Fiber Optic Connector Boot Camp

Basic Training, Advanced Training, And Certification

For Low Loss, Low Cost, And High Reliability

An 8-Day Program Leading To Successful Connector Installation

Goal

Fiber Optic Connector Boot Camp is an 8-day, hands-on, training program. Its’ goal is development of four trainee characteristics essential to successful fiber optic network installation.

1. Knowledge

2. Skills

3. Abilities

4. Confidence

Benefits

This program offers seven significant benefits:

1. Comprehensive hands-on training in all aspects of installation of fiber optic networks

2. Advanced training in connector installation, evaluation, and testing

3. 44 hands on training activities

4. Two Fiber Optic Association (FOA) certifications

5. A comprehensive training and field manual

6. Training from a highly experienced expert in both fiber installation and training

7. Extensive equipment

Benefit 1: Comprehensive Training

This program provides training all steps in the installation process. This training enables the trainee to install and certify the network as being properly and reliably installed.

This process starts with receipt of the cable and connectors and ends with an evaluation of test results that indicate proper and reliable installation. These steps include:

1. Cable installation without damage

2. Cable end preparation of the two types of cables

3. Fiber handling without damage

4. Connector installation by the two methods preferred and commonly used by government and military organizations

5. Splicing by two methods

6. Insertion loss testing

7. Optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) testing

8. Calculation of acceptance values for insertion loss and OTDR tests

9. Troubleshooting

a. To verify proper and reliable installation

b. To find locations of high optical power loss

Benefit 2: Advanced Training

The advanced connector installation module enables the trainee to ‘climb the learning curve’. After this module, trainees will be able to install connectors by two methods, with little or no additional on-the-job training. As a result of this module, trainees can expect connector losses to be low; reliability to be high; and installation time and cost to be low.

By following a process of installing, inspecting and testing 2 connectors at a time, the trainee receives nearly immediate feedback. By receiving such feedback, the trainee or instructor can modify the trainee’s procedure to eliminate errors that lead to high power loss and low reliability. By installing a total of 24 connectors, each trainee learns how to achieve low power loss and high reliability consistently.

This module includes installation of 12 hot melt adhesive SC connectors, which require polishing, and 12 crimp and cleave SC connectors (Unicam®) which do not.

Our experience is that most trainees make their errors in the first six connectors of each type. Most trainees install the second six by each method successfully; that is, with low loss and high reliability. In 2003, Pearson Technologies Inc. developed this module for the US Army at Ft. Bragg.

Benefit 3: 44 Hands On Activities

From these extensive, hands-on activities, trainees learn the methods and techniques that result in the three goals of fiber optic installations:

1. Low power loss

2. Low installation cost

3. High reliability

All activities build confidence in the trainee’s ability to achieve successful installation. We detail these activities below in the Program section.

Benefit 4: Two FOA Certifications

This program enables trainees to pass two Fiber Optic Association (FOA) examinations and receive two certifications:

1. Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT)

2. Certified Fiber Optic Specialist/Connectors (CFOS/C)

The CFOT is a basic level certification, indicating that the individual understands the basic concepts essential to successful installation.

The CFOS/C certification is one of the highest-level certifications available from the FOA. It indicates that the individual has advanced skills and understanding of the principles and methods for achieving low power loss and high reliability during connector installation.

These two certifications require passing of FOA examinations. These examinations are closed book, multiple-choice examinations. Pearson Technologies Inc. administers these examinations at the end of this program.

To facilitate passing these examinations, Pearson Technologies Inc. includes daily one-hour reviews of the previous day’s materials. In addition, there will be extensive preparations during the last two days. For these preparations, see the Program section.

The training manual, Professional Fiber Optic Installation-The Essentials For Success, assists the trainee in passing these examinations. Each chapter has review questions. If the trainee can answer these review questions, he will pass the certification examinations.

Note that the presenter, Eric R. Pearson, CFOS/S/C/T/I, wrote this manual with the explicit goal of supporting the FOA certification processes. In addition, as a Director of the FOA for 12 years, he was responsible for coordinating the development of certifications and the certification examinations. Certain chapters in the training manual exist for the purpose of enabling advanced certification. With this knowledge of the FOA certification examinations, Mr. Pearson tailors the presentation to the certification process.

Note that passing the examination is not guaranteed and depends upon the trainee. To maximize probability of passing the examinations, we recommend study of the manual outside of the training day.

Benefit 5: Comprehensive Training Manual

This training manual is described (See: http://www.ptnowire.com/Sfoi-outline-7.2.htm ). Published 9/2011, this manual, , includes all the lecture materials (Chapters 1-6, 8, 10-12, 14-15, 19). In addition, Chapters 19-21, 24-26 include the detailed instructions used in the hands on sessions. These highly detailed instructions provide a reference to which the trainee can refer during installation activities after training.

Benefit 6: Training From A Recognized Expert

Eric R. Pearson, CFOS/S/C/T/I, has 34 years experience in fiber optic communications. He is highly experienced in both installation and training. His installation experience is detailed at http://www.ptnowire.com/. He has trained more than 8000 individuals in installation and design of fiber optic networks. He has been recognized by both the FOA and BICSI as a ‘Master Instructor’. His experience is detailed at http://www.ptnowire.com/experience.htm. His client lists are at http://www.ptnowire.com/client-list.htm and http://www.ptnowire.com/gov-mil-clients.htm. In short, Mr. Pearson knows both fiber optic installation and how to teach it effectively.

Benefit 7: Extensive Equipment

As with all its training programs, Pearson Technologies Inc. provides extensive equipment. The large amount of equipment results in maximum time spent in learning with minimal time spent waiting for shared equipment. Pearson Technologies provides much of the equipment and tools at one per trainee. We provide some hand tools and insertion loss test sets at one per two trainees. The troubleshooting module, as close a simulation to field troubleshooting and link certification as is possible in a training setting, includes two cable modules and one OTDR per team of four.

The Program

Lecture Chapter 1: Introduction

Lecture Chapter 2: Light

Lecture Chapter 3: Fiber

Hands On: Handling Fiber Without Damage, Ch. 21 (4 activities)

Lecture Chapter 4: Cables

Hands On: Preparing Loose Tube Cable Ends For Splicing, Ch. 21

Hands On: Preparing Loose Tube Cable Ends For Termination, Ch. 21

Hands On: Preparing Tight Tube Cable Ends Without Damage, Ch. 21

Lecture Chapter 5: Connectors

Hands On: Installing Hot Melt Connectors With Low Loss And High Reliability, Ch. 24 (2 connectors)

Hands On: Microscopic Inspection And Rating Connector Ends, Ch. 20

Hands On: Insertion Loss Testing Hot Melt Connectors, Ch. 14

Hands On: Determining Magnitude Of Directional Differences, Ch. 14

Hands On: Determining Magnitude Of Differences Between Multiple Loss Measurements, Ch. 14

Hands On: Determination Of Class Range

Hands On: ‘Climb The Hot Melt Learning Curve’, Ch. 24 (10 connectors)

Hands On: Inspecting And Rating Connector Ends, Ch. 20

Hands On: Insertion Loss Testing Hot Melt Connectors, Ch. 14

Hands On: Review Of Correlation Between Microscopic Rating And Loss

Hands On: Review Of Class Losses

Hands On: Review Of Class Yield

Hands On: Installing Cleave And Crimp Connectors With Low Loss And High Reliability, Ch. 25 (2 connectors)

Hands On: VFL Evaluation Of Cleave And Crimp Connectors, Ch. 18

Hands On: Insertion Loss Testing Cleave And Crimp Connectors, Ch. 14

Hands On: ‘Climb The Cleave And Crimp Learning Curve’, Ch. 24 (10 connectors)

Hands On: VFL Evaluation Of Connectors, Ch. 18

Hands On: Insertion Loss Testing Cleave And Crimp Connectors, Ch. 14

Hands On: Review Of Class Losses

Hands On: Review Of Correlation Between VFL Rating And Loss

Hands On: Review Of Class Yield

Lecture Chapter 6: Splicing

Hands On: Fusion Splicing, Ch. 26

Hands On: OTDR Testing, Ch. 15

Hands On: Mechanical Splicing, Ch. 26

Hands On: OTDR Testing, Ch. 15

Lecture Chapter 14: Insertion Loss Testing

Lecture Chapter 15: Optical Time Domain Reflectometry

Hands On: Review Questions

Lecture Chapter 8: Optoelectronics

Lecture Chapter 10: Planning

Lecture Chapter 11: Cable Installation Principles

Lecture Chapter 19: Network Certification

Hands On: Calculate Acceptance Values, Ch. 19 (2 exercises)

Hands On: Team Troubleshooting Of Cable Links (Troubleshooting Manual, Chapters 14, 15, and 19, 2-3 exercises)

Hands On: Review 1 For CFOT Examination: Review Questions

Hands On: Review 2 For CFOT Examination; List fiber optics terms

Hands On: Review 3 For CFOT Examination: Develop Trace From Map

Hands On: Review 4 For CFOT Examination: Discussion Of Concepts

CFOT Examination

Hands On: Review 1 For CFOS/C Examination: Review Questions, Ch. 5

Hands On: Review 2 For CFOS/C Examination: Review Questions, Ch. 12

Hands On: Review 3 For CFOS/C Examination: Discussion Of Concepts

CFOS/C Examination

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