terminating single mode SC fiber connectors

[toplessHO]

Its been at least 20 yrs since Ive terminated any fiber,
going back to days of epoxy UV cured,and hot melt glue, polishing with sandpaper etc.
I need to terminate a couple of fibers and was wondering how technology had changed since then.

 

[cgrutt]

Following. Attached video looks similar to process that you described. I think my buddy uses a different process but it may be different ends.

 

[cgrutt]

Not sure if this is same kit my buddy uses but process is similar I don't think he uses any glue or sandpaper.

 

[whateg01]

Dang! My company builds stuff to test fiber. I've seen the tools the at&t techs use. Big difference!

 

[toplessHO]

when I stopped they were into cleave and crimp using optical gel.
I may need to farm this out since I dont see me doing more of this
past this project.

whateg01, OTDR?

 

[kj_mustang]

SC Fastconnect is another option.

FastConnect connectors

 

[wyliesdiesels]

We use either corning unicams or a splicer w/ SOCs- splice on connectors.

you will also need an OLTS to test them

probably best to hire it out

 

[mike93lx]

Curious, why are you needing to terminate?

 

[toplessHO]

running a fiber for communication to an outbuilding.
I have the fiber,and would like to use that to eliminate
possibility of lightning damage.

 

[b-boy]

Pre-terminated fiber is pretty cheap now. I'd just order a custom length online.

or buy slightly longer than you need and loop the extra.

 

[mike93lx]

running a fiber for communication to an outbuilding.
I have the fiber,and would like to use that to eliminate
possibility of lightning damage.

Using fiber makes perfect sense for that.

Terminating it yourself VS buying a preterminated length is the different part. How much cheaper was the raw cable?

 

[TracerRound]

The only way I would go with bare fiber is if it was going through existing conduit and wasn't big enough for the connector to pass. Pre terminated is the way.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Using fiber makes perfect sense for that.

Terminating it yourself VS buying a preterminated length is the different part. How much cheaper was the raw cable?

the price difference isnt much

 

[toplessHO]

Using fiber makes perfect sense for that.

Terminating it yourself VS buying a preterminated length is the different part. How much cheaper was the raw cable?

free
the run is about 350 ft

 

[Snapped-off]

$250 would get you a 350' pre-terminated cable with a pull eye on one end. May be able to find it cheaper.

 

[Old tool guy]

About a hunnert years ago i worked for a company that made fibers for scientific purposes, not communications. We melted our own glass and pulledthe fibers. Also made fused products, like the early colonoscopy scopes and secret stuff for the govmint.

Also did fancy testing. one of the benefits of fibers is that they are mostly immune from tapping into and/or stealing the signal by emf. But if you looped the fiber, some of the signal would leak out because you changed the refraction angle and you could read the signal.

 

[toplessHO]

my first large scale exposure to fiber was at Communicore in Epcot.
I hand picked the guy to do that part of the show/ride/attraction,
and he didnt disappoint as he only crossed 2 amongst the thousands.
This was long before any mainstream applications.
My 68 Firebird used a fiber optic light in the ashtray.

 

[Old tool guy]

My 68 Firebird used a fiber optic light in the ashtray.

Friend had a big buick, i think, like an electra, about 1974 model. Look in the rear view mirror, over the center of the back window you would see a couple of tiny red dots of light that showed the status of the brake lights. Cheap fibers.

 

[cgrutt]

Friend had a big buick, i think, like an electra, about 1974 model. Look in the rear view mirror, over the center of the back window you would see a couple of tiny red dots of light that showed the status of the brake lights. Cheap fibers.

Forgot about those my parents vehicles had them. I think GM used fiber for various lighting pretty extensively. I installed car stereos and other electronics for about eight years during HS and college and recall it being used in many vehicles. Black sheathing about same thickness as other wires "may" have cut one or two by accident thinking it was a ground wire LOL.

 

[Stuart in MN]

For those suggesting methods and videos, note that there's a difference in how single mode and multimode cables are terminated.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

For those suggesting methods and videos, note that there's a difference in how singlemode and multimode cables are terminated.

nope. only difference is the connectors or splice tails since the fibers are different sizes but the termination methods are the same

FYI- i have a splicer and unicam tool kits

 

[toplessHO]

nope. only difference is the connectors or splice tails since the fibers are different sizes but the termination methods are the same

FYI- i have a splicer and unicam tool kits

I still have all the tools for epoxy and buff,museum quality....

Checking unicam connectors that average $10 each,
I found a preterminated 100M duplex cable for $90.
The new transceivers said they were ST/SC but my neighbor
who suggested this pair tipped me off that they were LC.
So rather than adapt from ST,I bought a cable with LC connectors

fiber should be here tomorrow,I ll pull the cat 6 out and put the new fiber in.

 

[toplessHO]

Tested new fiber on the spool while connected to new transceivers
ran a speed test thru laptop.over 300Mbps down,about 20 up

 

[reader2580]

Fiber should be able to get way more speed than that, but you are probably limited by your Internet connection.

 

[toplessHO]

Fiber should be able to get way more speed than that, but you are probably limited by your Internet connection.

yep fiber shows 1000 on the indicator lights
connection was at neighbors thats a 5 G wireless internet,which I find amazing

 

[ArcReactorKC]

I terminate fiber to some odd and far out devices on our remote job sites every now and then. I *used to be good at it back in the day with good tools and practices but I went almost a decade without making a termination.
I've literally been using these from amazon to make terms that have carried 1gb reliably.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CYQCGD9?tag=atomicindus08-20

and this cheapo tool kit.

https://www.amazon.com/YEDEMC-Conne...Dust-Free/dp/B08RD94WBH/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Fiber is either more forgiving now, or I've just been extremely lucky.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Tested new fiber on the spool while connected to new transceivers
ran a speed test thru laptop.over 300Mbps down,about 20 up

what speed are you paying for?

 

[toplessHO]

what speed are you paying for?

its the neighbors service we used to test my fiber and the transceivers.
I know the transceivers lit up the 1000 light so the fiber must be capable of that.
We saw no real gain when we took my "system" out of the loop on his laptop.
He claims hes seen 500mbps .
This is a 5G wireless connection via T Mobile
with my new ATT fiber I can get up to 500 down and 150 up using my tablet thats 6G wifi capable

 

[Captain_Slow]

Watch out for the pull eyes on pre terminated fiber. I wound up having to replace the one that came with mine as it wasn't well attached, and then broke.

It's fine now but was a pain to pull. Probably ~200ft with a couple of bends

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I know the transceivers lit up the 1000 light so the fiber must be capable of that.

the link speed light just tells you what speed the 2 devices are linked at. that doesnt mean that is what your service is provisioned for. SMF can go a lot faster than that

 

[toplessHO]

new fiber is MM
even at that Im happy with this if I can get it in the ground unharmed.
I went ahead and bought a new router too thats 6G wifi capable.

 

[mike93lx]

new fiber is MM
even at that Im happy with this if I can get it in the ground unharmed.
I went ahead and bought a new router too thats 6G wifi capable.

FYI, it's Wifi6, not 6G.

 

[b-boy]

I second the looking closely at the pulling eye. I bought a cable that came with a pulling eye. It was junk. It fell apart half way through the pull. I was able to piece something together using some of the parts, but next time I'd probably buy a new pulling eye.

 

[ArcReactorKC]

FYI, it's WiFi, not 6G.

What do you mean? Wi-Fi 6 is on the 6ghz band.

Wi-Fi 6 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[mike93lx]

What do you mean? Wi-Fi 6 is on the 6ghz band.

Wi-Fi 6 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

That's not 6G. Its 6GHz and Wifi6. My autocorrect removed the 6 from wifi6

6G will likely be what we get next for cell service

 

[ArcReactorKC]

That's not 6G. Its 6GHz and Wifi6. My autocorrect removed the 6 from wifi6

6G will likely be what we get next for cell service

It is 6th Gen wifi. So in the context of WiFi you will see it referred to as 6g often.

 

[mike93lx]

It is 6th Gen wifi. So in the context of WiFi you will see it referred to as 6g often.

I have never seen it referred to as 6G, but maybe people do. I've only ever seen it referred to as wifi6 and now, wifi7

Either way, not picking a fight

 

[wyliesdiesels]

It is 6th Gen wifi. So in the context of WiFi you will see it referred to as 6g often.

Ive never seen wifi referred to in generations. that only applies to cellular service.

 

[rlitman]

Ive never seen wifi referred to in generations. that only applies to cellular service.

Yeah, it's a new-ish terminology.
Wi-Fi 5 = 802.11ac (though I've never seen the Wi-Fi 5 designation marketed)
Wi-Fi 6 = 802.11ax (on the 2.4 and 5GHz bands)
Wi-Fi 6E = 802.11ax (same as above plus the 6GHz bands)
Wi-Fi 7 = 802.11be

 

[mike93lx]

Yeah, it's a new-ish terminology.
Wi-Fi 5 = 802.11ac (though I've never seen the Wi-Fi 5 designation marketed)
Wi-Fi 6 = 802.11ax (on the 2.4 and 5GHz bands)
Wi-Fi 6E = 802.11ax (same as above plus the 6GHz bands)
Wi-Fi 7 = 802.11be

That isn't new.

We know about the versions. They aren't referred to as #G, though