Basic or Tier 1 fiber network certification
is required in all fiber optic cabling links; tests attenuation / insertion loss, length and polarity. This test
ensures that the fiber link exhibits less loss than the maximum allowable loss.
Tier 2 fiber network certification supplements Tier 1 testing with the
addition of an OTDR trace of each fiber link. An OTDR trace is a graphical signature of a fiber's attenuation, and provides insight into the performance
of the link components - cable, connectors and splices. It does that by revealing non-uniformities in the trace.This test certifies that the contractor's
workmanship and quality of the installation meets the design and warrantee specifications.
As multi-fiber and duplex connectors gain in popularity, verifying proper orientation
or polarity is increasingly important. Polarity is analogous to copper UTP wire map. You can use either a visual light source or an optical loss test set to verify
and ensure that the transmitter on one end of a fiber connects to the receiver on the other end.
While insertion loss testing provides an indication of whether a fiber link was
properly installed, an OTDR furnishes more details on cable installation and termination quality, including attenuation uniformity, attenuation rate, segment
length, location and insertion loss of connectors and splices, and sharp bends resulting from cable installation. All these readings are crucial in any fiber
network certification job.
Every fiber connection is critical to network performance, especially in high-speed, low power margin networks. It is essential to verify the condition of
fiber connector endfaces. Recent studies show that more than 85% of all fiber failures encountered in LANs are due to contaminated end faces. Such contamination is
easily seen with fiber microscopes. Documentation of the condition of connector endfaces may become a more common component of fiber network certification.
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