Fiber Optic Test

TS LAN 500 is a five-day course that prepares crafts people for all aspects of fiber optic cable installation in a local area network environment. Both multimode and single-mode fiber types are covered. Cable placement, fusion and mechanical splicing, cable termination (connector installation and pigtail splicing) and acceptance testing are taught with extensive hands-on practice.

Corning TS-LAN-500 cheater.

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What are the two basic types of fiber?

Single-Mode, and Multi-Mode.
The 3 parts of a fiber are (the 3 C's)?

Coating, cladding, and core.
The North American Standard core sizes for Milti-Mode fiber are?

62.5 and 50 microns.
The core size for Coring Single-Mode fiber is?

8.3 microns.
The cladding size for both Single-Mode and Multi-Mode fiber is?

125 microns.
What invention in the 1960's made fiber optics more feasible?

Lasers.
Index of Refraction equals:

Speed of light in a Vacuum divided by speed of light in a medium.
As the index of refraction increases, the speed of light in a medium

Decreases.
In what portion of th fiber does light travel for fastest? Core or cladding?

Cladding.
The principle of operation, which permits propogation of light in Single-Mode fiber, is known as

Total Internal Reflection.
The loss of opticle power is referred to as?

Attenuation.
What are the two types of attenuation?

Intrinsic and Extrinsic.
Which type of attenuation is due to traits within the fiber?

Intrinsic.
Which type of attenuation can be caused by the cable installer?

Extrinsic.
What are the two types of extrinsic attenuation?

Macrobend and Microbend.
What type of bending is due to tight tie wraps?

Microbend.
What type of bending is due to exceeding the bend radius?

Macrobend.
What is dispersion?

Spreading of signal pulses as it moves through a medium.
What kind of dispersion can be a problem in Multi-Mode fiber?

Modal dispersion.
What kind of dispersion affects Single-Mode fiber?

Chromatic dispersion.
What is bandwidth?

Information carrying capacity.
What is the bandwidth of Single-Mode fiber?

Infinite.
What are the two optimal wavelengths used in a Multi-Mode system?

850 and 1300 nm.
What are the two optimal wavelengths used in a Single-Mode system?

1310 and 1550 nm.
A 3db loss in power is a...

50% power loss.
Why is 1310 an optimum wavelength for standard Single-Mode?

There's a near zero dispersion loss @ 1310nm.
What is the advantage of Dispersion shifted fiber?

Lower attenuation/dispersion @ 1550.
Is the Index of Refraction of a standard Single-Mode fiber typically the same value across the core? Yes/No/Why?

Yes. Because, with a Single-Mode core, only one mode will be propagating in the fiber.
Is the Index of Refraction of a standard Multi-Mode fiber typically the same value across the core? Yes/No/Why?

No, because of multiple modes taking multiple paths.
Does all the light travel in the core of the fiber? Yes/No.

No.
In a Single-Mode fiber what is the term used to describe the area that light actually travels, and whats its value?

Mode Field Diamter, and its value is 9.3 @ 1310, and 10.5 @ 1550 microns.
Name two types of fiber optic designs?

Loose tube, and Tight Buffered, or Ribbon (3 types).
Loose tube cable is optimised for outdoor use. How?

Free floating fibers in buffer tubes.
Name two types of Corning Cable Systems Loose Tube cables:

Altos, and Freedom.
What does "all dielectric" mean?

Non-conductive.
Name two self supporting cable types?

Figure 8, and ADSS.
What is the standard number of fibers per tube in Corning Cable Systems cable?

12.
Where are the odd fiber tubes usually located?

Last tube after 2003, first tube before 2003.
Tight buffered cable is optimised for which use?

For outdoor use.
Name two types of Corning Cable Systems Tight Buffered cables:

MIC and Freedom 1.
What is the main load bearer for Corning Cable Systems cable?

The central member, or strength member.
List 3 functions of the central member:

Load bearing/tensile strength, anti-bucking, and protecting the bend radius.
The minimum number of buffer tube positions in a stranded loose tube cable is? And why?

6, to maintain a round cable shape.
The outside diameter of a tight buffered fiber is?

900 microns.
The outside diameter of a fiber in a stranded loose tube cable is?

250 microns.
Can I directly connectorise a 250 micron fiber?

No, its too small. You need a fanout kit.
What are the three NEC lisitngs for indoor cable?

Plenum, Riser, and Gerneral (or hoizontal).
Can I install a Plenum rated cable in a riser shaft?

Yes.
Can I install a riser cable in a plenum space?

No.
How much outdoor cable may I bring indoors before I must transition to an indoor cable?

50ft.
What are the main placement consideration when installing fiber optic cable?

STRIP: Slack, Tension, Radius. Protect.
List two reasons why leaving cable slack is important?

Fix mistakes, and for equipment relocation.
What principle does the OTDR rely on to get light back to the receiver?

Back scatter.
Give three examples of when you would use an OTDR?

Cable acceptance, post termination, trouble shooting.
How does the OTDR determine distance?

Measuring time, knowing the index of refraction.
If the index of refraction is entered incorrectly in the OTDR set-up menu, will the measurements be accurate? Yes/No/Why?

No, because the speed of light will be incorrectly estimated.
Which method of measuring connector loss is more accurate, 2 point or LSA, and why?

LSA (least square average) 4pt method is more accurate.
What is a ghost?

A no-loss artifact from a reflective event.
What is a gainer, and what needs to be done when one is found?

Effect seen when the mode field diameter of adjacent fibers are different. Correct it with a bi-directional average.
OTDR Diagram - describe each event.

A. Launch bag connector bay / B. Mechanical splice/angle connector pair / C. Fusion Splice, or bend / D. Gainer / E. Connector pair / F. Cable-end / G. Length of launch bag.
When measuring the fiber length using an OTDR, will the fiber length be the same as the sheath length on a standard loose tube cable? Yes/No/Why?

No. SZ stranding causes extra fiber length (allowing extra length for weather expansion/contraction.
Explain why a mechanical splice may appear as a spike on the OTDR trace and a fusion splice will not?

A mechanical splice is a break causing reflection.
What is the name of the process that consists of alligning and fusing the ends of two fibers together?

Fusion Splicing.
The two methods of alligning and estimating fusion splices are? Which is used for Single Mode and why?

LPAS and PAS (or CDS and V-groove). Any can be used with Single Mode, but LID is best.
Can you use LID on a 900um fiber?

No, 250um coating only.
What are the most critical issues in fusion splicing?

Core allignment, cleaning, cleaving.
What are some critical steps in achieving a good cleave?

Scoring, bending, tension.
Can you use a snap cleave to splice?

Yes, for mechanical splicing - but not for fusion.
What should you do if a fiber breaks under a clamp pad while cleaving?

Clean the cleaver pads, and re-cleave.
What are the differences between OS ONE and M90e fusion splicers?

OS ONE has handlers, V-Groove. M90e uses LPAS, CDS, LID.
What are the different ways to terminate a fiber?

Factory, field, pigtail.
What are the critical steps in Unicam instalation?

Cleave, clean, cam, crimp.
What are the two steps involved with properly cleaning a fiber optic connector?

Wet wipe, then dry wipe. Use 90% alcohol, and lint free wipes.
What are the two types of optical field tests?

OTDR and Attenuation tests (continuity test also).
What information do you need to calculate the loss budget for a fiber optic system with patch panels on each end of the system?

Fiber length, number of splices, number of connectors, and wavelength.
List the equation for figuring the number of jumpers to reference?

#RJ = 3-#patch-panels.
What is the most common jumper reference scenario and why?

Single jumper, as mostly two patch panels.