AUTHOR'S PREFACE Installing fiber optic connectors is not difficult: when my two sons were 10 and 13, I trained them to install connectors. They achieved the three goals of installation: low power loss, low installation cost, and high reliability. They did so, even though they had their CD players plugged into their ears (Now I've dated myself ) This text guides you to achieve these three goals. This is no idle boast: in training installers, I have observed the results and refined these procedures to include only those instructions that work for almost all trainees. The procedures in this manual reflect refinement from 21 years of training, more than 500 presentations, and more than 7900 trainees. With very few exceptions, all trainees have achieved these three goals So will you. This text guides you through successively increased understanding and knowledge, from basic to subtle. Chapter 1 provides the basic understanding of connectors in the network. Chapter 2 provides a detailed understanding of the language of fiber connectors: their functions, structure, performance, types, similarities, advantages, and installation methods. With this understanding, you can understand Chapter 3. Chapter 3 presents the principles of installation for four commonly used methods. This understanding of the principles underlying the procedures has three benefits. First, you know the consequences of failure to follow the instructions. Second, you are more likely to follow the instructions than you would be without this understanding. Third, you perform troubleshooting with an extensive understanding of the potential causes of high loss and low reliability. Chapter 4 presents instructions for inspecting connectors that require polishing. These instructions show you how to inspect, rate, and diagnose causes of high loss. With this chapter, you can easily identify causes of high loss and appropriate corrective actions. Chapters 5-8 present detailed instructions for four commonly used methods. Each set of instructions guides you to achieve the three goals. These instructions include 'do not do's' and cautions. These 'do not do's' and cautions help you avoid the commonly-made errors I've observed during training of more than 7000 installers. With minor modifications, these chapters can be used to install or train with any connector available. In addition, each chapter contains two useful sections: a troubleshooting section and a one-page summary. The troubleshooting section helps you recognize the symptom of an error and identify the step(s) at which the error occurred. This section speeds up achieving the three goals. During field installations, you can use a copy of the one page summary as a guide and reminder. Chapter 5 presents installation and polishing of multimode connectors. In addition, it contains polishing instructions for singlemode epoxy and quick cure adhesive connectors to achieve -50 dB reflectance. Chapter 6 presents installation and polishing of multimode connectors with quick cure adhesive. Chapter 7 presents installation and polishing of multimode connectors with hot melt adhesive. Chapter 8 presents installation of both multimode and singlemode connectors with the no-polish, no adhesive method, also known as the 'cleave and crimp' method. This manual contains review questions for Chapters 2-8 to assist you and the trainer in assessing and reinforcing understanding. When used prior to hands on training, these questions can lead to excellent results, both in training and in field installation. This manual is one of a series on Mastering Fiber Optics. Published manuals are: Professional Fiber Optic Installation-Essentials For Success Mastering The OTDR-Trace Acquisition And Interpretation Best Regards, Eric R. Pearson, CFOS/T/C/S/I

AUTHOR'S PREFACE For 34 years, I've been working in fiber optic communications. I've made or viewed more than twenty one thousand OTDR races. During these experiences, I, and several of my professional associates, have noted that OTDR testing and interpretation are the two aspects of installation that cause the most difficulty to the largest number of novice installers. This book is designed to reduce such difficulty significantly With diligence, this book helps you eliminate this difficulty completely My strategy is 'divide and conquer'. This book divides the essential knowledge and understanding into five, clearly written, concise, yet comprehensive chapters. Since words alone will not be sufficient, each chapter includes figures, 120 in all, to ensure that all concepts are clear. To further assist you, each of these five chapters includes a summary of key concepts, a total of 66. These five chapters guide you through development of the understanding you need to make and interpret OTDR traces properly. The sixth chapter presents a brief summary of steps you take during field-testing. This summary includes the easily overlooked practical aspects of OTDR testing. The 151 review questions and exercises of the seventh chapter further assist you in testing, developing, verifying and strengthening your understanding. The appendices contain answers or locations of answers. But this text includes more than what I know you need to understand. The 8421 people I've trained in more than 500 presentations have asked many excellent questions. These questions have enabled me to refine my explanations so that almost anyone can understand the concepts. Finally, these questions have defined the content and structure of this book. The goal of this book is to develop your knowledge, abilities, and confidence to make and interpret traces properly. With this confidence, you will, rightly so, consider yourself a Master Of The OTDR

This is a text for training in and field installation of fiber optic systems. It presents procedures for successful installation, inspection, and testing of cables, connectors, and splices. The principles and procedures are applicable to all data, telephone, CATV, CCTV, and process control systems. This text is an investment that pays back many times its price Six words define the benefits of this text: Essentials, Principles, Methods, Procedures, Success, and Certification. Chapters 1-9 present the essential information the installer needs to be successful. This information includes the concepts, language and numbers with which the installer works. With this information, the installer understands the procedures, recognizes the significance of his actions, and avoids both errors and increased cost. Chapters 10-13 present the principles on which the installation procedures are based. With an understanding of these principles, the installer follows the procedures easily and is confident that the procedures lead to success. In addition, knowledge of the principles makes learning to work with new products fast and easy Chapters 14-20 present the principles and methods for OLTS, ORL, OTDR and dispersion testing; and VFL and microscopic inspection. With these principles and methods, the installer has the ability to verify successful installation. Chapters 21-26 present the procedures that successful professional installers follow. These procedures are ideal for field work, training, and refreshing the installer's memory. This author developed and refined these procedures from field work and from training more than 8400 people during the last 21 years. When followed, these procedures result in low loss, low cost, short installation time, and high reliability. Installation organizations may be able to use these written procedures for ISO certification. The detailed and extensively illustrated installation procedures are presented in a clear, concise, step-by-step, cook-book like, manner. Each procedure includes a troubleshooting section to assist the installer in solving problems. Finally, each procedure has a one page summary to guide the installer through the entire installation process. Installer certification results in increased fiber network reliability and, in some cases, increased income for the certified installer. The information in this text enables passing the Fiber Optic Association (FOA) certification examinations for: CFOT, CFxT, AFOT, CFOS/C, CFOS/T, and CFOS/S. In addition, the information in this text enables passing the certified fiber optic instructor examination (CFOS/I) This text helps you join the more than 33,000 individuals already certified by the FOA. This comprehensive and highly useful text has 4 parts, 27 Chapters, 342 pages, 488 figures, 41 tables, and 407 review questions, 28 field procedures, and 33 training procedures. This text is based on 34 years of fiber optic experience. This text has had 17 years of development. This text is a valuable reference and an investment that pays back many times its price