January, 2006
Previous Issues: 12/05,11/05, 10/05,
09/05, 08/05,
07/05, 6/05,
5/05, 4/05,
2/05, 01/05,
12/04, 10/04,
9/04, 8/04,
7/04, 6/04,
5/04, 4/04,
3/04, 1/04,
12/03, 11/03
10/03 9/03,
8/03, 7/03,
6/03, 3/03,
10/02 , 8/02,
5/02
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- Looking For
a Fiber Optic Installer? Use the FOA Installer
Database Free!
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- CFOTs - Register Now On The
FOA Searchable Database of Installers, Contractors and Consultants
- Go to the FOA
Installer Database to register.
- Fiber To The Premises/Home
Is Real - And Offers Real Jobs
- The FOA is working with Verizon
to help recruit qualified fiber installers, including new graduates
of FOA-Approved training programs. As you probably FTTP has become
one of the hottest areas in fiber optics. We have been contacted
by Verizon to help them in their recruitment efforts, through
our FOA-Approved schools and contacting our current CFOTs. Details
on the Verizon requirements are given below
and you can apply online.
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- "Heard
On The Street" Wonders "Why Not Fiber?"
- Frank Bisbee, influential editor
of "Heard On The Street," a very popular industry
website that focuses on structured cabling, questions how long
users will continue to re-cable every time the industry introduces
a new UTP (unshielded twisted pair) cable type. Besides the enormous
costs of installing new cabling each time, there is now the liability
of abandoned cabling that must be removed according to the NEC
(National Electrical Code.)
- In Frank's words: "The
demand for speed and the appetite for ever-larger bandwidth are
reaching some crucial technology pinch points. Some observers
feel that the infrastructure industry is approaching a barrier
of obsolescence in several critical areas. Copper based transmission
facilities, particularly unshielded twisted pair cable is pushing
its upper limits on speed and distance. When you add radiation
and EMP, the formula points towards a non-electric transmission
path. Fiber optics has become a staple in the cabling backbone
and seems to be extending the services into the work areas through
methodologies like zone cabling."
- What Does It Take To Make UTP
Work At Higher Speeds?
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- Alien crosstalk has been the
bugaboo of "Augmented" Cat 6 cabling. The twisted pairs
are so precisely made they pick up signals from pairs in other
cables laid with them in cable trays or conduit. The solution
has been to make bigger (larger diameter) cables or shielding
pairs individually as is done in Europe. Bigger cables cause
problems with conduit and cable tray fills, fitting cables in
and around racks, firestopping, etc., as well as cost.
- It's foolish to say it can't
be done, but it may also be foolish to keep trying to use UTP.
If you had installed FDDI-grade multimode fiber fifteen years
ago, you could have just upgraded the electronics, but most users
have instead recabled with copper several times at immense cost-
and now face the even higher costs of removal of all the abandoned
cabling.
- Next Challenge For Copper -
100 Gigabit Ethernet
- While the copper folks struggle
to make 10 Gigabit Ethernet work over UTP cable, networking researchers
are already looking at 100 G Ethernet, bypassing 40 Gb/s which
has been the next step for telecommunications. Both Lucent/Bell
Labs and Force 10 Networks have announced successful demonstration
of 100 Gb/s hardware. Even fiber has to work hard at 100 Gb/s.
Bell Labs used a multilevel coding scheme. Details of the Force
10 Networks solution are sketchy.
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Fiber Optic Media Converters
Simplify Driving Giant Displays, Even Home Theater
- Ever wonder how you control
one of those giant screen displays you see in sports arenas,
on the Strip in Vegas or in casinos? How about the ones at car
dealers showing you the photos of the latest cars or logos and
prices? Well, at a home electronics show recently, we found out
how many of these work. They are just big versions of a computer
screen or TV and are driven from a PC in an room far away, with
the signals being sent over fiber optics. The company we saw
selling these interfaces was Gefen,
based in Woodland Hills, CA. They offer fiber optic interfaces
for DVI (computer monitors) or HDMI (high definition displays)
that can allow the controlling PC to be located up to 500 meters
away. Thus the person programming the display can sit at a PC
with a local monitor to see what the display looks like and drive
the remote monitor with the same display. Gefen also offers a
simple cable with built-in fiber optic converters that realy
simplifies the application, and at a price that has led to applications
in home theater where controlling cable messes is important in
making an attractive installation.
Gefen DVI cable connects
remote monitors to 100 meters. Here
are more details.
- Electronic Product Backplanes
On POF?
- Researchers at the University
of California at Santa Cruz are working on a project to develop
high speed interconnects for all types of electronic equipment
by serializing data and sending it on plastic optical fiber (POF.)
Applications can include all types of interconnects, not just
networks, but also small low-powered devices like cell phones
or PDAs. Issues being investigated are integrating optoelectronics,
bandwidth of the fiber and flexibility.
- Singlemode Fiber Use In Premises
Networks Up to 40%
- An increasing number of high
speed LANs are migrating to SMF instead of laser-optimized MMF
(OM3.) A recent
article in Lightwave quotes Sumitomo and Mohawk/CDT as agreeing
that SMF is now 40% of the market and MMF 60%. While many users
have been installing hybrid cables with both SMF and MMF for
years, planning on using SMF for the higher speed upgrades, such
a high percentage is surprising. However, it also is important
to note that short SMF links are sensitive to reflections at
connections, requiring quality terminations, preferably APC or
PC pigtails spliced on to the backbone cables.
Verizon
Looking For Fiber Installers
Here is the information from
Verizon. Contact them at the website below for applications.
Video/Cable/Fiber Installers
US-MD-Silver Spring/Gaithersburg
US-MD-Laurel/Hanover/Annapolis/Rockville
US-MD-Capitol Heights/District Heights
US-VA-Fairfax/Falls Church/Reston
US-DC-Washington
DO YOU:
Have a desire to work in a
growing industry with the leader in Fiber to the Premise technology?
Have a background in the Video/Cable
Installation industry (cable splicers/installers)?
Want a Full Time opportunity
to grow in a company that values diversity and a desire to succeed?
If so, Verizon is having
an invitation only information session on February 11th to provide
information and qualify candidates for the over 100 positions
currently available in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Basic Qualifications:
Must have Video/Cable splicing/installation
industry experience, basic computer literacy, and/or an equivalent
education in Fiber Optics and Video/Cable.
Must successfully complete Verizon's pre-employment testing. Physical
Requirements: Must meet Verizon medical standards for the job.
Ability to perceive differences in wire and cable colors. Must
meet weight restriction to comply with OSHA/Company safety standards.
Where a Commercial Driver's License is required, the applicant
must pass an alcohol and drug test.
Must have ability to remove ladder from installation truck; carry,
raise, climb and descend ladder, and place ladder on truck.
A valid state driver's license is required and must have ability
to drive vehicle with manual gearshift.
Background check will be conducted on all employees.
This is a Full-Time, regular
position with outstanding benefits! The pay range for these positions
is $569.50/week to $1,103.50/week. Wage credit may be considered
based upon work experience, education, and training. Paid Training
is included.
Apply online at http://www.verizon.com/fiberjobs
Verizon is an equal opportunity
employer and supports workforce diversity M/F/D/V
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Order The Fiber
Optics Technician's Manual directly from Amazon.com.
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- Third edition of The
Fiber Optic Technicians Manual Now Available!
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- About 15% bigger, with new or
updated material on most chapter subjects, including more "hands-on
information, but the price remains the same, $54.95. ISBN No. 1401896995
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- FOTM Lab Manual is available from Delmar (ISBN:1418028754,
Price: $19.95) with tons of hands on exercises.
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- An Instructor's Guide
to the FOTM is also available from Delmar. (ISBN: 1401897002,
Price: $33.95 )
For information on the Lab Manual or Instructors Guide, contact
Delmar directly at 1-800-347-7707 for further information.
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- Remember the CFOT Test now uses
the new edition, along with the new NECA/FOA-301
Installation Standard.
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- Another good book: Eric
Pearson's Successful Fiber Optic Installation - a cookbook for fiber optics!
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- Check Last
Month's Job Openings
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New PowerPoint
Presentation In Spanish
- A new PowerPoint presentation
in Spanish for instructors and anyone else interested has been
posted on the FOA website for free downloading. It is an explanation
of fiber optics in Spanish, created by Francisco Castro Cabrera
of Mexico City, who is starting up our new FOA chapter in Mexico.
It is complementary to our PowerPoint introduction to fiber optics
in English. Here is more information
on the presentation in Spanish.
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- FOA CFOT Renewals Get Free
Copy of NECA/FOA Installation Standard
- Every CFOT renewal will now
receive a free copy of NECA 301-2004,
Installing And Testing Fiber Optic Cables, produced by
The FOA in cooperation with NECA (The National Electrical Contractors
Association). This is an important reference document for defining
the installation and testing of fiber optic cable plants in a
"neat and workmanlike manner."
- The FOA feels this is such an
important document that we are giving a free copy (normally priced
at $15) to every active CFOT when they renew their active status.
- The FOA has also sent free copies
to all FOA-Approved schools. The new FOA CFOT exam to be used
after August, 2005, will include questions from the standard.
Schools should be including information from the standard in
their classes already.
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- Tech Puzzler
- What causes chromatic dispersion?
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- Answer
below
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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?
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- New PowerPoint Presentation
Introduces Fiber Optics - in English or Spanish!
- 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/
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
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- 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. Over 15,000 CFOTs have been certified by over 120 schools
as the FOA completed 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 125+ 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.
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!
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- To
Contact The FOA:
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- The
Fiber Optic Association
- 1119 S Mission Road,
# 355
- Fallbrook, CA 92028
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- Office Hours 10AM-5
PM Pacific Time
- Telephone: 760-451-3655
- Fax: 781-207-2421
- info@thefoa.org
info@thefoa.org
- Officers and
- Board of Directors
- Jim
Hayes, President, Treasurer
- Eric Pearson, Director of Certification
- Tom Collins, Gateway Comm. College
- Bill Graham
- Karen Hayes
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- 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
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- 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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Want to write for the FOA
Newsletter? Send us articles,
news, anything you think might be interesting to the rest of the
membership!
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(C)1999-2005, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.
- Tech
Puzzler: Light of different wavelengths travels
at different speeds in glass, which is what causes a prism to
disperse light.