Measuring Fiber / Merenja na optikim

vlaknima / Nemanja Radic, Ba

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11. FIBER ORIENTATION / MATING Typical fiber (core) orientation is either north, south, west, east
or a combination of those Fibers for testing have almost centered orientation Ability to maintain
best results and repeatability Expensive and hard to get

12. OPTICAL SOURCES Light Emitting Diodes (LED) Used for multimode: 850 nm or 1300 nm
Wide beam width fills multimode fibers Wider spectrum (typically 50 nm) Inexpensive Lasers
Used for singlemode: 1310 nm or 1550 nm Two Common Types: Fabry-Perot (FP) and Distributed
Feedback (DFB) Narrow spectrum (can be less than 1 nm) Narrow beam width (does not fill

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multimode fibers) Highest power and fastest switching Most expensive (especially DFB)
Wavelength Wavelength

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19. Sources of Loss in Fiber Optic Paths Dirty connections The fiber material Impurities
Variation in material density Coupling losses between fibers Bends in the fiber

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32. ANSI/TIA-568-C.0 and ISO/IEC 11801:2002 Test Limit Lets calculate the allowable loss for the
link below: 850 nm: Adapters Splices Fiber = 2 * 0,75 dB = 0 * 0,3 dB = 0,1 km * 3,5 dB Allowable loss
= 1,50 dB 0,00 dB 0,35 dB 1,85 dB

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34. FIELD FACT FACT FROM FIELD: I DO NOT NEED TO TEST WE CONNECT THE FIBER AND IF THE
LED LIGHTS UP GREEN WE ARE GOOD TO GO!!! THE USER APPLICATION WILL BE JUST FINE...

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46. OLTS One Jumper Reference Tier 1 Setting Reference Added dB dB includes link + ALL
connectors Supports a Permanent Link Measurement

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48. OLTS Two Jumper Reference Tier 1 Unfortunately is the most intuitive method but NOT correct
Setting Reference dB includes Link + ONLY ONE End Connector dB

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52. Understand OTDR plots: Reflective events Almost always two mated fiber connectors (air gap)
Could be a bad mechanical splice too On the OTDR trace, they are characterized as a spike
Higher reflectance means better mating

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60. Proposed tests at each step of the way Proposed test each step of the way Network and
Equipment Installation stage Verify total loss budget Link Characterization Coupler and Splices
Characterization End to End Loss & Back Reflection Testing OLT and ONT turn up Maintenance
stage How many ONTs are out? One? Some? All?

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61. Network and Equipment Installation stage Verify total loss budget 16 dB for 1:32 10 dB
for 1:8 7 db for 1:4 2 3 dB 0,35 dB/km@1330 nm

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'70. Connectivity Layer 1 Verify Link Up and MDI settings Verify Speed, duplex and flow control
Layer 2 and 3 Layer 2, verify MAC connectivity ARPing the address Layer 3 connectivity, verify
IP address is valid before doing any additional test PING

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ranscripts - Measuring Fiber / Merenja na optikim vlaknima

1. FIBER NETWORKS evolution, applications, standards, measurement methods of

2. 3 LAWS OF NETWORKING #1 - Networks Never Go Slower Plan for higher speeds,
increased throughput, reduced response time #2 - Networks Never Get Smaller Plan for
more users, more traffic, more capacity #3 - Networks Never Stay the Same Plan for
flexibility, reconfiguration, manageability
3. Applications Driving Bandwidth Interactive Video High Audio Desktop Video Quality of
Service Voice Data Video Pipe Medical/Financial CAD / CAM Client/Server Apps Low Email
File Transfer 10 100 1000 Information Capacity (Mbps) New real-time, information-rich
applications require exponentially higher bandwidth
4. High Speed Networking As data rates increase, loss budgets get smaller. It is
increasingly critical that the fiber plant is installed using best practices.
5. FACTS SAFETY NOTE Under NO circumstances should you ever look into a fiber The
wavelength being used cannot be seen by the naked eye Light from an active fiber if
powerful enough, can do permanent damage to your eye sight The equipment you are
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 using today cannot do permanent damage to your eye sight if exposed occasionally If you
are told a fiber is not active, treat it as if it is NEVER stand in front of a fiber patch panel
unless ALL of the fiber connectors have a protective cap on them Wash your hands BEFORE
and AFTER going to the bathroom
6. FIBER BASICS
7. FIBER TYPES Multimode (MM) Singlemode (SM) Core Cladding Buffer Example: 62.5/125
(62.5 m core) Example: 8.3/125 (8.3 m core)
8. FIBER DESIGNATION The following now applies to ANSI/TIA-568-C and ISO/IEC
11801:2010 OM1: 62.5 m multimode fiber with a MBW of 200 MHz/km OM2: 50
m multimode fiber with a MBW of 500 MHz/km OM3: 50 m multimode fiber with a MBW
of 2000 MHz/km OS1: 9 m singlemode fiber New designations OM4: 50 m multimode
fiber with a MBW of 4700 MHz/km OS2: 9 m Low Water Peak singlemode fiber
9. FIBER DESIGNATION OM1 OM2 Orange jacket Orange jacket OM3 Aqua jacket OS1
Yellow jacket
10. Fiber Splices Mechanical Quick Little specialized equipment required New
techniques and splice connectors have improved the loss per splice (some < 0.1 dB) Good
for emergency field repairs, low volumes Fusion Requires special, expensive equipment
Hard to do under adverse conditions Low loss (can be < 0.05 dB) The only method for
long links
11. FIBER ORIENTATION / MATING Typical fiber (core) orientation is either north, south,
west, east or a combination of those Fibers for testing have almost centered orientation
Ability to maintain best results and repeatability Expensive and hard to get
12. OPTICAL SOURCES Light Emitting Diodes (LED) Used for multimode: 850 nm or 1300
nm Wide beam width fills multimode fibers Wider spectrum (typically 50 nm)
Inexpensive Lasers Used for singlemode: 1310 nm or 1550 nm Two Common Types:
Fabry-Perot (FP) and Distributed Feedback (DFB) Narrow spectrum (can be less than 1 nm)
Narrow beam width (does not fill multimode fibers) Highest power and fastest switching
Most expensive (especially DFB) Wavelength Wavelength
13. COMMUNiCATION TX/RX Two fibers One fiber used for Rx, one for Tx One
wavelength Used in structured infrastructure One fiber Two or more wavelenghts
(using WDM) Telco/provider infrastructure
14. FIBER OPTIC EFFECTS ON A GOOD MEASUREMENT
15. Fiber Optic Measurements Optical Power an absolute measurement of power
measured in dBm as a reference to one milliwatt of power Attenuation (Loss) the
amount of light that is lost in a fiber path. Is measured in dB as a relative reading of power.
Dispersion spreading over time of a ray of light as it travels through a fiber
16. Optical Power Optical Power is measured in dBm (0 dBm = 1 milliwatt) Some
examples 0 dBm= 1. Milliwatt = 1000 microwatts -10 dBm = 0.1 milliwatts = 100 microwatts -
20 dBm = 0.01 milliwatts = 10 microwatts -30 dBm = 0.001milliwatts = 1 microwatt Every 3
dB subtracted drops the power in half
17. Measuring Optical Loss Loss Power Power (in dB) Lost (%) Received (%) 3 50 50 10 90 10
20 99 1 30 99.9 0.1 40 99.99 0.01 50 99.999 0.001 Loss (dB) = 10* Log Measured in dB: Not
a linear scale, but a logarithmic scale For every 3 dB down, received power drops by a
factor of 2 For every 10 dB down, received power drops by a factor of 10 Power (received)
Power (transmitted)
18. Measuring Optical Loss 1. Loss Is Measured As A Difference In Power Patch Cable Source
1. Meter Example: Measures - 20 dBm Then measure power after coming out of the fiber
link Fiber Link Source Patch Cable Patch Cable Meter Adapter Adapter Example: Measures -
23 dBm 1. The loss is the difference in dB (3 dB in this example)
19. Sources of Loss in Fiber Optic Paths Dirty connections The fiber material Impurities
Variation in material density Coupling losses between fibers Bends in the fiber
20. Losses From Dirty Connections Dirt moves from dirty to clean - it is a VIRUS Good
Connector Fingerprint on Connector Dirty Connector
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 21. Sources of Loss within the Fiber
22. Coupling Losses Area mismatch Spacing loss Axis misalignment Angular
misalignment
23. Bending Fiber Optic Cable Fiber is sensitive to bending If you bend the fiber too
much, light escapes out of the fiber Singlemode wavelengths are more sensitive to bending
loss than multimode wavelengths Datacenters, FTTx applications need special care when
pulling fiber
24. Dispersion (limits link length) The main source of signal distortion in fiber optic
transmissions Dispersion lengthens the transmitted light pulse as it travels down the fiber
Dispersion is a critical offender for support of high data speeds When the fiber cable
length is too long, pulses run together and the receiver can no longer decode the signal
information
25. Applications limited by dispersion Modal Bandwidth (MBW) is the unit to classify
dispersion in the cable 50 /125 m has less dispersion its core is smaller than 62.5/125
m fiber Your loss may be lower than the allowed fixed loss, but if it exceeds the length
found here (IEEE 802.3) there may be errors on the network IEEE 802.3ae contains no
values for OM4, atm certification limit will be 300 m
26. APPLICATIONS, STANDARDS
27. How many are there? Application standards These include IEEE 802.3z 1000BASE-SX
The optical loss allowed is a fixed value Cabling standards These include ANSI/TIA-568-
C.0 and ISO/IEC 11801 (ISO/IEC 14763-3) The loss allowed depends on the number of
adapters, splices and length of the cable
28. Application standards Fixed test limits are defined by system specs Examples:
100BASE-FX, 1000BASE-SX, 1000BASE- LX, 10GBASE-S, ATM, Fibre Channel
29. Application standards Loss Limits Continue to Tighten 14 12 12.5 13 12.5 8 11 10 11 6 6
4 3.56 2 2.6 10BASEFOIL Token Ring 16 Mb FDDI/TP PMD 10BASEFL ATM Fibre Channel
100BASEFX 1000BAS E-SX 10GBASES 0 Token Ring 4 Mb dB 10 13 1986 1987 1993 1993 1994
1995 1998 2002 1989 1992
30. Cabling standards Test limits for installed fiber link are independent of any network
application Limit is calculated, based on cable length, number of adapters, and number of
splices Examples: TIA/EIA-568-C, ISO11801:2010, EN50173
31. ANSI/TIA-568-C.0 and ISO/IEC 11801:2002 Test Limit You are permitted: 0,75 dB
per adapter (connector pair) *0,3 dB per adapter for MM and 0,5 dB for SM (ISO/IEC
11801:2010) 0,3 dB per splice You are permitted for multimode fiber 3.5 dB per km @
850 nm 1,5 dB per km @ 1300 nm You are permitted for singlemode fiber (TIA) 1,0 dB
per km @ 1310 nm and 1550 nm Inside Plant (ISP) 0,5 dB per km @ 1310 nm and 1550 nm
Outside Plant (OSP) You are permitted for singlemode fiber (ISO/IEC) 1,0 dB per km @
1310 nm and 1550 nm
32. ANSI/TIA-568-C.0 and ISO/IEC 11801:2002 Test Limit Lets calculate the allowable loss
for the link below: 850 nm: Adapters Splices Fiber = 2 * 0,75 dB = 0 * 0,3 dB = 0,1 km * 3,5
dB Allowable loss = 1,50 dB 0,00 dB 0,35 dB 1,85 dB
33. HOW TO MEASURE?
34. FIELD FACT FACT FROM FIELD: I DO NOT NEED TO TEST WE CONNECT THE FIBER
AND IF THE LED LIGHTS UP GREEN WE ARE GOOD TO GO!!! THE USER APPLICATION WILL BE
JUST FINE...
35. CLEANING & INSPECTION No. 1 and the most crucial step before any testing on any
kind of a network We need perfect Test Cords, Launch Fibers Dirt could move to core Will
damage other connectors
36. Cleaning connectors Optimal Cleaning Method (dry or wet) 1. Use cleaning pads
without cellulose 2. Apply a minimal amount of solvent (point 1) for very dirty connectors
DO NOT USE ISOPROPYL (IPA) ALCOHOL 3. Place end-face perpendicular to card in first
corner 4. Swipe through N shape using gentle pressure and moving from wet to dry -

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 NEVER use 8 method to clean 5. Check end-face with microscope or camera, place cap on
test reference cord
37. Cleaning ports For dirty port use wet method (1st foam tip is wet to clean the dirty
port, second foam tip is dry to pickup dirt from port)
38. Inspection Two methods Microscope Cheap no built-in filter Higher cost built-
in protection filter Inspection camera Safest method for inspection of ports and
connectors
39. Connectivity Verification The basic test before any testing is to use a VFL to determine:
Where there is a break in the fiber panel Where there is an excessive bend in the fiber
panel (typically an issue in FTTx networks and home installations) Verify correct polarity
40. Connectivity Verification Limitations of a VFL: The fiber can be broken in multiple
places, yet you will still see light coming out at the end It is of no use in trunk cable, the
light will never pass through the outer black jacket VFLs rely on the fiber jacket being
translucent
41. 5 Standard Ways To Test Fiber In 2010, the old OFSTP-14 was replaced by a new ISO
standard. The TIA has adopted IEC 61280-4-1 as the replacement of OFSTP-14. Most of the
two documents is the same, with some important exceptions. For insertion loss, three
reference methods are are still approved, but the nomenclature is different - no more
"Method A, B or C" designations- it's now 1, 2 or 3 reference cables. OTDR testing is now
an approved test method as long as you use both launch and receive cables. Reference
test cables with "reference grade connectors" are recommended. Methods are given for
testing and verifying the loss of reference test cables. For multimode modal control, CPR
with a mandrel wrap is gone, replaced by "Encircled Flux," a complex - and not completely
debugged - method of measuring the source output.
42. TESTING (structured cabling) Network Designers may include two levels of testing in
fiber test specifications: Tier 1: OLTS (Optical Loss Test Set) Testing the installed cable
plant for link loss and verifying the cabling length and polarity Polarity for some backbone
simplex applications may not need to be verified. Tier 2: Tier 1 plus an OTDR trace
Testing for anomalies and assuring uniformity of cable attenuation and connector insertion
loss. The higher level of testing providing quantitative measures of the installed condition
and performance of the cabling system and its components. Evidence that cable is installed
without degrading events (e.g., bends, bad connections, bad splices)
43. TESTING (structured cabling) Using the Right Method is Essential ISO/IEC TR 14763-3
specifies Method 2 one jumper reference for testing the fiber link. A mismatch of the
connector type between the OLTS and the link requires a modified method. Using the
wrong method can result in a significant measurement error. ALL LIGHT SOURCES TAKE
TIME TO STABILIZE
44. Multimode MANDRELS Required, not optional If I dont use them? You may end up
failing perfectly good links What do they do? They strip out the higher order modes in
multimode TRCs Result is more repeatable, consistent optical power measurements when
using LED sources. Do not use non bend insensitive fiber TRCs The mandrels will have no
affect
45. Encircled Flux The New Standard in Multimode Testing Accuracy
46. OLTS One Jumper Reference Tier 1 Setting Reference Added dB dB includes link + ALL
connectors Supports a Permanent Link Measurement
47. OLTS - Modified One Jumper Reference Tier 1 The connector is a Setting different type
then the Reference one on the OLTS Added dB includes link + all connectors dB
48. OLTS Two Jumper Reference Tier 1 Unfortunately is the most intuitive method but NOT
correct Setting Reference dB includes Link + ONLY ONE End Connector dB
49. OLTS Three Jumper Reference Tier 1 The connector can be a Setting Reference
different type then the one on the OLTS dB Includes Link/Channel BUT NO End Connectors
dB Supports a Channel Measurement

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 50. OLTS Method comparison Tier 1 The standards clearly define the referencing
method, but the nomenclature is confusing Link End Connections Included in Loss Results
Latest Versions Previous Versions TIA/EIA-526-14A (multimode) TIA/EIA-526-7 (singlemode)
IEC 61280-4-1 (multimode) IEC 61280-4-2 (singlemode) 1 Connection 2 Jumper Method A
Method A Method A.2 Method 1 Method A2 2 Connections 1 Jumper Method B Method B
Method A.1 Method 2 Method A1 None 3 Jumper Method C Method C Method A.3 Method
3 Method A3
51. Supplemental OTDR Trace Tier 2 OTDR trace is a supplement to OLTS Determined
cause of excess loss Troubleshoot fiber link Telco / Service providers still rely on OTDR
testing This is good for veryfing the installation, still OLTS is required to meet the
application requirements
52. Understand OTDR plots: Reflective events Almost always two mated fiber connectors
(air gap) Could be a bad mechanical splice too On the OTDR trace, they are characterized
as a spike Higher reflectance means better mating
53. Reflectance in connectors When the light travels down the fiber, if it sees a change in
refractive index, their will be a reflection (reflectance) The most common causes are: Ideal
world no undercut Air gap between the connectors Dirt or residue left behind by the
cleaning solution Good reflectance for UPC connector is -40 to -50 dB (recommended < -
45 dB) Reality -best factory terminated connectors will have an undercut better than 50 nm
(thats 0.05 m).
54. Understand OTDR plots: Non-Reflective events Almost always a splice, could also be a
very good APC connection can be an issue when using limit lines Good reflectance for
APC is < -60 dB If you only see it at 1300nm (MM) or 1550 nm (SM), then it is a bend in the
fiber On the OTDR trace, they are characterized as a dip in the trace
55. OTDR Bi-directional Averaging Do I need to do this? If the customer asks for it, YES
ANSI/TIA-526-14-B; if the launch fiber has a different backscatter coefficient to the fiber you
are testing, then you should ISO/IEC 14763-3; This is not necessary where the cabling
under test comprises a single length of fixed cabling with terminating connectors and where
the optical fibres of the launch and tails cords have the same scattering characteristics.
Will always give the most accurate loss at each event Must use Launch + Receive Fiber
Compensation in Setup
56. OTDR Launch fiber Each connector used in the Launch Fiber network MUST have the
same connector type for mating Using short patch cords make results even worse Will give
loss of the first connector
57. OTDR Receive fiber Receive Fiber Will give loss of the last connector
58. Common Measurement Issues Setting Reference When done do NOT remove fiber
from the source, otherwise repeat reference method Negative Loss reading Sources not
stabilized Bad reference Gainer (mismatch of MM cables used in link) Ghosting Long
Attenuation dead zone Dirty or damaged connectors/mating Poor reflectance
Bad/damaged launch fiber Dirty connetors Dirt on the fiber endface Good reflectance, but
high loss only on one wavelength Excessive fiber bending
59. Passive Networks vs. Active Passive Optical Networks (PON) implement a: Point-to-
Multipoint Topology Triple-play Fiber-to-the-Desktop (FTD) Has two (2) active
components (OLT and ONT)
60. Proposed tests at each step of the way Proposed test each step of the way Network
and Equipment Installation stage Verify total loss budget Link Characterization Coupler
and Splices Characterization End to End Loss & Back Reflection Testing OLT and ONT turn
up Maintenance stage How many ONTs are out? One? Some? All?
61. Network and Equipment Installation stage Verify total loss budget 16 dB for 1:32
10 dB for 1:8 7 db for 1:4 2 3 dB 0,35 dB/km@1330 nm
62. Link characterization Done before splicing or connectorizing splitter From OLT
towards splitter and from splitter to the ONT OTDR at wavelengths 1310, (1490) and 1550
nm
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 63. Coupler and Splices Characterization Done after splice and connectorizing process
From splitter output back to OLT OTDR with 1310, (1490) and 1550 nm with launch fiber
Backreflection or coupler ports should be -35 dB or better (ITU-T G.983.1) End to End Loss
& Back Reflection Testing Done with a power meter and source at 1310, 1490 and 1550 nm
Max Loss 25 dB for Class-B PON (20 dB Class-A and 30 dB Class-C) OTDR trace OLT->ONT
and ONT->OLT to confirm back reflections to be -35 dB or more and splice losses less than
0,1 dB
64. OLT and ONT turn up Before any ONT turn-up Verify power at ONT coming from
OLT at drop point Masure at 1310, 1490 and 1550 nm to get a go-no-go power reading
(pass/fail criteria is user defined and depends on OLT)
65. Maintenance Stage ONT Outage when SOME are out Check power level at the closest
faulty ONT No power fiber defect between OLT and ONT Strong power (in the limits of
OLT spec) exchange the ONT Weak power use fiber identifier to measure total power
on fiber or visual fault locator for possible macrobending
66. ONT Outage when ALL are out Easy to overcome and fix Either OLT is out of order
or a major fault has occurred between the OLT and the spliter point Check feeding (F1)
fiber OTDR trace for OLT side at 1550 nm OTDR facts when testing in PON environment
1625 nm must be used in live PON and fro ONT -> OLT If testing from OLT side a PON
optimized OTDR must be used in order to see through splitters
67. OTDR OLT->ONT Example
68. WHAT IF? I rent fiber from a provider? Do I need to sign SLA? I want to test how fast my
network is? WHAT DO I DO????
69. Ethernet testing To verify a link performance you do not need to understand standards
Key paramaters for Ethernet testing Determining the layer of testing and the nature of
the link under test Connectivity Physical connectivity Layer 2 and up connectivity
Throughput Burstability Latency/Jitter
70. Connectivity Layer 1 Verify Link Up and MDI settings Verify Speed, duplex and flow
control Layer 2 and 3 Layer 2, verify MAC connectivity ARPing the address Layer 3
connectivity, verify IP address is valid before doing any additional test PING
71. And what about T-PUT and others BER Testing Familiar concept Throughput Testing
Better but not complete All in one RFC2544 Frame loss Burstability Jitter Latency
RFC2544 Various Frame Sizes All tests in one set of measurements Provide A to B and
B to A results to identify the direction of the network having problems (if any)
72. Performing RFC2544
73. FUTURE APPLICATIONS?
74. 40G, 100G 40GBASE-SR4 and 100GBASE-SR10 MPO trunks (12 core fiber), utilizing
several 10G fiber links Fiber standards for certification?
75. THANK YOU! Green Light / Red Light IS NOT ENOUGH YOU NEED TO TEST IN ORDER
TO GUARANTEE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE USER APPLICATIONS

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