A low voltage alarm specialty contractor, who was hired to install a security system in a new apartment complex, consisting of multiple buildings on a single campus, made a call to Clearnet, requesting fiber optic technical expertise.
Introduction To The Problem
The woman on the phone explained that they were initially just hired to install alarm equipment, but that because there were recently discovered problems with the building communications cabling, they were requested to look into correcting the cabling problems as well.
Research
She started with a short summary of their involvement with the project, stating they were not originally involved with any of the fiber optic cabling requirements but now that they had agreed to assist in troubleshooting and possibly making the necessary repairs.
She gave details regarding the crew that pulled in the original 2 strand fiber optic cables into each apartment unit from the basement communications room. She said that both CenturyLink and Comcast were each to have provided a two strand fiber optic cable, for a total of four strands extending from the communications room on the ground level, extending to each apartment unit, providing internet, TV and other services as needed.
Challenges
As the details were provided, it was stated that no actual testing was completed other than shining a flashlight through the fiber optic strand to confirm it was capable of sending light from one end to the other. The process of the installers was to simply terminate a connector on each end and plug in connectors on both ends of the cable to find out if the status lights began to blink or not. This is not recommended for a variety of reasons but it does save on cost.
As we learned from the phone call, about 80-90% of the circuits were not coming up successfully as the vast majority were failing. Based on this, the customer needed to know if the majority of the problems were originating from the connectors in the telecommunications closet on the ground level, or the connectors within each apartment unit, or was the problem originating from a break or sharp bend of the cable between the two ends of the cable.
Solutions By Clearnet
The caller inquired about Clearnet’s fiber optic troubleshooting capabilities with regard to testing the overall cable for pass / fail, regarding the independent functionality of each fiber optic connector installed, and the cable span itself. Clearnet has the technical expertise and equipment to diagnose and repair all of these areas of concern. The optical loss test equipment provides end to end attenuation at specific wavelengths. The Optical Time Domain Reflectometer provides a look down the inside of the fiber optic strand, detailing information regarding the ability for the connectors and span to conduct light at the specified wavelengths.
Based on the troubleshooting capabilities, Clearnet was hired at the stipulated hourly rates to travel to site and conduct loss testing and OTDR trace testing in both directions. A variety of workmanship issues
