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Reference Guide To Fiber Optics |
| Topic: Study Guide For The FOA CFOT Exam | Table of Contents: The FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics |
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Reference Guide To Fiber Optics |
| Topic: Study Guide For The FOA CFOT Exam | Table of Contents: The FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics |
Study Guide For The FOA CFOT Exam Using The FOA Online Reference Guide To Fiber Optics Objective: To provide students preparing for the FOA CFOT exam and CFOTs wanting a refresher course a guide to using The FOA Online Reference Guide to Fiber Optics. Note: All links to other web pages will open in a new window to prevent you losing your place on this page. Remember to close those pages once you have read them! If you have industry experience or attend a FOA-Approved training course, you can also become certified as a fiber optic technician by taking the "Certified Fiber Optic Technician" (CFOT) exam from The Fiber Optic Association (FOA). The FOA CFOT exam is a closed book, “proctored”* exam of fiber optic knowledge based on The FOA Online Reference Guide to Fiber Optics, the FOA Reference Guide to Fiber Optics textbook and the FOA Installation Tech Bulletins. This guide will help you study for the CFOT exam using The FOA Online Reference Guide to Fiber Optics and other online resources on the FOA website. In addition to this review, The FOA requires some “hands-on” training and/or work experience in the fiber optic industry which you must document for the FOA. We assume you have already gained a good background in fiber optics and have met the FOA requirements for work experience. To help you prepare for the exam, we have provided explanations below of the importance of each section of the website. These questions will allow you to test your own knowledge of the material in the text. This self-study review course for the FOA CFOT exam refers to: The FOA Online Reference Guide to Fiber Optics (http://www.thefoa.org/tech/ref/) The FOA Reference Guide to Fiber Optics textbook (http://www.thefoa.org/FOArgfo.html) The FOA Tech Bulletin Installing Fiber Optic Cable Plants (download from FOA Tech Topics: http://www.thefoa.org/tech/guides/INSTL.pdf) The NECA/FOA-301 Fiber Optic Installation Standard. You may download a free copy using directions at http://www.thefoa.org/NECA301-MO.html Lennie Lightwave’s Guide To Fiber Optics (http://www.vdvworks.com/LennieLw/) Studying For The CFOT Exam There are two ways to study for the CFOT exam: 1) Reading the textbook and testing your knowledge with the chapter questions and studying the NECA/FOA 301 Installation standard. 2) Studying the material included in the The FOA Online Reference Guide to Fiber Optics and taking the quizzes (Test Your Comprehension) on each page and studying the FOA Installation Tech Bulletin (downloadable from FOA Tech Topics). Either way, you should be prepared for the CFOT exam. This is a study guide for the CFOT exam based on using the FOA Online Reference Guide to Fiber Optics and the printed textbook version of the website. Guide to The FOA Online Reference Guide to Fiber Optics This online reference guide to fiber optics was created as an alternative to the FOA textbook The Fiber Optic Technicians Manual for training designers and installers of fiber optic networks. It only includes a short introduction to the basics of fiber optics, leaving the physics and mathematics of fiber optic technology to the high level textbooks. Instead it focuses on the practical aspects of designing, installing, testing and troubleshooting fiber optic cable plants and networks. This reference has been edited from the training programs developed by a number of other professional instructors in fiber optics, all of whom are involved in teaching fiber optics courses regularly. The material comes from their practical experience and the assistance of a large number of vendors who provided the latest product information. Those instructors have joined together to produce this website. The organization of the site follows the typical training programs given by most instructors. It starts with a section on the basics of fiber optic technology ( Fiber Optics, The Basics), which includes topics covering the jargon and the technology of fiber optics, how fiber is used in networks, components, installation and testing, to give the reader a complete, concise section to learn about the technology. This section is a concise summary of the material that is covered in the CFOT exam. The site is then divided into additional sections that cover all the relevant topics in much greater detail and includes “Virtual Hands-On” tutorials on common processes used in fiber optics. The timeliness of the material is important in a technology like fiber optics that is moving rapidly. New product innovation and rapid cost reduction are the norm for fiber optics. We have tried to include the latest material and intend to update the material regularly, a major advantage of web-based reference materials. Using Fiber Optics, The Basics For Studying For The CFOT Exam Study The Topic Studying the topics under Fiber Optics, The Basics, reading supplemental materials relevant to your interests and work and correctly answering the section quizzes will prepare you for the CFOT exam. Below you will find a summary of the material in each section and suggestions for supplemental reading. Test Your Comprehension At the end of each website section, there is an online quiz, called “Test Your Comprehension,” which asks questions about what’s important in each section. These quizzes will automatically grade your responses and provide the rationale for the correct answer. These questions should be used to identify areas that need more study before taking the CFOT exam. Notes on Additional References: Besides links to the pages in the FOA Online Reference Guide to Fiber Optics, we include references to the appropriate chapters in the new printed textbook the FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics (FRG). The materials included in the website are similar to the material in The Fiber Optic Technicians Manual (FOTM) the previous FOA reference for the CFOT which many of you may have already. For those who also have the textbook and are also using the online reference guide, the correlations between online reference topics in “ Fiber Optics, The Basics” and the book chapters are included. References: FRG=FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics, FOTM=The Fiber Optic Technicians Manual Basic overview: (FRG Chapter 1, FOTM Chapter 2) This is an introduction to fiber optics, including some history, and an overview of where it is used. A short section discusses the differences between fiber and copper and what has become the basis for fiber’s dominance of the communications industry. Finally, to emphasize their importance, safety and the need for cleanliness are discussed. The Jargon and the Technology: (FRG Chapter 2, FOTM All Chapters) The first thing one needs to understand in order to be able to comprehend a new technology is the “language” unique to that technology. This section gives concise, often illustrated, definitions of the terms used in fiber optics. It is a most important section, as a basic understanding of the terms used will make the rest of the material much easier to comprehend. Basic Applications and Transmission Systems : (FRG Chapter 3 and 4, FOTM Chapter 3) In this section, network applications for telecom, CATV and various local area networks (LANs) are described. Fiber's role in each of the networks is covered in detail, in relation to the copper wiring still used in many of them. It is important to understand how each of these types of networks use fiber and how they differ. Supplemental reading: Applications of Fiber Optics Optical Fiber: (FRG Chapter 5, FOTM Chapters 2, 4, 5) This section covers the heart of fiber optic technology, the fiber itself. Here you learn how fiber works, the different types of fiber and important fiber specifications. Like the Jargon section, this section provides important background information for many of the other sections. Supplemental reading: Fiber Optic Components, Optical Fiber Cables: (FRG Chapter 6, FOTM Chapters 4, 5) This chapter is an overview of the purpose of cables (basically protecting fibers in the outside world) and how they are used. It covers the different types of cables and their applications. Choosing cable types appropriate for the application is very important for designers of networks, as it affects network cost and reliability, but requires knowing the different types available and their properties that determine the correct choice. Be sure to note the sections near the end on indoor cable flammability ratings and color codes. Supplemental reading: Fiber Optic Components, Cable. View VHO: Cable Preparation Termination and splicing: (FRG Chapter 7, FOTM Chapters 6, 7) This is an overview of termination and splicing types and techniques. The student should physically examine samples of the most popular connectors (ST, SC, LC) if possible but the page includes photos of most types. You should understand which connectors are used where, the various methods of termination and ferrule end polishes, as they are important issues in choosing and using connectors. The discussion of splicing covers technical details of fusion and mechanical splicing, with emphasis that most SM outside plant splicing is fusion, while mechanical splices are used more for restoration and MM splicing. Supplemental reading: Fiber Optic Components, Termination and Splicing. View VHO: at least one of the adhesive/polish connector tutorials, the PPS termination, SM termination and at least one of the splicing tutorials. Network Design : (FRG Chapter 9, FOTM Chapters 9, 10, 12, 13, 14) This section covers only an overview of fiber optic network design; essentially enough for the reader to understand the process behind network design. Since the FOA has a certification on Fiber Optic Network Design, there is a large amount of reference material on this reference site that is appropriate for advanced study. Supplemental reading: Designing Fiber Optic Networks Installation: (FRG Chapter 10, FOTM Chapters 9, 11, 12, 15, 16) The topic of fiber optic cable plant installation is a very diverse subject, since fiber is used in so many different types of installations in so many different environments. This section provides an overview of the installation processes for many applications, with an emphasis on safety. Supplemental reading: Installation of FO Cable Plants. Read topics of interest to you plus “Safety Procedures” and “Cleaning Fiber Optic Connections.” Testing : (FRG Chapter 8, FOTM Chapter 17) This section contains a lot of material. The types of test equipment are important to understand, as are the relevant specifications and applications for the instruments. Three types of testing are included: continuity testing, insertion loss tested by a light source and power meter and OTDR testing according to industry standard test procedures. This section includes the basics of testing but supplemental tutorials cover actual processes. Supplemental reading: Testing & Troubleshooting Fiber Optic Systems. Read “Fiber Optic Test Instruments and the VHO on “Insertion Loss Testing” and “Using an OTDR.” Standards: (FOTM Appendix B) An overview of the standards process and standards for fiber optic components and testing. Most standards are written for manufacturers who interpret them for their customers, but a basic understanding of the goals of standards is important for everyone involved in fiber optic technology. Glossary of Terms: (FOTM Appendix A) This section is provided for reference purposes and as an elaboration to the Jargon section. Additional Reference Materials While the section Fiber Optics, The Basics covers the primary information covered in the classroom of most fiber optic courses and in the CFOT exam, we have provided much additional material that provides greater details on many relevant subjects. Here is a summary of the topics covered. This section is a “work in process” where we will be updating and adding additional information regularly. Some topics are included without links while work continues on those topics. Applications of Fiber Optics While the major emphasis of The FOA is communications applications of fiber optics, we have an interest in other applications like sensors, lighting and inspection. This section includes articles on all these various applications. Fiber Optic Technology and Standards This section includes additional technical topics of general interest and references to fiber optic standards. Fiber Optic Components This is one of the most important topics for study and this section not only elaborates on component types and specifications, but includes many slide-show tutorials and what we call “Virtual Hands-On” tutorials covering fiber optic processes like cable preparation, temination and splicing, in step-by-step format. These “Virtual Hands-On” tutorials have been created from studies of the process that analyzes them in detail, breaks them into individual steps and explains those steps including background information and options. These “Virtual Hands-On” tutorials are generally considered better than videos as they are easier to understand and each step can be studied as long as desired. Links to videos are also included for those who prefer online video. Designing Fiber Optic Networks Since the FOA has a certification on Fiber Optic Network Design, there is a large amount of reference material here and on the FOA Tech Topics site that is appropriate for advanced study. Those interested in the topic or the FOA CFOS/D certification should study this section carefully. Installation of FO Cable Plants This is one of the most important topics for fiber optic technicians involved in field installation. It covers topics that primarily elaborate on the Basic coverage of installation and explain exactly how some common elements of installation like attaching pulling eyes or “figure-8-ing” cable are done. Testing & Troubleshooting Fiber Optic Systems The proof of the quality of any fiber optic installation or manufacturing process is the test results. In this section, we have provided much more information than is commonly available on fiber optic testing, covering the instruments, the tests broken down into specifics for various components or subsystems, and several explanations of technical issues often glossed over that can greatly affect measurement validity. Using Fiber Optic Systems While our primary focus has been on installation, understanding how to use the systems, from managing design and installation thorugh maintenance and rstoration, is a major issue for owners of the systems and their contractors. Future Reference Usage As a CFOT, you will have unlimited access to this website in the future. Feel free to use it as a refresher course at any time or access it from the field when you need a quick reference on a process or procedure or just to help educate others (such as contractors discussing procedures or standards with their customers.) If you have a web-enabled device like a cell phone, most of the site has been designed to be viewable from one those devices. Table of Contents: The FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics |
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