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Fiber optics

7K views 25 replies 9 participants last post by  drsparky 
#1 ·
I don’t have much of an interest in this put how easy is it to terminate? I know nothing about it but I have had a couple of calls because the cable guys aren’t going into occupied houses.

I’m thinking that, by the time I figure it out and buy the tools, the virus scare will be over.
 
#2 ·
It has gotten a hell of a lot easier to terminate than back when I was doing lots of it. Now you don't have to polish cuts for one thing. The ST's go on easier. Probably they don't have to breakout loose tube and put the shrouds over the fibers any longer either.
 
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#4 · (Edited)
#5 · (Edited)
Short answer, I wouldn't try getting into it right now. To be knowledgeable and proficient enough to be qualified to work on fiber systems takes a significant training, practice, and tool investment. Now to be fair, there are lots of people making money doing a little fiber here and there that I do not consider qualified.

If you get over your head and have to call someone? Well, to be honest, I absolutely scorch my would-be competitors when they come looking for someone to bail them out and it's not a pandemic. In a pandemic, I'd probably just leave them twist in the wind.
 
#9 ·
Short answer, I wouldn't try getting into it right now. To be proficient enough terminating and testing that you can do it on your own takes a significant training, practice, and tool investment. Now to be fair, there are lots of people making money doing a little fiber here and there that I do not consider proficient.

If you get over your head and have to call someone? Well, to be honest, I absolutely scorch my would-be competitors when they come looking for someone to bail them out and it's not a pandemic. In a pandemic, I'd probably just leave them twist in the wind.
Would you consider this utility level work (or a sub) just because of the huge amount of data & the customers involved?
 
#6 ·
Any information I can give you is dated to 1994 and earlier, having said that I had various "microscopes" to view polishing and splicing, I had a fusion splicer machine and kit, I had an optical time domain reflectometer to test my work. All that was pretty expensive in the beginning but the two biggest contracts of my career I landed paid for it all. There's a few dozen other things to buy- cleavers, kits with various alcohol pads and the like and loose tubing kits and bla bla bla.


But like I said earlier- they have done away with a lot of that older tech so now its easier and more streamlined. But on the other hand, its also easier for just about anybody to get themselves started into it..........

Contact Graybar for better more up to date information.
 
#12 ·
If you were younger, come up with a five year plan to grow the business after Covid-19. But at your age come up with a plan to fire your employer. Your mind & body most likely won't last into your 70s.
 
#17 ·
@Navyguy might have some knowledge.

I did a job last year with fiber optics... I pulled the cables, and paid FCi $3000 to terminate and test the lines. For the 3k I paid, I was tempted to buy the tools and do it myself... and I should have, because I lost money on that job, at least I would have had the tools.

I still want to get into it, but I need a fusion splicer with core alignment ($$$$$) and I'd like to have an OTDR ($$$$$).

Oh, and in case you are wondering, Bell Canada, for their FTTH uses SC APC connectors with Singlemode Single fiber... in case you need to buy a new patch cable for it for a client, or run a cable.

I've been buying fiber parts through fs.com. I have cleaning tools for jacks and patch cables, to keep the dust down.

You can also buy pre-made cables from them, complete with pulling heads. I'm not sure what your client has requested @99cents but there's the option of buying custom made cables to install rather than terminate your own... unless the cables are already installed...
@Navyguy, do you do fiber optic work?

Sent from my new phone. Autocorrect may have changed stuff.
 
#18 ·
When I started in the fibre world it was very similar to what @macmikeman was saying… we had to have a tent set up, positive air pressure, certain temp and humidity, etc… we charged huge bucks and to everybody watching it was like voodoo…

Today it is far less complicated. The most important tool you will need is a cleave; never go cheap on the cleave. A good cleave will cost as much as a cheap fusion splicer and is a must have.

If you are only doing a few a year, the payback is not there. Most places will charge a set-up fee then a per termination fee. There is a separate fee for testing beyond the basic verification test (usually a Visual Fault Locator(VFL)). Qualification and Certification tools for fibre cost a fortune ($10s of thousands if you want), so if you are not doing this often, most will rent the test tools or opt for @Kevin Essiambre did and call in a third party.

I think it is now more cost effective for the average person to get the terminated kits that come with ends and testing and pulling heads. Other then teaching it recently, I don’t even recall when I polished a fibre connection the last time, everything is mechanical connection with a good cleave cut and optic jelly to smooth out an imperfections.

Cheers
John
 
#19 ·
@Navyguy you have a fusion splicer right? I'm back to looking at buying a fusion splicer while sitting at home.

All I need is a core alignment for single fiber at a time (if I need to splice ribbons, I'll have enough overhead to purchase a ribbon fusion....) for both single and multimode cables.

I know there are 2 brands that are highly praised.

Do you have any low cost models?

Oh and maybe a low cost OTDR that does single and multimode?
 
#23 ·
I don't actually, because I was not doing enough fibre. I was purchasing terminated heads at specific lengths. Having said that, I am spec'ing out a large 10 / 100GbE fibre job with hundreds of fibre connections, so I will be making a purchase of a couple of splicers, cleaves, laser transmitter / receiver, etc.

I am still out on purchasing an OTDR for Tier 2 testing; but I can't see doing a large job like that without one.

Cheers
John
 
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