Fiber Optics Technicians Manual The Fiber Optic Association

CNIT 211 / ELEC 211
Fiber Optic Technology

Fall 2008 Sam Bowne & Sufyaan Mateen

Schedule · Lecture Notes · Flashcards · Homework · Projects · Links · Home Page


Pictures of Students Installing Fiber

CRN: 78462 & 78463   Monday 6 - 9 pm   Science 30 & 56

Catalog Description

Covers fundamental principles and hands-on application of modern fiber optic technology, preparing students to use current technology and giving them the basis required to adapt to future developments. Topics include telecommunications, optics, fiber fabrication, splicing, and termination, lasers, LEDs, detectors and optical amplifiers, optical protocols including FDDI and SONET, and network design and troubleshooting. Students will perform many hands-on labs using fiber optic cable and related equipment. CSU
CNIT 211=ELEC 211

Note about Prerequisites: Although the catalog says you need ET 108A or MATH 840, those mathematics skills are not actually required. This course will focus on how to plan a fiber installation and perform it, not on the mathematical physics of light.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Describe the history of fiber optics.
  2. Explain and apply safety principles for fiber handling and eye protection.
  3. Explain and compare the optical characteristics of optical fibers, including attenuation, dispersion, and loss.
  4. Explain and compare the properties of fiber optic networks v. copper networks.
  5. Describe optical fiber fabrication and compare cable and connector types.
  6. Perform fiber cleaving, polishing, connectorization, fusion and mechanical splicing, and loss measurement.
  7. Construct a simple fiber-optic communications system, using both inside and outside-plant hardware.
  8. Properly use an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR).
  9. Understand and apply optical network design factors, including power budgets, optimization, performance criteria, and bandwidth
  10. Estimate the costs of a fiber optic installation and document it.
  11. Plan and perform a fiber optic link installation.

Textbooks

REQUIRED: Fiber Optic Technician's Manual, Third Edition by Jim Hayes -- ISBN: 1-4018-9699-5 Buy from Amazon Buy from Half.com

REQUIRED: CNIT 211 Lecture Notes by Sam Bowne (available only at CCSF bookstore)


Schedule
(may be revised to accomodate projects and guest speakers)

DateQuizTopic
Mon 8-18  Ch 1 The Origins of Fiber Optics Communications
Mon 8-25  Ch 2 Basics of Fiber Optics
Sat 8-30
through
Mon 9-1		 Holiday - No Class
Fri 9-5 Last Day to Add Classes
Mon 9-8Quiz on Ch 1 & 2a    Ch 3 Fiber Optic Networks
Fri 9-12 Last Day to Drop Classes
Mon 9-15Quiz on Ch 2b & 3   Ch 4 Optical Fiber Cables
Thu 9-18 Last Day to Remove an Incomplete Grade
Fri 9-19 Last Day to Request pass/no pass Grading
Mon 9-22Quiz on Ch 4  Ch 5 Specifying Fiber Optic Cable
Mon 9-29Quiz on Ch 5  Ch 6 Fiber Optic Connectors, Splices, and Tools
Mon 10-6Quiz on Ch 6  Ch 7 Fiber Optic Hardware &
Ch 8 Getting Started in Fiber Optics
Mon 10-13 Holiday - No Class
Mon 10-20Quiz on Ch 7 & 8  Ch 9 Guidelines for Fiber Optic Design and Installation &
Ch 10 Cable Plant Link Loss Budget Analysis
Tue 10-21 Mid-Term Grades Due
Mon 10-27Quiz on Ch 9 & 10  Ch 11 Fiber Optic Installation Safety &
Ch 12 Planning The Installation
Mon 11-3Quiz on Ch 11 & 12  Ch 13 Fiber Optic Cable Plant Documentation &
Ch 14 Estimating and Bidding Fiber Optic Installation
Mon 11-10 Holiday - No Class
Fri 11-14 Last Day to Withdraw
Mon 11-17Quiz on Ch 13 & 14  Ch 15 Fiber Optic Cable Pulling &
Ch 16 Fiber Optic Restoration
Mon 11-24No Quiz Field Trip (may be rescheduled)
Weds 11-26
through
Sun 11-30		 Holiday - No Class
Mon 12-1Quiz on Ch 15 & 16  Ch 17 Fiber Optic Testing
Mon 12-8Quiz on Ch 17  Last Class: To be announced
Mon 12-15  Final Exam: FOA Certification Test


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Lecture Notes

Policy
Ch 1 The Origins of Fiber Optics CommunicationsPowerPoint
Ch 2 Basics of Fiber OpticsPowerPoint
Ch 3 Fiber Optic NetworksPowerPoint
Ch 4 Optical Fiber CablesPowerPoint
Ch 5 Specifying Fiber Optic CablePowerPoint
Ch 6 Fiber Optic Connectors, Splices, and ToolsPowerPoint
Ch 7 Fiber Optic Hardware &
Ch 8 Getting Started in Fiber Optics		PowerPoint
Ch 9 Guidelines for Fiber Optic Design and Installation
Ch 10 Cable Plant Link Loss Budget Analysis		PowerPoint
Ch 11 Fiber Optic Installation Safety
Ch 12 Planning The Installation		PowerPoint
Ch 13 Fiber Optic Cable Plant Documentation
Ch 14 Estimating and Bidding Fiber Optic Installation		PowerPoint
Ch 15 Fiber Optic Cable Pulling
Ch 16 Fiber Optic Restoration		PowerPoint
Ch 17 Fiber Optic TestingPowerPoint
The lectures are in Word and PowerPoint formats.
If you do not have Word or PowerPoint you will need to install the
Free Word Viewer 2003 and/or the Free PowerPoint Viewer 2003.


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Projects

Proj 1: Continuity and Power (25 pts.)
Proj 2: Comparing Core Sizes With a Continuity Tester (15 pts.)
Proj 3: Comparing Core Sizes With a Power Meter (20 pts.)
Proj 4: Comparing Core Sizes With a Microscope (15 pts.)
Proj 5: Observing Modes With the Visual Fault Locator (15 pts.)


We will cover these topics:

Fiber Optic Cable Handling

  • Identifying cable types
  • Cable ratings and marking
  • Preparing cables for termination or pulling
  • Handling and stripping the fiber

Fiber Optic Cable Termination

  • Epoxy/polish termination, including cable preparation, fiber preparation, and cleaving
  • Polishing and testing singlemode and multimode connectors
  • Terminating buffered fiber
  • Splice-type connectors

Fiber Optic Splicing

  • Preparing the cable, stripping, and cleaving
  • Fusion splicing
  • Mechanical splicing

Fiber Optic Testing

  • Continuity testing with a visual fault locator
  • Visual inspection with a microscope
  • Optical power measurement
  • Insertion loss testing and power budget
  • Testing with an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR)
  • Optical power measurement with source and power meter

Fiber Optic Hardware and Restoration

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Links from Lectures


          
Last Updated: 8-25-08 9 am