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Great Sounds From Fiber Optic Sensors

Yamaha's Disklavier player pianos use special Yamaha-developed fiber optic sensors to record the motion of each key and pedal to accurately record the music played on it for future playback. On playback, the sophisticated computer-controlled hammers and pedals of the piano can accurately reproduce music with all the nuances of the original performance. (Yamaha photo)

 

 

 

 

 

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Graded Index POF Now Available

FiberFin is now distributing a high bandwidth PMMA Graded Index Plastic Optical Fiber (POF.) This GI-POF is a PMMA (polymetyl -Methacrylate) based fiber with a large core (1000micron) The main use is for data-communication applications, high-speed short-distance. This fiber is manufactured in Korea by Optimedia, Inc and sold under the trade name OM-Giga. Optimedia, Inc. was founded in October 1999 for the development and manufacture of various plastic optical fibers (POF) for data communication, image transfer, and sensor applications. OM-Giga is recommended for short-distance applications less than 50 meters however; longer distance applications are possible depending on the Tx-Rx used. Attenuation is about usual for PMMA at <200 dB/km, but bandwidth is >1.5 GHz at 100 m, probably the practical limit for most transmitters (<20 dB loss at that length.)

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Another Interesting FTTP Website                         

Fiber Optic Communities of the United States (FOCUS) is a non-profit organization representing communities with optical fiber running all the way to the home and business.  Their site states: "The unlimited capacity of fiber allows super high quality voice, video and data services, plus applications like home security, home automation, and videoconferencing.  Residents and business occupants of fiber optic communities find this state-of-the-art technology makes possible great new advantages, such as distance learning, telework, and telemedicine.   The scalability, security, reduced maintenance and extended life of fiber-to-the-premise make it the most "future proof" of all communications infrastructures.  Complementary technologies, like in-home wireless networks, also appear in many fiber communities to add mobility and convenience. Fiber optic communities are located across the United States in urban, suburban and rural settings.  Whether you are looking for a high-bandwidth home or seeking a high-bandwidth environment for your business, the place to look is a fiber optic community."

The FOCUS website has listings of FTTP communities and promotes not only running fiber to the home/business, but encourages homeowners to consider the advantages of living in a FTTH community.

 

 

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New CFOT Exam Will Include NECA/FOA-301 Installation Standard

The new FOA CFOT exam will include questions from NECA 301-2004, Installing And Testing Fiber Optic Cables. Schools should be including information from the standard in their classes already. A copy of the standard will be given to all CFOTs when they renew their CFOTs this year.

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CFOTs Will Receive Free Copy of NECA/FOA-301 Installation Standard When Renewing

All FOA CFOTs will now be sent a free copy of the NECA/FOA-301 Installation Standard when they renew their CFOT. This standard, which normally sells for $15, will be provided to all active CFOTs when they renew their certification to keep them informed on the latest standards for fiber optic installation. This is another service provided for our CFOTs by the FOA.

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FOA Agains Sponsors NECA VDV Conference

The FOA is again sponsoring the NECA VDV Conference, but it's been renamed The IBS Conference, where IBS stands for Integrated Business Systems. IBS is not to be confused with ITS, or information transport systems, the new TLA (three letter acronym) BICSI is using. Obviously the cabling industry is having an identity crisis.

But the NECA show will include technical sessions and exhibits on fiber optics and low voltage cabling, and the FOA will be there. This year, it's in New Orleans, September 17-20. See NECAshow.org for details.

 

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COMING SOON! The third edition of The Fiber Optic Technicians Manual will be published by Delmar around August, 2005. ISBN No. 1401896995. Following publication, the CFOT Test will use the new edition. At the same time, a laboratory manual with hands-on exercises will be available.

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Tech Puzzler

What makes the MT-RJ or Optijack different from connectors like the SC or LC?

 

Answer below

 

 

 

 

NECA/FOA Installation Standard Published

NECA 301-2004, Installing And Testing Fiber Optic Cables, produced by The FOA in cooperation with NECA (The National Electrical Contractors Association), has been approved and published. This second revision of the document now is an ANSI-approved "American National Standard" of the NEIS (National Electrical Installation Standards" expands the original standard to cover much more detail, describing the installation and testing of fiber optic cable plants.

Users now have a reference document for defining the installation and testing of fiber optic cable plants in a "neat and workmanlike manner." Contract documents can be written simply to say:

"Fiber optic cables shall be installed in accordance with NECA 301-2004, Installing And Testing Fiber Optic Cables"

Copies of NECA 301-2004 can be obtained from NECA by calling the NECA Order Desk at 1-301-215-4504, fax to 1-301-215-4500, email orderdesk@necanet.org or online at http://www.neca-neis.org/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Tech Topics

Does Glass "Flow"? Is it really a liquid?

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) on General Topics and Testing

Fiber Or Copper? Making decisions, overview and LANs

What Happens When You Mate Mismatched MM Fibers?

FOA Website Expands To Support Fiber Optic Educators

Instructors' Home Page And New Online Train-The-Trainer Program
The FOA has always focused on creating better educational opportunities in fiber optics - it's our charter: we're a non-profit educational organization. We've done two things recently to expand that commitment - both here on the FOA website.

We have over 120 schools and hundreds of instructors teaching at those organizations, and we'll notify them about these new web pages, but we invite any instructor interested in fiber optics to dig in and use these pages too.

First, we've created a home page for instructors where we'll cover topics just for them, like our TTT program and resources just for instructors. It's at http://www.thefoa.org/instructors/index.html

Secondly, we've put our TTT seminar online, in both PPT and PDF format at http://www.thefoa.org/instructors/index.html

 

Our online TTT program is the beginning of qualifying for the FOA CFOS/I Instructor Certification. Soon we'll have the program set up for instructors to register to begin qualifying for the certification.

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FOA Certification Top Choice

The FOA CFOT and CFOS programs continue to gain momentum in fiber optics. Almost 15,000 CFOTs have been certified by over 120 schools as the FOA completes its 10th year. Since our founding in July, 1995, we have dedicated ourselves to promoting fiber optics and professionalism in fiber optics personnel, focusing on education and certification. We are continuing to add new schools and more CFOTs as users of fiber optics learn that a CFOT is the indication of a professional, well-trained fiber optic technician. Now with FTTH (fiber to the home) finally taking off, demand for CFOTs is rising and schools are responding by expanding programs rapidly.

The FOA now has approved programs at 115+ organizations, welcoming new additions like the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Corning Cable Systems for their installation training programs and NASA's Goldstone Tracking Station. The complete list of FOA-Approved schools is at http://www.thefoa.org/foa_aprv.htm.

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New Tech Topics

New PowerPoint Presentation Introduces Fiber Optics

The FOA has created a short PowerPoint presentation that introduces you to fiber optics and talks about job opportunities in the field. It was intended for instructors to introdcue studnets to the field, but it's a good introduction for anyone. It's about 3 meg file so it takes a while to download and you need PowerPoint to view it. See http://www.thefoa.org/ppt/

How Optical Fiber Is Made

Singlemode Fiber Nomenclature

Plastic Optical Fibers (POF)

Wavelength-Division Multiplexing

Fiber Amplifiers

Proposed Fiber Optic Cable Jacket Color Codes

The Effect Of Termination and Splicing on Bandwidth

FOCIS - Fiber Optic Connector Intermateability Standards

Calculating Link Loss Budgets

Specifications for Fiber Optic LANs and Links

EAI/TIA 568 B.3 For Fiber Optics

What Loss Should You Measure When Testing Fiber Optic Links?

Don't miss Eric Pearson's Newsletters - with some tests on connectors.

New sections of "Lennie Lightwave's Guide To Fiber Optics" covers loss testing of fiber optic cables and OTDRs.

Your Name, CFOT - It pays to advertise!

The FOA encourages CFOTs to use the logo on their business cards, letterhead, truck or van, etc. and provides logo files on this site for that purpose. But we are also asked about how to use the CFOT or CFOS certifications. Easy, you can refer to yourself as "Your Name, CFOT" or "Your Name, CFOS/T" for example.

Feel free to use the logo and designations to promote your achievements and professionalism!

Remember To Renew Your Certification !

Remember to renew your FOA certification. All current CFOTs have a ID Card with their certification data and we keep a database of current CFOTs to answer inquiries regarding your qualifications if needed. If you forgot to renew, use the online application form or the FOA online store to renew NOW!

Want To Get FOA Email?
We have been asked if we could send the FOA newsletter by email or post it on the website. We are looking into that and will definitely get one started soon. When you renew your certification, you will be asked if you are interested in email newsletters and if so, you will be asked to give your email address for us to use in a mailing list. If you want to get started now, send an email to info@thefoa.org with the subject "eMail List"
Note that The FOA never releases its mailing lists for any use! Your data is always safe with us.

To Contact The FOA:

 

The Fiber Optic Association

1119 S Mission Road, # 355

Fallbrook, CA 92028

 

Office Hours 10AM-5 PM Pacific Time

Telephone: 760-451-3655

Fax: 781-207-2421

info@thefoa.org
info@thefoa.org

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Officers and Board of Directors Jim Hayes, President, Treasurer Eric Pearson, Director of Certification Tom Collins, Gateway Comm. College Van Ewert, AESA Bill Graham Karen Hayes   FOA Staff: Jim Hayes, newsletter, website editor Karen Hayes, Administration Administration: The FOA is managed under contract by: VDV Works LLC 1119 S Mission Road, # 355 Fallbrook, CA 92028 Telephone: 760-451-3655 Fax: 781-207-2421 email: info@vdvworks.com

FOA Board of Advisors Elias Awad, Clerk, Director of Education Tony Beam Dave Chaney F. Douglas Elliot, Past President William H. Graham Jim Hayes, President, Treasurer John Highhouse, Past President Danny S. Lyall Eric Y. Loytty Bob Mason Eric Pearson Paul Rosenberg, Past President Dan Silver Richard James Smith Dominick Tamone Tom Collins Van Ewert Elias Awad

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(C)1999-2004, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

Tech Puzzler: The MT-RJ and Optijack are plug-and-jack connectors, not two identical connectors that mate with a mating adapter. It makes them harder to test unless you use a OFSTP-14 Method C test.