Fiber optic cables education and training is essential in the communication industry. With technological advancements in the modern world, fiber optics is the lifeline for many business communications. The fibers carry information over long distances with fast bandwidth. Plastic coating encloses the fibers, turning them into cables.

When working with industrial fiber optic cables, it's imperative to know how the connections work and how to troubleshoot. Educated workers with hands-on experiences can become industry experts who meet their client's needs in a competitive market. To obtain fiber optic cable education and training you might want to consider the following options:

1. Attend a trade school to obtain fiber optic cabling training and experiences.

2. Use electronic resources to obtain fiber optic cables education and training.

3. Get qualified to work with a reputable fiber optic cable company with a degree.

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Meet fiber optic cable manufacturers' qualifications by going to a trade school for training

Many fiber optic cable companies look for educated workers with work experience. Get this experience by attending a trade school that specializes in fiber optics and offers hands-on training experiences both inside and outside the classroom.

I recommend: Beelineweb.com provides a list of trade schools with courses specializing in fiber optics. It covers the necessary areas of science and engineering for fiber optic handling. The Fiber Optic Association offers a list of approved courses from a variety of schools and colleges. It lists schools by region, so prospective students can easily find schools in their local area.

Continue education by utilizing electronic resources while working at a fiber optic cable company

Keep current with the needs of fiber optic cable suppliers and find out the latest trends in the industry by taking electronic courses. This way you can educate yourself around your work schedule. If you have to be on the road, you won't have to miss class, if you have access to a computer.

I recommend: The Light Brigade offers DVD-based training to students interested in fiber optics. It also offers electronically based courses offered through a CD-ROM format. Electronix Express lists the CD-ROMs and DVDs that it offers to educate students in various areas of fiber optics. It covers topics such as fiber optic history, application, testing and design.

Learn the ins and outs of fiber optic cable usage as you obtain a degree in electronic engineering

Specialize in fiber optic cabling handling as you get a degree in engineering. When you work for a degree, it shows others that you're serious about getting the best education and hands-on class experience possible.

I recommend: The Pennsylvania College of Technology offers a degree program in electronics and computer engineering technology. The course prepares students for careers in communications such as becoming a fiber network field technician. Penn Foster Career School offers online courses, so students have the opportunity to earn degrees while educating themselves around work schedules. Its electronics courses emphasize areas like fiber optics.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider getting an apprenticeship doing work for a fiber optic cable company to gain work experience and fiber optic training without the expense of schooling.

Fiber optic cables have all but replaced conventional copper wire connections. Fiber optic cabling delivers information and communications at lightning speed. Unlike copper connections that use electronic pulses to transmit information, fiber optic cables use light pulses. In addition, fiber optic cabling has massive capacity for information, and enables information to travel much longer without being refreshed.

Fiber optic cabling is usually wired in two forms: single mode, which offers a high transmission rate, or multimode, a high-speed option with large bandwidth for shorter distances.

Fiber optic cables can be used to enhance the communication and information capabilities of numerous businesses, including offices, cable TV operations, utility companies and industrial plants. Some things to consider when shopping for fiber optics:

1. Locate fiber optic cable companies that offer different cable construction options.
2. Make sure your fiber optic cables meet code standards for your building.
3. Find good fiber optic cable installers to perform the specialized task of fiber optic cable installation.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find quality fiber optic cable manufacturers

Good fiber optic cable suppliers make products you need available for purchase online, such as industrial fiber optic cables and more.

I recommend: Optical Cable Corporation offers numerous fiber optic cable options, while Fiber Optics For Sale Co. provides fiber optic cable assemblies and other products. For jumpers, connectors and other fiber optic cable products by category, look at American Tech Supply.

Make sure your fiber optic cables are installed to the latest standards

Fiber optic cable manufacturers and fiber optic cable suppliers should provide you with assurance that their products meet very specific standards based on your needs and facilities. In addition, these suppliers and manufacturers can help you make sure the fiber optic cables are installed based on the latest international standards.

I recommend: The Fiber Optic Association posts standards on its website. You can also find fiber optic cable installation standards at the University of California at Berkeley's website.

Find reputable fiber optic cable installers

Once you buy industrial fiber optic cables, it's important to find a fiber optic cable company that will properly install the product. Fiber optic cable installation is an intricate, involved process and should be conducted by a trained professional.

I recommend: The Fiber Optic Association also offers a "Find An Installer" feature on its website. Belden, as well as Mason Technologies, also feature fiber optic cable installation services.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  While they're quite expensive, it is possible to purchase fiber optic cable testers online. These testers are able to detect power levels and more for both single- and multi-mode fiber optics.

Fiber optic cables are thin glass wires made from pure optical glass. A fiber optic cable consists of three parts: the core, the cladding and the buffer coating. A fiber optic system is similar to a copper wire system. The difference is that fiber optics use light pulses to transmit information down fiber lines instead of using electronic pulses to transmit information down copper lines. The three types of fiber optic cables that are commonly used are single mode, multiple mode and plastic optical fiber (POF).

Whether you are a buyer or a supplier, you will need to be conversant with certain key terms. This guide explains some of the common terms associated with the fiber optic cables.

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Fiber optic

Fiber optics are bundles of thin glass or plastic strands. This bundle allows light to pass through without leaking out. Fiber optics are used to create internet data and images, images of internal organs, vocal sounds in telephones and more than 80% of cable and satellite television images.

I recommend: You can learn more about fiber optics at HyperPhysics, an informative website for physics concepts.

Single mode fiber

In a single mode fiber, the fiber core is so small that only light rays with no bending, or refraction, can stably pass through the length of the fiber without loss.

I recommend: You can learn more about single mode fiber optic cables at Huihong Technologies Limited, a manufacturer of fiber optic products.

Multiple modes fiber

Multiple mode fiber is a type of fiber optic cable which is thick enough for light to follow several paths through the code. Multiple mode fiber is best suited for use in short lengths, such as those used in Local Area Networks (LANs) and Storage Area Networks (SANs).

I recommend: You can read through basic information about multiple mode fibers at the Fiber Optics LAN Section (FOLS) of Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA).

Plastic optical fiber (POF)

A plastic optical fiber is a type of optical fiber that uses polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) as the core material that allows the transmission of light. POF is often called consumer optical fiber, as it is a low-cost optical fiber.

I recommend: You can read through detailed information on plastic optical fiber at Timbercon, Inc., a product development and manufacturing company for fiber optic solutions.

Air blown fiber (ABF)

ABF refers to the use of compressed air to blow lightweight optical fiber cables through a tube cable at up to 150 ft per minute.

I recommend: You can learn more about ABFs at Mason Technologies Inc., a fiber optics solutions provider company.

Fiber optic attenuator

A fiber optic attenuator reduces the power of the light being transmitted through the cable. A fiber optic attenuator may be an external device, separate from the receiver or incorporated into the receiver design.

I recommend: You can refer to GlobalSpec, an online information resource, for detailed information about fiber optic attenuators.