What are Polarization-Maintaining (PM) Optical Fibers?

Topics: optical fiber, polarization-maintaining optical fiber, pm fiber

Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), also known as fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP), is when optical fiber is installed and connected directly to a single structure, such as a home, apartment, or business. This approach for delivering high-speed internet services and greater bandwidth continues to excel globally as it offers superior performance compared to non-fiber coaxial cable and DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) connections. 

Topics: WDM, fiber optic testing, optical fiber, otdr, PON, optical switching, fiber optic training, fiber lab, network simulation, optical taps, fiber monitoring, optical time delays, Optical fiber market, fiber optic cable, fiber optic networks

The online gaming industry has been growing at a steady pace over the last decade, along with a rapid acceleration in the global popularity of eSports tournaments and massive multi-player style games hitting the market for entertainment. To support real-time, on-demand accessibility and the sheer amount of data being transmitted and received by the player’s gaming console or device, a fiber optic internet connection is critical for delivering the speed and bandwidth necessary for a positive player experience.

Topics: optical fiber, egaming, fiber optic networks, online gaming

An Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) is an essential device used by fiber optic technicians for validating the continuity and integrity of optical fiber spans along with identifying and locating physical issues like breaks and degradations that negatively affect signal performance. As OTDRs are complex devices that must be configured properly by the user for each test scenario, classroom training is critical for learning and training purposes, ensuring that technicians are taking the most accurate measurements when using in the field network environment.

Topics: optical fiber, otdr, PON, fiber optic training, fiber lab, network simulation, fiber optic cable

Latency is a critical performance factor in communications networks as it is the time it takes for data to travel from one point to another.  As one might expect, service providers commit a great deal of time and effort attempting to reduce latency across the entire network, to deliver data and content faster to consumers and businesses. While important in general, some applications like financial trading, streaming video, and defense/military communications prioritize latency reduction with the goal of achieving as close to real-time communications as possible.

Topics: optical fiber, latency, optical time delays

Optical fiber serves as the primary medium for transmitting data in today's high-speed communications networks and latency, one of the most critical performance measurements, is the time it takes for a light signal to travel from one point to another. While there are numerous factors that contribute to this value like installed devices when looking at overall network latency, the time delay incurred during light transmission across the fiber itself, also known as fiber latency, is a significant component in the equation.

Topics: optical fiber, optical time delays, calculate latency

What is the Dynamic Range of an OTDR?

When certifying or troubleshooting optical fibers in a network using an OTDR, the Dynamic Range is a key parameter of the device that determines the maximum length of the fiber that is observed during a test trace. In more technical terms, it is the distance between the point of the initial backscatter and the noise floor at the end of the fiber under test. The dynamic range value is measured and expressed in decibels (dB) and is essentially an analysis of power levels. OTDRs offering a larger dynamic range value can test longer lengths of fiber compared to those offering a smaller dynamic range value. Therefore, equating a dynamic range value with a fiber distance value is important when evaluating or specifying an OTDR for testing fibers in a network.

Calculating Dynamic Range

At the most basic level, the calculation relationship for equating a dynamic range value to a fiber distance includes three components:

Topics: optical fiber, otdr, optical time delays

With the goal of helping fiber technicians, engineers, and telecom enthusiasts learn more about using and managing fiber, M2 offers several highly useful tools and resources for calculating fiber latency accurately, simulating fiber networks and technical optical fiber reference guides. There are several types of fibers and understanding more about them is extremely important for engineers working in the field of networking and communications. Designed by engineers for engineers, every solution and resource is geared to maximize value, benefit everyone, efficiency, and versatility to help you achieve your project goals. 

Topics: optical fiber, fiber optic training, Optical fiber market

Topics: optical fiber, single mode fiber, fiber optic cable

Topics: fiber optic testing, optical fiber, fiber optic training, fiber optic cable