January 2014 - Fiber Optical Networking

Cost Effective POF Fiber In General

Through glass fiber optic cable is more welcome in today’s telecommunication system, plastic optic fiber(POF) is another option as it can do something that fiber optic doesn’t do. Before the invention of the plastic optical fiber, the glass optical fiber had been invented but still it never met the standard set because it only managed medical imaging at a certain level. POF’s tight bend radius and low cost make it unique for Medical Imaging applications.

Since the modifications to enhance better POF Fiber have been on and we experience major improvements day by day. Most of the technology we use especially in communication and data transmitting is through the plastic optical fiber. One of the most exciting developments in polymer fibers has been the development of microstructured polymer optical fibers (mPOF), a type of photonic crystal fiber. Traditionally PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) is the core material of plastic optic fiber, and fluorinated polymers are the cladding material. Since the late 1990s however, much higher-performance POF based on perfluorinated polymers (mainly polyperfluorobutenylvinylether) has begun to appear in the marketplace. The latest state of POF, engineers now know the right types of plastics and manufacturing techniques to develop graded-index and low-NA plastic fiber with transmission rates of 3 Gb/sec in runs exceeding 100m.

POF in Simple:

PMMA and Polystyrene are used as fiber core, with refractive indices of 1.49 and 1.59 respectively.
Generally, fiber cladding is made of silicone resin (refractive index ~1.46).
High refractive index difference is maintained between core and cladding.
High numerical aperture.
Have high mechanical flexibility and low cost.
Attenuation loss is about 1 dB/m @ 650 nm.
Core/Cladding size 1 mm.
Bandwidth is ~5 MHz-km @ 650 nm.

Plastic optical fiber is commonly applied to consumer short-distance fiber for electronic appliances and motor vehicles. POF has been called the “consumer” optical fiber because the fiber and associated optical links, connectors, and installation are all inexpensive. Due to the attenuation and distortion characteristics of the traditional PMMA fibers are commonly used for low-speed, short-distance (up to 100 meters) applications in digital LANs, home appliances, home networks, industrial networks (PROFIBUS, PROFINET), and car networks (MOST). The perfluorinated polymer fibers arecommonly used for much higher-speed applications such as data center wiring and building LAN wiring.

Unlike the fiber cables used in long distance communication systems that require precise cutting, polishing, and alignment or the connector terminations on CAT5/CAT6 cable that require special equipment like fusion splicer, fujikura electrodes, fiber cleavers, optical fiber aligners, LAN Network Tester, cable crimping tool and so on. POF Fiber can be installed by anyone using a simple cutting tool. POF Fiber can be easily installed under baseboards and along carpet edges or around door moldings. It can be pulled under carpets, fit through small holes, or run inside the wall cavity and attic as is done with traditional wiring practices.

OM4 Optical Fiber Cabling

OM4 is a laser-optimized, high bandwidth 50um multimode fiber, which is used for next-generation 40 and 100 Gb/s applications. OM4 effectively provides an additional layer of performance that supports these applications at longer distances, thereby limiting the number of installations that truly require OS2 single mode fiber.

OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4 are different categories of graded-index multimode fiber optic cable. OM4 is not necessarily designed to replace for OM3. Despite the relatively long-standing availability of OM4. In most systems, both OM3 and OM4 are sufficient to cover the bandwidth needs at the distances of the current installation base. Despite the availability of OM4 glass, OM3 is quite capable of 40 and 100 Gb/s applications albeit at significantly shorter distances than OM4. The primary benefit of OM4 is the additional reach at extended bandwidth at an overall cost still less than that of an OS2 single mode system.

OM4 provides an opportunity to future-proof cabling infrastructure. It is completely backwards-compatible with existing OM3 systems. OM3 and OM4 are two grades of glass that can be inerchangeable within the transmission distance limitations. The additional bandwidth and lower attenuation of OM4 provide additional insertion loss margin. While the additional bandwidth and lower attenuation of OM4 provide additional insertion loss margin. OM4 users gain additional safety margin to help compensate for less-than-ideal cabling installations as well as provide margin for degradation due to moves, adds, and changes over the life of the installation.

FiberStore provide complete range of OM3 OM4 products, what is typical is the OM3 OM4 10G fiber cables, which are ideal for using in many applications such as Local Area Networks (LAN) backbones, Storage Area Networks (SAN), Data Centers and Central Offices. ( click to check out the om3 vs om4 fiber pricing). Another is the OM3, OM4 patch cables. And for 10G OM3 50/125 Mulitmode Fiber Patch

Cable and 10G OM4 50/125 Mulitmode Fiber Patch Cable, their main difference are as following:
OM4 was developed specifically for VSCEL laser transmission and allows 10Gig/s link distance up to 550 meters. The effective modal bandwidth for OM4 is more than double that of OM3. For OM4 patch cable, it is 4700 MHz km while for OM3, it is 2000 MHz km.

We can custom the 10G OM3 and OM4 fiber cables with any connectors such as LC-LC, LC-SC, SC-SC, FC, MTRJ, MU, MPO/MTP etc and any cut lengths. For example, the OM4 50/125 ST-ST connectors patch cable can be customized with both simplex or duplex fibers. Of cause you can also custom the OM3 OM4 fiber patch cable with different connector type of cable length.

Fiber Optic Visual Light Testers from FiberStore

Visual fault locators can be part of OTDR, which is able to locate the breakpoint, bending or cracking of the fiber glass. It can also locate the fault of OTDR dead zone and make fiber identification from one end to the other end. Fiber optic visual fault locators include the pen type, the handheld type and portable visual fault locator. FiberStore also supply a new kind of fiber optic laser tester that can locates fault up to 30km in fiber optic cable.

The new visual fault locator fiber optic laser tester 30km is especially designed for field personnel who need an efficient and economical tool for fiber tracking, fiber routing and continuity checking in an optical network during and after installation. It can send fiber testing red light through fiber optic cables, then the breaks or faults in the fiber will refract the light, creating a bright glow around the faulty area. Its pen shape made it very easy to carry, and its Cu-alloy material shell made it sturdy and durable, 2.5nm universal interface make it more attractive. The inspection distance various according to different mode.

Features
Easy to check fiber faults with visual red laser light
FC, SC, ST General interface
Sturdy and durable shell
Constant output power
Long inspection distance
Operates in either CW (Continuous wave) or pulse (Both modes are available)
Pen pattern design, convenient for use and carry
Dust-proof design keeps fiber connectors clean

Compact in size, light in weight, red laser output, both SM and MM available

FiberStore provides enough stock of fiber optic visual light testers which usually be shipped out in a short time, and can be shipped out in 2-4 business days. We offer 1 years warranty for the quality of these products, so customers can place the order with 100% confidence!

Several Types of Fast Connectors From FiberStore

FiberStore has developed and dealt with many type of field assembly connectors for many years, the field assembly connectors can be assembled easily and quickly in the field without the additional fiber termination tools, and can be directly connected to drop cable and indoor cable, thus significantly reducing the required work time.

Field assembly connector is a revolutionary field installable optical fiber connector been widely used in passive optical construction field. This connector system doesn’t need any additional assembling tools such as as epoxy, adhesive and costly curing ovens, thus allowing the installer and make new connectors within a mere 3 minutes in the field. It also increasing the flexibility of optical wiring design of FTTH network. The Field assembly connectors have already been widely used in optical distribution cabinet, optical testing instrument and optical transmission network.

FiberStore provide high reliability FC, SC fast connectors in Fiber direct-in type and Preset fiber with matching fluid type, catering for 250um to 900um diameter single mode and multimode fiber types, including Multi-mode 62.5/125um and Multi-mode 50/125um.

Quick Assembly connector SC FC
Quick Assembly SC connector can provide a quick and easy termination of fibers in the field, Both single mode and multi mode connector options are available for 900 micron and 3mm drop cable application, allowing the installer to terminate and make connection in 3 minutes in the field. Special fiber optic crimp tool free design makes it easy in assembling.

Pre-polished Ferrule Field Assembly Connector
Pre-polished ferrule field assembly connector type is a part of optical fiber and has been polished and a pre-polished ferrule and a mechanical splice inside the connector body. The polished ferrule ensures a low insertion loss of the connector. Compare to the direct-in connector, it has a much more stable performance and a longer life time. Our pre-polished ferrule field assembly connectors are now available in FC, SC variants, the single-mode versions are available with PC or APC ferrules.

Without Ferrule Field Assembly Connector
Assembly of the SC, FC type quick connector requires only normal fiber preparation tools: a fiber stripping tool, wipes and a fiber cleaver. No electrical power supply is needed. This fast connectors feature a pre-stubbed factory-polished ferrule that couples to the fiber being terminated. Precision mechanical alignment insures low loss with a proprietary gel.

Cable Mechanical Splicer
Fiber mechanical splicer includes fast fiber optic mechanical splice for 250um bare fiber, MC-L925B optical fiber mechanical splicer, and FTTH drop cable mechanical splicer. Cable mechanical splicer take a global leading submicron processing technology, Use core component of high accuracy V groove provide high alignment, its unique structure had got IPR in 2007. As the first domestic mechanical splicer, the cable mechanical splicer sell well in domestic and abroad market and fill the domestic production of technology and product gaps, cable mechanical splicer have taken great role in FTTH.

Fusion Splice-on Connector
Fusion Splice-on Connector is actually an optical fiber fusion, however the welding point is in the inner end of connector, which makes it no necessary for extra protection equipment, such as fiber protection plate(optical fiber splice tray), optical fiber terminal box, optical fiber distribution frame, after it finished splice fusion. Compared to mechanical optical fast connector, this new practical connector can improve the span life of welding point of connector and reduce maintenance cost.

Besides Fast Connector, we also offer a variety of connector type , including ST, FC, SC, LC, MU, FDDI, E2000 (other connectors types such as OM4 50/125 ST-ST connectors) Fiber Connector etc for Fiber Patch Cord Assembly.

Using Fiber Terminators to Terminator Unused Fiber Connector Ports

With the rapid deployment of high speed fiber multiplexer, the possibility of having an un-terminated derived channel or branch increases. The single fiber connector mated to an unused adapter or coupling is the source of back-reflection. The fiber optic terminator is usually used to terminate the unused fiber connector ports in fiber optic systems. Such unused ports will create unwanted return loss and degrade the whole network performance. Fiber optic terminators are passive components that can absorb light coming from the unterminated connectors plugs and reduce signal degradation in digital and analog systems.

Fiber optic terminators are designed to reduce back-reflections, which is typically found on laser-activated, connectorized access points such as those found on splitters, DWDM’s or fiber distribution frames. are functional devices using Metal-Ion Doped Fibers. By using these fibers, optical terminators can convert the optical power into heat and the power is attenuated inside the devices. The structures of the plug type optical terminators are simple and the power-proof and performance stability is superior. The fiber optic terminators also maintain the cleanliness of unterminated plugs and protect them from possible physical damage.

The plug type optical terminators are used to terminate dark fiber port on the fiber optic component. Their ceramic ferrule is polished with an angled or non-angled end face to reduce unwanted reflections from open ports. These optical terminator also provide improved personal safety over termination methods.

Specifications

Return Loss: UPC >55 dB, APC >65 dB
Back Reflection: APC < -65dB, UPC < -55dB
Temperature Cycling: -20℃~-80℃
Polishing Grade: PC, UPC, APC
Connector Type: SC, FC, ST, LC,MU
Fiber type: SM(9/125㎛)
Optical performance 100% factory tested
Easy installation as plug type
Precision ceramic ferrule with endface
Geometry per IEC proposal
Environmentally stable
Adapt attenuation point to creating termination effect

Applications

Telecommunication Networks
Instrumentation
CATV Networks
Active Device Termination
EDFA

FiberStore provides all types of optical fiber terminators including SC, FC, ST, LC and MU type connector with high precision ceramic ferrule. They can be easily plugged into the systems to significantly reduce reflections from the fiber face, they can also be used with fiber adapters at the male plug end. Besides, FiberStore also provide the mechanical fiber optic termination tools such including fiber optic crimp tool to crimp or connect a connector to the end of a fiber optic cable.