“The growth of high-density networks in data centers and fiber-to-the-home, office, or antenna (FTTx) is driving the widespread adoption of MPO technology,” according to Mike Hughes, vice president of product management at US Conec, a global leader in the development and supply of high-density optical interconnects and inventor of the high-performance MTP® MPO connector. “A speck of dust, invisible to the naked eye, can cause intermittent errors or even complete failure in a fiber optic connection. That’s why it’s essential that all fiber interconnects, even those in cables straight from the factory, are inspected before being connected.”.
“The FiberInspector Pro is the most efficient tool we’ve evaluated for MPO connector inspection,” said Ed Wilson, senior director of operations at Curran IT, a leading independent engineering, IT, and installation services company. The FiberInspector Pro FI-3000 offers a comprehensive feature set to make MPO trunk testing simple and efficient. The autofocus, multi-camera design instantly provides a live view of the entire termination on a smartphone or Versiv. Pressing “Test” delivers an automated, IEC 61300-3-35 compliant PASS/FAIL result in seconds for any single- or dual-row configuration with 8, 10, 12, or 16 fibers.
“While the FI-3000 offers advancements in speed, documentation, and ergonomics, our beta users tell us their favorite feature is the Live View user interface,” said Harley Lang, RCDD, Field Marketing Director for Fluke Networks. “This allows them to see the connector termination as soon as it’s inserted and then tap on any fiber to zoom in. After certification, they can go from a summary view of pass/fail results to an image of each individual fiber with defects highlighted and use simple gestures to pan across the entire connector. This view gives them complete confidence that the MPO is ready to connect.”.
The FI-3000 features unique ergonomics that allow for easy inspection of patch panels or cables, with rear-mounted controls for easy one-handed operation. Integrated PortBright™ illumination makes it easy to find the correct port on dark or cluttered patch panels. LED indicators show Pass or Fail statuses, and the convenient carrying case not only keeps the FI-3000 handy but also has room for fiber cleaning supplies.
Initially, the tester can work with iOS or Android smart devices via the FI-IN app. The app allows users to store results or even share them with others as images or PDF reports. Later this year, the FI-3000 will also work with the Versiv™ cabling certification system. This will allow Versiv users to generate inspection reports with LinkWare PC or LinkWare Live, just as they currently do for copper, fiber loss, and OTDR, and integrate them into a single, comprehensive project report. With over 40,000 users and 17 million results uploaded to the cloud, LinkWare is the industry-leading cabling testing reporting solution. All tests for a single project—copper, fiber loss, OTDR, and fiber inspection—can be combined into one report.
