Delivery: Online
College Credit: 2 credit hours
Estimated Length: 20 seat hours
Price: $750.00
Course Assessment/Equivalency Exam: $110.00
The NCTI Fiber Testing and Maintenance course provides the fiber-optic cable technician with information regarding post activation fiber-optic theory and application. The course concentrates on the test equipment and procedures necessary to perform testing and maintenance for new fiber-optic cable links, troubleshooting service outages and restoring fiber-optic links to their original performance specifications. The course also describes the process of fiber-optic cable restoration planning and implementation of preventive maintenance regimens in an HFC network.
Completion Time:
The estimated completion time for this course is 20 hours. The maximum allotted time is four months from enrollment.
Benefits:
- understand the importance of recording and maintaining fiber-optic cable link performance documentation
- have the knowledge to operate and use fiber-optic cable test equipment
- be able to correctly set up and use the OTDR for initial testing, turn-up and restoration purposes
- have the ability to read and understand fiber-optic cable event signatures
- be familiar with basic restoration procedures
- earn two hours of college credit
- use this course to help prepare for SCTE’s Broadband Transportation Specialist certification
- receive credit toward NCTI Master Technician certification
- receive credit toward NCTI Telecom Specialist certification
- earn an industry-recognized NCTI certificate of graduation
Upon completing this course, students will be able to:
- know what to look for when making visual inspections of the outside fiber-optic cable plant
- explain what damage can be done to the fiber-optic cable during the installation process that does not immediately appear
- explain how to check post-installation damage to ensure that all damaged and stressed fiber-optic cable is identified and replaced
- perform tests using the optical power meter for measuring optical transmit and receive power
- explain the function of a light source and why maintaining optical stability is important
- explain how a laser light source is used to identify an optical fiber
- identify the components of an OTDR waveform display
- identify the advantages of optical fiber break locators
- distinguish between long and short pulse widths
- realize the importance of entering the correct index of refraction into an OTDR
- connect an optical fiber to an OTDR using compatible and incompatible connectors and polishes
- understand the difference between a reflectance measurement and an optical return loss (ORL) measurement
- accurately measure optical splice and connector loss
- perform a step by step acceptance test of a fiber-optic cable reel
- identify multiple optical fiber strands after a splitter on an OTDR trace
- recognize the difference between a real event and a ghost event on an OTDR trace
- describe how to measure transmitter optical power and receiver optical power levels using an optical power meter
- understand the relationship between the DC voltage test point and optical power
- identify procedures for set up of the return path from the node to the headend
- explain how to use network documentation
- explain the purpose of the fiber-optic test sets used to troubleshoot a system problem
- list the test parameters that must be entered into the OTDR prior to making any test
- explain what causes reflective and non-reflective events
- identify the typical sources of failure in the equipment room and in the outside plant
- describe how service may be restored in a temporary and a permanent restoration
- describe the differences between aerial and underground restorations
- describe safety practices specific to the restoration environment
- explain how dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) and coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) can change preventive maintenance requirements
- identify applications of various types of optical spectrum analyzers
Outline:
Maintaining Optical Networks
Knowing the fiber-optic cable network, preparing for what can go wrong in the fiber-optic cable network, understanding the fiber-optic cable troubleshooting process and documenting fiber-optic cable additions, moves and changes
Introducing Optical Test Equipment
Examining optical power meters, laser light sources, optical fiber identifiers, optical talk sets and optical loss test sets
Presenting Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) Basics
Introducing OTDRs, describing OTDR types and examining OTDR features
Preparing for OTDR Measurements
Performing preliminary OTDR procedures, programming the OTDR and understanding OTDR tests
Performing OTDR Measurements
Recognizing OTDR signatures, conducting OTDR tests and making span measurements with an OTDR
Conducting Acceptance Testing of a Broadband Optical Link
Testing optical power and reflectivity, testing optical transmitters and receivers and using optical fiber documentation
Troubleshooting the Fiber Outage
Understanding key elements of effective fiberoptic troubleshooting and outlining the fiber-optic troubleshooting process
Planning Fiber-Optic Restorations
Explaining a fiber restoration plan, understanding causes of optical failures and planning efficiently and effectively for fiber restorations
Restoring Service in Optical Networks
Assembling necessary resources for fiber restorations, outlining fiber restoration safety concerns, adjusting to the fiber restoration scenario and preparing for the next fiber restoration
Preventing Optical Failures
Inspecting the fiber-optic cable plant visually, using status monitoring tools, testing optical transport and identifying RF effects on optical performance