Fiber Optic Link
FLAG and FOCUS Fiber optic Link Around the Globe and Fiber Optic Communication Undersea System As instructed we were to research a basic technology, and give the following information: the appropriate use of the chosen technology, the advantages and disadvantages, planning considerations for implementing the use of it. ... We hear a lot about fiber optic cables in the Telecommunications industry and in class and we have a general idea how it works. The two that I have mentioned are FLAG – Fiber optic Link Around the Globe and FOCUS – Fiber Optic Communication Undersea System. First, I would like to give a brief overview of what fiber optic is, how fiber optics works, how fiber is made, and the advantages of fiber before I go into FLAG and FOCUS. Ø What is Fiber Optics (also called optical fiber)? ¨ Fiber optics is long thin strands of very pure glass about the diameter of a human hair. ... ¨ Optical fibers come in two types: · Single-mode fibers - Used to transmit one signal per fiber (usually used in telephones and cable TV) · Multi-mode fibers - Used to transmit many signals per fiber (usually used in computer networks and local area networks. Ø How does an Optical Fiber transmit light? ¨ The light in a fiber-optic cable travels through the core by constantly bouncing from the cladding (mirror-lined walls), a principle called total internal reflection. ... ¨ Although some of the light signal can be degraded within the fiber due to impurities in the glass. ... · Once the pre-form blank has been tested, it gets loaded into a fiber drawing tower. ... The tractor mechanism slowly pulls the fiber from the heated pre-form blank and is precisely controlled by using a laser micrometer to measure the diameter of the fiber and feed the information back to the tractor mechanism. ... · The finished optical fiber is tested for the following: · Tensile strength.