THE GREATEST PROBLEM HOLDING OPTIC FIBER BACK

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As much as the cost of laying down optic fiber can be, with all the digging up of roads and digging in trenches and creating the cable, it doesn’t even come close to the cost of Video for a company to afford. Surprisingly, TV programming is the biggest thing that is holding back optic fiber from spreading everywhere quickly.

 

It all has to do with most cable companies offering packages that provide both internet and TV and sometimes even phone all as one big payment. This means the average household actually takes advantage of these bundles and in turn we end up with people who won’t actually buy optic fiber internet because it doesn’t come with TV programming.

 

It’s a big drawback and one that Google in particular has been dealing with as they lay more and more Google Fiber. It makes it difficult for any optic fiber company to really get off the ground even though the internet they provide is always far superior than anything cable companies can offer in terms of net speed. People just like their simplicity and it’s causing problems for the fiber world.

 

If Google is having such a problem with it, and even had to resort to installing their own TV programming just so they could bundle it with their Google Fiber then what does that spell for other companies who aren’t nearly as powerful or as rich as the internet mega-giant? The cost of Optic Fiber is already expensive and it may be the future of the internet world, but if people aren’t jumping on board with it without their cable then where will it end up in only a few years?

 

Luckily there are plenty of people who are excited about having optic fiber internet. There may not be a ton, but that’s actually why we have been seeing Google Fiber in countries like Africa and South America before most of America. America just doesn’t want it, it seems.

OTHER FIBER OPTICS BENEFITS

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There is no quicker way to transmit data through the Internet than to connect your computer to a network using fiber optics cable technologies. The bursts of light sending data through this networking equipment offers rates of connectivity never before seen in the world of information technology, a benefit that we’re quick to point out here on the Connected Fiber blog.

 

There are plenty of other ways that fiber optics stacks up positively when compared to other forms of cabled Internet connections. As this article published by AL.com discusses, benefits range from cost savings to more durable and stable online connections for users.

 

Many people point out the incredible cost of installing fiber optics cable as a major obstacle, which often discourages people from choosing to convert to the technology. Once those cables are laid down, however, most subscribers are surprised at how long they can go between necessary maintenance sessions or even repairs.

 

As we’ve discussed before on this blog, many cities and other municipalities are taking tax dollars and investing them in fiber optics systems to be used by the entire community. This is providing a very useful market benefit in providing cost-effective competition to the for-profit cable companies that often monopolize a certain area. With two Internet providers, one of them publicly subsidized, private companies are forced to keep prices down to compete. And that’s a great thing, because when more people are connected to the Internet, a local or regional economy can truly thrive.

 

We could go on and on for days about the benefits of installing fiber optics systems for your residence or organization. The staff at fiber-mart offers the technical support for quick and painless installation and the courteous service required to take care of any maintenance or repairs quickly. When you want a quicker connection to the Internet, call North Carolina’s top provider of fiber optics solutions.

FIBER OPTICS PREDICTING LANDSLIDES

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Over the years, there have been a number of ways developed in an attempt to figure out how it might be possible to predict landslides. One of the more recent to appear happens to utilize fiber optic cables to create something like a nervous system, or more accurately a spider web that can be monitored for vibrations to determine if a landslide is going to occur. Of course, it may not seem like much to learn to predict landslides, but actually thousands die every year because of rock falls and landslides and this is just one of many technologies that can help assist people in avoiding those problems all together.

 

The device that is currently used to determine problems with landslides is called an electronic inclinometer and is placed on slopes that are considered a major risk, but only notifies us when the slope’s angle is changed from what it was originally. This gives us little more than minutes to do anything about it, and that means anyone already there has no warning or time to react. This is what led to new methods being sought out.

 

Instead, this new system would be implanting modules of fiber optic cables all around slopes that are problematic, then as any of the soil shifts or any pressure is built into tensile strain the modules will catch it and relay it back to someone, which can give upwards of a few hours or more for action to be taken. These fiber optic modules are also far sturdier than the inclinometer, which means less damage done to them as well when a slide occurs.

 

This version with fiber optics was also developed after an idea about using acoustic sensors in the mountains could help determine when I slide might occur. So far, the fiber cables seem to be more effective, but scientists are still doing their best to determine what other kinds of options they have with predicting landslides to save more people.

FIBER OPTICS HELPING WITH PREGNANCY TESTS

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In an earlier post, we discussed the virtue of “going optic” and how America should be rewired, so to speak, with fiber optics – and while we focused primarily on Internet speeds, we would do you a grave disservice if we didn’t talk about all the other exciting developments going on in the world of fiber optics, most notably regarding pregnancy and ailments.

 

10769396_SAccording to this Medical Daily article, fiber optics might make it possible for smartphones to detect pregnancy and monitor diabetes. We have come a long, long way from the Stone Age – that’s for sure – like we’re riding a train made of fiber optics and bulleting into the future. You see, smartphones are on their way to reading biomolecular tests, such as pregnancy tests, thanks to developing research from Hanover Centre for Optical Technologies in Germany.

 

The brains behind this project, Kort Bremer and Bernhard Roth, say, “We have the potential to develop small and robust lab-on-a-chip devices for smartphones. So, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors could become ubiquitous now. SPR is what affords “real-time, label-free detection of biomolecular interactions…when polarized light strikes an electrically conducting surface at the interface between two media.”

 

In other words, they are developing a self-contained sensor that will be able to operate within an app. If development takes off, this sensor will assist app users with blood, urine, saliva, sweat, breath, and more. This seems straight out of science fiction, doesn’t it? It’s happening though, which shows just how powerful fiber optics can be.

 

We have cool developments with fiber optics in terms of the medical industry. This all might be speeded up if this fiber optic evolution completes its course. An engineering breakthrough by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, has the potential to double the speed of fiber optic networks.

 

PowerlinesAs reported in this CIO Today article, “The discovery at UC San Diego would potentially allow optical signals to be transmitted with far greater energy without suffering from the same level of distortion. That, in turn, would mean fewer signal repeaters would be required. The researchers were able to transmit a signal 12,000 kilometers without using repeaters and successfully decode it – a new record. “

 

At Connected Fiber, we are more than thrilled with this discovery as it could change the face of fiber optics as we know it, but also all the industries that depend on fiber optics. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.

NEW MEDICAL APPLICATIONS FOR FIBER OPTIC TECHNOLOGY

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Most people think of fiber optics in relation to internet connectivity, but there are a wide range of fields where this technology can prove useful. In fact, new efforts have been made to take advantage of fiber optics in the medical community.

 

But just how is this technology useful to doctors? It turns out that it can enhance miniature microscopy, allowing healthcare professionals to see hard-to-reach tissue.

 

Optical fiber is extremely bendable, which means it could be used to reach almost any place inside the body. Combining fiber optic cables with miniature microscopes could allow doctors to detect problems in the body in ways they could never have dreamed of doing before. Fiber optics and microscopes? They do make a good pair!

 

According to this Bioopticsworld.com article, a professor at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville recently turned a simple microscope into one of these fiber optic devices. The device works by passing light through the lens, which can be carried along the fiber optic cable and over the sample. By using optical fiber as a medium, the professor was able to transmit an image from one end of the microscope to the other. But just how clear are these images? Well, the exact quality and resolution depends on a few factors, including the fiber diameter.

 

While we may still be in the early days of people figuring out all of the uses for optical fiber, especially in the medical field, these are exciting times. Inventions like this fiber optic microscope is just one of several advancements that we hope to see in the coming years. For more news about fiber optics keep checking back with our blog!

USING FIBER OPTICS TO COMMUNICATE IN OUTER SPACE

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Whew…much of what we talk about this blog seems to be the stuff of sci-fi poetry. Underwater cables spider webbing the world, bringing together our various voices and helping us to communicate. Additionally, a lot of what we talk about seems to be the stuff of sci-fi espionage or cosmic noir. All up and down the California coast, shadowy criminals cutting cords in the middle of the night. That is all fascinating, but there’s one thing we’ve haven’t brought up and that’s how fiber optics will help humanity take that next great leap: space. Yes, we’re talking about space travel. There has been much momentum of late regarding the technological capabilities of manmade space travel with the help of fiber optics. Or, at the very least, can help humanity better shoot their message into space as discussed in this Live Science article.

 

Stephanie Pappas of Live Science talks with Doug Vakoch, a researcher at the SETI Institute in charge of interstellar message composition, which means an organization dedicated to trying to make contact with aliens. We know, we know – a little farfetched, but it’s interesting to see how fiber optics plays a role in this (almost) Holy Grail quest.

 

HE SAYS, “IF ANOTHER CIVILIZATION WANTS TO CONCEAL ITS IDENTITY, IT DOESN’T EVEN HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ENCRYPTION. IF YOU LOOK AT TELECOMMUNICATIONS AS IT IS DEVELOPING HERE ON EARTH, WE HAVE BEEN NOISY IN THE PAST. WE HAD A LOT OF TV AND RADIO GOING OUT INTO SPACE. NOW, AS WE SHIFT TO COMMUNICATION BY FIBER-OPTIC OR BY TELECOMMUNICATION SATELLITE, THERE IS LESS OF THIS LEAKAGE GOING OFF INTO SPACE.”

We understand what you must be thinking – That guy sounds crazy, and you might be right, but whether aliens exist or don’t exist isn’t really the point; what’s important to note is that more and more people see fiber optics as a way to branch off into space, into that great beyond. If we can spider web the world through undersea cables, wouldn’t it make sense if we can spider the skies above? It makes sense to us!

BRITISH RESEARCHERS MAKE FIBER OPTICS EVEN FASTER

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The UK isn’t known for having especially fast broadband speeds. Last month, a group of business leaders in Britain published a study in which they accused the UK government of having a “poverty of ambition” that has caused the country to lag behind other developed nations in the adoption of high speed fiber optic internet. The authors of the study argue that improved broadband speeds would increase productivity in British businesses and allow them to offer greater flexibility to their employees.

 

Well, the UK government might be suffering from a poverty of ambition, but the nation’s scientists certainly aren’t.

 

A group of researchers at University College London’s Optical Networks Group (ONG) recently announced that they had developed a new technique that allows them to achieve data transfer rates of up to 1.125 terabits per second using fiber optic cables. That’s roughly 50,000 times faster than the average broadband connection in the UK. To put those transfer speeds in perspective, the researchers explain that they would allow you to download the entire “Game of Thrones” series in seconds.

 

SO HOW DID THEY DO IT?

The research team at ONG took highly efficient methods of data compression used in Wi-Fi signals and adapted them for use with optical signals. The data was transferred by sending 15 pulses of light at different frequencies simultaneously toward a special receiver capable of quickly processing all that information. The technique would allow them to use existing fiber optic infrastructure to achieve unprecedented transfer speeds.

 

The researchers say the next step is to test their technique over long distances to assess the effects of signal decay and distortion. It might be a while before we have 1 Tbps transfer speeds in our living rooms, but breakthroughs like this are bringing us closer ever day.

CALIFORNIA GAS PIPELINES WILL GET FIBER OPTIC MONITORS

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In addition to bringing the Internet to people all over the world, optical signals have a host of other lesser-known uses as well. Recently, the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) announced that it will use optical fibers to help monitor and maintain the subterranean gas lines that carry fuel throughout the state. The first phase of the fiber optic monitoring system will be installed on a seven-mile stretch of pipeline north of Los Angeles later this year.

 

The optical fibers will be buried 36 inches underground, and about 12 inches above the pipelines they’ll monitor. They will be connected to a remote station that will provide technicians with early warning alerts at the first sign of trouble. By interpreting changes in the optical signal, the monitoring system is able to identify and distinguish between different types of damage such as a leak or accidental dig-in by a third party contractor. It’s able to pinpoint the location of the damage to within 20 feet.

 

“The technology quickly detects when abnormal stress, movement or temperature conditions are present,” said a SoCalGas representative in a press release. “Continuous monitoring and measurement will help the company quickly identify threats to a pipeline from heavy equipment operation, unexpected earth movement or physical impact.”

 

SoCalGas plans to install the fiber optic monitors on all if its new and replacement pipelines in the future. The company is confident that the system will help to prevent leaks, and allow repair crews to respond quickly in the event of an emergency. Ultimately, this could make more than 100,000 miles of gas pipelines safer and more reliable for the communities they serve.

FIBER OPTICS WILL SOON CONNECT REMOTE ARCTIC COMMUNITIES

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You might think your old DSL connection was slow, but it’s still probably a whole lot faster than the internet connections that reach many of the residents of the Alaskan North Slope and Bering Sea coastline. These folks are still stuck with near dial-up speeds from satellite providers that are prone to latency and connectivity issues. In recent years, this lack of reliable broadband access has hampered economic development, education and healthcare in the region.

 

Before too long, however, more than 26,500 Alaska residents will be connected to the rest of the world by a 1 Gbps fiber optic network. The project is called the “Quintillion Sub-Sea Cable System,” and it’s expected to reach 6 villages in Alaska by mid-2017.

 

The first phase of the project will focus on connecting northern Alaska with the country’s lower 48 states. Phase two and three will connect Japan and London to the network via 15,000 km of undersea cable. This will not only dramatically improve connectivity to the arctic, but also act as a backup connection to Europe and Asia in case undersea cables connected to the East Coast of North America are compromised.

 

The project has been delayed a number of times since it was first announced in 2013, but now it’s finally about to become a reality. Residents in Alaska are understandably excited about the new opportunities that will be afforded by Gigabit Internet speeds. Healthcare facilities in particular are looking forward to being able to communicate with doctors around the globe and provide improved care for patients.

 

Once this massive undertaking is complete, we’ll be one step closer to living in a connected, cooperative world.

COMMON USES FOR FIBER OPTIC CABLES

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Fiber optic cables have been around for years now, but over the last decade or two, companies have come up with all sorts of ways to put them to good use. Fiber optic cables contain a few thousand optical fibers inside of them, and they are used to transmit data by utilizing light. They have changed the way that information is sent all over the world, and in the coming years, they are going to be used even more than they already are today. Let’s take a look at some of the most common uses for fibers optic cables.

 

INTERNET

Because fiber optic cables are able to take incredibly large amounts of data and move them quickly, they are primarily used by those who use the internet. Data used to be moved around through the use of copper wires, but those wires weren’t equipped to move the data as quickly as fiber optic cables can do it. So there are more and more places that are turning to fiber optic cables for their internet needs.

 

TELEPHONE

People from all over the globe have always been able to keep in touch by using the telephone, but they’ve never been able to do it as easily as they can do it today through the use of fiber optic cables. You can connect with anyone in the world faster when you rely on fiber optic cables, and you can have an entire conversation with someone without experiencing any lag or disruptions.

 

AUTOMOBILES

While most people think that fiber optic cables are only used for communications, there are lots of other practical uses for it as well. Those in the automotive industry rely on fiber optic cables when installing lighting and safety features in many of today’s cars. Fiber optics can provide excellent lighting without taking up much space, and they can also transmit information within the various systems located in vehicles quickly and effortlessly. It’s why so many car companies are starting to find interesting new ways to use fiber optic cables.

THE PROCESS OF FIBER OPTIC SPLICING

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If and when fiber optic cables get accidentally severed, they can be joined together again using one of two methods. There’s “termination” and there’s “splicing.” Fiber optic splicing is the preferred method for joining two different types of cable together or when cable runs are considered too long for just a single length of fiber.

 

MECHANICAL VERSUS FUSION SPLICING

Speaking of splicing, there are two types: mechanical and fusion. When mechanical splicing is performed, simple alignment devices are used. These hold two fiber ends in such a position that light can pass from one fiber into the other. Fusion splicing, on the other hand, involves a machine that aligns fiber ends while welding them together using heat or electric. Fusion splices result in lower loss light transmissions than mechanical splices do. Cost-wise, mechanical may be a lower investment initially, but then costs per splice are expensive, whereas fusion’s the opposite: a higher investment initially followed by a lower cost per splice.

 

Depending on the industry, mechanical or fusion splicing both work well. Many telecom/cable companies go with fusion splicing for long haul singlemode networks and then use mechanical splicing for shorter cable runs.

 

For proper fusion splicing, first the fiber is prepared by removing its protective coatings, jackets, etc. Once it’s just clean, bare fiber showing, it’s time to cleave that fiber in a mirror-smooth manner, perpendicular as possible. Ideally, the cleave angle is at .5 degree or less. Next, to fuse the fiber, alignment occurs followed by using a heat/electrical arc to then melt the fibers, welding them together as intended. Finally, the fiber needs protection from bending and tensile forces, so heat shrink tubing is added, and/or silicone gel/mechanical crimping protectors.

 

Regarding mechanical splicing, fibers aren’t held together via a permanent bond. Instead, they get aligned at a centerline whereas light can pass through from one to another thanks to a self-contained assembly that links the two pieces of fiber together. Like fusion splicing, the fiber needs to be prepared and cleaved, but then instead of heat, the index matching gel inside the mechanical splice unit ends up helping to couple the fiber together. Finally, the fiber needs protection, and the completed mechanical splice ends up providing it.

 

Should you ever perform the act of fiber optic splicing, remember that cleanliness is of utmost importance.

WHEN WAS FIBER OPTIC CABLE INVENTED?

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There are many people who believe fiber optics are the future of communication in this country. And for good reason. Fiber optic cables are currently being used to send voice messages, images, videos, and more at the speed of light. The fiber rods are made of glass or plastic and have the capability of sending data quicker and more effectively than the old metal wires that have been used to do the same thing for many years now. But when and where were fiber optics first invented?

 

THE HISTORY OF FIBER OPTIC CABLES

The history of fiber optic cables actually dates back to the mid-1800s. While the cables themselves weren’t invented back then, the technology behind them was first researched when scientists and inventors like John Tyndall, Alexander Graham Bell, and William Wheeler started toying around with the idea of using the speed of light to transmit information. Over the next 100 years or so, other researchers continued to push forward with the idea of using light to send data before a group of Corning Glass researchers, including Robert Maurer, Donald Keck, and Peter Schultz, first invented fiber optic wires—then called “Optical Waveguide Fibers”—that could carry about 65,000 times more data than copper wires. It was a huge development.

 

The U.S. government was one of the first big organizations to start using fiber optic cables when they utilized them to link a network of computers together in the NORAD headquarters in Colorado in 1975. Two years later, the first telephone communication system using fiber optic cables was created in Chicago. And fiber optics grew from there. By the end of the 1990s, about 80 percent of the globe’s long-distance data traffic was transmitted through fiber optic cables, according to ThoughtCo. And the fiber optics craze continues today with many companies using it to transmit data quickly both within their own walls and out in the world.

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO FIBER OPTICS

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Fiber optics is a term that has become common in the telecommunications and networking industries. As this technology has become more standard, it has revolutionized data transmission. Are you wondering what all the excitement is surrounding fiber optics? Here’s a beginner’s guide to fiber optics.

 

AN INTRODUCTION TO FIBER OPTICS

Fiber optic cable is a special cable that replaces the older, copper wiring that was used for phone and data signal transmission for many years. Whereas copper cable is used by sending electrical signals along the wire, fiber optic cables are used by sending bursts of light along the cable. The light signals may be generated with a laser or with LEDs. Fiber optic cable is made of tiny glass strands that are wrapped in a layer of cladding that allows the light to be carried along the cable.

 

THE BENEFITS OF FIBER OPTICS

Fiber optic cable offers many advantages over traditional copper cable. Fiber optics is a considerably faster technology because light travels much faster than electricity does through copper. This speed difference is important for transmitting large amounts of data over a network or streaming video. Fiber optic signals are also more reliable because they are less susceptible to interference or signal loss over longer distances.

 

FIBER OPTICS NEEDS

The majority of fiber optic cable has been installed for long-distance connections, but it is now becoming more popular for local connections as well. While fiber optics offer incredible speed and bandwidth gains over copper, many homes and businesses still connect to the fiber optic lines outside of the building with copper. Installations that are known as Fiber to the Premises of Fiber to the Building actually connect the building network using fiber optics as well. This type of installation avoids the bottleneck associated with copper wiring in the building.

HOW DO WE USE OPTICAL FIBER?

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Fiber optic cables, which contain very thin strands of glass that are used to transmit information through light, have become more and more common over the last 10 years. You might not even realize it, but the cables are used for a variety of things. Check out at some of the ways fiber optic cables are used in our everyday lives.

 

HIGH-SPEED INTERNET

One of the biggest advantages of using fiber optic cables over traditional copper cables is that they are capable of transmitting large amounts of data very quickly. This makes them perfect for internet providers who want to give their customers the opportunity to obtain high-speed internet. Fiber optic cables are a lot less bulky than other cables and they can also carry way more data, which makes them an ideal internet solution.

 

CABLE TV

The need for improved signal transmission has grown exponentially in the cable industry in recent years. Most people have high-definition TVs these days, and in order for cable companies to keep up with the bandwidth and speed issues associated with people using them, they utilize fiber optic cables. Fiber optic cables allow cable companies to deliver data to customers quickly, which results in a better overall cable experience for everyone.

 

COMPUTER NETWORKING

Does your office rely on a network to keep all employees on the same page? If so, there are probably lots and lots of fiber optic cables running through the walls and ceilings of your building. These cables keep your company connected and allow you to send something to someone in your company in a matter of just seconds.

 

LIGHTING

While not all lighting solutions use fiber optic cables, there are a lot of lighting setups and even things like Christmas decorations that now incorporate fiber optic cables into the mix. Fiber optic cables are, for the most part, affordable and easy to use when doing lighting projects; therefore, many manufacturers have started to create products with them.

WHAT CAN AFFECT THE LONGEVITY OF YOUR FIBER OPTIC NETWORK?

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More and more people are starting to see all of the benefits that come along with installing fiber optic networks. As a result, many home and business owners are turning to fiber optics for all of their connectivity needs. They are using fiber optic network to connect TVs, computers, and many other electronics. However, there are some people who are concerned about how long fiber optic networks might last in the grand scheme of things, since they are made, in part, of glass. Take a look at a few of the factors that could impact how long your specific network lasts.

 

PROTECTION

The fiber inside of fiber optic cables have surface flaws that can cut down on their overall lifespan. Fortunately, those who manufacture the cables have figured out a simple way to reduce these flaws and to protect the cables as a whole. Fiber optic cables typically come coating in a protective material that is designed to make the fibers more durable. You should invest in fiber optic cables that utilize the most protective materials in order to ensure your cables last longer.

 

INSTALLATION

Pulling fiber optic cables during the installation process can cause them stretch and can actually cut down on their lifespan right from the very start. The stretching can wear the cables out and put an unnecessary strain on them. Instead, fiber optic cable installers should push cables during the installation process, as this is a much safer way of installing them.

 

ENVIRONMENT

There are a range of environmental factors that can affect the lifespan of a fiber optic cable network. Too much heat, for example, can reduce the life of the cables. Exposure to water can also lead to problems with a fiber optic network down the line. By reducing the effects that the environment has on fiber optic cables, you can make a fiber optic network last a lot longer.

FIBER OPTICS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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Have you noticed that more and more things are becoming computerized? Even the roads we drive on will be highly influenced by computer technology in the days to come…

 

For now, people drive their own cars and trucks on roads, highways, and elsewhere. We live in a mobile society, and with so many people in traffic, obviously traffic control systems are paramount to a structured, well-functioning society.

 

INTELLIGENT TRAFFIC SYSTEMS

There’s such a thing as “intelligent traffic systems (ITS).” These systems utilize technology to help prevent traffic congestion. Case in point– you’re using your smartphone to take a trip from the northeast to  the southwest. Along the way, you have your phone telling you what roads to take, where to turn, etc. Here’s where it gets interesting: say there’s a car crash on Route 77 near Charlotte. Your phone amazingly knows this information, and it alerts you to it. “You can save 15 minutes by taking this alternative route,” it will tell you. That’s a perfect example of how technology literally impacts a regular person’s everyday life– while they’re taking a road trip.

 

Fiber Optics and Driving ITS is used to help control the flow of traffic. For instance, it can help figure out when to open and close certain gates on a highway allowing access to additional traffic lanes. Or say it’s foggy in a certain area at a certain time. ITS sensors detect this fog and send messages to electronic signs to be seen by commuters, alerting them to hazardous driving conditions ahead… and that same “fog” message can appear on a person’s smartphone map, too.

 

Before you go on a road trip, you can log in to certain websites that’ll tell you information about how busy traffic is in hot spots around town. For instance, one map might use red lines along a highway to indicate heavy traffic, whereas yellow is medium and green is light traffic/no delays. Another great use of technology is to tell people how long the wait is at bridge crossings. Say, for example, you want to enter Canada from Michigan– there’s real-time data that allows you to see, visually, what the border looks like, as well as “wait times” listed online. If there are multiple bridges at your preferred border crossing, you can compare the wait times and choose a route that seems fastest. Again, this is technology helping make life a little easier for those who travel.

 

TECHNOLOGY TO HELP US DRIVE SAFER

What can we expect in the future with regards to sensors and computers helping people drive better, safer and smarter? Well, vehicles are already being equipped with technology to avoid bumper-to-bumper collisions, improve vision in poor weather, and even alert drowsy drivers. The newer your vehicle, the more likely you are to find new features that didn’t exist before. It’s like your car is a computer, itself, monitoring things like tire air pressure and oil levels, alerting you when they need attention. “Smart cars” are being made for “smart highways.” That’s where we’re at right now.

 

FIBER OPTICS IS A MAJOR REASON WHY IT’S ALL POSSIBLE

What’s making all this possible? For one, it’s fiber optic links. ITS networks handle a lot of data and they need to do so quickly and efficiently. You wouldn’t want this info delivered over old-fashioned copper wires… that’s horse-and-buggy technology at this point. Today, fiber optics carry much of society’s information over all sorts of distances, both near and far. They’re the backbone of modern communication, as well as ITS networks.

 

While driving along highways, you’re likely to see signals, sensors, cameras and other equipment that collect and transmit data. Fiber optic links play a pivotal role in ITS infrastructure, handling an ever-increasing amount of data. Thanks to fiber optics, information can be collected in one place and then transmitted and stored in another place. That’s why a camera can catch you speeding on the highway, and you get a letter in the mail telling you this– somewhere there’s a photo of your license plate, showing you go through a certain detection area clocked at 88 miles per hour in a 65 mile per hour zone. Again, this is an example of a “smart highway,” although one speeders don’t like!

 

Actually, terrorism has made the whole ITS thing grow rapidly in recent years, as the government is very concerned about homeland security. They want to be able to do surveillance of roadways, keeping tabs on what vehicles go where and when. Funding to make roads “smarter” is often linked to homeland security concerns. In other words, the government is spending money on projects to watch people, whether they like it or not.

 

We live in an increasingly online, digital world. Fiber optics makes this possible. Life, as we know it, will change a lot in the next hundred years. It’ll be interesting to see what changes happen to road travel in the decades to come thanks to technological advances.

MECHANICAL SPLICES VS FUSION SPLICES OF OPTICAL FIBER

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When a fiber optic company is installing, replacing, or repairing fiber optic cables, there is likely going to come a time when fiber optic splicing will need to be done. More often than not, it happens when a piece of fiber optic cable is not long enough to reach its desired destination. Fiber optic splicing makes it possible to take two pieces of fiber optic cable and splice them together in order to create one long piece of fiber optic cable. It really comes in handy for many companies who specialize in dealing with fiber optic cable all the time.

 

MECHANICAL SPLICING

There are two main ways to go about splicing fiber optic cables. The first is called mechanical splicing and it can usually be done in a matter of just a few minutes. To do a mechanical splice, you need to take the outer protective layer of a fiber optic cable and strip it back. Then, you need to clean it and make a precise cut in the cable. From there, you will need to do the same thing to the piece of cable you want to connect it to and put them together using a sleeve. You will then need to clamp the cables in place and use a special gel to enhance the light transmission through the mechanical splice.

 

FUSION SPLICING

Fusion splices, on the other hand, are slightly more complicated and cost a lot more to do. When you do this kind of splice, you need to take the two ends of fiber optic cable you want to join together and melt them. This needs to done using an electric arc that is specifically designed for forming a fusion splice in fiber optic cables. The protective coating needs to one removed and the ends of the cables need to be cut before they are aligned and then fused together. It’s more costly to perform this kind of splice, but it will typically provide you with better light transmission and, therefore, better overall results.

WHAT IS DARK FIBER AND HOW CAN IT BE USED?

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Have you heard of “dark fiber?” This term refers to unused network infrastructure– optical fiber that’s not in use, with no light going through it. Since data is transported over fiber networks using light passed through cables, if and when no data is being transported, the fiber goes dark.

 

WHERE IS DARK FIBER?

Where might you find dark fiber? In many cases, when companies initially install fiber optics they tend to overestimate the amount of infrastructure and cabling needed for the present time. It’s kind of like when a municipality builds extra roads in a neighborhood, “just in case” they’re needed at some time. Basically, there are many fiber optic networks these days which have extra capacity that’s not being used– plenty of dark fiber exists all over the U.S.A.

 

Here’s where it gets interesting: dark fiber networks currently exist because the available dark fiber is being leased from network providers and operators. These dark fiber networks are separate from main networks. Clients get to control them instead of the network provider being in charge. If this were the music industry, dark fiber would be your indie rock bands operating out of the mainstream, while typical fiber optic networks would be the major label bands everyone hears on the radio.

 

DARK FIBER NETWORKS

Fiber Optic Systems How are dark fiber networks set up? They can be done in rings, point-to-point, or point-to-multipoint configurations. Companies who utilize these networks can expect superfast speeds and high security.

 

Dark fiber is able to excel in today’s world thanks to dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM). Multiple data signals can be transmitted at the same time over the same optical fiber. Data signals are kept separate thanks to different wavelengths. Thanks to DWDM, bandwidth is increased and more data can be sent. In essence, DWDM turns a single optical fiber cable into multiple “virtual” fibers.

 

Dark fiber networks have high capacity and don’t use as much power as more mainstream ones because of DWDM technology. Furthermore, signal strength is excellent and quite immune to interference.

 

For some time, companies and organizations have been choosing Ethernet broadband services, but dark fiber is making inroads as a viable competitor. In the past, dark fiber was a choice for large multinational corporations, but now it’s available and affordable for smaller companies.

 

Think of fiber networks like telephone wires of old– they run along a road on the one side of the road, right? Some buildings, thus, have easy access to them. Others do not. Fiber connections can be made, depending on location, and, of course, there’s a cost involved when adding to the overall network. Now if a company isn’t on the “main path” of fiber optics, it might make more fiscal sense to buy or rent dark fiber in order to create their own network. While it may take months to install, for those who plan ahead it can be a smart business decision.

 

OTHER DARK FIBER APPLICATIONS

Especially important to certain companies or organizations is the ability to receive fiber that’s “all to themselves” for security purposes. Dark fiber allows this to be true. It can be fortified with AES-strength encryption, too, such that data cannot be intercepted even with a break. Meanwhile, with dark fiber, wavelengths can be configured as per needs, and easily reconfigured as needs change. If a company or organization wants to use as many wavelengths as possible, they can– or they can choose to just “light up” a few– it’s their decision.

 

Besides business applications, dark fiber has been studied for scientific purposes. Recently, scientists at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that dark fiber can be used as sensors for detecting earthquakes, the presence of groundwater, changes in permafrost conditions, and other subsurface goings-on. For example, researchers used fiber optic cables with novel processing techniques in order to monitor and measure seismic waves. The new technology is called “distributed acoustic sensing,” and works, thanks, in part, to dark fiber.

 

A lot of dark fiber exists buried underground across the country thanks to a huge rush in the 1990s. At that time, telecom companies all wanted to install fiber optic cables. Over time, the technology for transmitting data improved, to the point where many of those fibers went dark– they just weren’t needed anymore. That said, why waste them, right?

 

FASCINATING DARK FIBER USES

Fiber Optics and EarthquakesDark fiber is being experimented with in California with regards to earthquake research/detection as well as Alaska with respect to monitoring the stability of Arctic permafrost. Keep in mind that fiber is under the ocean as well as under the land, so it’s ubiquitous. Therefore, it makes sense to utilize it to the best of our current and future knowledge.

 

Today, dark fiber can and will help people figure out when and where earthquakes will occur, hopefully warning people “ahead of time” so they can get as safe as possible. And, of course, dark fiber can be used for business purposes, too. With more and more research, new uses for dark fiber are being discovered, including nuclear explosion monitoring, microearthquake characterization, and offshore submarine volcano detection. Expect more developments in the years to come.

THE IMPORTANCE OF CLEANING FIBER OPTIC CABLES

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Fiber optic cables are becoming more and more important in our daily lives. They’re used to transmit large amounts of information very quickly, and we rely on them to maintain strong phone, cable, and internet connections. In addition, there are plenty of other practical applications for fiber optic cables, as they’ve found a home in the medical and dental industries and have even been worked into many vehicles and lighting systems.

 

If you use fiber optic cables regularly, you should take the time to clean them so they don’t slow down on you. If a small amount of oil from your hands or dust is able to make its way into your fiber optic cables, it could send your entire system crashing down. Something as small as a dust particle could potentially stop the light inside the cables from getting where it needs to go. That in turn could slow down the transmission of data and reduce the benefits of using fiber optic cables in the first place.

 

You can use a dry or wet cleaning approach to cleaning your fiber optic cables, though you should avoid using wet cleaning when it comes to bulkheads and receptacles. Dry cleaning should also be the first course of action you take when cleaning fiber optic cables. You want to use a swab to gently clean your fiber optic cable connections so that data is able to pass freely through the cables and arrive at its final destination. You should never scrub connections or get too rough with them since that could cause damage. You also want to shy away from touching connectors with your bare hands since that could defeat the purpose of cleaning them in the first place.

 

While cleaning fiber optic cables is important, it’s also important to leave the tough fiber optic jobs to the professionals. If you don’t understand how to clean your cables or you need other services completed, please contact us at sales@fiber-mart.com to schedule service. We can keep your fiber optic cables clean and allow you to maintain strong connections with them at all times.

WHICH MATERIALS ARE COMMONLY FOUND IN FIBER OPTIC CABLES?

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There is a wide assortment of applications for fiber optic cables, which is why they’re popping up in more and more places today. You will find fiber optic cables in telecommunications networks, in hospitals, in cars, and even in certain types of outdoor lighting. But do you know what fiber optic cables are actually made from? Here are some of the materials commonly found in fiber optic cables.

 

POLYVINYL CHLORIDE, BETTER KNOWN AS PVC

PVC can be found in fiber optic cables that are used both inside and outside. It features flame retardant properties and is resistant to many different environmental factors. It’s not quite as flexible as polyethylene, or PE, but you will still find it in many fiber optic cables despite this.

 

POLYETHYLENE, BETTER KNOWN AS PE

PE is one of the most popular cable jacket materials used in those fiber optic cables found outdoors. It’s resistant to both moisture and weather and is also known to be a great insulator. It can become very stiff when it gets cold outside, but PE is more flexible than PVC in most instances. You can make PE flame retardant by treating it with special chemicals.

 

FLUOROPOLYMERS

Typically found in fiber optic cables that are used for indoor applications, fluoropolymers are flame resistant and include low smoke properties. They also make fiber optic cables very flexible.

 

STEEL ARMOR

When fiber optic cables are buried deep underground for outdoor applications, they need to be protected. Steel armor provides them with all the protection they need. It can offer them crush resistance and prevent rodents from doing damage to the cables. Cables that include steel armor do need to be grounded properly, but there are advantages that make it worth the effort on the part of a fiber optic cable installer.

 

ARAMID YARN

You will often find aramid yarn inside of the cable jacket of fiber optic cables. It surrounds the fibers inside of the cables and protects them. It’s one of the things that makes fiber optic cables so durable and long-lasting.

WHY FIBER OPTIC CABLING NETWORKS ARE A GOOD INVESTMENT

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Keeping up with technology is tough to do these days. New technology products drop, and by the time people understand how to use them, there are already newer products released to take their place. It’s why investing in technology is usually not a great idea. Nevertheless, despite this, fiber optic cabling networks are proving to be a solid investment. Here are some reasons for it.

 

FIBER OPTIC CABLES ARE DURABLE.

The first thing that makes a fiber optic cabling network such a good investment is its durability. When you install fiber optic cables properly, they shouldn’t have to be replaced for decades. They will be able to withstand almost any conditions, and if a problem does pop up, it’s usually simple enough to replace a portion of fiber optic cabling rather than ripping out the entire network.

 

THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND FIBER OPTIC CABLES ISN’T CHANGING MUCH.

While just about all technology is changing and evolving more rapidly than ever before right now, fiber optic cables are more or less staying the same. It’s the equipment that uses the fiber optic cables that is changing instead. That means that you can make a fiber optic cabling network faster and more efficient by introducing new equipment into it rather than replacing the network itself.

 

INSTALLING FIBER OPTIC CABLING ISN’T EXPENSIVE.

One of the best parts about installing fiber optic cables is that they won’t cost you very much money at all. While fiber optic cables used to command a hefty price, that price has gone down over the last decade and made it more affordable than ever to go with fiber optic cables. When you couple that with all the other benefits of using a fiber optic cabling network, installing this kind of cabling is really a no-brainer.

HOW DOES WINTER AFFECT FIBER OPTIC TESTING?

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Fiber optic testing can be performed at any time of the year. It doesn’t matter if it’s the dog days of summer or the dead of winter. You can have a fiber optic network tested to make sure signals are moving through it quickly. But there are some challenges that come along with conducting fiber optic testing in the wintertime. Check out a few of them below.

 

FIBER OPTIC CABLES AREN’T ALWAYS EASY TO ACCESS.

To carry out fiber optic testing, a fiber optic company needs to be able to get access to fiber optic cables. If those cables have just been installed, that’s usually not a problem. But if fiber optic testing is being done on an existing network, it can be slightly more difficult. Fiber optic cables could be located in an area that’s not particularly easy to access due to wintry conditions, the rock-hard ground, and other factors.

 

FIBER OPTIC TESTING EQUIPMENT NEEDS TO BE WARMED UP PROPERLY.

There is a bunch of equipment that is used to conduct fiber optic testing. While that equipment can usually perform well in wintry weather, freezing-cold temperatures might cause problems with it. Additionally, the equipment will often need to be warmed up before fiber optic testing can take place. This can cause fiber optic testing to take a little bit longer than usual.

 

SNOW AND ICE CAN DELAY FIBER OPTIC TESTING BY A FEW DAYS.

In the event of snow, ice, hail, or some other winter weather, a fiber optic company will still make every effort to come out and do fiber optic testing for you. But there’s a chance that winter weather could force you to delay fiber optic testing if it gets to be bad enough. Things don’t always go as planned when it comes to doing fiber optic testing during the winter.

WHAT CAUSES DAMAGE TO FIBER OPTIC CABLES?

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As long as fiber optic cables are installed properly, they should stand up to just about anything and continue to do their jobs. Nevertheless, there are certain instances in which fiber optic cables stop working due to unpredictable damage. Here are a few common examples:

 

ANIMALS CHEW THROUGH THEM

There are all kinds of animals out there, including everything from rats and rabbits to squirrels and bears, that will do damage to fiber optic cables if they come across them. In some cases, squirrels have been known to gnaw through fiber optic cables and knock out internet service for millions of people. In others, bears have ripped fiber optic cables to shreds with their teeth. Although it’s relatively rare to see animals damaging fiber optic cables, it does happen every now and then.

 

VANDALS CUT THEM

Animals aren’t the only ones who seem to enjoy cutting off fiber optic connections. Over the years, there have also been thousands of vandals who have intentionally cut fiber optic cables for one reason or another. While some of them have done it in an effort to steal fiber optic cables, others have done it just to do it and have restricted internet access for others in the process.

 

WEATHER RESTRICTS THEM

Fiber optic cables are designed to stand up to most weather conditions. But there have been times when hurricanes, blizzards, and other bad storms have knocked out fiber optic cables and forced repairs to be made. Something as simple as the wind blowing over a telephone pole can restrict fiber optic networks greatly.