Maintaining Fiber Optic Cable
Fiber optic cable is everywhere and, once installed properly, it normally just works. But, like everything else, these cables require care and feeding, especially ones repeatedly used in mobile broadcast applications. Here are some recommendations to keep fiber cables in top condition.
Camplex, an assembler of fiber optic cable systems in Saugerties, New York, works with all the leading brands. The company offered several tips for maintaining reliable fiber operations with any brand of product.
Begin by keeping cable connectors clean and dry. Before using fiber optic cables, clean the connectors on the cable and the ports the cable is connected to.
Connectors can easily be contaminated by dust and oils. This can come from oily hands, film residue condensed from air vapors and coatings left after water and solvents evaporate. Moisture can also corrode cable terminations, so cables should always be stored in dry areas.
Another tip is to leave dust caps on until the cable is ready to be connected. Dust caps keep contaminants and moisture away from the connector and protect it from damage.
After removing a dust cap, inspect and clean the ferrule before connecting to another cable or device. Only use cleaning products intended for fiber optic connectors.
Take it easy when handling fiber cables. Cables consist of cladding, coatings and jackets that protect the delicate glass strands and provide durability. However, if jerked or mishandled, the glass strands can fracture. This, of course, affects signal transmission.
Always test cables for failure points. Exceeding the bend radius or crush resistance ratings of the cable can affect performance, so use a visual fault locator (VFL) to find any failure points or a power meter to determine if there is signal loss.
Finally, avoid tangled fiber cables. Be sure to coil fiber optic cables and secure connectors with hook and loop type fasteners. Since compressed cables could cause signal loss, avoid using plastic zip ties. When zip ties are the only solution, cinch the zip ties loosely.
Minimum care is needed to make sure fiber assemblies work properly. If ignored, it can waste a lot of time troubleshooting problems.
You might also like...
Why AI Won’t Roll Out In Broadcasting As Quickly As You’d Think
We’ve all witnessed its phenomenal growth recently. The question is: how do we manage the process of adopting and adjusting to AI in the broadcasting industry? This article is more about our approach than specific examples of AI integration;…
Designing IP Broadcast Systems: Integrating Cloud Infrastructure
Connecting on-prem broadcast infrastructures to the public cloud leads to a hybrid system which requires reliable secure high value media exchange and delivery.
Video Quality: Part 1 - Video Quality Faces New Challenges In Generative AI Era
In this first in a new series about Video Quality, we look at how the continuing proliferation of User Generated Content has brought new challenges for video quality assurance, with AI in turn helping address some of them. But new…
Minimizing OTT Churn Rates Through Viewer Engagement
A D2C streaming service requires an understanding of satisfaction with the service – the quality of it, the ease of use, the style of use – which requires the right technology and a focused information-gathering approach.
Production Control Room Tools At NAB 2024
As we approach the 2024 NAB Show we discuss the increasing demands placed on production control rooms and their crew, and the technologies coming to market in this key area of live broadcast production.