Delivery: Online
Estimated Length: 8 seat hours
Price: $395
Course Type: Fiber-only
Special Offer: Buy the Fiber-Optic Fundamentals Course bundle and save 40% off the individual course prices. This bundle includes all four courses in the Fundamentals discipline.
The NCTI® Fiber-Optic Fundamentals I: Optical Signal Technology course offers a comprehensive introduction to the essential principles of fiber-optic technology. As the backbone of modern high-speed communications, fiber optics enable rapid and reliable data transmission over long distances with minimal loss. Key topics include single and multimode fiber, light modulation, signal transmission and reception, and optical signal behavior.
Why Fiber Optics Matter:
Fiber optics are crucial in telecommunications, broadband networks, and data centers. Technicians must understand light propagation through optical fibers, signal encoding and decoding, and how to identify and resolve transmission issues. A solid foundation in these areas ensures efficient network deployment, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
What You’ll Learn:
- Structure and types of optical fibers
- Light propagation modes
- Modulation techniques for encoding information
- Optical signal reception and conversion to electrical form
By the end of this course, you’ll have the knowledge to work confidently with fiber-optic networks, apply best practices in fiber handling, and understand factors affecting signal integrity.
Delivery Options:
The course is delivered online. Lesson and final exams are taken online.
Completion Time:
The estimated completion time for this course is 8 hours. The maximum allotted time is four months from enrollment.
Next Course Recommendation:
Fiber-Optic Fundamentals II: Tools and Testing
Course Benefits
- receive an industry-recognized NCTI certificate of graduation
Ideal For:
This course is designed for those with little to no prior experience in fiber optics, providing the fundamental concepts needed for further specialization.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completing this course, students will be able to:
- Describe the structure, components, and advantages of fiber-optic technology, including common fiber types, coatings, and wavelengths used in communication.
- Explain key optical principles such as attenuation, refractive index, total internal reflection, and dispersion and their impact on fiber-optic network performance.
- Describe the structure, modes, and dispersion characteristics of multimode and single-mode fiber, including their impact on transmission performance.
- Explain the principles of optical modulation, light sources, and their application in fiber-optic networks for analog and digital communications.
- Explain optical modulation techniques, including direct and indirect modulation and digital and analog light wave modulation.
- Describe WDM technologies, their applications in PON and DWDM systems, and the impact of optical dispersion on transmission performance.
- Explain WDM’s principles, operation, and benefits, including CWDM and DWDM, and their role in PONs.
- Describe the functions, placement, and components of WDM, optical splitters, and network elements in passive and active optical systems.
Course Outline:
1. Fiber-Optic Principles
Basics of fiber-optic technology, optical fiber types, and light propagation and principles.
2. Fiber Modes and Light Modulation
Multimode fiber, single-mode fiber, light sources, and optical modulation
3. Optical Transmission and Reception
Optical modulation, optical detection and demodulation, and optical fiber dimension tolerances
4. Optical Signal Multiplexing
Optical networks and multiplexing and signal routing and splitting