A Lightwave Digital Test Facility (LDTF)

Abstract

This report presents a comprehensive analysis of the construction and implementation of a fiber optic transmission test facility. The facility, utilizing both multimode and single mode cabled fiber with short wavelength (850 nm) and long wavelength (1300 nm) transmission equipment, simulates actual telephone company operating conditions. One-third of the test facility's 37 miles of cabled fiber is strung on telephone poles, while the rest is underground. The report describes the construction procedure, splicing techniques and the instrumentation used for splice optimization, fiber characterization including attenuation and bandwidth measurements and the implementation of lightwave transmission equipment. The transmission equipment consists of electronic, digital multiplexing and demultiplexing equipment interfaced with electro-optical transmitter and receiver units. The transmitter units utilize both light emitting diodes (LED) and injection semiconductor lasers diodes (ILD) operating in the 850- and 1300-nanometer range. The receiver units consist of either silicon Avalanche Photo-Diodes (APD) or PIN photo-diodes integrated with a field-effect transistor (PINFET). As well as simulating telephone company operating conditions, the test facility also provides supplementary quality testing of lightwave transmission products. Future lightwave transmission products utilizing state-of-the-art design and components will be characterized at the test facility to ensure error free operation.© (1985) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.