Fiber Optics testing and measurements from Udemy

This course covers fiber optic testing and measurements techniques. The course elaborates on fiber optic characterization services including Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR), Power Meter and Light Source Testing (PM/LS). Optical Return Loss (ORL), Chromatic dispersion (CD), Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) and their power penalties and system tolerances. Finally, a brief introduction to underground Outside Plant civil infrastructure and related standards are listed to cover Trenching, backfilling, Ducting, cabling, and Manhole installations.

Splicing Machine types and testing of splices is covered to troubleshoot high losses and measure the loss. OTDR trace analysis is covered in detail for fiber events including attenuations, splices, connectors, gainers ...etc. OTDR operation is explained for acquisition, analysis and OTDR trace. Field testing of fiber optic cable is covered for pre installation (drum test), post installation and end to end test.

The course is divided into three parts to cover all aspects related to field testing of optical networks, fiber optic characterization services and underground outside plant infrastructure.

A list of international standards and best practices are listed for underground OSP including references to both European and American standards (

What's inside

Syllabus

This course covers fiber optic testing and measurements, fiber optic splicing and OTDR testing

Quiz 1

This course elaborates on fiber optic testing for Power Meter and Light Source PM/LS, Optical Return Loss ORL and Optical Time Domain Reflectometer OTDR.

This course elaborate on Chromatic dispersion (CD) in optical fiber, chromatic dispersion coefficient, chromatic dispersion power penalty and system tolerance of chromatic dispersion.

This course elaborates on fiber optic Polarization Mode Dispersion PMD, PMD behavior and system tolerances to PMD

Quiz 2

This Training Course covers the basics of Underground OSP and list considerations for infrastructure elements (Ducting, Trenching, Manholes, ...etc)

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores OTDR trace analysis in detail, which is essential for identifying and troubleshooting fiber optic cable issues in the field

Covers fiber optic characterization services, including PM/LS, ORL, CD, and PMD, which are crucial for ensuring optimal network performance

Details splicing machine types and splice testing, which are important for minimizing signal loss in fiber optic networks

Includes a brief introduction to underground Outside Plant civil infrastructure, which is useful for understanding deployment considerations

Lists international standards and best practices for underground OSP, providing valuable references for compliance and quality assurance

Requires familiarity with fiber optic technology, which may necessitate prior coursework or experience in the field

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Fiber Optics testing and measurements with these activities:

Review Fiber Optic Fundamentals

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Reinforce your understanding of fiber optic principles before diving into testing and measurement techniques. This will provide a solid foundation for understanding the 'why' behind the tests.

Browse courses on Fiber Optics

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Review basic concepts of light propagation in optical fibers.
Study different types of optical fibers and their characteristics.
Understand the principles of signal attenuation and dispersion.

Read 'Understanding Fiber Optics' by Jeff Hecht

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Gain a deeper understanding of fiber optic principles and technologies. This book provides a solid foundation for understanding the testing and measurement techniques covered in the course.

View Melania on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Understanding Fiber Optics' by Jeff Hecht.
Read the chapters related to fiber optic principles and components.
Take notes on key concepts and definitions.

OTDR Trace Analysis Practice

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Improve your ability to interpret OTDR traces by practicing with simulated or real-world data. This will help you identify fiber events and troubleshoot network issues.

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Obtain sample OTDR traces from various sources.
Identify and label different fiber events (splices, connectors, breaks).
Calculate fiber loss and distance based on the trace data.
Compare your analysis with the known characteristics of the fiber link.

Four other activities

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Create a PMD/CD Presentation

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Solidify your understanding of Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) and Chromatic Dispersion (CD) by creating a presentation explaining these concepts and their impact on fiber optic systems.

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Research PMD and CD, including their causes and effects.
Prepare slides explaining the concepts in a clear and concise manner.
Include diagrams and illustrations to aid understanding.
Practice your presentation to ensure a smooth delivery.

Read 'Fiber Optic Test and Measurement' by Dennis Derickson and Robert Greenwell

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Deepen your knowledge of fiber optic testing methodologies and equipment. This book provides a comprehensive guide to various testing techniques.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Fiber Optic Test and Measurement' by Dennis Derickson and Robert Greenwell.
Focus on chapters related to OTDR, PM/LS, and ORL testing.
Take notes on the procedures and equipment used for each test.

Fiber Optic Network Troubleshooting Project

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Apply your knowledge of fiber optic testing and measurement to troubleshoot a simulated or real-world network issue. This will provide valuable hands-on experience.

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Simulate a fiber optic network with a fault (e.g., high loss, break).
Use OTDR, power meter, and other tools to diagnose the problem.
Develop a plan to repair or mitigate the issue.
Document your findings and recommendations.

Explore Advanced OTDR Features

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Learn about advanced OTDR features like automated event analysis and bi-directional testing. This will help you improve the accuracy and efficiency of your testing.

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Research advanced OTDR features online or in the instrument's manual.
Follow tutorials or videos demonstrating how to use these features.
Practice using the features on sample fiber links.

Career center

Learners who complete Fiber Optics testing and measurements will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Fiber Optic Technician

A Fiber Optic Technician installs, maintains, and repairs fiber optic networks. This course directly aligns with the practical skills needed to become a Fiber Optic Technician, especially in testing and measurement. Technicians use tools like Optical Time Domain Reflectometers (OTDRs) which are covered in depth in the course. Understanding power meter and light source testing (PM/LS), optical return loss (ORL), chromatic dispersion (CD), and polarization mode dispersion (PMD), all topics from this course, is crucial for this role. This course provides the technical knowledge to troubleshoot network issues efficiently, make informed decisions and ensure reliable high speed data transmission.

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Telecommunications Installer

Telecommunications Installers set up and maintain telecommunications infrastructure, which increasingly relies on fiber optics. The course materials explain various techniques for testing and measuring fiber optic cables, which are core skills for a Telecommunications Installer. This course familiarizes students with OTDR, Power Meter and Light Source testing, ORL, CD and PMD, all essential for ensuring the integrity and performance of fiber optic networks. This course also touches on underground outside plant infrastructure, a relevant topic for an installer working in the field.

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Optical Network Specialist

An Optical Network Specialist focuses on the design, implementation, and maintenance of optical communication networks. The core knowledge of fiber optic testing and measurements provided in this course makes it essential for this role. This course teaches the use of OTDR, power meters, and light sources as well as how to interpret data from these tools, crucial for an Optical Network Specialist. This course provides insights needed to evaluate the performance of fiber optic cables and identify potential issues, while also touching on considerations for outside plant infrastructure.

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Network Engineer

Network Engineers design and maintain network infrastructure which is now heavily reliant on fiber optics. This course helps a Network Engineer by offering detailed knowledge of fiber optic testing and measurement techniques. Understanding how to use OTDRs, and how to conduct PM/LS, ORL, CD, and PMD measurements, provides essential insights for diagnosing and optimizing network performance. The course content also covers splicing techniques, which is a skill needed for network reliability, and it introduces underground plant infrastructure, which would help with planning and design considerations.

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Field Service Technician

A Field Service Technician works on-site to install, maintain, and repair fiber optic equipment and systems. This course is pertinent to the role because it specifically covers hands-on testing techniques for fiber optic networks, including OTDR, PM/LS, and ORL testing. This course prepares a Field Service Technician to troubleshoot common issues in the field, by providing knowledge regarding chromatic dispersion (CD) and polarization mode dispersion (PMD), and covers basic splicing techniques, vital for field repairs. The course also touches on underground infrastructure, a common deployment scenario for fiber optics.

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Fiber Optic Splicer

A Fiber Optic Splicer specializes in joining optical fibers together using fusion splicing equipment. This course directly complements the skills of a Fiber Optic Splicer by covering splicing techniques and the testing of splices to identify issues and minimize losses. The course introduces the various types of splicing machines, and also discusses OTDR trace analysis that is essential to identify and troubleshoot high losses within the system. In addition, this course covers techniques to measure these losses. The course also talks about pre- and post-installation tests, critical for a fiber optic splicer.

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Telecommunications Technician

A Telecommunications Technician is involved in the installation and maintenance of telecommunication systems which increasingly make use of fiber optics. This course is applicable to the role because it covers fiber optic testing techniques that are crucial for installing and maintaining such systems, especially through the use of tools like OTDRs. This course covers power meter and light source testing, and other tests needed to ensure the reliability of fiber optic networks, and will be particularly useful given the course’s comprehensive coverage of the topic. This course also provides an overview of outside plant infrastructure, which is useful for technicians working in the field.

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Cable Installation Technician

A Cable Installation Technician installs and maintains various types of cables, including fiber optic cables. This course provides a crucial foundation of knowledge into the testing and measurements of fiber optic cables, which would allow technicians to install systems properly. The course covers critical testing elements like OTDR, PM/LS, and ORL, and it provides an understanding of the challenges of chromatic dispersion (CD) and polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and how they are measured. This course also touches on the challenges of underground outside plant infrastructure.

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Outside Plant Engineer

An Outside Plant Engineer designs and maintains the physical infrastructure for telecommunications networks, including fiber optic cabling. This course introduces key concepts related to underground infrastructure, such as trenching, ducting, and manhole installations, which are critical for an Outside Plant Engineer. This course teaches how to measure optical losses and how to interpret data from OTDR testing, essential for planning. This course can also strengthen their technical understanding by covering fiber optic testing and measurement techniques, including power meter and light source testing.

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Optical Fiber Designer

An Optical Fiber Designer develops and engineers new fiber optic cables and systems. This course helps an Optical Fiber Designer by providing crucial insights into how fiber optic cables are tested and measured, which is directly relevant to design considerations. The course content covers testing tools such as OTDR, power meters and light sources, and also explains how performance is affected by chromatic dispersion (CD) and polarization mode dispersion (PMD). An understanding of these testing procedures, all covered in the course, allows the Optical Fiber Designer to create more effective designs.

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Test Engineer

A Test Engineer develops and implements testing procedures for various types of equipment, including fiber optic systems. This course can prepare a Test Engineer by teaching fiber optic testing and measurement techniques. This course covers various testing methods such as OTDR, power meter and light source (PM/LS) testing, and measurement techniques for ORL, CD, and PMD, which a Test Engineer would find valuable. This course will provide the foundational knowledge needed to create robust and relevant testing protocols for fiber optic systems, and helps the test engineer to develop best practices for field testing.

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Project Manager

Project Managers in telecommunications oversee projects related to the build out of fiber optic networks. While this role is not technical, this course can enhance a Project Manager’s understanding of the technical considerations involved in fiber optic deployment. The course introduces OTDR, Power Meter, Light Source testing, as well as ORL, CD and PMD concepts, giving the Project Manager valuable context for decision-making. The course’s introduction to underground outside plant infrastructure can also help in planning and scheduling deployment projects, and enhances the ability of the project manager to communicate with technical teams.

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Quality Assurance Analyst

A Quality Assurance Analyst ensures the quality and reliability of products and processes, which could include fiber optic networks. While this role is not focused on direct technical implementation, this course helps provide valuable context and a deeper understanding of fiber optic testing methods. This course describes testing techniques, including OTDR, power meter and light source testing, and provides details on measurements of ORL, CD, and PMD. This understanding is critical for a Quality Assurance Analyst to formulate effective quality control procedures. The course also provides information related to industry standards, which is needed for quality control. This course may be useful for this role.

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Network Operations Analyst

Network Operations Analysts monitor and maintain the smooth operation of network systems, and must have a general knowledge of the infrastructure. Though they are not expected to be experts in fiber optics, this course helps provide valuable insights into the various testing and measurement techniques used to ensure fiber optic network performance. This course provides an overview of OTDR, power meter, light source testing, ORL, CD and PMD and helps the Network Operations Analyst to appreciate the importance of these metrics in maintaining network health. This course also touches on troubleshooting techniques related to issues within the plant, and may be useful for this role.

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Technical Sales Representative

A Technical Sales Representative sells technical products or services, which may include fiber optic equipment or services. While this role is not technical, this course may be useful by providing a foundation in the technical aspects of fiber optics, including testing and measurements. This course provides an overview of techniques for OTDR, power meter and light source testing, covering optical return loss, chromatic dispersion, and polarization mode dispersion. This course also talks about splicing techniques and underground plant infrastructure, topics that would help a Technical Sales Representative explain the features and benefits of their products or services.

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Fiber Optics testing and measurements

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