What is Networking

Lessons Discussion
1

This topic is to discuss the following lesson:

2

Hi,

Do you know any good tool hardware to test fiber optics on patch panels?

Thanks

3

Hello Giovanni

It depends on what you want to test. Fiber optics as part of structured cabling, will indeed have patch panels, but these cannot be tested alone. They must be tested as part of the end to end path of light (fiber optic termination to fiber optic termination). This means that in order to test a particular patch panel, you will need to test the entirety of the circuit that terminates there.

The most common elements that are tested include:

  • Continuity testing - testing to simply see that light does get through.
  • Power monitoring - testing the loss of power over a particular light path
  • Optical return loss testing - tests the amount of light that is lost along the light path

There are many more features that should be tested. Now there are various devices that can test various characteristics. The two most common are

  • Optical Loss Test Set (OLTS)
  • Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR)

Both are useful for testing fiber optics, they perform different but important roles. To help determine what you need, take a look at this article.

The equipment that I have used int he past, and have found very useful is manufactured by Fluke. You can find a series of these devices at this Link. They vary in capabilities, but also in price. Depending on what you want to test and how much you are willing to spend (as they can get very expensive), you can choose the appropriate device. Useful information for fiber optic testing strategies can also be found at this link.

I hope this has been helpful!

Laz

4

Thanks a lot , also I have another question.

At my company we have a ISP that provide us a fiber connection with only one way direction(I mean that in the patch panel of the entrance room we had only a single connector for the single mode fiber and not two connectors for Tx and Rx…)

Can you explain me what kind of connection is that?

Thanks

5

Hello Giovanni

That sounds like a single strand full duplex connection which allows communication in both directions on a single fiber optic strand. This is achieved using a different wavelength for Tx and Rx transmissions (usually 1310nm and 1550 nm).

This bidirectional transmission is achieved via wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) couplers, also known as diplexers, that can combine and separate the data based on the wavelengths of the light. Generally, these WDM couplers are integrated into the optical transceiver module used to terminate the fiber on a device.

1000BASE-BX10 is an Ethernet standard that supports GigabitEthernet over a single strand of single mode fiber of up to 10 km. There are various other standards for single and multi mode, and at different speeds as well.

I hope this has been helpful!

Laz

1 Like
6

Thanks a lot, are there any lesson about this topic??

7

Hello Giovanni

At this point there is no lesson that covers this, however you can use the feedback and lesson ideas feature of the site at the following link, and make a suggestion. It may be that others have suggested similar topics.

Laz

8

Hi,
I would share another tool for test fiber cables.

This is cheaper than fluke products, but it can be enough for many of us.

1 Like