COURSE NAME: Fiber Optics Technician (4030)

Course length: 4 days

Overview:

Infotec offers a 32-hour Electronics Technicians Association (ETA) Certified Fiber Optics Technician (CFOT) training program. This certification will provide the knowledge and skills needed to certify and troubleshoot fiber optic cable networks accurately and efficiently. Trainees will certify or troubleshoot different cable systems with a combination of fibers, connectors, and splices. These cable systems will be modeled on the most commonly occurring problems. The Certified Fiber Optics Technician course involves a shortened overview of the basics and more extended troubleshooting practice.

The Infotec ETA Certified Fiber Optics Technician program provides a detailed, hands-on instruction and practice of fiber optic troubleshooting techniques. Successful completion of the program will result in the trainee being certified as a Fiber Optics Technician from Electronics Technicians Association and awarded a Certificate of Completion from Infotec.

Prerequesite Courses:

• Fiber Optics Installer (4030) or equivalent knowledge

Performance-based Objectives:

• Measure bi-directional loss in a fiber optic link with a light source and power meter using one of the TIA/EIA-526-14A methods.
• Perform measured patch cord testing with a light source and power meter.
• Perform loss per unit length acceptance testing in a fiber optic cable using an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR).
• Locate a fault in a fiber optic cable using an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR).
• Locate a mechanical interconnection and the end of the fiber in an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) trace .

Course content:

UNIT 1: (Chapters 1-9)

• Course Objectives
• History of Fiber Optics
• Principles of Fiber Optic Transmission
• Basic Principles of Light
• Optical Fiber Construction and Theory
• Optical Fiber Characteristics
• Safety
• Fiber Optic Cables Types and Applications
• Mechanical & Fusion Splicing
• Connector Application and Theory

UNIT 2: (Chapters 10-15)

• Fiber Optic Light Sources
• Fiber Optic Detectors and Receivers
• Passive Components and Multiplexers
• Cable Installation and Hardware
• Fiber Optic System Design Considerations
• Test Equipment and Link/Cable Testing
• Link/Cable Troubleshooting
• Lab One:
  • Fiber Optic Cabling Testing Procedure
  • FOS/FOM Preparation and Calibration
• Lab Two:
  • Visible Light Continuity Testing
• Lab Three:
  • Measuring Optical Source Output Power
• Lab Four:
  • Visual Fault Locator
• Lab Five:
  • Optical Fiber Identifier
• Lab Six:
  • Infrared Detection Card
• Lab Seven:
  • Optical Talk Set
• Lab Eight:
  • Patch Cable Testing
• Lab Nine:
  • End-to-End Attenuation Testing – Channel or Link

UNIT 3: (Chapters 15-16)

• Test Equipment and Link/Cable Testing
• Link/Cable Troubleshooting with OTDR
• Lab Ten:
  • Optical Time Domain Reflectometer Testing
• Lab Eleven:
  • Acceptance Testing
• Lab Twelve:
  • Proper Documentation and Maintenance Records

UNIT 4:

• Lab Thirteen:
  • Optical Fiber Link Troubleshooting
• Skills Testing:
  • Bi-directional Link Testing
  • Measure loss of connectors/splices
  • Measure Patch Cable (FOS/FOM)
  • Acceptance Testing (OTDR)
  • Loss per unit length
  • Cable length
  • Locate Fault in Optical Fiber Link
• ETA Certification Exam