Certified Fibre Characterisation Engineer (CFCE)
A unique training course from Optical Technology Training, delivered by licensed partners around the world.
As data rates increase and systems become more complex there are more factors that can impair system performance. This course is designed to help you master the fibre optic tests that are required to prove that advanced fibre infrastructures are of a good quality and can support direct detection and coherent systems for high data rate applications from 10Gb/s to 400Gb/s and beyond. You will also be able to assess support for Raman amplification as well as extended wavelength range operation for DWDM and CWDM systems. Typically it is necessary to characterise fibres when dark fibre contracts are signed, to prove that the fibres will operate satisfactorily for the duration of the contract period.
You will learn to apply the full power of multi-purpose test platforms with their powerful array of measurement capabilities to carry out these tests including insertion and return loss measurements, bi-directional OTDR testing, chromatic dispersion, Polarisation Mode Dispersion (PMD) and spectral attenuation. You will learn how to check the validity of the measurements, to avoid costly mistakes and time consuming re-tests. You’ll be able to process the results swiftly and efficiently, using test report software, to provide full system documentation. By appreciating the issues behind the tests you will be able to assess link performance intelligently against application support criteria.
Features
- Hands-on experience using specially constructed fibre test systems
- Comprehensive course manual
- Supporting online resources
- Pass the assessment to gain Certified Fibre Characterisation Engineer (CFCE) status
Key outcomes
- Explain the significance of fibre specifications and performance grades, including all G.65n.x fibre types
- Identify the characteristics of the infrastructure that can impair system performance
- Design and plan test programmes to meet customer and operational requirements
- Interpret test specifications
- Inspect connector end faces and assess against criteria of IEC61300-3-35
- Perform accurate and reliable insertion loss and return loss measurements
- Describe the purpose of OTDR testing
- Analyse OTDR traces, event tables and link maps
- Explain what chromatic dispersion is and be able to measure it accurately
- Describe PMD and be able to measure it accurately
- Perform full fibre characterisation on installed fibre systems
- Interpret the results of fibre characterisation to report on infrastructure quality and map against application support criteria
This is an advanced course and assumes that you have some previous experience of ILM and OTDR testing.
Becoming a CFCE
- What are optical networks?
- What is fibre characterisation?
- Why & when is it necessary?
- How is it done?
- Standards
Characteristics of Light
- Electromagnetic spectrum
- Wavelengths & frequencies used in fibre optics
- Singlemode fibre as a waveguide
- Speed of light
- Dispersion
Light in Optical Fibres
- How fibres work
- Singlemode fibre
- Launch conditions
- Attenuation
- Dispersion
- Bend loss performance
Optical Fibres
- Optical fibres for telecoms
- Fibre standards
Preparation
Preparing for Fibre Characterisation
- Specification of parameters
- FC characterisation systems & resources checklists
- Management of test results
- Reference procedures
- Measurement procedures
Inspect+Clean Connectors
- Why do we inspect & clean?
- Inspection standards
- Inspection equipment
- Cleaning equipment
- Connector care
ILM & Spectral Attenuation
- Continuity checking
- Power & loss budgets
- Insertion loss measurements
- Spectral attenuation
- Live fibre identifiers
Return Loss Measurement
- Definitions
- Performance requirements
- How is it measured?
OTDR Testing
Introduction
- What is OTDR testing?
- What can it do for us?
- How does it work?
OTDR Capabilities
- Distance measurements
- Fibre loss measurements
- Bending losses
- Splice loss measurement
- Connector losses
- Link return loss (ORL)
OTDR Limitations
- Dynamic range
- Dead zone
- Resolution
Test Configurations
- Cable on a drum
- Installed cable before termination
- Connectorised systems
- Bi-directional testing
Using the OTDR
- Step by step guide
- Manipulating the trace
- Measurement parameters
OTDR Issues
- Poor launch conditions
- Interfacing with bare fibres
- Ghosts
- Fibre mismatches
OTDR Trace Analysis
- What info do we want?
- Event tables and link maps
- Analysis of a single trace
- Multiple wavelength traces
- Analysis of multiple fibres
- Bi-directional analysis
- OTDR trace comparison
Using OTDR Software
- OTDR viewer software
- Automatic event detection
- Comparing OTDR traces
Dispersion
Intro to Dispersion
- When do we need dispersion measurements?
Chromatic Dispersion
- What is it?
- What causes it?
- CD characteristics of common fibre types
CD Measurement Methods
- Standards
- Group delay and dispersion
- Time of flight techniques
- Phase Shift Techniques
Practical Exercises
- G.652 & G.655 systems
- DCMs
- Compensated links
- Amplified links
Polarisation Mode Dispersion
- Polarisation in fibres
- Polarisation in other system components
- PMD & system performance
- Second order PMD
- Dynamics of PMD
Measurement Techniques
- Interferometric technique
- Polarimetric technique
- Fixed analyser technique
- Wavelength scanning
- Interpreting test results
PMD Measurement Issues
- What are we testing & why?
- Factors affecting choice of technique
PMD Measurement Exercises
- Low PMD fibre link
- High PMD fibre link
- Concatenated links
- Amplified links
Reporting
- Measurement validation checklist
- OTDR measurement presentation
- Fibre characterisation reports
- Web based documentation
Link Acceptance Criteria
- Fibre distances
- Cabling losses
- Reflections
- Chromatic dispersion
- PMD
- Extended wavelength requirements
- Support for Raman amplifiers
- Application support
- ITU OTN applications
- Ethernet LR, ER and ZR
- 128G Fibre Channel
- OIF IA for 400ZR
- OpenROADM MSA for OpenZR+
- Coherent 100G-400G+
CFCE Assessment
- Fibre characterisation practical assignment
- Theory assessment
Butler Technologies was founded in 1997 in Dublin, to provide testing and monitoring solutions for various industries, and has grown into a global technical solutions company, with a multi skilled team specialising in engineering, sourcing and end to end supply chain. Butler’s goal is to provide customers in the Telecoms and Electronic sectors with a full range of products, services and technical solutions that will enable them to operate more efficiently.
Recognising that great products benefit from great professionals to put them to best use, Butler also supports their customers by providing industry-leading Technical training. Having had an ongoing relationship with OTT for decades as a reseller in Ireland, Butler are now signed up as a full partner able to deliver the Certified Optical Fibre Installer (COFI), Certified Fibre Characterisation Engineer (CFCE), Certified Optical Network Associate (CONA) and Certified Optical Network Engineer (CONE) courses in Ireland and mainland Europe.
Butler are also acting as a reseller for OTT partners in the USA and providing management services to corporate clients to roll out OTT courses in the UK, Ireland, USA, APAC and other regions.
Get in Touch: IRELAND
Unit G14, Maynooth Business Campus, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, W23 X8R9, Ireland
