The Newsletter of The Fiber Optic Association (original) (raw)
The Secret Is Out!
The Onion, in case you are not familiar with it, is a famous humor/satire publication. The fiber optics industry should be proud to be lampooned by such a prestigious publication!
The Future of Supercomputers is Optical
MIT Technology Review, reporting from the Frontiers in Optics conference, described a presentation by Jeffrey Kash of IBM on the future of supercomputers. To reach the next level will require optical components to speed up processing and reduce power. Kash predicted that optics would be replacing electrical backplanes by 2012 and replacing electrical printed circuit boards by 2016. By 2020, optics could be directly on the chip. A more conservative estimate predicts that by 2020 all off-chip communications need to be optical. More.
News From TIA Cabling Meeting
Jacksonville, FL November 2-5 2009
TIA held a meeting of the TR-42 Telecommunications
Cabling Systems committee in Jacksonville, Florida recently. We have mentioned they were planning to discuss the connector loss specification in TIA-568 but they also are discussing reorganizing the fiber optic committees. Here are our observations from the meetings.
Lowering Connector Loss Standards
The TIA TR-42.8 fiber optic structured cabling committee met in Jacksonville during the first week in November. Several items of interest were discussed but few issues were settled there. The most important issue for fiber optics was the discussions on lowering the standard for connector loss in installed cable plants. The current standard calls for a maximum loss of 0.75 dB which creates problems when designing cable plants for high bitrate multimode systems like 10 and 40 gigabit Ethernet. The power budget for several of these links is lower than a typical TIA-568 compliant cable plant which will have 4 connections.
International cabling standards have adopted a statistical distribution of connector loss, where the mean loss is 0.35 dB and 99% (3 σ in statistics) must be lower than 0.6 dB. This is certainly reasonable for most adhesive polish connectors and allows a number of prepolished/splice connectors in the link.
The arguments for/against lowering the standard were interesting. They included:
The 0.75 dB loss maximum is needed for the new 24 fiber array connectors.
Maybe a different standard is required for field and factory terminations.
If the TIA cuts the loss of a standard cable plant, the network standards groups like the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet committee, will design to the lower spec and undercut the new standards anyway. (!)
More study is needed regarding the effects on loss measurements of the new standard for mode power control for testing, encircled flux (EF – we’re working on an article about this new standard – it’s a complex issue!)
The committee decided to establish a task force to continue looking into this issue. We expect the discussions to continue on this topic for some time, but convincing manufacturers (who write these standards for their own products) to change to a more restrictive value may be difficult. Adoption of international standards is more likely. Remember that anybody can require lower values
What’s Happening To The TIA Fiber Optic Committees?
First a bit of history. TIA assumed responsibility for coordinating US fiber optic standards in the early 1980s. There were separate groups working on components (FO-6) and systems (FO-2). These groups worked diligently throughout the 1980s and 1990s to develop the standards that allowed fiber optics to become a mature technology. Yes fiber optics, now used commercially for over 33 years, should be considered a mature technology.
Fiber became so mature, that by the end of the 1990s attendance at standards meetings began to wane in part because of the lack of urgent projects. The committee then merged FO-2 and FO-6 into FO-4 and merged many of the committees that had existed for many years.
In 2008, TIA merged FO-4 into TR-42, the Telecommunications Cabling Systems committee and relegated fiber optics to a few committees covering systems, components, fiber and cable and metrology.
Now TIA is again trying to merge fiber optic groups since several committees, including metrology (testing), no longer have enough attendees for a quorum. Perhaps its now time to reconsider even having any fiber optic committees except for TR-42.8 within TR-42. (Their tasking from the TIA website: The TR-42.8 Subcommittee develops and maintains telecommunications optical fiber cabling component and system requirements for premises networks.)
It’s important to note the TR-42 committee calls itself TR-42 Telecommunications Cabling Systems but describes itself as Engineering Committee TR-42 develops and maintains voluntary telecommunications standards for telecommunications cabling infrastructure
in user-owned buildings, such as commercial buildings, residential buildings, homes, data centers, industrial buildings, etc.
What about outside plant fiber optics? That represents the bulk of the market. I think the answer is that activity has become concentrated in international standards committees and US-only activities are becoming irrelevant, except as included in TR-42 for premises cabling. Even TR-42 is undergoing pressure to align with international standards. TR 42.11, the optical systems committee, has been discussing revisions to TIA 526-14 MM Cable Plant Attenuation (OFSTP-14) but instead will request adoption of the international standard IEC 61280-4-1 ed.2 instead.
The Unsung Heroes of Fiber Optics
The Nobel Prize awarded to Dr. Kao led to an discussion within the FOA regarding the many people we've known who were part of the development of fiber optics. Not all made big discoveries or invented famous things, but all contributed to the development of our industry. Some were involved with fiber, some with cables, connectors, splices, hardware, communications equipment, some developed new applications, but all contributed to our industry.
To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the FOA next year, we're going to recognize some of those "unsung heroes" of our industry. And we're asking you to help us decide who gets recognized by sending us your suggestions. Tell us who you thinks deserves recognition and why - send an email to jim@thefoa.org with the subject "Hero" and a few words why this person was important to the industry.
First "Do It Yourself" FTTH, Now "Pay First" FTTH
A few months ago, we reported that in Norway, some users were encouraged to install their FTTH drop cables themselves (more). Now, one of the pioneer FTTH systems, Utopia in Utah, is getting customers to pay for their FTTH before it gets installed. Utopia was a pioneer in FTTH developments and struggled with financing and operational problems. Now, they are using a new model, asking those wanting FTTH to pay 3000fortheirFTTHinstallation,evenallowingittobepaidoutover20yearsat3000 for their FTTH installation, even allowing it to be paid out over 20 years at 3000fortheirFTTHinstallation,evenallowingittobepaidoutover20yearsat25/month. The advantage is obvious - those wanting FTTH get it installed faster while the operators get money up front, making it easier to finance operations. Hopefully, the situation will improve as Utopia has applied for BTOP broadband stimulus funding. (Telephony Online)
FOA Plans New Books, Certification in OSP
The FOA's new textbook and CFOT certification reference, FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics, has become a "best seller," outselling our previous textbook by 3 to 1. We assume the popularity of the new book is partly its cost, only $24.95 list from Amazon.com, but also the more up to date content and better organization. The success of the FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics has encouraged us to start work on another new book to provide a reference guide to our CPCT premises cabling certification.
The FOA CPCT certification is becoming more popular, since many manufacturers have greatly reduced their premises/structured cabling training due to the current state of the economy. FOA CPCT training, which covers fiber and wireless in addition to the typical UTP/Cat5-6 training, can be added to a CFOT course easily, since it can be covered in two additonal days. The new book, FOA Reference Guide To Premises Cabling, is already in the works with a release date early in 2010. For now, you can find information on premises cabling in the FOA Online Reference Guide.
Outside plant (OSP) fiber optics is the next project for the FOA, starting with a update of the The FOA Online Fiber Optic Reference Guidefor more materials on OSP to provide the reference for a OSP specialist certification and become the foundation of another FOA book, the FOA Reference Guide To Outside Plant Fiber Optics. In the near future, we will be adding information on the OSP certification, including topics and KSAs, to the FOA website.
New FOA Book A vailable from Amazon.com for only $24.95. 
That's FOA President Jim Hayes, the guy behind the new book, reading a copy.
The new FOA book, the FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics, is finished and available from Amazon.com for only $24.95.
The new book is intended to be used in training for FOA certification and as a reference book for everybody interested in fiber optics: contractors, installers and end users of fiber optics. It's complemented by our Reference Website and complete curriculum materials for teaching fiber optic courses.
This book, which benefits from 12 years of experience with our previous book, _The Fiber Optic Technicians Manual,_is more comprehensive on many important topics and better organized for use both as a reference and as a textbook. It's developed from our Reference Websitewhich complements the book and covers many subjects in greater depth. And since we are self-publishing the book using more modern "publish on demand" technology, it will be easier to keep up to date and much cheaper - as you can see from the price!
The FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics and The FOA Online Fiber Optic Reference Guide website will be the official reference for the 2010 CFOT exams.
Here is more information on the FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics. Order from Amazon.com for only $24.95.
FOA Online Fiber Optic Reference Guide
The FOA Online Fiber Optic Reference Guidehas become very popular - perhaps the most popular technical website ever, typically with over 30,000 users monthly! We continue updating materials regularly, keeping it as up to date as possible.Wanted: Links To Technical Materials
Next, we're soliciting links from fiber optic manufacturers and other organizations that have created technical materials that would be of interest to our readers. If you have technical websites you want to share, go here for our guidelines for submission.
FOA Offers "Google Custom Search to Tech Topics and Online Fiber Optic Reference Guide
There's so much information on the FOA Tech Topics and _Online Fiber Optic Reference Guide_that even a well-organized Table of Contents isn't enough and when the material is always changing, an index is impossible to maintain. So the FOA is using the latest technology in search, Google Custom Search, which will allow you to search just the FOA Tech Topics and Online Fiber Optic Reference Guide for any topic you want to find more about. Try it!
Go to The FOA Online Fiber Optic Reference Guide.
Featured Schools: The FOA welcomes new schools receiving FOA Approval this month:
- S&S Solutions, Mesa, AZ (#299)
- Meeds Networks, Nigeria (#731)
- E-Sense Technology Solutions, Nigeria (#732)
Africa has become a very active area for fiber optics as they build up their telecommunications capacity. Even where they use satellites for remote areas, they need fiber optics for local distribution, leading to a need for trained techs. The FOA is proud to be a part of the development of Africa's communications systems.
Find a listing of all the FOA-Approved schools here.
Good Question! Tech Questions Worth Repeating
Where To Place Attenuators?
**Q:**Our link is only going .91Km over single mode and needs to use attenuators. Where do we place the inline attenuators? On the TX or RX side? Also do you have a chart that shows single mode wavelength and distance and what dB attenuator to use, like a 5dB, 10dB, etc?
**A:**Attenuators always go at the receiver end to minimize reflectance effects on the transmitters and make it easier to test power at the receiver with a power meter. The amount of loss needed depends on the link. If it's designed for say 20 km but used at 1 km, you need to add 19 km of loss or about 8-10 dB. Look for the spec on the receiver power or link loss budget on the system
Availability of "Dark Fiber"
Q: Our County Planning Department has been asked to map locations where fiber optic cable is available. The planners would like to promote the availability of fiber optic as a "plus" to recruit new businesses to locations where it is available.
Can you put me in touch with a fiber optic organization that knows fiber optic locations so that this information can be assembled to help promote economic development for the county.
A: There are millions of miles of fiber around the US and the world, so it's hard to keep track of them. Contacting local telcos and LECs (local exchange carriers) and CATV companies will get you started. New England Fiber has a data base of installed fiber around the country. They can be reached at info@nefiber.com. Also, look at their web site http://www.nefiber.com/.
Composite Cables
Q:
I am in search of a cable product which contains both copper and fiber with a robust outer jacket. At this time I have had little success in finding a suitable manufacturer. I wonder if you have any recommendations or referrals.
A: What you want is called a "composite fiber optic cable." You won't find too many "standard" cables like that but there are specialty cable manufacturers who make custom cables like this all the time. Many are used for underwater remote-piloted vehicles used for exploring, and of course, those cables are water-tight also.
Estimating Fiber Installs
Q:
Currently my Utility District is in the process of designing and bidding out the installation of 51 miles of fiber cable and I am trying to find information on creating a cost estimate for this work. Would you have any information on average installation costs for various parts of the country?
A:
The FOA a tutorial on estimating on our "Tech Topics" website (http://www.thefoa.org/tech/estimate.htm) and the table below has some labor units that may prove helpful.
I would also suggest talking to the cable manufacturers to see what they say, as they have the most experience with their products.
Loss Budgets (A question we get all the time!)Q: Why do we count the connectors on each end of the link that will plug into our equipment as one connector alone has "no loss"? If you could shed some light on this subject it would be greatly appreciated.
A: We count the connections on each end for several reasons.
- When we test the cable plant per OFSTP-14, we use launch and receive reference cables which will include the end connections in the tests. Without including them in the loss budget, we would reject many cable plants because the tested value will be higher by two connections.
- Network standards include the connectors on the ends since most installed cable plants are from wall or rack connection outlets to another wall or rack connection. When equipment is attached, it will be done by patchcords which will have a loss when connected to the outlet. Adding them into the loss budget therefore matches the usage.
Measurement Uncertainty: Everyone testing fiber optics should understand that every measurement has some uncertainty - whether you are measuring loss, length, wavelength, power, etc. Knowing that uncertainty is very important to interpreting the measurement. It's worthwhile to read and understand the issue of measurement accuracy covered in this page of the FOA Online Fiber Optic Reference Guide.
Worth Reading: Sufficiently Advanced Technology Is Indistinguishable From Magic Department:
"Time Lens" Speeds Up Fiber Data
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a simple silicon device for speeding up optical data. The device incorporates a silicon chip called a "time lens," lengths of optical fiber, and a laser. It splits up a data stream encoded at 10 gigabits per second, puts it back together, and outputs the same data at 270 gigabits per second. Speeding up optical data transmission usually requires a lot of energy and bulky, expensive optics. The new system is energy efficient and is integrated on a compact silicon chip. It could be used to move vast quantities of data at fast speeds over the Internet or on optical chips inside computers. (MIT Technology Review)
Dirt!
As much as 70% of the problems associated with deploying fiber to the home result from something as simple as dirty connectors according to JDSU. Telephony Online.
Tanks And Ships
GB Ethernet and fiber Upgrades. GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms got a contract to supply a custom version of its Gigabit Ethernet switch to rumble around inside the US Army's Abrams tank. The US Navy recently awarded Boeing contract to upgrade and support the Gigabit Ethernet networks it is building on its guided missile destroyers. From Network World.
Good Technical Websites
American Polywater (http://www.polywater.com/) has one of the best technical website for cable installers. Here is a rundown on some new material on their site.
Cable Installation using "Push" or "Push/Pull"
Polywater's new Pull-Planner™ 3000 Software allows a "pushing force" variable in pulling tension calculations. Read a White Paper that quantifies the push contribution and compares calculation results to field experience. --
http://www.polywater.com/pushing.pdf
Pulling Cable Through Water?
Read a Product Spotlight on Polywater� + Silicone™, Polywater's new generation underground lubricant. Continued reduction of friction when pulling through water is only one of the unique features of this lubricant. --
http://www.polywater.com/NNNBSL.pdf
Check out their website, especially “Videos,” “Engineer’s Corner” and “Calculators.” http://www.polywater.com/NNNBSL.pdf
" Heard on the Street" is a monthly online newsletter from Frank Bisbee of Communications Planning Corporation that covers the telecommunications and cabling businesses. Each month includes news from manufacturers, trade associations and professional societies like the FOA. You can read the current issue and back issues online.
JDSU has announced the See the Light webinar series, a four-part program designed for anyone involved in the installation, maintenance, and repair of fiber optic systems. It begins with fiber inspection and cleaning and then covers the basics of fiber testing. The webinar series then continues with the more advanced optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) and fiber local area network (LAN) testing challenges. More information on the series.
IGI is offering a series of webinars on topics of interest to those in the communications industry. You can join them live ir download from the archives. IGI WEBINAR ARCHIVES UP AND RUNNING - VISIT TELECOMBRIEFINGS.COM TO DOWNLOAD!
IGI, a major market research and technology reporting company (the "Active Optical Cables" below) is offering a a free one year subscription to one of our fiber optics newsletters to FOA members. All they have to do is to send IGI an e-mail stating which newsletter they would like to get. See http://www.igigroup.com/nl.html for a listing of IGI Newsletters.
FOA Tech Topics -
The new FOA reference website is now online. New sections have been added on fusion splicing and mechanical splicing. Check out the current Table of Contents.
Coming soon to a network near you - 40 and 100 gigabit/sec Ethernet!
The IEEE is already working on specs for 40 and 100 gigabit/sec Ethernet and have approved a number of new PMDs (that's standards-speak for Physical Medium Dependent - i.e. cabling). A summary of the proposals is on the updated list of network specs at http://www.thefoa.org/tech/Linkspec.htm.
How do you design and manufacture fiber optic systems? Choose and install one to serve your communications needs? Troubleshoot problems? The FOA Fiber Optic Technical Bulletins will provide step-by-step guidelines to help you. All are PDF files you can download, print and use.
Testing Update
Are there really 5 different ways to test optical fiber cabling after installation? Why so many? How do the measurements - and more importantly the measurement results - differ? What are the advanteages and disadvantages of each method?
Why are there 4 ways (maybe 5) to test fiber optic cables?
Do OTDRs and OLTS tests give the same results?
New Tech Topics
Industry standards updated to include international standards
Updatedlink specs for fiber optic networks - now includes 10G Ethernet.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) on General Topics and Testing
Reference Guide sections on fusion splicing and mechanical splicing.
Product News
"Chutes" For Blowing Lines Through Conduit
They are officially called "Line Carriers" but they are know as "Chutes" because that's what they look like. The pressure of compressed air propels the Chute tied to line or webbing through conduit. The Chutes glides over cable already occupying the conduit following turns and emerging at the end of the duct without damaging any existing cables or lines. Benefits of using Chutes; no damage to cable or conduit, eliminates need for duct rodding. These are hand-made in Oregon. http://www.linecarrier.com/Used Test Equipment – Buy or Sell http://www.testequipmentconnection.com/
Have you read the FOA Tech Topics on Cleaning?
More links on cleaning:
Cleantex Alco Pads
FTTH Notes:
Fiber-to-the-Home Council: North American Fiber to the Home Connections Surge Past Five Million
FTTH Networks Now Available to 15 Percent of Homes
HOUSTON, Sept. 29, 2009 - The number of North American fiber to the home (FTTH) subscribers now stands at more than 5.3 million, as deployers of end-to-end fiber networks continue to add more than 1.5 million customers a year, according to a study released today by the Fiber-to-the-Home Council.
The study, which was conducted by RVA Market Research (www.rvallc.com) and will be presented tomorrow to the 2009 FTTH Conference & Expo in Houston, also found continued robust growth in the number of homes passed by FTTH networks, which rose to 17.2 million from 13.8 million a year ago. Five years after their deployment began in earnest, fiber to the home networks are now available to 15 percent of homes in North America.
"The march to all-fiber networks is showing no sign of letting up in the United States and Canada," said Joe Savage, President of the FTTH Council, which promotes and tracks the growth of fiber to the home in North America. "Given the growing sophistication and bandwidth requirements of online and video applications, as well as the high satisfaction that current FTTH subscribers are expressing about their fiber service, the growing consumer demand for end-to-end fiber is now a fact of life and something that our members are working hard to satisfy."
In addition to the 5.33 million homes connected to FTTH, the study found that the overall "take rate" - the percentage of those offered FTTH service who decide to subscribe - went up for the seventh straight six-month period, with the vast majority of providers experiencing take rates of greater than 50 percent.
Download the accompanying charts on FTTH deployment.
Led by Verizon's massive investment in FTTH technology in the deployment of its FiOS service, the fiber to the home industry in North America also includes hundreds of smaller telephone companies and other network providers, municipalities, planned residential communities and cable television companies that are making the move to end-to-end fiber to deliver next-generation video, internet and voice services. Given the almost unlimited bandwidth of fiber, FTTH technology is seen as an ideal way of "future-proofing" networks in light of the ever increasing consumer and business demand for faster networks and higher-bandwidth applications.
David Chaffee's FTTH Prism Newsletter is Online
(archives are at bottom of the linked page) Verizon Ups FiOS Speeds in NY
Verizon is offering faster FiOS speeds in NY and even getting into the TV biz with a local channel. Telephony.
In Norway, You Might Have To Bury Your Own Cable To Get FTTH!
A Norwegian triple-play provider has a unique solution to the pesky problem of digging up consumers' yards to bury fiber-to-the-home. Lyse Tele, an overbuilder that launched its fiber-based all-IP solution in 2002, installs the fiber right to the edge of a customer's lawn, then gives the customer instructions on how to bury their own fiber cable to the house.
Read More From Telephony.
Where is Verizon offfering FiOS service? See this map.
Want To Learn More About FTTx?
The FOA has created a special FTTx resources section of our website with a FTTx links page with lots of links to news, market reports, technical articles and vendor technical and product information. Hereis a great place to start learning more about FTTx.
FOA's CFxT FTTx Certification Program Explained
Read the Broadband Properties article about the FOA FTTx certification program. Read the article about FOA President Jim Hayes being honored for his work promoting FTTH.