Workshop 4: Optical fiber junction
Location: Bucharest, Grand Phenicia Hotel
Participants: 24 persons (Annex 1), from
AFOR
7 members AFOR: Celesta, Prysmian, Romkatel, R&M Romania, Telecom Instruments, Teledatanet and Tele-Grup
2 telecom operators (RCS & RDS and Euroweb)
An association of operators: ANISP
Electrica (5 persons from Bucharest, Muntenia Nord and Transilvania Sud)
They wanted to reach this workshop more people, including from MCSI, ANCOM and other operators, who want to be informed with the discussions in these workshops.
Summary
Terms in Romanian:
Splicer = fiber optic junction device
Fusion splice = thermal junctions (either by fusion, melting or welding)
V-groove = V-guides
Fusion electrodes = welding electrodes
Cleaver = fiber optic cutting device (in popular language: guillotine)
Stripper = peeler (cleans the primary protective layer of the optical fiber)
Buffer = Buffer (we haven’t found a suitable term yet)
The history of junction devices and fiber optic junction technology, with LID (Light Injection and Detection) systems and currently reaching PAS (Profile Alignement System) systems, has been reviewed. Their evolution has led to a decrease in junction time (from a minute 24 years ago to 5 seconds to the latest models of junction devices) and to the modernization of junction devices (such as through software to analyze images better).
Models of junctions were presented by the 4 equipment dealers, AFOR members, with the best junctions in the world at the present time, as follows:
Celesta: Sumitomo Electric, T-71-C, T-72C
Romkatel: Inno Intrument
Teledatanet: Furukawa Electric, Fitel S-174, S-175, S-179
Teleprecision-MTS: Fujikura 50-S, 60-S, 62-S, 70-S, 80-S
It has been emphasized that the main parameter for checking the quality of a fiber optic junction (KPI) is the attenuation of a junction, which is not measured / read with the optical fiber junction device, but with the OTDR. The junction device estimates the attenuation by a mathematical algorithm that is validated over time.
Q1: The elements that tell us that a fiber optic junction is okay:
Indication of the FO junction device: 0.02 means that in 90% of cases the fiber optic junction is ok
Optical fiber cutting angle value: if <1º then ok (recommended to be <0.5)
Visual verification: black dots, if any, alignment of core and shell (for fiber optic junctions experienced images are more relevant than figures)
Material quality (fiber optic): concentricity, oval
The state of the human / fiber optic junction – is related to its preparation, experience and education. Examples of things to avoid: no more catching the jamb from the junction box, flexible modules (buffers) caught with mice, time / speed pressure, etc.
The quality of the fiber optic junction device
Q2: Documents for optical fiber junction works
Route diagram – number of fiber optic junctions on a route, their location, FO cable lengths to be connected, route ends, etc.
Junction diagram – contains data measured with OTDR (location of junctions after measurements in both directions)
Junction configuration – identification of the colors of the 2 junction cables, on each buffer
Q3: The most important accessories for optic fiber junction works apart from the junction device:
Optical fiber cutting device (Cleaver)
