$7 Billion to go to Improving Broadband Access

With the latest stimulus package being approved it is no surprise that 7 billion dollars will go to expanding the net’s reach to rural areas. To date many areas are not able to receive broadband internet access. President Obama has and Congress have changed that for the better. How the money is to be spent is as follows:

Of the $7 billion, the National Telecommunications and Information Administrationwill get $4.7 billion to be distributed via grants aimed at increasing broadband adoption, improving broadband deployment in unserved and under-served areas, bettering access to broadband by public safety agencies. In addition, it will serve to stimulate the economy by creating IT-related jobs. The remaining $2.5 billion will go to the Rural Utilities Service that connects rural Americans to broadband.

An additional $350 million goes toward the Broadband Data Improvement Act for mapping and community initiatives, with a minimum of $250 million for various programs that stimulate broadband adoption, and at least $200 million to expand public computer center capacity in libraries and community colleges.

Last but not the least, the FCC is required to submit a report to Congress detailing how a national broadband plan will ensure broadband access for all Americans. Also, everyone can see how this money is being spent at the newly setup site Recovery.gov. It details federal spending state-by-state with more detailed information available over the coming weeks and months, as the funds start to go out. (Christian Zibreg).

What does this mean for Fiber Optic Installers and Fiber Optic Tools and Supplies Dealers? Its obvious it will increase business opportunity.

SurplusEQ.com has been around since 1999 it has seen the good times of the dot com days and it has now seen the downside of a weak economy.  With companies like SurplusEQ feeling the economic strain we have managed to stay one of the most respected sources for new, used and surplus fiber optic test equipment. This stimulus package will not only benefit our nation but will also benefit companies like SurplusEQ.com and eFiberTools.com. With more projects being bidded comes the need for quality fiber optic equipment. While we are not saying we are the only game in town, you can rest assured that through these tough economic times we have seen an increase in sales. This is due to the fact that companies are down sizing, we have a large surplus budget to help liquidate those companies, you the customer benefits by getting quality tested product for much less than buying new.

Visit SurplusEQ.com

For an entire list of our Fiber Optic Test Equipment

To contact us Directly call 623-581-9777 or email info@surpluseq.com

Fusion Splicing Basics

Although most people in the Fiber Optic Community know what Fusion Splicing is and its applications. Let us take a step back and understand that we may have a few novices out there or just individuals interested in knowing how it works. First things first lets outline some of the other terms for fusion splicing.

1. Fibre Splicing
2. Fiber Optic Fusion Splicing
3. Fiber Splicing
4. Optical Fiber Fusion Splicing
5. Fusion Splicing and the list can go on for days. Bottom Line they mainly mean the same thing

Definition: Fusion Splicing is a welded joint formed between two optical fibers. Fusion splicing is a permanent, low-loss, high-strength joint compared with other temporary joint such as a mechanical splice. Optical fiber fusion splices play a crucial role in the optical network.

Goals of Fusion Splicing:

1. Create a joint with little dB loss
2. Form great mechanical strength
3. create bond between new fiber and existing fiber

Why is  fusion splicing is more efficient than fiber optic connectors and mechanical splicing?

Mechanical Splicing is a semi-permanent way of joining two fibers together. Usually with a metal or plastic crimp. This is not a permanent bond since you are using a connector to connect the two ends. Mechanical splicing doesn’t need costly capital equipment to work, but it does require higher consumable costs. So for organizations that don’t make a lot of splicing, mechanical splicing is the best choice. It is also best suited for emergency repairs.

Fusion Splicing we already spoke about the definition of this so lets jump into some major advantages!

1. Fusion splicing is very compact
2. Fusion splicing has the lowest insertion loss
3. Fusion splicing has the lowest back reflection (optical return loss ORL)
4. Fusion splicing has the highest mechanical strength
5. Fusion splicing is permanent
6. Fusion splicing can withstand extreme high temperature changes
7. Fusion splicing prevents dust and other contaminants from entering the optical path

Types of Fusion Splicing

Fusion splicing environment and applications can be roughly divided into three types: 1. Field splicing 2. Factory splicing and 3. Laboratory splicing.

An important example of field splicing is the assembly of undersea fiber cables aboard fiber deployment ships. The example of factory splicing could be the assembly of fiber optic passive devices such as a WDM. An example of laboratory splicing is done by researchers fusion splicing the newest developed fibers to test their compatibility with existing industry standard fibers.

Fiber fusion splicing involves concepts from many subjects including optical waveguide theory, heat transfer, material science, mechanical engineering, fluid mechanics and more.

Introduction to the Fusion Splicing Process

The major steps involved in optical fiber fusion splicing can be summarized as the following.

1. Optical fiber stripping

The fiber cable jacket is removed and then the fiber polymer coating is stripped with fiber optic strippers.

2. Fiber cleaving

The fiber is cleaved with specialized tool called fiber cleaver. Two types of fiber cleaver exist: high precision fiber cleaver for single mode applications and field cleaver for multimode applications. A mirror like almost perfect end face is achieved by this cleaving process.

3. Fiber alignment

The fibers are laterally aligned to each other by step motor in a fusion splicer. This may involve rotating the fibers in polarization maintaining fiber splicings.

4. Fiber welding

The fibers are then heated with electric arc or other methods to the fiber glass’s softening point and then both fibers are pressed together to form a solid joint.

5. Insertion loss estimation

The insertion loss is estimated based on the fusion quality and dimensions.

6. Pull tension strength testing

The fusion is pull proof tested when opening the fusion splicer cover.

7. Splice protection with fusion splice sleeve

The fusion splice joint is then protected with a heat shrink tube with a steel strength member inside to form a solid and reliable fiber joint.

Once again with our Blog if you have anything to add or contribute feel free.  We hope that this will help clear up or refresh your memory on the importance of fusion splicing. We are jumping into 2009 with alot of high hopes for the fiber optic community.

Fiber Optic Test Equipment

Fusion Splicers

Sell Us Your Used Test Equipment

Special thanks and a Happy New Year to Colin Yao for contributing to this Post!!  Since 1997  Colin Yao has accumulated extensive experience in the fiber optic industry and published over 200 excellent articles for the newcomers to the industry.

SurplusEQ.com Named Exclusive Dealer of TSH AV6416 Palm OTDR

SurplusEQ.com is pleased to announce today that it has been named the Exclusive United States Dealer of the TSH AV6416 Palm OTDR (optical time domain reflectometer).

 

The AV6416 Palm -OTDR is the newest Optical Time Domain Reflectometer with integrated VFL (visual fault locator). The AV6416 Palm OTDR features a compact light weight design, extra long battery life, and some of the most user friendly software on the market. The AV6416 supports auto test, manual averaging, manual real time and dead zone test modes. Also the AV6416 Palm OTDR can save and transfer test and measurement data directly to your laptop or PC. The AV6416 has become an indispensable and ideal tool for today’s fiber network technician also for daily checks and routine maintenance for today’s FTTx applications.

 

TSH AV6416 Palm OTDR Key Features:

·         Portable Design, convenient for outdoor testing

·         Auto Measuring with high speed, one button operation

·         Visible fault locating (VFL)

·         Advanced TFT color LCD, visible in outdoor setting

·         High speed USB port for connectivity and data storage

·         Offers three wavelengths and VLF in one handheld unit

 

TSH AV6416 Palm OTDR Main Specifications:

·         Pulse Widths: 10ns to 10240ns

·         Central Wavelength: 1310±15nm, 1550±15nm

·         Distance Accuracy: ±(1m+sample space + measurement distance*0.003%)

·         Dynamic Range: 28/26/24dB

                                               

Click Here To Purchase This Item Right Now!

 

SurplusEQ.com, Inc. is a high-tech asset recovery & liquidation company. They Are a major reseller of fiber optic and optical test equipment, especially fusion splicers, optical time domain reflectometers (OTDR’s), fiber optic attenuators, switches & power meters, spectrum analyzers, light sources, opto-mechanical & motion control, laboratory, semiconductor, microscopes, metrology, UV spot curing light sources, heating/cooling, gas distribution & regulation, ovens, and much more for technology manufacturing and production.

 

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For More Information on the TSH AV6416 Palm OTDR and other Products:

            Chris Wood, 877-773-2423, sales@surpluseq.com

1Vault Networks taps FiberLight for network diversity

(courtesy of Lightwave and Pennwell)

FiberLight LLC, provider of metro optical transport, is partnering with 1Vault Networks to provide optical transport capacity throughout the South Florida market by connecting diversely routed fiber between 1Vault Network’s Category 5 Data Center in Fort Lauderdale and global IP provider NTT America.

FiberLight says the agreement provides it with new partnership opportunities in Fort Lauderdale while meeting its core business strategy of supplying metro optical backbone between data centers and high-bandwidth user locations in growing metro markets.

Migration to GPON: Practical considerations from the central office to the outside plant

(courtesy of Lightwave and Pennwell)

Story by Patrick J. Sims and Pat Thompson of ADC

Service providers need not look too far in the past to find examples
of networks built without consideration for future technologies. While
our telecommunications forefathers may not have predicted today’s
broadband revolution as they designed the copper telephone network,
this legacy infrastructure still enabled a rough deployment of xDSL
technologies.

However,
the unpredictable performance of xDSL over load coils, splices, varying
gauges and conditions of the legacy copper network produced costly
lessons in

PMC-Sierra intros second-gen GPON devices

(courtesy of Lightwave and Pennwell)

SEPTEMBER 29, 2008 – PMC-Sierra Inc. has announced the availability of new GPON SoCs, which include the PAS7401 GPON ONT, the MSP7162 GPON Gateway, and the PAS5211 four-port GPON OLT. They feature PMC-Sierra’s GigaPASS architecture, which PMC-Sierra says is already deployed in more than 6 million PON devices and is enhanced for WT-156 compliance. These devices are PMC-Sierra’s second-generation GPON SoCs and include complete reference designs and software packages; all have proven interoperability with a wide-range of commercial GPON systems, according to the company.

“By partnering with PMC-Sierra to supply industry-leading GPON access equipment, Dasan is able to leverage PMC-Sierra’s extensive experience based on millions of FTTH field deployments,” said Dr. Steve Lee, vice president and head of R&D, Dasan Networks, Inc. “Our partnership enables us to offer high-performance, low-cost triple-play GPON systems based on field-proven, flexible platforms that

GigOptix touts smallest and lowest power EA driver

(courtesy of Pennwell)

GigOptix today announced the release of the GX6127, an EA driver that not only consumes 20% less power than the industry’s current lowest power option, claim company representatives, but also occupies nearly 50% less board space compared to competitive offerings. The combination of lower power and smaller form factor enables not only higher port densities for system manufactures but also lower manufacturing cost and MSA power ratings for transceiver manufacturers, says the company.

Power consumption, heat management, and form factor size are the critical parameters in transceiver design for

Corning touts high-speed offerings at Fall Interop ‘08

(courtesy of Lightwave)

Corning Inc. will demonstrate that its Plug & Play Universal Systems with InfiniCor SX+ optical fiber are 100-Gigabit Ethernet ready, capable of reliably supporting transmission speeds up to 100G. The demonstration, to be held at Interop New York on September 17-18, will illustrate how Corning products can provide a cost-effective upgrade path to next-generation speeds, including 40- and 100-Gigabit Ethernet as well as InfiniBand and Fibre Channel, say company representatives.

The requirement for higher data rates in premises networks, particularly in data centers, is being driven by many factors, including video applications, virtualization, and convergence. This increased bandwidth demand will

Alphion unveils new GPON extender

(courtesy of Lightwave – Pennwell)

Alphion Corp. developer of communication systems, sub-systems, and integrated photonic components based on its proprietary QLight technology, today introduced the PON.ext Release 2 single-rack unit compact system. It is the company’s second-generation all-optical GPON extender. The new PON.ext unit allows carriers to extend network reach to 60 km, increase the number of end users up to 128, and reduce network operating expenditures, say company representatives. The transparent, all-optical system is fully compliant with the recently published ITU-T G.984.6 standard for GPON networks.

Expand you fiber optic community!

Do you have a new products coming out that you would like us to review, or you would like to share with our readers?

Do you want to be a guest blogger here on “Fiber Optic Community”?

Are you in the business and have a question for our editor or something more technical to ask?

We are all here to help you out, so please email those questions to blog@surpluseq.com or post your comment or questions on this blog. We actually read each comment we get.

- FO Tech

Migration to GPON: Practical considerations from the central office to the outside plant

(By Patrick J. Sims and Pat Thompson, ADC)

Practical considerations—based on informed decision-making—provide the foundation for a cost-effective transition between legacy and future access technologies.

Service providers need not look too far in the past to find examples of networks built without consideration for future technologies. While our telecommunications forefathers may not have predicted today’s broadband revolution as they designed the copper telephone network, this legacy infrastructure still enabled a rough deployment of xDSL technologies.

Optical transport grows sharply in 2Q – 2008

(courtesy of Lightwave – Pennwell)

According to a newly published report by Dell’Oro Group, the worldwide optical transport equipment market grew to a new quarter high of $3.5 billion. The top vendors in the quarter were Alcatel-Lucent, Huawei, and Nortel, which garnered nearly 50 percent of the market share.

Just wanted to introduce myself

Hi all

My name is Travis and I’m one of the new fiber optic bloggers here at Fiber Optic Community. I haven’t really been working with fiber optics long but I really enjoy it. I’m usually in constant contact with the industry leaders and working on the distribution at the office. I do the catalogs for our company and I’m quick at finding an item.

I will be trying to help out here if you have any questions on categories for fiber optics. When I finish with the current catalog, I will be adding tutorials for you.

Thanks for visiting! – Travis  user – zgermanz

2008 FTTH Conference & Expo

September 22 – 24, 2008 is going to be full of action when the 2008 FTTH Conference & Expo comes to Nashville, TN. Come by and visit if you live close or are around for business. There are going to be lots to do there. Many fiber optic companies will be attending this year. We put together a small list of just some of the companies that will be attending this year.

We will be attending. We’re at Booth 317 this year. Come say hi and register your company with us. It’s about time you did some networking. Learn about the new Jilong KL-300 we are offering and see some live demos on many of the products we carry in stock. This year we will have a tech on hand that can answer your fusion splicer questions, 2 sales members, our spokesmodel and one of our buyers. We’re friendly people so drop by and tell us about your company and learn more about ours. We would love to hear from you.

Other companies you will see at the 2008 FTTH Conference this year -
Alcatel – Lucent
EMBARQ Logistics
eFiberTools.com
EXFO
FTTH Council
Furukawa America
Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc
our friends at Lightwave Magazine
NEC Corporation of America
Nortel
Pannaway Technologies
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave
Taikan Company Inc.
Tyco Electronics
Verizon Enhanced Communities
Vermeer Corporation & HammerHead
Windstream Supply
and many others.

Will you or your company be attending? Tell us and we will post you on our blog!

Freescale intros new SoC to spur GPON adoption

(courtesy of Lightwave – Pennwell)

Freescale Semiconductor, developer of GPON silicon, today introduced what it claims is a cost-effective, highly integrated system on a chip (SoC) designed to help lower costs for carriers and spur adoption of GPON equipment in markets worldwide.

Built on third generation Freescale PON technology, the MSC7104 is a cost reduced version of the company’s MSC7120 device, which