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List:       inet-access
Subject:    Re: Fiber testing gear?
From:       jp <jp () saucer ! midcoast ! com>
Date:       2008-08-08 14:20:49
Message-ID: 20080808142049.GA1715 () saucer ! midcoast ! com
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A light meter does both. A fiber run is basically a really long cable 
you can test.

You basically take one good patch cable, link it between the meter's 
transmit and receive to calibrate. Then you can test additional patch 
cables patched in to determine how much loss they add. Then you use the 
measured patch cables to calculate loss on the fiber circuit with either 
the transmitter and receiver at separate ends, or by looping the circuit 
back with a patch cable at one and and the transmitter and receiver both 
at one end.

For short use (on-property), I've never needed a meter. I just chop a 
good patch cable in half and splice the fiber run in the middle. The 
post-fusion test in the splicer has proven reliable.

For long circuits (between cities) my dark fiber provider has been 
willing to provide signal test results and OTDR printouts at 
installation or in the event of a problem (to get them off the hook.)

On Wed, Aug 06, 2008 at 08:49:12PM -0500, Chris Adams wrote:
> We've got a few fiber circuits now, and I need some testing tools for
> them.  I guess a light meter as well as something that can test cables
> (or something that can do both would be great I guess).  I've got cat5
> and coax testers all over, but nothing for fiber.  We've got both
> single- and multi-mode fiber with SC and LC connectors.
> 
> Any suggestions?  Preferably something that doesn't cost too much of
> course. :-)
> 
> -- 
> Chris Adams <cmadams@hiwaay.net>
> Systems and Network Administrator - HiWAAY Internet Services
> I don't speak for anybody but myself - that's enough trouble.
> -- 
> Eat sushi frequently. - Avi
> inet@inet-access.net is the human contact address.
> list@inet-access.net is the list posting address.
> See below URL for subscribe/unsubscribe and list options:
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-- 
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-- 
Eat sushi frequently. - Avi
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