed by topic and a search engine for the FOA
website. It also links them to FOA videos and courses on our free online learning site Fiber U.
The FOA
Fiber FAQs Page (FAQs = frequently asked
questions) gathers up questions readers have
asked us (which first ran in this newsletter)
and adds tech topics of general interest.
Good Question!
Tech
Questions/Comments From FOA Newsletter Readers
Copper Tech Wants To Learn Fiber Optics Q: I am originally from copper installations and faults
finding. I would like to get involved in Optic fibre faults and
finding, how do I go if there is a possible training it will be highly
appreciated, A: Just learn about fiber, especially fiber testing and troubleshooting. Fiber U has courses you can take for free.
OSP Installation Standards Q: I'm looking for standards for fiber optic OSP installation. A: The whole issue of OSP standards has been one FOA been
trying to get standards bodies interested in for years with little
success, probably because it is an enormous project. Right now there are
two documents that address OSP cable plant:
ITU-T Technical Report, TR-OFCS Optical fibres, cables and systems, (3 July 2015)
As you can see, the ITU document is almost 10 years old and a lot has changed in that time.
Is The FOA CFOT® A License?
Q: Can you use a CFOT certification to install fiber and charge for it? Or do you need other licenses as well? ;
A: FOA Certification is considered evidence of competence and
accepted worldwide by many companies, groups, etc. Licenses are a legal
credential required by local authorities to conduct business for
anything from a barber to a truck triver to contractors doing fiber or
other work. Most locales require a license as a contractor which may
require a fiber specialty. You need to investigate this with your local
authorities.
Pulling Fiber Optic Cables In Metal Conduit
Q: Often when constructing fibre, it is encased in steel pipes (e.g. when being attached to buildings or bridges.
I am seeking guidance on a case where the encasement has to make a right
angle (or less) turn. How is the installation done? Considering
possible challenges in duct laying and fibre pushing / blowing
A: The bend radius of the conduit should be kept large to not cause
excess friction on the cable that would require high pulling tension.
Low friction plastic duct can be pulled into the conduit first or cable
lubricant used before the cable is pulled into the duct or conduit.
Radiation Effects In Fiber Optic Cables
Q: We were asked about fiber optic cables in presents of nuclear
radiation in reactors. Will radiation affect the glass fiber?. Is jacket
material affected by radiation?
A: This has been a topic of discussion and study since the first
optical fiber use, first relative to use in nuclear power plants and
nuclear powered subs and ships. Today fiber is used in satellites and
the ISS. Fiber can be sensitive to radiation and is therefore used as a
sensor for radiation in some experiments. Normal fibers work in most
environments - wherever t is safe for humans - and special fibers and
cables are used in high-radiation areas.
PC and APC Connectors
Q: Can you confirm whether there is a 1 mm gap in APC and UPC optical connectors?
A: PC, UPC and APC connectors are all physical contact connectors -
that’s what “PC” means. If you had a gap between the connectors when
making a connection you would have higher loss and reflectance except on
the APC.
Broken Fibers
Q: What could be the main reasons for this? A buried fibre cable has
broken cores, such that different cores break at different distances
(e.g. core 1 and 2 break at 6 km, core 5 and 9 break at 28km, etc) Why
would a core break at a point where other cores are not even showing a
loss?
A: A likely cause is exceeding the pulling tension or bend radius of
the cable during installation. How it affects fibers could be due to
the alignment of fibers at different points or how the cable was
stressed during installation. Often fiber is pulled using pulleys too
small or over a small radius exiting a duct.
Questions On Restoration Repair;
Q: I have been in several debates about fiber restoration, and
whether a cable being repaired should have all the fibers spliced
through the damage or just the active ones. The people I have the debate
with typically use the line "we follow industry standards" I am
inquiring about where I may find this issue referenced? I have many of
your books (if not all) but it would help me save time if you could tell
me where this specific issue is addressed? For the record, I am for
splicing all cables through and making the cable whole, to reduce
troubleshooting, and the ability to utilize existing fiber to install
new customers or roll a customer to a different fiber if their assigned
fiber needs to be repaired.
A: Let’s address the standards issue first. OSP standards are almost
nonexistent.. When it comes to restoration itself, the goal should be
to restore service as quickly as possible- e.g. splice enough fibers for
current service - then complete the restoration to return the cable
plant to its condition before the damage was done. Considering the time
required to locate, have techs drive to the site, prepare the cable for
repair and then return the cable plant to a secure situation (aerial or
underground), it seems “penny wise and pound foolish” to not complete
the jonb by splicing all the fibers. Do those who argue otherwise think
saving a few minutes now justifies having to do another major project in
the future to restore the other fibers?
Past Questions
OTDR Measures Fiber Length
Q: What property (or defect) of SM G.652D could possibly lead to
span length (fiber length determined by OTDR) being shorter than cable
length? The cable length is 2.517km vs 2.508km fiber length.*
A: It is not uncommon for the OTDR measured fiber distance to differ
from the cable distance read from the cable jacket. OTDR measurements
have errors typically greater than the differences you gave. However
there is another likely difference. THe OTDR measures time of flight
(test pulse out and return) to the end of the cable and calculates the
length based on the index of refraction of the fiber. Most cables have a
fiber length about 1% longer than the cable length to prevent stress on
the fiber when the cable is pulled, so your results showing the fiber
length as being shorter indicated the particular fiber in the cable has
an index of refraction that is different from the value being used by
the OTDR. This is a parameter which can be set if you know the proper
value for the fibers used in the cable.
What is Long Haul?
Q: Do we have a characterisation for long haul plant in terms of
length? How long should a fibre plant be to be called long haul? How
long is a metro and a campus fibre? Apart from length, are there any
other features required for a fibre plant to be called "long haul"?
A: There is no standard definition for “long haul,” but most people probably use the following guidelines:
Long haul: >20km
Metro: 2-20km
Campus: <2km
Premises: <500m
Again, there are no standards for the term “long haul,” so while most
long haul today is high speed (>10Gb/s) and may include WDM, some
long haul systems for special applications like electrical utility grid
monitoring may go long distances but at very low bit rates.
What's The Light Path Link
Q: Generally, how much does the distance travelled by the light
pulse (one way) differ from the length of the fibre (as measured on the
drum) There are probably differences (how ever small) between the
path of the light pulse (as it ping-pongs inside the core) and the
length of the strand.
A: In singlemode fiber, the light path length is the fiber length.
In multimode fiber it depends on the type of fiber and the individual
modes. Cable is generally made with the fiber being about 1% longer than
the cable to prevent tension on the cable elongating it and stressing
the fiber.
Reducing Attenuation
Q: What is the best way of reducing fiber optic attenuation
A: In any cable plant, the loss comes from the loss of the optical
fiber and loss at joints (splices or mated connectors) plus any stress
losses caused by bad installation of the cable. For a give cable plant,
the options are lower loss fiber or lower loss at joints. If you need
lower loss, the fiber loss is a function of the attenuation coefficient
(dB/km) times the length (km)., e.g 0.4dB/km X 10 km = 4.0 dB. So if the
length is fixed, you can try to find lower loss fiber. The loss at
joints is a fucntion of the methods of joining. Splices have very low
loss - 0.1 dB or less on singlemode fiber. slightly more on multimode
fiber. Connections can have loss from 0.1 dB to more than 0.5 dB,
depending on the type of connector chosen. On SM fiber, if connecctors
are top quality fusion splice on connectors and are properly cleaned
loss can be under 0.2 dB. Some connectors like the MPO multifiber array
connector can have losses up to 0.75 dB or more. Replacing connectors
with fusion splices is also a way to lower loss at joints. Here is a
reference to loss budgets: https://foa.org/tech/lossbudg.htm
Safe handling of fiber optics;
Q: Is there a particular glove recommended for safe handling of
FO's? I appreciate dexterity in handling may be important, but glass
shards / splinters into the skin is a significant risk as well. There
are vague references to using gloves, but looking for the preferred /
recommended type of glove.
A: Gloves are hard to use when dealing with bare fiber but thin
surgical gloves work for some people. Regular gloves are too clumsy and
some cannot stop fiber penetration. When working with cable, especially
armored cable or large cables, work gloves are good protection. You can
also get kevlar gloves that resist cuts but are flexible and cooler.
They are often advertised as kitchen gloves to prevent knife cuts.
Fault Location
Q: How do you detect fault location of fiber optics in the field? How much time it takes to detect geo-location?
A: The simple answer is an OTDR but the physical location depends on
cable plant documentation and location data like GIS data. The time
depends on the availability of data and equipment. Minutes to days?
"Certified' Cables
Q: we will be using a large number of fiber cables . We have
specific testing and reporting requirements for the cables that are
shipped to us. Each end needs to be tested in accordance with
IEC-61300-3-35, IEC 61300-1:2022 with automated analysis microscopy.
Instead of purchasing the cables and getting them certified upon
receiving them, is there an option out there that allows you to purchase
Fiber Optic Cables that have already been certified according to the
above listed requirements and come with some sort of clear proof of
that?
A: The question is the matter of definition of “certified.”
Generally it means testing to a standard as you note. Any reputable
manufacturer of these cables will supply documentation with the cables
that includes loss testing and connector inspection reports. If
the cable manufacturer does not supply that documentation, I suggest
finding another supplier. At incoming, it may be desirable to do a
AQL sampling, but testing these cables is very specialized. Not many
contractors are equipped with the special test equipment needed.
Calibrating Multimode Optical Power Meters
Q: Should I be calibrating multimode optical power meters with an
LED source or a laser? I know that standards call for testing multimode
loss with LEDs not lasers.
A: The reason standards call for testing MM fiber with LEDs is the
coherence of lasers leads to modal noise in the fibers and unpredictable
variations in loss. But the wide spectral width of LEDs makes
calibration less accurate than when using lasers at the correct
wavelengths. Calibrate meters with lasers, test fibers with LEDs.
Color Codes On Higher Fiber Count Cables
Q: Why do buffer tubes 13-24 repeat the colors with a black stripe
(black will have a yellow stripe)? Why does it start with black
stripe vs starting with blue? And what happens when you get to black
tube color again do you skip it?
A: Color codes are an interesting topic. The basic color codes go
back to the beginnings of multi-pair phone cables. TIA added color codes
for premises cable jackets and connectors in TIA-598 to the 1-12 color
codes for fibers and buffer tubes. FOA covers that basic system in the
online Guide here: https://foa.org/tech/ColCodes.htm
The question about the second black fiber, fiber 20, is an interesting
one. Many cables use black with a yellow stripe but Corning uses a clear
buffer with a black stripe.
https://www.corning.com/catalog/coc/documents/application-engineering-notes/AEN029.pdf
It turns out that cable manufacturers don’t all do it the same way
for higher fiber counts. Most use the 1-12 colors for fibers and the
same for buffer tubes. 12 fibers per colored buffer tube is the
tradition, but there are 24 fibers in some tubes, so it’s 1-24 colors.
Ribbon cables are another story. With the older hard ribbon designs,
cable manufacturers often printed information on each ribbon. Those are
becoming obsolete and you can’t print on the new flexible ribbons the
same way, so I’ve seen schemes to print dots and dashes on the fibers in
the ribbons!
So what we have is a standard, but standards are voluntary, so not everybody follows them!
Repairing Fiber Optic Connector Ferrules
Q: Can you take an existing fiber optic number connector and polish
the end if the end is to dirty or damaged that it cannot be cleaned via
dry or wet methods?
A: Yes, using special polishing techniques. We have a page on that in the FOA Guide: Fiber Optic Connector Repair
Grounding Armored Jumper Cables
Q: Do you need to bond/ground FTTH drop "jumpers" that ise an armored cable?
A: Yes, just like any other cable that has conductive elements. A
manufacturer of the cables Tinifiber seems to agree:
https://tinifiber.com/bonding-and-grounding-armored-fiber-cable/
I do not know of any fiber optic connectors that address this, unlike the RJ-45/modular 8-pin connectors for UTP copper.
Disoposal Of Fiber Optic Cables
Q: How does an organization dispose of unwanted fiber optic cables in an environmentally safe manner?
A: We recommend that users save some reels leftover from an installation
for possible use in restoration. If a cable break occurs, getting cable
quickly can be a problem. We also have a contact who says he can
recycle fiber optic cable:
Contact: Steve Maginnis, LD4Recycle/ CommuniCom Recycling, (Visit
website https://ld4recycle.com), sm@LD4Recycle.com, 803.371.5436
Otherwise, it is basically landfill.
Finding Buried Fiber Optic Cables Q: We have a client that needs their private fiber
located. We have been on site and confirmed the lines were
installed with no tracer wire or conductive conduit/sheathing.
Want to know if you had any suggestions on how to locate or if there was
specialized equipment that I am aware of. A: Interesting question on an important topic. The answer is a
qualified maybe. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) can sometimes spor fiber
optic cable, maybe more easily if it is in duct or conduit. It requires
someone with a lot of experince in GPR. There are companies around the
US with this capability. Then there is a new proposal using the sensing
capability of fiber with above ground vibrators. Nothing commercial is
available here as far as I know.
https://www.winlab.rutgers.edu/~hansiiii/papers/OECC_2020_Liu.pdf
Fiber Optics For Alarm Systems
Q: Can you please help me with having information about if do you know
if someone did use fiber for complete fire alarm systems, sensor, smoke
detectors, panels etc.
A: FOA checked with my technical contact at the IBEW, Jim Simpson, for this topic. Here is his answer:
NFPA does indeed have requirements for fiber in fire alarm systems. Keep
in mind, the requirements may vary depending on which edition of NFPA
72 the jurisdiction has adopted. The info below is based on the 2022
NFPA 72.
Chapter 12 covers Circuits and Pathways
Section 27.4 covers Communications Methods
Section 27.7 covers Public Cable Plant
Updating FOA Courses And Reference Materials
Q: How often are FOA courses updated? And when they get updated, what happens to those who would have done a previous version?
A: The FOA certifications are updated as needed to stay current with
technology and applications. Udates are incremental and we do not
require current certification holders to retake courses or exams. Some
of our updates are almost humorous. For example, over the last 20 years
the definitions of “hybrid” and “composite” cables have flipped twice in
several international standards. At the last time, we changed all
references to these cable types in all our materials to note the
confusion it creates, then purged all questions from our exams that
covered this confusing topic.
Fiber Optic Color Codes Reference Chart
Q: Has anyone made a fiber optic pocket reference chart that has cable
color orders, frequencies, or other commonly used info on it? A: The FOA has a page on its Online Guide that covers color codes
(https://foa.org/tech/ColCodes.htm). It is the most popular page in the
FOA Guide! It works great with a smartphone.
Free online
self-study programs on many fiber optics and
cabling topics are available at Fiber U, FOA's
online web-based training website. Free online training at
Fiber U
Online Credentials For FOA Schools And Certified Instructors
FOA switched to online credentials 1-1/2 years ago. Now every active FOA
certified fiber optic and premises cabling tech has an online
credential they can use to prove their certification, print paper
certificates and share on social media. When they add another
certification or renew, their online credential is updated.
FOA has now expanded the online credentials to its network of FOA
Approved training organizations and FOA Certified Fiber Optic
Instructors (CFOS/I and CPCT/I.) Now FOA Approved training organizations
and FOA Certified Fiber Optic Instructors can now also share their
credentials online.
Those evaluating fiber optic or premises cabling training organizations
will be able to quickly determine the status of the training
organization they are considering by following the link to the
organizations online credential. Likewise the qualifications of the
instructor are also available on their online credential which lists all
their FOA certifications.
The Types of Work Done By Fiber Techs And How It Affects Training
What is a fiber optic technician? What kinds of work
do they do? Those topics were the center of FOA discussions with the US
Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics that led to the new job
category of "Telecommunications Technician" on the BLS
website. The focus of this job category is primarily the
installation and operation of the fiber optic cable plant, but one
should not forget the cable plant must be designed also as part of a
more extensive communications network.
In our discussion with the BLS analysts, we pointed out the various
stages of a fiber optic communications network project and how techs
with various knowledge and skill sets are needed and involved in every
step. Here is how FOA defines these stages of a project and the skills
of the techs. This is not unique to FOA; it's what has been traditional
at telecom companies forever.
Planning and Design: Once needs for a communications network is
established, project managers will be responsible for all the details of
the project while experienced fiber techs trained and experienced in
fiber optic network design (CFOS/D) will design the cable plant itself. (FOA Guide - Design)
Construction: Aerial cable plants may require installing new poles or
doing make-ready on existing poles and messengers. Underground
construction requires trenching and installation of ducts. In many cases
the actual construction is done by general construction workers, as the
construction work in many cases is not unique to fiber optics. Heavy
machinery is required for much of the construction work and training is
focused on safety as well as operating the machinery. (FOA Guide - Construction)
Fiber Optic Cable Installers: Once the route is prepared, the fiber
optic cable can be installed. Aerial cable installation depends on the
type of cable. Regular OSP cable, figure 8 cable and ADSS cable requires
special hardware and installation techniques so the techs must
understand the process appropriate for each cable. (FOA Guide - Installation)
Splicers: Since the beginning, fiber techs have been called
"splicers"
because that was the original job unique to fiber optics. Construction
and cable installation was not very different from earlier copper
cables, but splicing was very different. Even today, fiber techs are
often called splicers and splicing is a core skill for any fiber tech
whether they are joining cables or terminating them. (FOA Guide - Splicing)
Testers: After the fiber optic cable is installed and spliced,
it must be tested. Testing goes together with splicing since every
splice will be tested, often as soon as it is made so if it needs
redoing, it should be done before the splice closure is sealed. (FOA Guide - Testing)
Network Operators: Once the cable plant is built and the communications
equipment installed, it needs techs who know how to operate the comms
but may only know how to connect new gear or change connections on
current gear. These techs should also know how to troubleshoot systems
in an outage and either do the restoration themselves or call a tech who
can. (FOA Guide - Operation)
These categories merely define the stages of installation of a fiber
optic project. Of course there are subsets of these categories and most
fiber techs are expected to have skills and jobs that cross into
multiple groups, as FOA has defined in the KSAs (knowledge, skills and abilities) for a CFOT.
What an individual worker does differs according to their job. An
independent fiber contractor may cover every job except
operation and a FTTH subscriber installation tech may only understand
installing cables, testing and connecting equipment within the scope of
FTTH systems. A construction company may handle the trenching and even
pole setting as well as parts of the traditional fiber work.
The FOA defined its role early on to focus on educating and
certifying techs in the fiber specific skills: cable installation,
splicing, testing and restoration. FOA would like to see more schools
get into the construction phase, especially for newer techniques like
microtrenching and blowing cable, but these require large outdoor areas
for training and large investments in equipment. Most techs who learn
these processes now do it with OJT - on-the-job-training - and hopefully get OSHA
training for safety.
FOA School News
FOA's roster of approved schools is growing as more organizations
recognize our expertise in workforce development and our comprehensive
support for getting new schools started. FOA has over 25 years
experience and nearly 100,000 certified fiber techs (with ~130,000
certifications). As a non-profit organization founded by the industry
specifically to develop a competent workforce, FOA provides the
consultation, curriculum and contacts to get schools started as a free
service to new schools.
Need A Fiber Optic Course Onsite? Invite an FOA School To Come To You
FOA often gets inquiries from an organization that
has personnel that needs training in fiber optics. Recent inquiries have
included contractors, a manufacturer of high-reliability products using
fiber optics and a cable manufacturer. In many cases, where there are
several people needing training, FOA can recommend a FOA Approved School
and Certified Instructor who will come to their location to teach a
class. The advantage is of course the savings in travel costs if
the class comes to you, but it also offers the opportunity to customize
the course to fit your needs, even use your equipment or work on your
components, so the training is more relevant to those taking the class.
Contact FOA to discuss the idea of a custom, on-site class to see if it will better meet your needs.
Fiber U
On-The-Job Training (OJT) Program
The
FOA Fiber U OJT program for novices combines online study at
Fiber U with OJT with mentoring by experienced
co-workers and their supervisor to help new employees
develop into experienced FOA-certified technicians.
The FOA Fiber U “OJT-To-Cert”
program includes both fiber optics
and premises cabling (copper, fiber & wireless),
so it covers techs working in both outside plant and
premises jobs.
Like other FOA
programs, the OJT-To-Cert program is free. If you
and/or your company is interested in the FOA
OJT-To-Cert program, contact FOA.
FOA
Direct Certification Program For Experienced Fiber Optic Techs
Experience Plus
Online Study At Fiber U = FOA Certification
Experienced fiber optic technicians can become FOA Certified using
their experience in fiber optics and study for the
FOA certification exams online at Fiber U.Thousands of
industry professionals have applied to the FOA
directly for certification without the need for
classroom training, based on their knowledge and
skills developed working the field. Since FOA
certifications are based on KSAs (knowledge, skills
and abilities), current techs can show the
skills and abilities required through their field
experience. FOA provides free online self-study courses at Fiber U for the knowledge
part to prepare you for FOA certification exams
which you can also take online.
If you are an experienced field tech interested in
certification, and FOA is the internationally
recognized certifying body for fiber optics, you can
find out more about the FOA Direct Certification Programhere.
If you are already a CFOT, FOA also offers many
specialist certifications you can obtain based on
your experience as a field tech. See what's
available at Fiber
U.
Fiber U "Basic Fiber
Optics" Online Self-Study Course Now In Spanish
El curso de
autoaprendizaje en línea "Fibra óptica básica" de
Fiber U ahora en español
El sitio de
aprendizaje en línea de FOA, Fiber U, tiene más de
dos docenas de cursos de autoaprendizaje gratuitos
sobre fibra óptica y cableado de instalaciones.
Como era de esperar, el tema más popular es el
curso "Fibra óptica básica", que se utiliza para
iniciarse en la fibra óptica y como curso de
preparación para realizar el examen de
certificación FOA CFOT.
Ahora el curso básico
de fibra óptica está disponible en español,
utilizando el libro de texto FOA en español, la
sección de la Guía en línea en español y la
capacidad de YouTube para traducir subtítulos de
video al español. El curso funciona exactamente
como la versión en inglés con 10 lecciones, cada
una con cuestionarios y una opción para tomar un
examen de Certificado de finalización.
Para presentar el nuevo curso de
español Fiber U, el examen Certificate of
Completion es gratuito, así que dígaselo a sus
contactos.
New Fiber U Course: Fiber Characterization
FOA has added a new course at Fiber U on Fiber Characterization. Fiber
characterization is the process for testing long fiber cable plants for
its ability for carrying high speed communications. With so many
networks now operating at 100, 200, 400 or even 800 Gb/s, fiber
characterization is important, especially on older fiber optic cable
plants.The free Fiber U Fiber Characterization course is available in two forms, as a standalone Fiber U fiber Characterization Course with its own Fiber U Certificate of Completion and as a separate Lesson in the Fiber U Fiber Optic Testing course. This course is recommended for those studying for the FOA CFOS/FC Fiber Characterization certification.
Fiber U MiniCourses: Got An Hour Or Less?
Learn Something New About Fiber Optics.
FOA
has introduced a new type of Fiber U
course, the MiniCourse, a free online course you
could take in a short time, perhaps as you ate lunch
at your desk or took a coffee break. The
topics of these courses should explain what they are
about, and these are all very important topics to
fiber optic techs.
New Fiber U MiniCourse - Fiber Optic Jargon
There is a new MiniCourse at Fiber U - Fiber Optic Jargon.
Jargon is the most important thing you need to learn when you learn
about a new technology. This short Fiber U MiniCourse is intended to
introduce you to fiber optic jargon and make learning about fiber much
easier. It's aimed at novices but is a good refresher for even
experienced techs. Fiber Optics In Communications
The courses have two components, video lectures and
readings, that are complementary. As usual there is
a self-test to allow you to check your
comprehension. As with other Fiber U courses if you
desire, you can take a short test for a Fiber U
Certificate of Completion that costs
only $10. All these free courses and many more
are available at Fiber U.
What Fiber Techs
Don't Know -
What We Learn From
FOA Certification Tests
As
FOA moves more testing over to our digital online
testing system at ClassMarker, we have access to
more data about our testing, including what
questions and topics on the tests are answered
incorrectly most often. Having this data gives us an
opportunity to evaluate the questions and how they
are stated, but more importantly it allow us to help
our instructors teach the subjects and us to change
our curriculum and online courses to emphasize these
particular topics. These are some of the topics that
we have noticed are answered incorrectly more often
in FOA and Fiber U tests.
Most of the questions missed are on testing.
1. OTDRs - particularly what information is in the
OTDR trace.
2. The difference between dB and dBm
3. Loss budgets - both the concepts and doing the
math
4. Insertion loss testing - single-ended or double
ended for testing patchcords or cable plants, how to
set 0dB references
5. Units of measure - fiber is measured in microns,
wavelengths in nanometers, etc.
At FOA, we're working to add Fiber
U MiniCourses on these topics and working with
our schools to emphasize these topics in their
classes.
If you are going to be taking a FOA certification
course or test in the near future, these topics
should be on your final exam study list.
What We Learn From Hands On Labs
We learn about students performance in hands-on labs
from the feedback of our instructors and our own
experiences too. One big problem is the use of hand
tools. Growing up today, you learn how to use
keyboards, mouses and touch screens, but decades
ago, you also learned how to use basic hand tools.
This is big enough of a problem that we're
considering adding some video lessons on basic hand
tools to prepare students for cable prep,
termination and splicing that require the use of
hand tools.
FOA offers free online self-study programs at Fiber U.
Many users are preparing for FOA certification
programs - taking courses at our schools or using
the Direct Certification program. Some of our
schools are requiring Fiber U programs as
prerequisites for their classroom courses so they
can spend more time on hands-on activities.
Publications /
Resources
Cross Reference To FOA Tech Materials
FOA has so much technical reference material, we created a cross reference guide to the textbooks,
Online Guide and Fiber U courses, all the FOA technical information.
Besides the textbooks, online Guide and Fiber U, each section of the
Guide also includes links to the 100+ FOA videos available.
To help those new to fiber optic workforce development, FOA has created a web page we call "Fiber Optic Workforce Development."
In this page, we share what we have learned about the fiber optic
workforce, who they are and how they learn their trade. We discuss what
defines a fiber optic tech and how they should be certified.
Just like they say in the product ads, it's new and improved!
It has been 5 years since we have updated the FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics,
so it is certainly time for an update. The latest version is different
enough we call it a new edition. Many of the updates are for new
technologies which are reshaping the fiber optic industry like coherent
transmission, BI fibers, etc. We've also added a section on the fiber
optic workforce which has much relevance because this book is used to
train those entering the workforce.
We've also worked on making the book more readable, adding formatting that eases reading and a new comprehensive index.
Inflation was an issue, but the price only goes up $2 to $29.95 for the paperback and $12.95 for the Kindle version.
The new edition of the FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics is available from Amazon and booksellers worldwide.
New In Spanish - Nuevo en español
FOA Spanish Textbook And Online Guide Updated
The FOA Spanish textbook and Online Guide on basic fiber optics has just
been updated. The new version includes all the latest updates and is
intended for use with FOA CFOT certification classes presented in
Spanish. Both paperback and Kindle versions are available. The textbook and the updated CFOT class
curriculum are available now.
Libro de texto en español y guía en línea de FOA actualizados
Se acaba de actualizar el libro de texto en español y la Guía Online de FOA
sobre fibra óptica básica. La nueva versión incluye las últimas
actualizaciones y está diseñada para usarse con las clases de
certificación FOA CFOT presentadas en español. Están disponibles
versiones de bolsillo y Kindle. El libro de texto y el plan de estudios
actualizado de la clase CFOT ya están disponibles.
FOA Adds Fiber Optic Network Design in Spanish
The FOA Design textbook and course curriculum are available in Spanish also. The FOA CFOS/D curriculum in Spanish includes the necessary materials
for an instructor to present the course in Spanish and give thCFOS/D
certification exam in Spanish. The material is available to any
FOA-approved school. For more infirmation on becoming a FOA approved
school, go here.
El libro de texto de FOA Design y el plan de estudios
del curso también están disponibles en español. El plan de estudios de
FOA CFOS/D en español incluye los materiales necesarios para que un
instructor presente el curso en español y dé el examen de certificación
CFOS/D en español. El material está disponible para cualquier escuela
aprobada por la FOA. Para obtener más confirmación sobre cómo
convertirse en una escuela aprobada por la FOA, vaya aquí.
Best Seller: Fiber Broadband (Paperback and Kindle)
In less than half a century,
fiber optics has revolutionized communications and to a large extent,
society in general. Broadband, what many today call high speed Internet
access, has become a necessity for everyone, not a luxury. The
technology that makes broadband possible is fiber optics, connecting the
continents, cities, and just about everybody. Even fiber to the home
(FTTH) brings broadband to hundreds of millions worldwide.
How did we get from an era when communications was making a telephone
call or sending a telegram to today’s world where every piece of
information – and misinformation – is available at the click of a mouse
or touch on a screen? How did we get from a time when a phone was
connected on copper wires to being able to connect practically anywhere
on a handheld device with more computing power than was available to
scientists and engineers only decades ago?
How does broadband work? Without fiber optics it would not work.
This book is not the typical FOA technical textbook - it is written for
anyone who wants to understand fiber broadband or fiber optics or the
Internet. It's also aimed at STEM teachers who want to include
communications technology in their classes. This book will try to
explain not only how fiber broadband works, but how
it was developed. It is intended to be an introduction to
communications technology
appropriate for a communications course at almost any level (junior
high, high school or
college,) for managers involved with broadband projects, or for anyone
who just wonders how all this stuff works.
Paperback ($12.95) and Kindle ($9.95) versions available from Amazon or most booksellers. Kindle version is in color!
More Translations of FOA Textbooks
FOA is a very international organization and it works hard to
accommodate the language needs of everyone. We have been translating our
books and website into the languages most requested, and this month, we
add two more textbook translations. We also want to thank Jerry Morla,
FOA CFOS/I instructor and Director who has been doing the recent
translations into Spanish, his native language.
Here is a listing of all the FOA textbook Translations
Spanish Editions:
Guía de Referencia de la Asociación de Fibra Óptica (FOA) Sobre Fibra
Óptica: Guía de estudio para la certificación de la FOA Amazon
La Referencia de Cableado para Predios de la FOA: Guía para Certificación de la FOA Amazon
La Asociación de Fibra Óptica Manual de Fibra Hasta el Hogar : Para
Planificadores, Gestores, Diseñadores, Instaladores y Operadores De
FTTH Amazon
Guía de Referencia de la FOA sobre Diseño de la red de fibra óptica: Guía de Estudio para la Certificación de la FOA Amazon
And the FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics: French Edition: Le
Guide de référence de la FOA pour la fibre optique et et
guide d'étude pour la certification FOA: Guide d'étude pour
la certification FOA Amazon Portuguese Edition: Guia de Referência sobre Fibra Óptica da FOA : Guia de Estudo para a Certificação da FOA Amazon The subject matter of these books is also translated in the FOA Guide online.
Did
you know YouTube will close caption videos in many
languages?
Sign in with Google to get translations for closed
captioning. Click on the settings icon (red arrow.)
Choose "Subtitles". English is the default
language. Click on the arrow after "English
(auto-generated) >". In the new window click on
"Auto-translate" and choose the language you
want.
FOA Loss Budget
Calculator On A Web Page 5/2020
FOA
has written many articles about loss budgets,
something everyone involved in fiber optics needs to
know and needs to know how to calculate. We recently
discovered how to get a spreadsheet ported to a Web
page, so we created this web page that calculates
loss budgets. We have an iOS loss budget app, but
with this web page, you can calculate loss budgets
from any device, smart phone, tablet, laptop, or
desktop computer that has web browsing capability.
We are continually updating the Online Reference
Guide to keep up with changes in the industry and
adding lots of new pages of technical information.
When you go to the FOA
Guide Table of Contents to see the latest
updates - look for .
The FOA has it's own
reference books for everyone working in fiber
optics - contractors, installers and end users as
well as for use as textbooks in classes at
educational institutions. They are available as
printed books or Kindle at much lower prices than
most textbooks since we self-publish and sell
online, cutting out the middlemen. Click on the
book images for more information. The Reference
Guide To Fiber Optics is also available in
Spanish, French and Portuguese. The Design book is available in English
and Spanish.
Resources For
Teachers In K-12 And Technical Schools
Teachers in all grades can introduce their
students to fiber optic technology with some
simple demonstrations. FOA has created a page for
STEM or STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts
and math) teachers with materials appropriate to
their classes. Fiber Optic Resources For
Teachers.
Safety
On Safety
New Fiber U Course: Fiber
Optic Safety
Safety
must be the first concern of everyone involved in a fiber optic
project, including those planning, designing, managing or supervising
and of course those doing the installation.
FOA is often asked about safety for fiber optics. Some
inquiries ask where it's covered in the FOA Online Guide or textbooks or
if we have a course on safety at Fiber U. Almost all Fiber
U Courses have lessons covering safety, because
safety is important in every aspect of a fiber optic project.
This
new Fiber U course will focus on safety alone. There are two lessons in this course,
fiber optic construction and fiber optic installation. The dividing
line between the two courses is the installation of the fiber optic
cables. Construction leads up to and/or is completed when the cables are
installed. Installation begins when the fiber tech installs the cable,
then completes the splicing, termination testing and documentation. The
overlap between the two is the installation of the cables where both
construction personnel and fiber optic techs are involved.
Here is the new Fiber U "Fiber Optic Safety" self-study program. Take the course and get your certificate of completion.
The FOA is concerned about safety! FOA
considers safety an integral part of all our
programs, curriculum materials and technical
materials. We start all our textbooks and their
online versions with a section on safety in the
first chapter, like this: Before
we get started - Safety First!
The FOA is a, international non-profit
educational association chartered to promote
professionalism in fiber optics through education,
certification and standards.
Founded in 1995 by a dozen prominent fiber optics
trainers and leaders from education,industry and governmentas a professional society for fiber
optics and a source of independent certification,
the FOA has grown to now being involved in numerous
activities to educate the world about fiber optics
and certify the workers who design, build and
operate the world's fiber optic networks.
Want to know more about fiber optics? Study
for FOA certifications? Free
Self-Study Programs are on "Fiber U®."
Looking for specific information? Here's the largest
technical reference on the web: The
FOA Online Fiber Optic Reference Guide.
Free online self-study programs
on many fiber optics and cabling topics are
available at Fiber U,
FOA's online web-based training website.
The
FOA has created a store on Zazzle.com offering lots
of new logo merchandise. It has lots of versions of
shirts and other merchandise with "FOA," "Fiber U,"
"Lennie Lightwave" designs and more so you should
find something just for you! See FOA on Zazzle.
Your
Name, CFOT® - It pays to advertise!
The FOA encourages
CFOTs to use the logo on their business cards,
letterhead, truck or van, etc. and provides logo
files for that purpose. But we are also asked
about how to use the CFOT or CFOS certifications.
Easy, you can refer to yourself as "Your Name,
CFOT" or "Your Name, CFOS/T" for example.
Feel free to use the
logo and designations to promote your achievements
and professionalism!
Contact
FOA at info@thefoa.org to get logos in file format
for your use.
Privacy Policy (for
the EU GDPR): The FOA does not
use cookies or any other web tricks to gather
information on visitors to our website, nor do
we allow commercial advertising. Our website
hosts may gather traffic statistics for the
visitors to our website and our online testing
service, ClassMarker, maintains statistics of
test results. We do not release or misuse any
information on any of our members except we will
confirm FOA certifications and Fiber U
certificates of completion when requested by
appropriate persons such as employers or
personnel services. Read
the complete FOA Privacy Policy here.