Alcatel Carrier Internetworking Solutions Omni Switch/Router - Manual (Page 81)

Handling Fiber and Fiber Optic Connectors
Page 3-11
2. Keeping your thumb pressed on the cloth-forwarding lever, press the optical plug ferrule
endface against the cleaning cloth and drag the plug down toward your body (there
should be arrows on the top of the tool that indicate the proper wiping direction). The
connector is now clean.
3. Release the cloth-forwarding lever, allowing it to return to its initial position.
A cleaning cloth reel can enable over 400 cleanings and is replaceable. When cables are not
being used, always put the plastic or rubber endcaps back on the connector to ensure cleanli-
ness.
Step 3 . Keep the Transceiver Interface Clean
If you have cleaned your connectors, but still experience low-power output from a fiber-optic
transceiver or a fault signal from your equipment, you should clean the transceiver interface
by blowing inert dusting gas inside the transceiver interface. This removes dust and other
small particles that may block the optical path between the optics of the transceiver and the
connector’s endface.
Step 4. Attenuate Properly
Often equipment using laser-based transceivers need to have the optical path attenuated
when performing loop-back testing or testing between two pieces of equipment. Too much
optical power launched into the receiver will cause saturation and result in system failure. If
you are using single mode fiber and you do not know the power output of the laser, it is
always best to use a 10 dB attenuator when testing. Using the wrong type of attenuator will
introduce problems, most notably reflection of light back into the laser, often resulting in
excess noise and causing system failure.
Inline attenuators eliminate the need for additional jumper cables and thus reduce the number
of connection interfaces. This increases the integrity of the optical path resulting in a more
accurate test.