Most Popular Articles

• OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer) Dead Zone Tutorial

  Feb 8, 2016 by Articles / 695 Views

  

   

  OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer) is a familiar fiber test instrument for technicians or installers to characterize an optical fiber. To understand the specifications which may affect the performance of OTDR can help users get maximum performance from their OTDRs. This tutorial will introduce one of the key specifications—Dead Zone.

  What Is a Dead Zone?

  The OTDR dead zone refers to the distance (or time) where the OTDR cannot detect or precisely localize any event or artifact on the fiber link. It is always prominent at the very beginning of a trace or at any other high reflectance event.

  

  Why makes a Dead Zone occur?

  OTDR dead zone is caused by a Fresnel reflection (mainly caused by air gap at OTDR connection) and the subsequent recovery time of the OTDR detector. When a strong reflection occurs, the power received by the photodiode can be more than 4,000 times higher than the backscattered power, which causes detector inside of OTDR to become saturated with reflected light. Thus, it needs time to recover from its saturated condition. During the recovering time, it can not detect the backscattered signal accurately which results in corresponding dead zone on OTDR trace. This is like when your eyes need to recover from looking at the bright sun or the flash of a camera. In general, the higher the reflectance, the longer the dead zone is. Additionally, dead zone is also influenced by the pulse width. A longer pulse width can increase the dynamic range which results in a longer dead zone.

  

  Event Dead Zones & Attenuation Dead Zone

  In general, dead zones on an OTDR trace can be divided into event dead zone and attenuation dead zone.

  

  Event Dead Zone

  The event dead zone is the minimum distance between the beginning of one reflective event and the point where a consecutive reflective event can be detected. According to the Telcordia definition, event dead zone is the location where the falling edge of the first reflection is 1.5 dB down from the top of the first reflection.

  

  Attenuation Dead Zone

  The attenuation dead zone is the minimum distance after which a consecutive non-reflective event can be detected and measured. According to the Telcordia definition, it is the location where the signal is within 0.5 dB above or below the backscatter line that follows the first pulse. Thus, the attenuation dead zone specification is always larger than the event dead zone specification.

  

  Note: In general, to avoid problems caused by the dead zone, a launch cable of sufficient length is always used when testing cables which allows the OTDR trace to settle down after the test pulse is sent into the fiber so that users can analyze the beginning of the cable they are testing.

  The Importance of Dead Zones

  There is always at least one dead zone in every fiber—where it is connected to the OTDR. The existence of dead zones is an important drawback for OTDR, specially in short-haul applications with a large number of fiber optic components. Thus, it is important to minimize the effects of dead zones wherever possible.

  As mentioned above, dead zones can be reduced by using a lower pulse width, but it will decrease the dynamic range. Thus, it is important to select the right pulse width for the link under test when characterizing a network or a fiber. In general, short pulse width, short dead zone and low power are used for premises fiber testing and troubleshooting to test short links where events are closely spaced, while a long pulse width, long dead zone and high power are used for long-haul fiber testing and communication to reach further distances for longer networks or high-loss networks.

  The shortest-possible event dead zone allows the OTDR to detect closely spaced events in the link. For instance, testing fibers in premises networks (particularly in data centers) requires an OTDR with short event dead zones since the patch cords of the fiber link are often very short. If the dead zones are too long, some connectors may be missed and will not be identified by the technicians, which makes it harder to locate a potential problem.

  Short attenuation dead zones enable the OTDR not only to detect a consecutive event but also to return the loss of closely spaced events. For instance, the loss of a short patch cord within a network can now be known, which helps technicians to have a clear picture of what is actually inside the link.

  Summary

  OTDR is one of the most versatile and widely used fiber optic test equipment which offers users a quick, accurate way to measure insertion loss and shows the overview of the whole system you test. Dead zone, with two general types, is an important specification of OTDR. It is necessary for users to understand dead zone and select the right configuration in order to get maximum OTDR performance during test. In addition, OTDRs of different brands are designed with different minimum dead zone parameters since manufacturers use different testing conditions to measure the dead zones. Users should choose the suitable one according to the requirements and pay particular attention to the pulse width and the reflection value.

   

  Read more »

• Fiber Optic Overview

  Feb 6, 2016 by Articles / 683 Views

  Fiber Optic Communication - The Future Of Networking & Data Transmission

  Fiber optic communication is a method of transmitting information from one place to another by sending pulses of light through an optical fiber. The light forms an electromagnetic carrier wave that is modulated to carry information.

  First developed in the 1970s, fiber-optic communication systems have revolutionized the telecommunications industry and have played a major role in the advent of the Information Age. Because of its advantages over electrical transmission, optical fibers have largely replaced copper wire communications in core networks. Optical fiber is used by many telecommunications companies to transmit telephone signals, Internet communication, and cable television signals. Researchers have reached internet speeds of over 100 petabits per second using fiber-optic communication.

  Fiber's advantages has led to its use as the backbone of all of today's communications, telecom, Internet, CATV, etc. - even wireless, where towers are connected on fiber and antennas are using fiber up the towers.

  

   

  Optical Fiber - The Better Solution

  

  This photo from the infancy of fiber optics (to the right) was used to illustrate that one tiny optical fiber could carry more communications signals than a giant copper cable. Today one single mode fiber could carry the same amount of communications as 1000 of those old copper cables!

  Fiber offers thousands of times more bandwidth than copper cables and can go more than 1000 times further before needing repeaters - both of which contribute to the immense economic advantage of fiber optics over copper. You can do a similar analysis for using wireless transmission also, but wireless is limited by the available wireless spectrum which is overcrowded because of everyone's desire to use more mobile devices.

  Why Convert From Copper Cable To Fiber Optic Cable?

  If you need some convincing before you make your first fiber optic cable purchase keep the following facts in mind.

  Optical Fiber - Much More Efficient & Secure

  Fiber optic cable operates much more efficiently and is more secure than traditional copper cabling. Fiber can transmit far more information over greater distance and with a higher clarity while offering a more secure connection. Fiber optic cable is resistant to electromagnetic interference and generates no radiation of its own. This point is important in locations where high levels of security must be maintained. Copper wire radiates energy that can be monitored. In contrast, taps in  Fiber optic cable  Fiber  are easily detected. Copper cable, is also subject to problems with attenuation, capacitance, and crosstalk.

  Optical Fiber - Does Not Require Grounding

  Since fiber is made of glass, which is a bad electrical conductor, it does not require grounding and shields itself from other electrical interference. Fiber cables can be run near electrical cables without fear that it will weaken or interrupt the signal.

  Optical Fiber - Corrosion Resistant

  Fiber optic cable does not corrode and is not as sensitive to water or chemicals. This means you can safely run fiber cable in direct contact with dirt or in close proximity to chemicals (with the proper outer jacket materials).

  Optical Fiber - The Safer Choice

  Since fiber is not a good conductor of electricity, an installer or user will be safe from electrocution if there is a break in the outer jacket and the fiber is exposed.

   

  How Fiber Optic Communication Works

  The process of communicating using fiber-optics involves the following basic steps: Creating the optical signal involving the use of a transmitter, relaying the signal along the fiber, ensuring that the signal does not become too distorted or weak, receiving the optical signal, and converting it into an electrical signal.

  Fiber (or fibre) consists of a strand of pure glass a little larger than a human hair. Fiber optic cable employs photons and pulsing laser light for the transmission of digital signals. Photons pass through the glass with negligible resistance. As light passes through the cable, its rays bounce off the cladding in different ways as shown below. The optic core of fiber optic cable is pure silicon dioxide. The electronic 1s and 0s of computers are converted to optically coded 1s and 0s. A light-emitting diode on one end of the cable then flashes those signals down the cable. At the other end, a simple photodetector collects the light and converts it back to electrical signals for transmission over copper cable networks.

  

  Step index multimode was the first fiber design but is too slow for most uses, due to the dispersion caused by the different path lengths of the various modes. Step index fiber is rare - only POF uses a step index design today.

  Graded index multimode fiber uses variations in the composition of the glass in the core to compensate for the different path lengths of the modes. It offers hundreds of times more bandwidth than step index fiber - up to about 2 gigahertz.

  Singlemode fiber shrinks the core down so small that the light can only travel in one ray. This increases the bandwidth to almost infinity - but it's practically limited to about 100,000 gigahertz - that's still a lot!

   

  Optic Fiber Cable Construction

  

   

  Optical fiber consists of a core and a cladding layer, selected for total internal reflection due to the difference in the refractive index between the two. In practical fibers, the cladding is usually coated with a layer of acrylate polymer or polyimide. This coating protects the fiber from damage but does not contribute to its optical waveguide properties.

  Individual coated fibers (or fibers formed into ribbons or bundles) then have a tough resin buffer layer and/or core tube(s) extruded around them to form the cable core. Several layers of protective sheathing, depending on the application, are added to form the cable.

  Rigid fiber assemblies sometimes put light-absorbing ("dark") glass between the fibers, to prevent light that leaks out of one fiber from entering another. This reduces cross-talk between the fibers, or reduces flare in fiber bundle imaging applications.

  A “dopant” is added to the core to actually make it less pure than the cladding. This changes the way the core transmits light. Because the cladding has different light properties than the core, it tends to keep the light within the core. Because of these properties, fiber optic cable can be bent around corners and can be extended over distances of up to 100 miles.
  
  A typical laser transmitter can be pulsed billions of times per second. In addition, a single strand of glass can carry light in a number of wavelengths (colors), meaning that the data-carrying capacity of fiber optic cable is potentially thousands of times greater than copper cable.

   

  Types Of Fiber Optic Cable

  • Plastic cable, which works only over a few meters, is inexpensive and works with inexpensive components.
  • Plastic-coated silica cable offers better performance than plastic cable at a little more cost.
  • Single-index monomode fiber cable is used to span extremely long distances. The core is small and provides high bandwidth at long distances. Lasers are used to generate the light signal for single-mode cable. This cable is the most expensive and hardest to handle, but it has the highest bandwidths and distance ratings.
  • Step-Index multimode cable has a relatively large diameter core with high dispersion characteristics. The cable is designed for the LAN environment and light is typically generated with a LED (light-emitting diode).
  • Graded-index multimode cable has multiple layers of glass that contain dispersions enough to provide increases in cable distances.

  Cable specifications list the core and cladding diameters as fractional numbers. For example, the minimum recommended cable type for FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) is 62.5/125 micron multimode fiber optic cable.That means the core is 62.5 microns and the core with surrounding cladding is a total of 125 microns.

  • The core specifications for step-index and graded-index multimode cables range from 50 to 1,000 microns.
  • The cladding diameter for step mode cables ranges from 125 to 1,050 microns.
  • The core diameter for single-mode step cable is 4 to 10 microns, and the cladding diameter is from 75 to 125 microns.

  

   

  Indoor Vs. Outdoor Optic Fiber Cable Applications

  For  indoor applications, the jacketed fiber is generally enclosed, with a bundle of flexible fibrous polymer strength members like aramid (e.g. Twaron or Kevlar), in a lightweight plastic cover to form a simple cable. Each end of the cable may be terminated with a specialized optical fiber connector to allow it to be easily connected and disconnected from transmitting and receiving equipment.

  For outdoor applications or use in more strenuous environments, a much more robust cable construction is required. In loose-tube construction the fiber is laid helically into semi-rigid tubes, allowing the cable to stretch without stretching the fiber itself. This protects the fiber from tension during laying and due to temperature changes. Loose-tube fiber may be "dry block" or gel-filled. Dry block offers less protection to the fibers than gel-filled, but costs considerably less. Instead of a loose tube, the fiber may be embedded in a heavy polymer jacket, commonly called "tight buffer" construction. Tight buffer cables are offered for a variety of applications, but the two most common are "Breakout" and "Distribution".

  Breakout Cables normally contain a ripcord, two non-conductive dielectric strengthening members (normally a glass rod epoxy), an aramid yarn, and 3 mm buffer tubing with an additional layer of Kevlar surrounding each fiber. The ripcord is a parallel cord of strong yarn that is situated under the jacket(s) of the cable for jacket removal. Distribution Cables  have an overall Kevlar wrapping, a ripcord, and a 900 micrometer buffer coating surrounding each fiber. These fiber units are commonly bundled with additional steel strength members, again with a helical twist to allow for stretching.

  A critical concern in outdoor cabling is to protect the fiber from contamination by water. This is accomplished by use of solid barriers such as copper tubes, and water-repellent jelly or water-absorbing powder surrounding the fiber.

  Finally, the cable may be armored to protect it from environmental hazards, such as construction work or gnawing animals. Undersea cables are more heavily armored in their near-shore portions to protect them from boat anchors, fishing gear, and even sharks, which may be attracted to the electrical power that is carried to power amplifiers or repeaters in the cable.

  Modern cables come in a wide variety of sheathings and armor, designed for applications such as direct burial in trenches, dual use as power lines, installation in conduit, lashing to aerial telephone poles, submarine installation, and insertion in paved streets.

  To purchase your fiber cables, please click link below:

  Fiber Patch Cables

   

   

   

   

  Read more »

• Identify Types of Network Cables and Connectors

  Feb 26, 2016 by Articles / 679 Views

  There are three types of network cables: fiber, twisted pair, and coaxial.

  Fiber is the most expensive of the three and can run the longest distance. A number of types of connectors can work with fiber, but three you must know are SC, ST, and LC.

  Twisted pair is commonly used in office settings to connect workstations to hubs or switches. It comes in two varicties: unshielded (UTP) and shielded (STP), The two types of connectors commonly used are RJ-11 (four wires and popular with telephones), and RJ-45 (eight wires and used with xBaseT networks—100BaseT, 1000BaseT, and so forth). Two common wiring standards are T568A and T568B.

  Coaxial cabling is not as popular as it once was, but it's still used with cable television and some legacy networks. The two most regularly used connectors are F-conectors (television cabling) and BNC (10Base2, and so on).

  Fiber

  Fiber-optic cabling is the most expensive type. Although it's an excellent medium, it's often not used because of the cost of implementing it. It has a glass core within a rubber outer coating and uses beams of light rather than electrical signals to relay data. Because light doesn't diminish over distance the way electrical signals do, this cabling can run for distances measured in kilometers with transmission speeds from 100 Mbps up to 1 Gbps higher.

  

  Often, fiber is used to connect runs to wiring closets where they break out into UTP or other cabling types, or as other types of backbones. Fiber-optic cable can use either ST, SC, or LC connector. ST is a barrel-shaped connector, whereas SC is squared and easier to connect in small spaces.The LC connector looks similar to SC but adds a flange on the top (much like an RJ-45 connector) to keep it securely connected.

  

  Note: In addition to these listed in the A + objectives, other connectors are used with fiber. FC connectors may also be used but are not as common. MT-RJ is a popular connector for two fibers in a small form factor.

  Twisted Pair

  There are two primary types of twisted-pair cabling (with categories beneath cach that are shielded twisted pair (STP) and unshielded twisted pair (UTP). In both cases, the cabling is made up of pairs of wires twisted around each other.

  UTP offers no shielding (hence the name) and is the network cabling type most prone to outside interference. The interference can be from a fluorescent light ballast, eletrical motor, or other such source (known as eletromagnetic interference [EMI]) or from wires being too close together and signals jumping across them (known as crosstalk), STP adds a foil shield around the twisted wires to protect against EMI.

  

  STP cable uses IBM data connector (IDC) or universal data connector (UDC) ends and connects to token ring networks. While you need to know STP for the exam, you are not required to have any knowledge of the connectors associated with it. You must, however, know that most UTP cable uses RJ-45 connectors, which look like telephone connectors (RJ-11) but have eight wires instead of four.

  

  Two wiring standards are commonly used with twisted-pair cabling:T568A and T568B (sometimes referred to simply as 568A and 568B). These are telecommunications standards from TIA and EIA that specify the pin arrangements for the RJ-45 connectors on UTP or STP cables. The number 568 refers to the order in which the wires within the Category 5 cable are terminated and attached to the connector. The signal is identical for both.

  T568A was the first standard, released in 1991. Ten years later, in 2001, T568B was released. Pin numbers are read left to right, with the connector tab facing down. Notice that the pin-outs stay the same, and the only difference is in the color coding of the wiring.

   

  

  Note: Mixing cables can cause communication problems on the network. Before installing a network or adding a new component to it, make sure the cable being used is in the correct wiring standard.

  Coaxial

  Coaxial cable, or coax, is one of the oldest media used in networks. Coax is built around a center conductor or core that is used to carry data from point to point. The center conductor has an insulator wrapped around it, a shield over the insulator, and a nonconductive sheath around the shielding. This construction allows the conducting core to be relatively free from outside interference. The shielding also prevents the conducting core from emanating signals externally from the cable.

  Note: Before you read any further, accept the fact that the odds are incredibly slim that you will ever need to know about coax for a new installation in the real world (with the possible exception of RG-6, which is used from the wall to cable modem). If you do come across it, it will be in an existing installation and one of the first things you'll recommend is that it be changed. 

  Read more »

• Fiber Media Converter Tutorial

  Feb 8, 2016 by Articles / 651 Views

  Fiber media converter is a cost-effective solution to overcome the bandwidth and distance limitations of traditional network cable. It dramatically increases the bandwidth and transmission distance of the local area network (LAN) by allowing the use of fiber and integrating new equipment into existing cabling infrastructure. To better understand it, this article will give an overview of fiber media converter.

  What is Fiber Media Converter?

  Fiber media converter is a transfer media that connects two dissimilar media types. Generally, it is a device that converts electrical signal used in copper unshielded twisted paired (UTP) network cabling into light waves used in fiber optic cabling, and vice versa. This kind of fiber media converter is called copper-to-fiber media converter that provides a simple way to introduce fiber into a LAN without tearing out the existing copper wiring or making changes to copper-based switches. Furthermore, there is another kind of fiber media converter that supports fiber-to-fiber conversion, which provides connections between dual-fiber and single-fiber or between multimode fiber and single-mode fiber. Fiber-to-fiber media converters also provide a cost-effective solution for wavelength conversion in Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) applications, which are also known as transponders.

  Types of Fiber Media Converters

  There are a wide variety of fiber media converters available in the market. According to different criteria, fiber media converters may be classified into different types.

  Managed VS Unmanaged

  The managed fiber media converter has the functions of networking monitoring, fault detection and remote management. It helps the network administrator to easily monitor and manage the network. An unmanaged fiber media converter, however, allows for simple communication with other devices and does not have the monitoring and management functions that managed fiber media converter has.

  Platform: Stand-Alone VS Modular Chassis-Based

  According to the platform type, fiber media converters can be divided into stand-alone fiber media converter and modular chassis-based fiber media converter. Stand-alone fiber media converters are designed to be used in where a single or limited number of converter(s) need(s) to be quickly implemented. Modular chassis-based fiber media converters, however, are used in high-density applications that multiple points of copper and/or fiber integration are essential.

  Copper-to-Fiber Media Converter VS Fiber-to-Fiber Media Converter

  According to media types, fiber media converters may be classified into copper-to-fiber media converter and fiber-to-fiber media converter.

  Copper-to-Fiber Media Converter

  Copper-to-fiber media converters are the key to integrating fiber into a copper infrastructure. According to different applications, copper-to-fiber media converters may be further divided into Ethernet copper-to-fiber media converters, video-to-fiber media converters and serial-to-fiber media converters.

  

  Ethernet Copper-to-Fiber Media Converter

  This kind of fiber media converter supports the IEEE 802.3 standard and provides connectivity for Ethernet, fast Ethernet, Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet devices. SC to RJ45 media converters, SFP to RJ45 media converters, PoE media converters, mini media converters and industrial media converters are all among this type.

  

  The SC to RJ45 media converter comes with RJ45 and SC ports, which is designed to be used with fiber cable preterminated with the SC-type connector.The SFP to RJ45 media converter comes with RJ45 and pluggable fiber optics ports, which allows for flexible network configurations using SFP transceivers. PoE media converters can transparently connect copper to fiber while providing Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) to standards-based PoE compliant devices such as IP cameras, VoIP phones and wireless access points. Mini media converter is a miniature-sized copper-to-fiber converter. It is ideal for bringing fiber to the desktop and for mobile applications where light weight, compact size and low power are required.Industrial media converters are compact and robust devices designed to convert Gigabit Ethernet or Fast Ethernet networks into Gigabit or Ethernet fiber optic networks.

   

  Video Copper-to-Fiber Media Converter

  Video copper-to-fiber media converter also called fiber optic multiplexer, which is used to transmit and receive signals such as video, audio, data and Ethernet. fiber optic multiplexers are devices that process two or more light signals through a single optical fiber (as shown in the following figure), increasing the amount of information that can be carried through a network. Since signals may be analog or digital, video copper-to-fiber can be further divided into converters transmitting analog signals and converters transmitting digital signals. As the name applies, converters transmitting analog signals give amplitude or frequency modulation of the electric signal and then convert it into optical signal. Demodulation will also be done at the receiving end. Converters transmitting digital signals, however, digitize and multiplex the video, audio and data signals, transforming multiple low-speed digital signals into one high-speed signal. This high speed signal will then be turned into optical signal transmitting on a fiber.

  

  In accordance with different applications, there are three commonly used video copper-to-fiber media converters: plesiochronous digital hierarchy (PDH) multiplexers, synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) multiplexers and synchronous plesiochronous sigital hierarchy (SPDH) multiplexers. Using the PDH fiber transmission technologies, PDH multiplexers are E1 point-to-point optical transport equipment. And the general transmission capacity of this kind of multiplexer is 4E1，8E1 and 16E1. SDH multiplexers, having a large transmission capacity, are designed to support end-to-end provisioning and management of services across all segments of the optical network. SPDH multiplexers adopt both PDH and SDH technologies. It is a PDH transmission system that based on the PDH code speed adjustment principle at the same time, use as far as possible parts of the SDH network technology.

  Serial-to-Fiber Media Converter

  This kind of media converter provides fiber extension for serial protocol copper connections. It accepts serial data on one port in RS232, RS485 or other format and convert the serial data stream into a fiber optic signal to a matching unit at the other end of the fiber span.

  

  Fiber-to-Fiber Media Converter

  Fiber-to-fiber media converters are used to extend network distance by providing connectivity between multimode and single-mode fiber, between different “power” fiber sources and between dual fiber and single-fiber. Furthermore, they also support conversion from one wavelength to another. Mode converter and WDM OEO transponder are two common types of fiber-to-fiber media converters.

  Mode Converter

  A mode converter can be used to allow for an adiabatic transition between two optical modes. Other than cross-connecting different fiber types, mode converters can also re-generate optical signals, extending transmission distance and double fiber cable usage. It is usually applied in multi-mode to single-mode fiber conversion.

  

  WDM OEO Transponder

  When a fiber media converter is used in the WDM system, it is called WDM OEO transponder which converts the incoming signal from the end or client device to a WDM wavelength. WDM OEO transponders are often used for dual fiber to single fiber conversion and wavelength conversion.

  Networks may require conversion between dual and single-fiber, depending in the type of equipment and the fiber installed in the facility. The following figures shows the role of WDM transponder played in the fiber optic network.

  

  WDM OEO transponders are capable of wavelength conversion by using small form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceivers that transmit different wavelengths, provide a cost-effective solution to convert from standard optical wavelengths (850nm, 1310nm and 1550nm) of legacy equipment to optical wavelengths specified for WDM networks.

  

  Selection Guide of Fiber Media Converters

  A proper fiber media converter may provide a cost-effective solution for extending Ethernet transmission while reducing cable and labor cost. When selecting fiber media converters for your network, the following points should be taken into consideration:

  The chip of the fiber media converter shall work in both full-duplex and half-duplex systems. The reason is that some N-Way Switches and HUBs may use half-duplex mode operations, and serious collision and data loss may be caused if the fiber media converter only supports full-duplex operation. Connection test should be done between the fiber media converter and different optical fiber splices. Otherwise, data loss and unstable transmission may happen on account of incompatibility between different fiber media converters.To ensure the proper operation of the fiber media converter, temperature measurement is also necessary. This is because the fiber media converter may not work correctly in high-temperature environment. Thus, it is important to know exactly its working temperature.Safety device guarding against data loss shall be equipped in the fiber media converter.The fiber media converter shall meet the IEEE802.3 standards. If not, there must be a risk of incompatibility.

   

  For a selection of Compufox fiber media converters, please click on the link below:

   

  • Fiber Media Converters

   

  Read more »

• How to Install or Remove SFP Transceiver Modules on Cisco Device

  Feb 7, 2016 by Articles / 628 Views

  The SFP (small form Factor pluggables) transceiver modules are hot-pluggable I/O devices that plug into module sockets. The transceiver connects the electrical circuitry of the module with the optical or copper network. SFP transceiver modules are the key components in today's transmission network. Thus, it is necessary to master the skill of installing or removing a transceiver modules to avoid unnecessary loss. This tutorial are going to guide you how to install or remove SFP transceiver module in a right way.

   

  Things you should Know Before Installing or Removing SFP

  Before removing or installing a Transceiver Module you must disconnect all cables, because of leaving these attached will damage the cables, connectors, and the optical interfaces. At the same time please be aware that do not often remove and install an SFP transceiver and it can shorten its useful life. For this reason transceivers should not be removed or inserted more often than is required. Furthermore, transceiver modules are sensitive to static, so always ensure that you use an ESD wrist strap or comparable grounding device during both installation and removal.

   

  Required Tools

  You will need these tools to install the SFP transceiver module:
  Wrist strap or other personal grounding device to prevent ESD occurrences.Antistatic mat or antistatic foam to set the transceiver on.Fiber-optic end-face cleaning tools and inspection equipment

   

  Installing SFP Transceiver Modules

  SFP transceiver modules can have three types of latching devices to secure an SFP transceiver in a port socket:
  SFP transceiver with a Mylar tab latch.SFP transceiver with an actuator button latch.SFP transceiver that has a bale-clasp latch.

  

  Determine which type of latch your SFP transceiver uses before following the installation and removal procedures.

  Read more »