Fiber Optic Center Glossary

Any channel designed for holding wires or cables, i.e. conduit, electrical metallic tubing, sleeves, slots, underfloor raceways, cellular floors, surface raceways, lighting fixture raceways, wireways, cable troughs, busways, auxiliary gutters, and ventila

A type of structure used to house electronic components which permits convenient removal of portions of equipment. (MIL-STD)

The type of connector that is attached to a panel or side of equipment so that when these members are brought together, the connector is engaged.

A measurement of vertical space in an equipment rack. One rack unit is equal to 1.75 inches (4.45 cm).

The potential EMI that emits from paths including cables, leaky apertures, or inadequately shielded housings.

Undesirable EMI radiated into equipment from outside electromagnetic sources.

A copolymerization which is a radical polymerization. (IUPAC)

The frequency range is technically broad, from about 25 kHz to 100 GHz, but the term is normally used to define the low range band of frequencies used for broadcast radio signals (including broadcast television) and extends from about 500 kHz to a few hundred megahertz.

An impedence matched shielded contact.

Radio Frequency Gluing is a process in which high radio frequency waves are used to heat substrates, causing the adhesive between them to dry.

The disruption of signals which can be caused by high voltage and lightning.

An SCTE 174 standard released in 2010, RFoG addresses PON network transmission for the CATV industry.

Half of the diameter of a circle measured from the center point.

Curvature of the endface measured from the side of the connector ferrule. Referenced in millimeters.

The moving portion in the head of a crimping tool. (MIL-STD)

These amplifiers use the Raman effect to transfer power from pump lasers to the amplified wavelengths.

The sloped channel that accepts the detent pin in a bayonet connector

A copolymer consisting of macromolecules in which the probability of finding a given monomeric unit at any given site in the chain is independent of the nature of the adjacent units. Note in a random copolymer, the sequence distribution of monomeric units follows Bernoullian statistics. (IUPAC)

A copolymerization in which an alternating copolymer is formed. (IUPAC)

Lumber ripped to no specific width. Used as edge glued stock. Defecting is done here as well as in specific width ripping.

A winding in rotating equipment wherein the wires do not lie in an even pattern .

Number of sizes of connectors or cables of a particular type.

The sizes of conductors accommodated by a particular barrel. Also the diameters of wires accommodated by a sealing grommet. (MIL-STD)

A device to ensure the full crimping cycle of a crimping tool. (MIL-STD)

The slope of the creep-time curve at a given time.

The maximum temperature at which an electric component can operate for extended periods without loss of its basic properties.

The maximum voltage at which an electrical component can be operated for extended periods without undue degradation or safety hazard.

The scattering of light that results of from small in-homogeneity in material density or composition.

A holding company formed by the divestiture of AT&T to provide both regulated and non-regulated telephone services.

See Radiocom 2000

The opposition offered to the flow of alternating current by the inductance or capacitance of a component or circuit.

With AC, that component of the voltage drop which is in quadrature with the current and equals the current in amperes multiplied by the reactance in ohms between the two points.

A chemical substance or material that will vigorously polymerize or decompose.

Tendency of a substance to undergo a chemical reaction with itself or another material with the release of energy.

A connector is rear mounted when it is insta1led from the inside of a box onto a panel. It can only be removed from the inside of the equipment. See Back Mounted.

Connector contacts are released and removed from the rear (wire side) of the connector. The removal tool engages the contact from the rear and pulls the contact out of the connector contact retainer.

An elastomeric seal used on the cable side of a connector to seal the connector against moisture, dirt and air. (MIL-STD). Also called Grommet

Refers to the detection of light from an optical source.

A known good fiber optic jumper cable attached to a power meter used as a reference cable for loss testing. This cable must be made of fiber and connectors of a matching type to the cables to be tested.

A device containing a photodiode and signal conditioning circuitry that converts light into an electrical signal in fiberoptic links.

An electronic unit that converts an optical signal to an electrical signal using an APD or PIN photodiode.

This tells how much optical power the photodetector must receive to achieve a specified base band performance, such as a specified bit error rate or signal-to-noise ratio. Expressed in dBm.

A connector adapter with an internal LED, laser or detector that connects to optical plug assemblies.

An electrical fitting with contacts constructed to be electrically connected to a cable, coaxial line, cord or wire to join with another electrical connector and is designed to be mounted on a bulkhead, wall, chassis or panel. (MIL-STD)

Unlike OADMs, ROADMS can be managed via a network connection without need for a truck roll. They function as optical switches, allowing for remote service changes, and provide an express wavelength path and power monitoring.

Diameter of shrinkable products after heating has caused it to return to its extruded diameter.

In heat-shrink tubing the guaranteed maximum internal diameter of tubing after being freely recovered.

A powdery brown-red oxide of silver formed with water or rocket fuel fumes. It is highly conductive and can flake off and cause shorts in electrical equipment.

The consecutive drawing of wire through a series of dies to reach a desired wire size.

The ratio of the relative viscosity increment to the mass concentration of the polymer. (IUPAC)

A joint between two lengths of cable where the conductors are not the same size.

A fail-safe method of splitting and routing riser/ backbone cables via two or more riser cores. Also known as diverse routing.

A revolvable flanged device made of wood or metal, used for winding flexible metal wire or cable.

Diameter of the drum (or hub) of the reel.

Width of space between reel flanges.

Overall width of reel.

Cables used as a reference for testing a fiber optic assembly on either an optical loss test set (OLTS) or an optical return loss (ORL) test set. Usually nulled or zeroed out to measure the loss of a fiber optic assembly.

The edge of a cable or conductor from which measurements are made.

The junction of a thermocouple which is at a known reference temperature. Also known as the cold junction. It is usually located at the emf measuring device.

The percentage of light reflected from a component, such as a connector, splice, splitter, or WDM.

The change in direction (or return) of waves striking a surface. For example, electromagnetic energy reflections can occur at an impedance mismatch in a transmission line, causing standing waves. See VSWR.

The ratio of the amplitude of the reflected wave to the amplitude of the incident wave in a transmission line.

A crack through a bituminous overlay on Portland cement concrete pavement. The crack occurs above any working joint in the base pavement.

The part of a signal which is lost due to reflection of power at a line discontinuity.

Energy reflected back toward a cable source. The reflections occur because the signal strikes a non-uniformity in the shield or conductor.

A reflow oven is a high-precision oven used primarily for soldering electronic components to printed circuit boards using surface mount techniques. The oven contains multiple zones, which can be individually controlled for temperature. Generally there are several heating zones followed by one or more cooling zones. The printed circuit board moves through the oven on a conveyor belt, and is therefore subjected to a controlled time-temperature profile. 

The process of connecting two solder-coated conductive surfaces by remelting of the solder to cause fusion.

The bending of a beam of light at an interface between two dissimilar media or in a medium whose refractive index is a continuous function of position (graded index medium).

The ratio of light velocity in a vacuum to its velocity in the transmitting medium. A property of optical materials that relates to the velocity of light in the material.

A company formed from the forced breakup of AT&T and the Bell system.

Old term for the measuring of ships, not to be used anymore. (One register ton is 100 cubic feet or 2.93 cubic metres).

Alignment of one object with relation to another. Also called Register.

Wire rope in which the wires in the strands and the strands in the rope are laid in opposite directions

A macromolecule in which the constitutional units are all identical with respect to both constitution and orientation. (IUPAC)

An oligomer molecule in which the constitutional units are all identical with respect to both constitution and orientation. (IUPAC)

A substance composed of regular macromolecules. (IUPAC)

The outermost covering of a cable that has a cable sheath construction in layers with a reinforcing material, usually a braided or double spiral fiber, molded in place between layers.

A material used to reinforce strengthen or give dimensional stability to another material. In sealants, this is the increase in modulus, toughness, tensile strength, by the addition of selected fillers; in pressure sensitive tapes, material added to a tape to provide additional strength.

Light is reflected back into a laser and amplified through the same physical mechanism that causes laser action. Caused by reflections from discontinuities in endfaces, connectors, or splices.

The ratio of the difference between the viscosities of solution and solvent to the viscosity of the solvent. (IUPAC)

An adhesive material which prevents bond formation.

Condition in which particles of the release coat stick to the adhesive during the unwind phase -- result_ing tape will have little or no ability to stick.

A coating applied to the backing on the side opposite the adhesive, which provides ease of unwind, and prevents delamination or tearing.

A web or sheet of material covering the adhesive side of a tape. It is removed prior to appli_cation. Most frequently found on double-coated tapes and label stocks.

A sheet, serving as a protectant and/or carrier for an adhesive film or mass, which is easily removed from the film or mass prior to use.

The magnetic induction that remains in a magnetic circuit after the removal of an applied magnetomotive force.

A POTS-related switching terminal that is remotely located in a pedestal or electronics cabinet.

A contact that can be mechanically joined to or removed from an insert. Usually, special tools are required to lock the contact in place or to remove it for repair or replacement.

A device used to remove removable contacts from a connector.

The amount of power lost due to the number of matings (de-matings) a connector experiences.

Devices that receive a radio signal, amplify it and retransmit it in a new direction. Used in wireless networks to extend the range of base station signals, thereby expanding coverage within limits more economically than by building additional base stations. Repeaters typically are used for buildings, tunnels or difficult terrain.

A device that receives a fiber optic signal and regenerates it for retransmission, used in very long fiber optic links.

In telephony, a middle-person who buys blocks of time from a cellular carrier at discounted wholesale rates and then resells them at retail prices.

A measure of energy stored and recovered during a loading cycle. It is expressed as a percentage.

A synthetic organic material formed by the union (polymerization) of one or more monomers with one or more acids. Solid, semisolid, or liquid, usually organic material that has an indefinite molecular mass and, when solid, usually has a softening or melting range and exhibits a tendency to flow when subjected to stress.

Any of the class of thermosetting synthetic resins, either in their initial temporarily fusible state or in their final infusible state.

1) Property of a conductor that determines the current produced by a given difference of potential.  2) A measure of the difficulty in moving electrical current through a medium when voltage is applied.  3) A measure of the difficulty in moving electrical current through a medium when voltage is applied. It is measured in ohms.

A conductor with high electric resistance.

The ability of a material to resist passage of electrical current either through its bulk or on a surface.

An electronic component that opposes the flow of electrical current. 

An AC circuit condition in which inductive and capacitive reactances interact to cause a minimum or maximum circuit impedance.

A cable that returns by its own stored energy from an extended condition to its original contracted form.

A cord having specially treated insulation or jacket so that it will retract.

Cable formed into the shape of a spring by winding cable around a mandrel and heat set into that shape (also referred to as coiled cord or cordset). this permits the extension of a cordset to a length from 3 to 5 times it's length at rest. A cordset will typically return, after being extended and released, to a length similar to it's original length at rest.

The rate of the coiled portion of a cordset, when released from being held in an extended position, to return to it's approximate original length. Springback, in simplest terms, can be specified as rapid, medium or controlled.

The Channel Return Loss (RL) is a measure of the consistency of the impedance down the length of not just the cable, but also the connections and the patch cables.

A ground wire or the negative wire in a direct-current circuit.

Reeving of a wire rope over sheaves and drums so that it bends in opposite directions

Strength represented by the inner wires of a wire rope

See also SPLIT PAIR and TRANSPOSED PAIR. A situation that occurs when the one end of a twisted pair has its connections reversed. This condition is detected by a LAN Cable Tester’s Wiremap test. (also see SPLIT PAIR and TRANSPOSED PAIR).

Connector used for connecting or terminating coaxial cable.

RF fingerprinting technology is based on the fact that no two handsets have the same signature. Once a call is places, the signature is compared to the RF fingerprint in the carrier’s database. The user’s mobile identification number and electronic serial number are then compared. If the MIN and ESN do not match the fingerprint, the call does not go through.

The television format that uses the basic component set of Red, Green and Blue.

Special consideration of viscosity. Considers the effect of such things as stickiness and sensitivity to shear on viscosity.

Rubber-insulated, heat resistant building wire, 90°C, dry locations.

Rubber-insulated building wire, heat and moisture-resistant, 75°C wet or dry locations, now allowed to be cross-linked polyethylene insulated.

Flat cable with conductors that have been individually insulated together and "glued together".

A cable that accommodates 1 to 12 ribbons, each ribbon having 12 fibers for a cable size range of 12 to 216 fibers. Ribbon cables are designed for use in large distribution systems where small cable size and high pulling strength are important.

An optical fiber, nonconductive, riser (OFNR)-rated premises cable containing optical fibers in ribbons.

A fusion or mechanical splice that aligns and fuses or mechanically bonds two ribbon fibers together. Ribbon splices require special stripping and cleaving tools.

One or more ridges running laterally along the outer surface of a plastic insulated wire for purposes of identification.

Any assembly made from wire rope that is to be used in a lifting, pulling, holding, or strapping capacity; Wire rope or aircraft cable used for securing the mast and/or boom on a sail boat, and for running of sails

1) Strand - Strand in which the cover wires are laid in a helix having a right-hand pitch, similar to a right-hand screw; 2) Rope - Rope in which the strands are laid in a helix having a right-hand pitch, similar to a right-hand screw

Legal right of passage over land owned by another.

Cabling equipment that maintains component sequence, and can produce cables with distinct layers.

A cable (usually large in diameter) having a heavy metal outer conductor and a center conductor supported by dielectric beads. This cable cannot be bent, which will cause the conductors to be nonconcentric and sacrifice electrical performance. Used primarily for low frequencies and high power.

Non-flexible coaxial cable, usually a metal tube armored coaxial cable.

A closed loop network topology.

A circumferential color band applied to an insulated conductor at regular intervals for identification.

Port for connecting multistation access units (MAUs) together.

Port for connecting multistation access units (MAUs) together.

A solderless terminal that connects wire to a stud.

Round end tongue terminal with hole to accomodate screw or stud.

A communications topology in which each station is logically arrayed in a ring and passes information to the next station in order.

A copolymerization which is a ring-opening polymerization for at least one monomer. (IUPAC)

A polymerization in which a cyclic monomer yields a monomeric unit which is acyclic or contains fewer cycles than the monomer. If the monomer is polycyclic, opening of one ring is sufficient to classify the reaction as ring-opening polymerization. (IUPAC)

The process of locating or identifying specific conductive paths by means of passing current through selected conductors.

Routing Information Protocol

1) Two or more insulated conductors in a parallel configuration which may be separated to leave the insulation of each conductor intact; 2) A small filament cord used to rip through the outer cable sheath.

An internal element placed under the cable jacket to assist the technician in stripping and removing cable jackets.

Reseaux IP Europeens

Reseaux IP Europeens Network Coordination Centre

The AC component of the output of a DC signal. This term typically refers to the residual line-frequency-related AC part in the output of a DC power supply that arises as a result of incomplete or inadequate filtering. The amount of filtering depends on the ripple frequency and the load resistance. More filtering is required as load resistance decreases.

Regional Internet Registry

Reduced Instruction Set Computer

The time required for a component or logic circuit to change from the quiescent to the transient state when an input is applied, (e.g. elapsed time between application of input and attainment of full output level).

Pathways for indoor cables that pass between floors. It is normally a vertical shaft or space. A riser cable rating indicates good flammability characteristics, but not necessarily low smoke as in a plenum type.

The part of a premises distribution system that includes a main cable route and structure for supporting the cable from an equipment room (often in the building basement) to the upper floors, or along the same floor, where it is terminated on a cross connect in a riser telecommunications closet, at the network interface, or at distribution components of the Campus Backbone Subsystem. The Riser Backbone Subsystem usually extends from an equipment room (often in a building's basement) to the upper floors in a multistory building, or along the same floor in a low-wide building. It is terminated on a cross connect in a riser telecommunications closet, at the network interface, or on the distribution components of the Campus Backbone Subsystem.

Cable installed in vertical runs and penetrating more than one floor or cables installed in vertical runs in a shaft. Rated by the NEC/CEC for resisting flame spread and smoke generation.

The term used to describe a space utilized by backbone cabling to house communications cabling and other building services. This space should preferably be specified, or allowed for, at the time of the building design.

Return Loss.

Return loss of input connector

Return loss of output connector (if measured)

Using a cellular phone outside one’s usual service area. For example, in a city other than where one lives.

An OTDR trace of a fiber that gradually rolls off due to nonreflective breaks.

Relatively small diameter cylinders which are free to turn while supporting ropes

Read-Only Memory

An adhesive that sets in the temperature range from 20 to 30°C (68 to 86°F).

The effective value of an alternating current or voltage.

A group of standard conductors assembled in a concentric manner.

A conductor composed of a central core surrounded by one or more layers of helically laid groups of wires used in portable cables.

A conductor composed of a center group of twisted strands surrounded by one or more layers of similar groups of twisted strands.

A group of stranded conductors assembled in a unilay manner.

A resin obtained as a residue in the distillation of crude turpentine from the sap of the pine tree (gum resin) or from an extract of the stumps and other parts of the tree (wood rosin).

A conductor whose cross-section is substantially circular.

A wire circular in cross section as opposed to flat, square, etc.

Shields constructed from bare, tinned or silver plated copper wire that include braided, spiral, and reverse spiral.

A device used to connect LAN’s utilizing different communications protocols. It directs traffic within networks and offers security by restricting access to those that don’t belong. Routers require intensive programming instructions and are used mostly for WAN (wide area network) interface to outside services.

The path followed by a cable or a conductor.

A general term used to describe wire insulation and jackets made of thermosetting elastomers, such as natural or synthetic rubbers, EPR, neoprene, Hypalon, butyl rubber and others. An elastic (natural or synthetic) material (e.g. silicone) used to provide waterproofing or moisture resistance. See O-ring.

Wire insulations made of thermosetting Elastomer, natural or may be made synthetically.

DuPont's trade name for their flame retardant polyethylene insulating material.

In the breaking strength or tensile strength tests, the point at which the material physically comes apart, as opposed to elongation, yield strength, etc.

The Federal Communications Commission divided the less-populated areas of the country into 428 RSAs and licensed two service providers per RSA.