Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!mailrus!ames!oliveb!pyramid!prls!philabs!aecom!glen
From: glen@aecom.YU.EDU (Glen M. Marianko)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Need Fiber Attenuation Tester/Fiber Connectorization
Keywords: Fiber Attenuation Test Equipment Portable Connectorization
Message-ID: <1820@aecom.YU.EDU>
Date: 31 May 88 18:54:51 GMT
Organization: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY
Lines: 30


We're installing a fiber optic ethernet backbone here and I'm 
looking for some good fiber optic test equipment for my toolkit 
at low (1-2k) cost.  That certainly rules out OTDRs leaving 
attenuation testers.  

Anyone have any recommendations on testers.  I would like to do 
testing at both 850nm and 1300nm.  Most companies sell either 
separate units or units with plug-in modules for both 
frequencies.  Some (notably Phillips) sell a dual nm receiver, 
but still need separate light sources.  

Finally, is attenuation testing alone a good enough test for a 
fiber optic cable?  For example, ethernet link A to B is down - 
pop off the fiber and attenuation test it.  Or, I just 
connectorized a jumper cable, was it done properly using an 
attenuation test?  

** Important aside: anyone have information on do-it-yourself,
cheap fiber connectorization?  I have no experience with this: 
can you just buy duplex fiber, SMA 906 or ST connectors, chop the 
fiber ends, polish it as best as possible with fine sand 
paper/wheel and connectorize it for short patch-cord use?  What 
kind of extra losses can I expect due to such non-scientific 
connectorization?  Any company sell a do-it-yourself kit.  
(Someone is probably going to want to flame me for this Q, but I 
need to know if it is possible/feasible.)


-- Glen Marianko glen@aecom.yu.edu