Which Fiber Termination Procedure is Right for You?
Man has been a fan of things that simply… connect. Be it how the rail coaches attach/ detach themselves from the train or bring a magnet’s opposite poles together. Not only does the satisfying click noise mean a confirmed connection but it also allows for quick release or connection when the need arises. Yet, simply having the connectors click together doesn’t always mean the connection is stable, especially in case of fiber optic networks. Light may not propagate properly through the connector and into the terminal or patch unless the cables are properly terminated.
Unlike copper cable termination, the transmission efficiency depends heavily on the quality of the termination. There are 3 major types of fiber optic cable termination and the preferred termination method depends on the available tools & materials and the skill level of the on-site technician.
Why Proper Termination is Important for Fiber Optic Cable?
Unlike copper cable, where the wires only need to make physical contact to be able to send and receive signals, fiber optic requires better contact. Since light is the propagation medium, any changes in the optical density or angle of incidence can mean signal loss at the junction. In other words, improper termination will lead to signal loss and lead to high insertion loss during operation. Some of the other problems leading from improper termination are:
Dirt or moisture can get into the cabling
Stretching of the cable can cause damage
High light loss throughout your network reducing data transmission rate
Reflectance, which causes optical return loss
When weighing the benefits of a properly terminated fiber optic cable against the efforts taken, it is a no-brainer to invest in some quality tools and materials to ensure zero error connections.
Types of Fiber Optic Termination
Connectors Termination
In case of connector termination, the core is exposed on both ends of a cable and a connector is inserted. To keep it in place, epoxy is used to join the fiber and the connector ferrule, and the epoxy is then cured. The protruding fiber must be cleaved and polished to ensure smooth flush finish before connecting. While many experienced fiber technicians may prefer epoxy/polish connectors, they are not the best option if there is a limited skill set. Their average insertion loss is about 0.2 – 0.3dB for experienced but could be much higher for those who are not. Because the end face is exposed and polished in the field, care also needs to be taken to prevent contamination. Epoxy/polish connectors require the most consumables and results in the most waste of fiber termination options.
Splicing Termination
Splicing is a typical field termination method that does not require any connectors. Index matching gel is used to link the faces on both ends seamlessly. Currently, there are two types of splicing procedures in use:
For more information and insight, Check out the complete article here.