Fiber Optic Instruments

Network technical service companies seeking to improve efficiency can take a page from leading service providers and standardize comprehensive sets of checks that will help all technicians troubleshoot connectivity issues.

Optical loss testing for multimode fibers can be affected by many variables, such as fiber mismatch, the type and quality of the test reference patch cords, and the light injection conditions into the fiber under test. This article will analyze how these different variables can affect the optical loss value of a link under test.

Network technical service companies seeking to improve efficiency can take a page from leading service providers and standardize comprehensive sets of checks that will help all technicians troubleshoot connectivity issues.

dBm Ingenieros presents the new Tracespan passive probe for DOCSIS 3.0 protocol analysis.
The passive probe is based on a proprietary Tracespan design, so the equipment's operation does not depend on a third-party chipset. 

New telecommunications services (high-definition 3D television and video on demand, unified communications and videoconferencing, online gaming, cloud computing, etc.) demand more advanced telecommunications networks than those currently available. Furthermore, it is estimated that there will be more than 50 billion devices connected to the Internet. Therefore, bandwidth requirements in the access and backbone portions of networks are expected to continue growing exponentially in the coming years.

WDM is a technology that combines multiple wavelengths onto a single-mode fiber to increase bandwidth capacity in a network. It can be classified as Coarse WDM or Dense WDM. Coarse WDM is less expensive because the channel spacing (the space between wavelengths) is large, but it has limited scalability potential. Many operators choose CWDM (Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing) for metropolitan area network (MAN) and enterprise network access, serving a variety of customers, services, and protocols.

Fibercom introduces the new DFS1 digital microscope to the Spanish market for accurate magnified inspection of AFL brand fiber optic connectors. This ensures that fiber ends are free from damage and contamination during installation, connectorization, and maintenance.

DWDM technology offers a cost-effective solution for more efficient and flexible use of existing fiber optic infrastructure and networks. As user bandwidth demands increase, DWDM optical networks become the preferred option. However, these multichannel networks have different installation and maintenance requirements than single-channel optical systems. Furthermore, the photonic devices used in these networks must be precisely characterized both during and after the manufacturing process.

Fluke Networks launches Fiber QuickMap, a new fiber troubleshooting tool for enterprise network technicians that provides immediate visibility into the most common causes of fiber failures and poor performance in data center fiber networks, including high-loss events such as multimode fiber breaks.

In today's cost-conscious world, virtually every major business interaction can spark a debate between two options: renting or buying. Whether it's a lifelong investment, like buying a house, or even a short-term solution, like renting DIY equipment, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons of buying versus renting the asset in question. Businesses face the same dilemma. Current economic uncertainty has forced companies to cut budgets and make cautious purchases, so all options must be considered when investing in new products.