Electical Contractor

Every year, I review the hot applications and technology that affect contractors working with fiber optics. Last year, controversies over bend-insensitive fiber and multimode testing were big news.

In order to install a cable plant that will meet industry standards and work with communications systems designed for using that type of cabling, it’s necessary to pick the right parts for the system. Each year, it seems the questions remain the same, but sometimes the correct answer changes!

Dirt is the biggest problem in using fiber optics. When you are working with hair-thin strands of glass that must be mated in exact alignment, the tiniest specks of dirt can cause major problems.

A couple of years ago, several fiber manufacturers introduced optical fibers that were much less sensitive to bending. Normally, bending or stressing an optical fiber causes loss.

Contractors who do fiber optic projects should be familiar with most of the usual applications, such as telecom, cable television, local area networks and closed-circuit television (CCTV), but may not have much experience with the more unusual or newer applications.

Two different instruments that are often described as “works like radar” can test copper and fiber cabling. For copper, it is a time-domain reflectometer (TDR). For fiber, it is an optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR).

Last month, I mentioned the poor quality of some fiber optic patchcords I tested. This month, I examine the subject of cable quality, both fiber and copper. The old saying goes, “a chain is only as stong as its weakest link,” and that is especially true for cabling.

Some years, it seems That little changes in fiber optics, but 2010 certainly was not one of those years. Last year brought new components, applications and standards, all of which can affect this work in the short term. Let’s start with what may be the biggest news: bend-insensitive fiber.

Video systems have many applications, from surveillance to broadcast television. Cabling for video can be specialized or operated over cabling designed for other uses. How well do you understand video cabling? Correct answers and explanations are in red. 1.