These quizzes have generally been testing your knowledge of fiber optics, but this one will help you assess the need for maintaining or upgrading your equipment.

1. When was the last time you brought out all your fiber installation gear to check its condition and evaluate its ability to cope with modern fiber optic installations?

A. Recently
B. Before the last job I started
C. Within the last year
D. I don’t remember

2. Has your fiber optic test equipment been calibrated within the time period specified by the manufacturer?

A. Yes
B. No

3. How do you decide when to replace the reference test cables you use with your fiber optic test equipment?

A. By the number of times they have been connected to cables to make a measurement
B. By how long we have been using them
C. By when the losses we measure become consistently too high
D. We clean and inspect with a microscope before we test and replace the bad cables

4. If your OTDR is older than five years, you should consider replacing it with a new one that _____.

A. Has better measurement capability
B. Has automated testing powered by artificial intelligence that works well
C. Has a more user-friendly operating interface
D. All of the above

5. How often do you calibrate your fusion splicer?

A. Before each day’s use
B. Every 500 splices
C. When it has trouble splicing
D. Never

6. When do you replace the electrodes in your fusion splicer?

A. Every 500 splices
B. When it has trouble splicing
C. When the machine tells me to
D. During its annual servicing at the manufacturer

7. Is your or your technicians’ fiber optic certification _____?

A. Current
B. From a recognized industry certifying body
C. Appropriate for the work the tech is doing
D. All of the above

8. Does your company have a program to train new hires and supervise on-the-job training?

A. Yes
B. No

9. Which of the following new fiber optic components or installation technologies have you investigated or adopted?

A. Fusion splice-on connectors and ribbon splicing
B. Blown fiber optic cable installation
C. Automated test equipment
D. All of the above

10. When was the last time you got trained on a specific fiber optic installation process or piece of equipment?

A. The last time I bought some new gear
B. When a manufacturer offered training
C. I watch videos and take online courses
D. All of the above

Answers: 

1. When was the last time you brought out all your fiber installation gear to check its condition and evaluate its ability to cope with modern fiber optic installations?

B. Before the last job I started

You should check all your tools and equipment before taking them on a job, just to make sure there are no surprises on the job site.

2. Has your fiber optic test equipment been calibrated within the time period specified by the manufacturer?

A. Yes

Most fiber optic test equipment should be calibrated annually.

3. How do you decide when to replace the reference test cables you use with your fiber optic test equipment?

D. We clean and inspect with a microscope before we test and replace the bad cables

Reference test cables need to be cleaned and inspected before each use and replaced when needed.

4. If your OTDR is older than five years, you should consider replacing it with a new one that _____.

D. All of the above

OTDR tech has advanced tremendously in the last few years, using automation driven by artificial intelligence, making an upgrade highly worthwhile.

5. How often do you calibrate your fusion splicer?

A. Before each day’s use

OTDRs can be calibrated by the user to improve splicing, so it should be done before each day’s use.

6. When do you replace the electrodes in your fusion splicer?

A. Every 500 splices
B. When it has trouble splicing
C. When the machine tells me to
D. During its annual servicing at the manufacturer

Any of these answers could work, depending on the usage or if followed carefully. However, every fusion splicer needs servicing and then the electrodes should be replaced.

7. Is your or your technicians’ fiber optic certification _____?

D. All of the above

More projects require certification, so it’s important to keep certifications like the Fiber Optic Association's CFOT current.

8. Does your company have a program to train new hires and supervise on-the-job training?

A. Yes

All techs, but especially new hires, need to be in a formal on-the-job training program to build knowledge of the job and skills in the work.

9. Which of the following new fiber optic components or installation technologies have you investigated or adopted?

D. All of the above

For today’s networks, you need to be up-to-date on all these new technologies.

10. When was the last time you got trained on a specific fiber optic installation process or piece of equipment?

D. All of the above

You need all these to keep up with a technology like fiber optics.

Header image source: Shutterstock / Noiz Stocker