Cabling Chronicles
Why can’t I use the 2-cord test method?
Like the TIA and ISO, Fluke Networks promotes the use of the 1-cord method to set reference for fiber loss measurements. The 1-cord method is where a launch cord is attached to a light source and the other end to a power meter. A reference is then set (the power measured is defined as 0 dB). Next, the launch cord is disconnected from the power meter, but not the light source. Then the far end of the launch cord is attached to the cabling under test and a receive cord between the far end of the cabling under test and the power meter.
April 25, 2018
Cable Testing 101: But the Standard Says 0.75 dB!
We’ve covered fiber insertion loss testing in depth in many blogs, so by now you should know that it is the loss of signal that happens in a channel due to the length of the cable and any connectors, splices or splitters.
And hopefully you also know that estimating your loss budget involves adding up the loss of all of these components to make sure you’re within the loss limits specified by IEEE standards for the application you plan to run.
April 18, 2018
Let’s All Calibrate and Have a Good Time!
Just like those who drive around long after the engine service indicator lights up on the dashboard, there are folks out there who have likely been putting off getting their t
ester calibrated despite the email or LinkWare™ Live notification from Fluke Networks.
April 4, 2018
Too Soon to Say Goodbye? It’s All Relative…
You might remember that just about three years ago, the DTX CableAnalyzer™ was officially retired. Since its discontinuation, Fluke Networks has continued to offer technical support, repair and calibration for this tester that was once touted as the ultimate time saver and brought testing to a whole new level when it was introduced in 2004.
March 28, 2018
101 Series: LEDs vs. VCSELs
Since today’s high-speed fiber networks use 850-nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSELs) transceivers, some may be confused about why light emitting diode (LED) light sources are used for testing. Understanding the differences between these two sources will certainly shed some light.
March 21, 2018
101 Series: What is Modal Bandwidth?
Often when we hear the term “bandwidth” we think of how much data can be sent over a fiber link. But when we look at fiber specifications, we typically see a specification for modal bandwidth, or effective modal bandwidth (EMB). This key characteristic of multimode fiber refers to how much data a specific fiber can transmit at a given wavelength, and it is dependent on another characteristic—differential mode delay.
March 7, 2018
OTDR: Your Ultimate Troubleshooter
So you’ve finished your fiber cable installation and are now on to the task of certifying the cable plant using an optical loss test set (OLTS) – it’s the tool you need for Tier 1 certification and the
most accurate for measuring loss to ensure application support.
February 28, 2018
Is Your Fiber End Face Up to Scratch?
While it seems we can never hammer home enough the need to properly clean and inspect fiber end-faces since contamination remains the number one cause of fiber link failures, have you ever thought about what exactly you are cleaning and inspecting?
February 21, 2018
BICSI Wrap Up: Top 3 Questions Asked
It’s always interesting at trade shows to learn what’s on the minds of end users, designers and technicians alike when it comes to testing. And this year’s BICSI Winter Conference was no different.
February 14, 2018
Know Your SYSTIMAX Loss Target Before You Fail!
We’ve covered fiber insertion loss in plenty of past blogs, so by now we hope that you know it’s the amount of signal loss that occurs as the signal travels along a cable link. We also hope you know that insertion loss is directly related to the length of the cable—the longer the cable, the greater the loss—and that any connection point along the way (connectors, splices, splitters, etc.) also adds to the loss.
February 7, 2018
