Regular network testing is a critical element of maintaining a well-performing system, identifying potential problems before they cause serious malfunctions, and preparing for future improvements to keep up with changing technology. Embarking on this adventure should not be taken lightly, and that means the first step for beginners is to have a plan of attack. […]
IoT Needs OSP
Ubiquitous connectivity, to anything, anywhere, and at any time. That is the promise of the Internet of things (IoT) and we’re all aware that it will enable tremendous changes to the way people live. Outside plant (OSP) usually gets left out of any mention alongside this topic. However, OSP plays a crucial role in providing […]
What is return loss for fiber optics
The return loss RL is a measure of the portion of light that is reflected back to the source at the junction. It is expressed in decibel. The higher the RL value in decibels, the lower are the reflections. Typical RL values lie between 35 and 50 dB for PC, 60 to 90 dB for APC and […]
LTE and WiMAX comparison
Comparison of LTE Rel-8 and WiMAX 802.16e There are a lot of commonalities between LTE Rel-8 and WiMAX, but there are some notable differences. For example: LTE uses SC-FDMA for the uplink, whereas mobile WiMAX uses OFDMA. LTE user equipment (SC-FDMA) has a lower peak-to-average-power ratio when compared to mobile WiMAX user equipment (OFDMA), […]
FIBER OPTIC CABLE CONSTRUCTION
Before any detailed discussion on how to handle optical fiber cable, some brief discussion of fiber and cable design is required. Eliminating confusion between the different terms, and providing an understanding of the cable construction will make handling the products less complicated. Fiber The cable cross-section in figure 1 demonstrates a two fiber cable for interconnect applications. […]
FCC Comments Urge Allocation of Spectrum Above 24 GHz for 5G And More
As evidenced by comments to the FCC’s inquiry on the use of spectrum above 24 GHz, there’s a lot of interest in this spectrum from just about every segment of the communications industry—except from broadcast and public safety/land mobile representatives. Originally it was thought this spectrum would not be suitable to reach indoor devices. If […]
How to select AFL OTDR
OTDR Selection Guide Family Model Pt-to-Pt Network / Fiber Type FTTx PON OTDR Performance Integrated Peripherals MMF/SMF Data Ctr MMF/SMF LAN SMF Core SMF Dark SMF Live SMF Dark SMF live Wavelengths (nm) Dyn(dB)Range EDZ/ADZDeadzone(m) OPM PON OLS OPM VFL M&C-series MMF / SMF LAN / WAN OTDRs M310-25 √ √ √ √ √ √ […]
Outline of GR-1221 Test Standards
The GR-1221 standard outlines the environmental and mechanical tests to ensure long term operational performance. The following section provides an overview of each of the test requirements and the importance for compliance. Mechanical Integrity The Mechanical Integrity category consists of three main components which are the Mechanical Shock, Vibration and Thermal Shock. These tests are […]
What is GR-1209 & GR-1221 standard in PLC Splitter
An introduction to GR’s history and objective of implementation of the standard. Also touch on evolution of the standards (recently added requirements for anti-fungus) Telcordia GR1209 & GR-1221 standards outline the generic criteria for passive optical components to ensure continuous operation of the components over its lifetime. The standards specify performance tests to reflect a […]
PLC Splitter summary
In 2012, a leading market and technology analysts announced the Asia Pacific region (APAC) region leads in the consumption of Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) splitter compact devices with 68% of the worldwide value, followed by the American region and finally the EMEA region. The increase of mass FTTx PON network deployment dominates the worldwide PLC […]