Terminating fibre

[peterb]

Anyone here have any experience terminating fibre? Either using some of the field termination kits or traditional hot/cold processes.

[Dashers]

https://www.anixter.com/en_uk/about-...p-by-step.html

[peterb]

https://www.anixter.com/en_uk/about-...p-by-step.html

Read all that it is just one method (using proprietary connector systems), and more, but I wanted to discuss it with someone with hands on experience, both with proprietary systems like that and lightcrimp, as well as the more conventionsl methods such as epoxy, fusion etc etc

[badass]

No experience terminating fibre myself but what is the requirement?

Is it long range 10GBe?
Is it something else? Of so, what?

I do have experience with high speed comms.

[peterb]

Short range using OM3 cable at 10GB <200 metres. Probably tight jacketed. Audio over IP, but effectively data (everything is data!).

I'm coming to the conclusion that for convenience and simplicity, the proprietary systems are better for low volume work, although the kits are expensive and the connectors about 5 times the cost of conventional connectors. Insertion losses are slightly higher (about .3dB) but no need to polish etc, or waiting for epoxy to cure.

[badass]

Damn. Fibre is the only realistic option. Is this a personal project or related to an employer?
All I can offer is that you should use LC connectors for everything - it makes connectivity simpler.

For future proofing, OM4 can do 40 GBe over 150 meters and in my experience you can get away with going out of spec without problems with the right modules.

All fibre installs I have left to cabling firms so I can't help with what you're actually after knowing!

[Dashers]

Yep, sorry, I have absolutely zero experience in termination. I took one look at the kit being used to weld a couple of cables together and never gave fibre a second thought. Nothing like good old fashioned copper - just that sort of speed over those kind of distances, I can see why you're thinking fibre!

[peterb]

Damn. Fibre is the only realistic option. Is this a personal project or related to an employer?
All I can offer is that you should use LC connectors for everything - it makes connectivity simpler.

For future proofing, OM4 can do 40 GBe over 150 meters and in my experience you can get away with going out of spec without problems with the right modules.

All fibre installs I have left to cabling firms so I can't help with what you're actually after knowing!

It's related to a contract.

Yes, the actual performance will be better as the stated charachterisrptics relate to overfill launch, which is unlikely to be realised in practice (basically forces the fibre in the worst possible propagation state)

I have done quite a lot of research, and I am going to talk to some trade suppliers next week, but I was hoping there might have been someone here with some experience.

Given that fibre has been mainstream telecoms for at least 20 years, I've often wondered why it's never been mainstream for home/soho use, but while fibre is cheap, the termination equipment is expensive!

But thank you both for your input.