Optical and Laser Plug-in Modules for Many Bright Reasons

In today’s world of fast-paced communications, fiber-optic devices on telecom and enterprise networks have to be in top-notch functional order at all times. This can be a punishing regimen unless of course, designers and manufacturers of these devices make it a point to design, build and monitor their products with optical or laser plug-in modules. These modules allow you to effectively detect and address bottlenecks before these burgeon into catastrophic proportions and invoke a total system collapse.

Read more about Fiber Options here

If you want to achieve the above benefits without spending a fortune, consider installing the refurbished optical or laser plug-in modules from Agilent. In particular, consider these models—Agilent 81680A, 86105C, and 81635A.

Please note a mainframe oscilloscope is required to use any of these modules, the Agilent 8164A or the 86100 series.

The Agilent 81680A

The Agilent 81680A is a laser plug-in module that operates in the wavelength range of 1460 nm and 1580 nm. With a maximum power output of 6 dBm and an impressive wavelength accuracy of +/-0.01 nm, this module packs in a powerful performance.

The 81680A from Agilent packs in two optical outputs. The first output port is capable of delivering an ultra-low source spontaneous emission signal that is incredibly effective in accurately measuring various components of a dense-WDM system with multiple tightly packed channels. The second output port on the 81680A provides increased loads of optical power while the in-built attenuator allows the device to adjust by more than 60 dB. The superiority of the model stems from the fact that the output ports are stellar-grade Panda PMF products that strictly define polarization and let you measure waveguide devices consistently and accurately.

Information on the Agilent 81680A can be found here

The Agilent 86105C

The 86105C is best in class and lets you accurately test transmitter compliance and carry out waveform characterization analyses on diverse forms of technologies, like datacom and enterprise, and for different data rates with a single device. The 86105C has a bandwidth of 9 GHz for optical devices and 20 GHz for electrical devices and operates across a wavelength range of 750 to 1650 nm. It has a typical sensitivity of -21 to -16 dBm. However, the greatest feature of the Agilent 86105C plug-in module is its unprecedented filter rate coverage that also future-proofs it. The expansive filter coverage and extreme sensitivity of this module makes it an ideal testing device for a wide range of Ethernet, SONET, and Fiber Channel technologies and across a wide spectrum. The Agilent 86105C can be an indispensable tool in any manufacturing and R&D environment.

View the Agilent 86105C here

The Agilent 81635A

The Agilent 81635A is a dual optical power sensor that can simultaneously measure devices with multiple channels. It has an impressive power range of +10 to -80 dBm and thus enables you to implement a diverse array of measurement applications such as logging data and recording maximum and minimum values over a specific period of time. It enables you to perform powerful spectral measurement exercises with improved polarization dependence and higher resolution across multiple channels. This allows you to achieve immense time- and cost-efficiency.

View the Agilent 81635A

The above-mentioned Agilent models of laser or optical plug-in modules are essential tools to monitor the functionality of complex and sophisticated fiber-optic devices. These refurbished models are an excellent value.

Fiber Optic Controls and Astronomic Interferometry Experts to Unite for Next-Generation Space Imaging

Military satellites are critical sources of communications and data for today’s operations environments. Through DARPA’s Phoenix program, useable antennas or solar arrays from retired satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GEO – 36,000 kilometers above earth) could be removed and potentially re-purposed as components for new satellites to provide vital mission support. However, identifying cooperating satellites from which to harvest an array is a difficult and lengthy task using current ground-based satellite imaging techniques. By introducing precise fiber optic controls to ground-based telescopes, this challenge may be overcome. DARPA’s Galileo program seeks to bridge the precision fiber optic controls and long-baseline astronomical interferometry technical communities to enable imaging of objects in GEO faster than is possible today.

“We know the fiber optic control community is engaged in precision control of light,” explained Air Force Lt. Col. Travis Blake, DARPA program manager. “If those solutions could be meshed with the unique demands of astronomic imaging, we could develop a new means of better, faster imaging of objects in GEO. We encourage experts from both technical communities to participate in Galileo’s upcoming Proposers’ Day.”

Technology for imaging objects in space uses astronomical long-baseline interferometers, which rely on several interconnected telescopes grouped together to measure light reflections off an astronomical object as it moves across the sky. Current systems, however, can only view space objects from limited angles due to a complicated combination of evacuated light pipes—which can be several hundred feet long—turning mirrors and the active metrology required between telescopes to establish an extremely high-precision optical path.

Imaging objects in GEO is a slow process because they don’t move much in the sky relative to the Earth’s rotation. Galileo seeks to harness the power of precision fiber optic controls to connect astronomical interferometry telescopes via flexible fiber optics cable, removing the need for rigid light pipes. Fiber optics technology may enable a larger number of interconnected mobile telescopes, which could more quickly capture the data required of an object in GEO from multiple angles, resulting in faster image creation.

Single Fibre Arc Fusion Splicer – Fujikura FSM-60S

Worldwide, Fujikura has gained a reputation for developing and manufacturing innovative, high-quality products and nowhere is this more evident than in the company’s range of high precision fibre optic splicers. 65% of all of the fusion splicers currently sold worldwide are manufactured by Fujikura, the Fujikura name has become synonymous with fibre optic fusion splicers and the company has become the world’s leading supplier to telecommunication companies around the globe.

The FSM-60S Fusion Splicer is the next generation to the best-selling FSM-50S. This ruggedized splicing machine is smaller and lighter than its predecessor, and offers increased protection from dust, water, vibration and shock. The FSM-60S also has a battery that can be charged during normal operation, accommodates a variety of clamping systems, and has the option to incorporate a second heater.

Fujikura FSM-60S Single Fibre Arc Fusion Splicer Features:

• Highly Durable – Designed for Tough Environments
• World’s Most Compact & Lightest of its Class
• Core Alignment with Auto-Fibre Identification (PAS)
• 9 sec. Splice Time & 30 sec. Tube-Heat Time
• Auto-Start Tube Heater
• Optional Fibre Clamping Methods
• Splice Image Capture Facility
• Software upgrade via Internet
• Includes Multi-Function Worktable

Splicing Operation Using the Fujikura FSM-60S

A fusion splicer installs, repairs, and maintains fiber optic wires that are used in high-speed communications. A professional uses a number of specialized tools and techniques to cut, connect, and test these optical fibers. He or she usually receives specialized training on how to diagnose problems with cables and make delicate repairs. An expert fiber cleaver might work in a consumer electronics manufacturing plant as an assembler and installer, a communications company, such as cable television or Internet services provider as a fiber optic technician. Optical fibers are minuscule wires made of glass or plastic that are capable of transmitting massive amounts of information through pulsations of light. The process of fusion splicing fibers together involves carefully cutting and exposing bare fibers, then joining the ends using specialized crimping tools, glues, and precision arc welders. Bundles of fibers are usually wrapped together into a cable and insulated with a moisture-proof sheath. Professional fiber splicers frequently attach adapters on the ends of finished cables so they may be plugged into computers or other electronic devices.

New Featured Fusion Splicers:

Fujikura FSM-60S

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Drop Testing The Fujikura FSM-60S

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Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs achieves industry first: 300 Megabits per second over just two traditional DSL lines

Paris, April, 2010 – Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced that its research arm, Bell Labs, has successfully demonstrated a technology that boosts the transmission speeds achievable over just two digital subscriber lines (DSL). In a lab test of “DSL Phantom Mode”, Bell Labs achieved downstream transmission speeds of 300 Megabits per second (Mbps) over distances up to 400 meters (or 100Mbps at 1km). At these speeds, service providers will be able to maximize the ability of the existing copper infrastructure – widely deployed around the world – to satisfy demand for bandwidth-intense residential triple-play and business services, for years to come.

At its core, DSL Phantom Mode involves the creation of a virtual or “phantom” channel that supplements the two physical wires that are the standard configuration for copper transmission lines. Bell Labs’ innovation and the source of DSL Phantom Mode’s dramatic increase in transmission capacity lies in its application of analogue phantom mode technology in combination with industry-standard techniques: vectoring that eliminates interference or “crosstalk” between copper wires, and bonding that makes it possible to take individual lines and aggregate them.

“Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs’ DSL Phantom Mode lab test adds a whole new dimension to the ongoing ‘100Mbps for all’ debate. The fact that existing copper loops can facilitate 300Mbps at 400 meters reshapes the whole next-generation broadband competitive environment – and will open up a wide range of new business opportunities for ‘traditional’ DSL players,” comments Kamalini Ganguly, Analyst from Ovum. “This announcement shows that Alcatel-Lucent is seriously looking at all possible innovations to help its customers speed up the deployment of next-generation access networks, through a smart mix of advanced copper and fiber technologies.”

“We often think of the role innovation plays in generating technologies of the future, but DSL Phantom Mode is a prime example of the role innovation can play in creating a future for existing solutions and injecting them with a new source of value,” said Gee Rittenhouse, head of Research for Bell Labs. “What makes DSL Phantom Mode such an important breakthrough is that it combines cutting edge technology with an attractive business model that will open up entirely new commercial opportunities for service providers, enabling them in particular, to offer the latest broadband IP-based services using existing network infrastructure.”

Further research is being conducted to refine deployment models and determine a specific set of customer premises equipment (CPE)-models compatible with the DSL Phantom Mode technology.

Alcatel-Lucent leads the DSL space on a year-to-date basis – according to Dell’Oro’s latest Access Report*. The vendor recently announced the unique milestone of having shipped its 200 millionth DSL line, and serves one out of three fixed broadband subscribers around the world through its access network technology.  (source www.alcatel-lucent.com)