Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT)

Overview

By attending Basic Fiber Optic Installation, a hands-on installation training program, you learn how to install fiber optic cables, connectors, splices and achieve the three goals of installation.

These three goals: minimum power loss, maximum reliability, and minimum cost, require knowledge of the specific procedures and compliance with the unique rules of fiber optic communication products. You learn this knowledge and these rules from the lectures and hands on activities of this comprehensive and well-developed program.

Who Should Take This Course

Prerequisites

None

Why You Should Take This Course

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
• Install fiber optic cables without damage
• End preparation of both loose and tight tube cables
• Install low loss, reliable, multimode and singlemode connectors
• Inspect connectors to determine installation quality
• Install low loss fusion and mechanical splices
• Properly test insertion loss, OTDR and reflectance
• Calculate acceptance values for all tests
• Certify and troubleshoot installed links for maximum reliability

Schedule

Course Outline

1. Overview f Networks

a. Topologies

b. Link and Components

2. The Language of Light

a. Three Descriptions of Behavior

b. Seven Properties

c. Wavelength

d. Spectral Width

e. Index of Refraction

f. Power

g. Reflection

h. Numerical Aperture

i. Refraction

j. Dispersion

3. Fiber

a. Three Structural Regions and Functions

b. Three Types

c. Two Performance Specifications

d. Dispersion

e. Attenuation

f. Hands-on Activities

i. Determine Fiber Handling Rule for Tension

ii. Determine Fiber Handling Rule for Bending

iii. Determine Fiber Preparation Rule

iv. Determine Fiber Insertion Rule

v. Practice Fiber Strength Check

4. Cable

a. Structure

b. Types

c. Installation Specifications

d. Environmental Specifications

e. Hands-on Activities

i. Prepare Loose Tube Cable End

ii. Prepare Tight Tube Cable End

iii. The Continuity Test

5. Cable Installation Rules

a. Environmental Limits

b. Installation Limits

c. Cable Placement

d. Planning and Management Issues

e. Safety Issues

f. End Preparation

6. Connectors

a. Function

b. Structures

c. Specifications

d. Features

e. Types

f. Installation Methods

7. Principles of Connector Installation

g. Adhesive Use

h. Crimping

i. Polishing

j. Cleaning

k. Cleaving

l. Hands-on Activities

i. Install 2 polish type connectors

ii. Install 2 Unicam® Connectors

iii. Optional replacement for connector installation: install 4 pigtail connectors

8. Connector Inspection

a. Inspection Criteria

b. Core

c. Cladding

d. Ferrule Surface

e. Hands-on Activities

i. Inspect and Rate Connectors

ii. Use Visual Fault Finder with No Polish Connectors

9. Splices

a. Locations

b. Type Options

c. Structure

d. Specifications

e. Hands-on Activities

i. Fusion Splicing- midspan

ii. Fusion Splicing- ribbon[optional]

iii. Mechanical Splicing- midspan

iv. Measure Loss- midspan fusion splice

v. Measure Loss- midspan mechanical splice

10. Testing Principles

a. General Principles

b. TIA/EIA-568 B Requirements

c. Insertion Loss Testing

d. Hands-on Activities

i. Method B Test

ii. EF Method B Test

iii. Test Directional Effects

iv. Test Repeatability and Range

v. Correlate Microscopic Appearance with Loss

vi. Correlate VFL Results with Loss

vii. Troubleshoot Testing Problems

e. Optical Time Domain Reflectometry

i. Theory

ii. Three Typical Traces

iii. Measurement Methods

1. Length

2. Connection Loss

3. Attenuation Rate

iv. Hands-on Activities

1. Identify Measurements

2. Identify Features

v. Reflectance

11. Optoelectronics

a. Design Concerns

b. Light Sources and Detectors

c. Specification Options

i. Optical Power Budget (Available)

ii. Minimum Required Loss

iii. Wavelength

iv. Spectral Width

v. Connector Type

12. Network Certification for Maximum Reliability

a. Certification with Maximum Loss Values

i. Advantage

ii. Disadvantage

b. Develop Certification Strategy for Maximum Reliability

i. Acceptance Values for 850 nm Premises Riser Network

c. Hands-on Activities

i. Calculate Acceptance Values For 1300 nm Premises Network

ii. Calculate Acceptance Values For 1310 nm OSP Network

13. Network Certification and Troubleshooting

a. Hands-on Activities

i. Calculate Acceptance Values

1. Insertion Loss

2. OTDR

ii. Perform Insertion Loss Test

iii. Perform OTDR Tests

1. Length

2. Connector Loss

3. Attenuation Rate

4. Uniformity of Segment

5. Determine Location of Defective Installation

iv. Recognize Proper Cursor Placement

v. Interpret OTDR Traces

vi. Write Certification Summary

b. Review Questions [for FOA certification programs]

FAQs

Is there a discount available for current students?

UMBC students and alumni, as well as students who have previously taken a public training course with UMBC Training Centers are eligible for a 10% discount, capped at $250. Please provide a copy of your UMBC student ID or an unofficial transcript or the name of the UMBC Training Centers course you have completed. Asynchronous courses are excluded from this offer.

What is the cancellation and refund policy?

Student will receive a refund of paid registration fees only if UMBC Training Centers receives a notice of cancellation at least 10 business days prior to the class start date for classes or the exam date for exams.

Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT)

Prerequisites

Is there a discount available for current students?

What is the cancellation and refund policy?

Stay in the Loop