Can You Build a Fiber Test Kit On a Budget? 53
An anonymous reader writes "Have any Slashdot readers hacked together cheap test kits for fiber optic cable? More and more IT infrastructure is using multimode and single mode fiber optic cabling. Commercial test equipment is extremely expensive, running the gamut from a few hundred dollars for a basic light source, to tens of thousands for an OTDR. What equipment do you consider essential to your fiber kit? Is there a way to save costs when it comes to fiber test equipment? It is worth it to do so?"
no (Score:0, Insightful)
Cheap Kit == Cheap Results (Score:4, Insightful)
Depends on what you need to do.
There are many different tests you can do on fiber. A basic college course will teach you that.
Do you just want to know if the fiber is not "broken"? a LED and a phototransister can do that.
Want to know if the fiber is the correct mode, optimized for the wavelength of the led, or can support multimode and run parametric tests on the fiber, gee, that gets more expensive.
Its the same for the DIY ethernet cable testers too.
Want to test continuity? a 5$ multimeter will do that.
Want to determine if the cable meets spec? You need better equipment.
Better Equipment GENERALLY equals better [test] results. [ yes, a lot can depend on the skill of the tech operating said equipment too].
Re:Cheap Kit == Cheap Results (Score:3, Insightful)
And that means a Fluke with full fiber gear.
military stuff that i use (Score:1, Insightful)
Im active duty, and in my shop we use a LS/PM model TS-4358 made by EXFO AMERICA. For an OTDR we use an ACTURNA MTS 5000 measurses 850nm and 1300nm wavelengths. The machines are simple to use but have many options.
Multimode fiber reels that I repair come in 500m lengths. I use my led Maglight for simple testing of it passing light or not. So easy a caveman can do it.
Im sure the civilian market has higher standards of min dB loss then the military.