Exhibit C
Fiber Cable Splicing, Testing, and Acceptance Standards
1.
Contractor (the Constructing Party), will perform all tests, provide documentation, and meet the
standards identified in this exhibit. Analysis of final bi-directional OTDR data will be the tool used to
make final acceptance of the fibers.
2.
Acceptance Standards
A. Pigtail Traces
When pigtails are attached to the end of the cable, the original pigtail test will be performed for
that site. A 1-km launch reel that matched the backbone cable will be attached between the OTDR
traces and the pigtail. The loss of the pigtail splice and connector will be measured and recorded
at 1550 nm. The Constructing Party will provide the other party with a copy of the OTDR traces
of all pigtail splices stored on diskette.
The loss value of the pigtail connector and its associated splice with matching mode field
diameters will not exceed .5dB at 1550nm. The loss values of the pigtail connector and its
associated splice with mismatched mode filed diameters should not exceed .8dB.
B. Bi-directional Traces
Bi-directional traces of the end to end fiber span will be taken without a launch reel. OTDR traces
should be taken in both directions at 1550 nm. Loss measurements for each splice point should be
measured and recorded in both directions. These loss values should then be averaged. The traces
for all fibers should be recorded on diskette and provided to the other party.
NOTE: These measurements MUST BE MADE AFTER THE SPLICE
HANDHOLD OR MANHOLE IS CLOSED in order to check for macrobending problems.
1.
Field Splices
The objective for each splice is a averaged loss value of 0.10 dB or less when
measured bi-directionally with an OTDR at 1550 nm. If after 3 attempts, the
Constructing Party is not able to produce a loss value of 0.10 or less bidirectionally at 1550 nm, then 0.20 dB or less bi-directionally at 1550 nm will
be acceptable. Fibers not meeting the 0.10 dB or less specification will be
identified as Out Of Specification (OOS). Documentation of the three attempts
(reburns) to bring the OOS fiber within specification will be provided. Only one
OOS splice per span (between repeater points) will be allowed.
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Exhibit C
Fiber Cable Splicing, Testing, and Acceptance Standards
C. Light Source and Power Meter Test
A bi-directional End to End test will be performed on each fiber in a span at 1310nm and 1550nm
with a Light Source and Power Meter. The purpose of this test is to determine actual span loss
and to prove there is continuity of all fibers. It is the Constructing Partys responsibility to insure
proper continuity of all fibers at the fiber level, not just the pigtail level. Any frogs or fibers that
cross in the route will be remedied by the Constructing Party. The following span loss calculation
will be used:
(A*L) + (0.1 *N) + C = Acceptable Span Loss
A = Attenuation per KM at 1550 nm
L = Optical length of cable measured in kilometers (from OTDR Trace)
N = Number of splices in a span
C = Connector loss. The connector loss will not exceed .5dB. The
section test will have (2) pigtail connectors/splices under test, so 1.0 dB
will be allowed for this loss.
NOTE: The Contractor shall provide a diskette with the span loss data
in an Excel spreadsheet showing allowable loss, transmit level,
received level and resulting loss at 1310nm and 1550nm.
3.
Naming of Traces
OTDR traces taken for bi-directional testing, and the OTDR traces of the pigtail splice must be
recorded on compact disc and provided to the other party. To name the traces, each party will provide
alpha abbreviations for the sites. The 8-character file name plus 3-character file extension name
should follow this example:
First four letters = source point
Letters 5, 6, 7 = Destination point
8th letter = wavelength
Extension = fiber number
Examples:
Springfield to Lebanon at 1550 nm, fiber 96 = sgfdlbn5.096
Springfield to Monett pigtail trace on fiber 1 = sgfdmntp.001
NOTE: ALL HEADER INFORMATION ON OTDR TRACE MUST BE
COMPLETED.
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Exhibit C
Fiber Cable Splicing, Testing, and Acceptance Standards
4.
OTDR Setup
NOTE: BEFORE THE START ANY TESTING, ALL CONNECTORS WILL BE CLEANED WITH
A CONNECTOR CLEANER.
A. The OTDRs that are acceptable for testing are the Laser Precision TD3000 and Anritsu MX3607
or EXFO. These must have a compact disc or USB drive for storing the trace files. Again, it
should be noted that it is vital that all tests (OTDR, power meter, etc.), that all connectors are
clean. This can dramatically affect these test results. The following settings should be used.
Index of Refraction
Fiber Type
AT&T Tru Wave
AT&T Depress Clading
Corning SMF-28
Sumitomo
Corning SMF-LS
LEAF
1550nm
1.4700
1.4670
1.4684
1.4670
1.4700
1.4690
OTDR Parameters
1550 nm
Pigtail
4 km range
50 ns pulse
1 m resolution
30 seconds
NOTE: INSURE VERTICLE AND HORIZONTAL OFFSETS ARE SET AT 0.
Bi-directional
1550 nm
64 km range
500 ns pulse
4 m resolution
Medium Average (1.5 min.)
NOTE: FOR SPANS LONGER THAN 64 KM, SET AT 128 KM SETTING.
5.
Test Packages
The Constructing Party shall provide a package containing the following test data for each fiber. All
data provided should be saved on a disk or USB drive.
A. OTDR span traces taken at 1550 nm.
B. Pigtail traces taken for each fiber.
C. An Excel spreadsheet containing the power meter and light source data for both directions at 1550
nm. Should also include the average for each fiber.
D. A document identifying splice points with OOS test results. Should also include documentation
supporting the three reburn attempts.
E. A schematic of the route under test showing end points, OTDR file names, fiber counts and
distances.
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