Course Details

This course is appropriate for a wide range of professionals but not limited to:

• Telecommunications and Network Engineers
• Field Technicians and Installers
• Maintenance Personnel for Fiber Networks
• Project Managers overseeing fiber deployments
• Individuals responsible for data center or campus networking

• Expert-led sessions with dynamic visual aids
• Comprehensive course manual to support practical application and reinforcement
• Interactive discussions addressing participants’ real-world projects and challenges
• Insightful case studies and proven best practices to enhance learning

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the fundamentals of light transmission, optical fiber types, and cable construction.
• Implement best practices for fiber optic handling, cleaning, splicing, and termination.
• Set up and operate an OTDR correctly for accurate measurements.
• Interpret complex OTDR traces, identify common faults (e.g., bends, breaks, splices).
• Perform end-to-end link loss testing and troubleshoot network outages efficiently.
• Generate comprehensive test documentation for network certification.

DAY 1

Fundamentals of Optical Fiber and Safety

• Welcome and introduction
• Pre-test
• The principles of light: Reflection, refraction, and total internal reflection
• Optical Fiber structure: Core, cladding, coating
• Single-mode vs. Multi-mode fiber (characteristics and applications)
• Fiber optic cable construction and types (e.g., tight buffer, loose tube, OSP)
• Fiber optic safety standards and best practices (laser safety, handling, cleaning)

DAY 2

Installation, Splicing, and Termination Techniques

• Cable preparation and handling (bending radius, pulling tension)
• Fusion Splicing: Principles, equipment, and practical hands-on exercises
• Mechanical Splicing: Application and best use cases
• Connector types (SC, LC, ST, MPO) and proper termination procedures
• End-face inspection and cleaning protocols (the importance of contamination control)
• Link design considerations: Loss budgets and span calculations

DAY 3

Introduction to OTDR Testing Principles

• Introduction to the OTDR: Core functions and applications
• Rayleigh backscatter and Fresnel reflections: The physics behind OTDR measurements
• Understanding the OTDR trace: Reading distance, loss, and reflectance
• Key OTDR settings: Range, Pulse Width, Average Time, and Refractive Index
• Setting up the launch and receive cables (essential for accurate measurement)
• Hands-on lab

DAY 4

Advanced OTDR Troubleshooting and Analysis

• Identifying and locating common fiber faults (breaks, high-loss splices, macrobends)
• Advanced trace interpretation: Identifying ghosting, gainers, and non-reflective events
• Bi-directional testing and averaging to resolve non-uniformity issues
• Troubleshooting network faults and emergency restoration procedures
• Hands-on lab: Fault simulation and precise location using OTDR
• Using OTDR in MPO/MTP testing environments

DAY 5

Documentation, Certification, and Future Trends

• Standards and protocols for fiber network certification (TIA/EIA, ISO/IEC)
• Generating professional test reports and documentation
• Advanced testing methods: Chromatic Dispersion (CD) and Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD)
• Future trends in fiber optics (e.g., high-fiber-count cables, specialized fibers)
• Review of practical skills and Q&A
• Post-test
• Certificate ceremony