Optical power measurements

Fiber networks require high quality workmanship. During installation and maintenance of the networks, the installer should take into account not only the correct fiber splicing, but also the geometry of the laid cables and individual fibers (bending radii).

Optical Power Meter Optokon PM-800 L5818	Visual Fault Locator FM-FOA-FCH L5933

 

 

Any irregularity may increase the attenuation of the path, resulting even in the failure of the link. For the convenience of work, every installer of optical networks should be equipped with a suitable set of diagnostic tools. The basic devices are an optical power meter and a visual fault locator.

OPTOKON PM-800 is an advanced meter designed to measure optical power loss in fiber networks based on multimode and single-mode fibers. The meter is calibrated to measure optical power at six wavelengths (nm): 850, 1300, 1310, 1490, 1550, and 1625. AWD (Auto Wavelength Detection) function allows the meter to detect the length of the transmitted wave and automatically adjust measuring parameters. It is possible to set 0 dB reference level so as to make the measurements of an optical path easier.

Visual fault locators can detect fiber faults which are not visible to the naked eye. Mechanical defects
often occur at the ends of the fibers and are the result of poor handling of the cable during installation.

The visual fault locator L5933 is designed to help diagnose problems with fiber optic cabling. The device is designed to test single-mode and multimode fiber optic cables. The output power is sufficient to check even 3 km long links. The FM-FOA-FCH locator allows for detection of light leaks in optical transmission systems. The visible red light (650 nm) can be observed at breaks, bad splices or connectors, improper bends etc, providing an overview of the problem.

CES 2013 - packed, but without major innovations

The world's largest consumer electronics trade fair - Consumer Electronics Show (CES) - was held in Las Vegas between January 8 and 11. This year there were over 3,000 exhibitors - an absolute record in the 45-year history of the show. Trends that shape the CES are of great importance for the future of consumer electronics - it was the place of the introduction of video cassette recorder (VCR) in 1970, camcorder and CD player in 1981, DVD in 1996, HDTV in 1998, Xbox in 2001, Blu-ray player in 2004. Among the dominant themes at this year's fair the visitors could notice Ultra HD and OLED televisions. They are especially important from the point of view of big TV manufacturers, providing the basis to renew their offerings. On the other hand, one could get the impression that it was the same old stuff - to tell the truth the increase in the resolution from FullHD to 4K did not seem to be a revolution that could be compared to the transition from SD to HD/ FullHD. At this year's CES it was difficult to find a true innovation capable of changing some areas of our lives. However, there were many interesting gadgets...

One of the more interesting items presented by Panasonic was a 20-inch 4K tablet with a thickness of 1 cm, run by Windows 8. The device is to be mainly used by designers, architects, photographers using remote access to servers (cloud computing). The advantage is primarily the large diagonal of the display - an easy-to-use interface for professional applications.

View of the 20-inch tablet from Panasonic

LG presented a curved flatscreen OLED TVs with 55-, 65- and 84-inch diagonals. These OLED devices were characterized by extremely realistic picture, and the curvature of the screen helped to obtain more natural depth of space. In the future, curved screens will probably enable 3D viewing experience without glasses.

OLED TV from LG - will similar televisions offer 3D without glasses?

 

 

A very similar technology of curved televisions was presented by Samsung. In addition, the Korean giant unveiled the F9500 model, the first TV in the world offering Multi-View function allowing viewers to watch two different TV broadcasts at the same time. This is possible with the use of dedicated 3D glasses synchronizing with the chosen picture, whereas personal headphones provide the appropriate audio channel.

At CES, there were also gadgets of the future such as ... rifle with Linux operating system, performing calculations necessary for shots at long distances. For example, the software chooses the optimum moment for taking the shot, informing the shooter. The solution is very similar to that currently used in modern fighter planes. The gun with built-in wireless interface can connect to iPhone / iPad and provide the live image from the sight, e.g. for training others.

The rifle running Linux operating system - it can calculate

 and select the optimal moment of shot release

Technological innovations were also presented by the automotive industry. Audi showed its version of a self-driving car. The German company, similarly to Google and Lexus, has been working on a fully autonomous vehicle. At the moment, the Audi solution allows the owner of the car to call it with a smartphone from a remote location in the parking lot.

Call this with a smartphone - autonomous Audi car

As usual, there were given BEST OF CES AWARDS. The winners can be sure of making profits - promotion at the fair in Las Vegas is the best marketing. Careful selection of nominations and professionalism of the jury give consumers practical advice which products are worth their money. This year's indication is on Ultra High Definition televisions and OLED technology.

With light, but without the fiber

British scientists have started work on a new wireless communication system not using ubiquitous radio waves but laser light. The new technology, as usual, has been originally focused on military applications, but it can be quickly implemented in the civilian sector where the demand for broadband solutions is enormous. Until then, however, the scientists have to complete a series of tests. At the moment, they are carrying on research on the transmission of audio signals from drones to a receiving station. As a sample they use the well-known AC/DC song - "Highway to Hell".

Such drones are to use laser communications

 

 

The main problem of unmanned military aircraft (combat or espionage) is the limited range of operation. To increase the range, engineers gradually reduce the weight of the machines, using lighter components and weapons, which translates into a reduction in fuel consumption of their engines and possibility of longer missions.

EADS researchers led by Yoann Thueux are aimed to introduce a new wireless communication system called Dazzle. Comparatively heavy radio equipment is to be replaced by an optoelectronic device reflecting and modulating the laser light emitted from a control station. So, the principle is simple - the laser beam directed at the flying drone is reflected by the machine back to the the station, together with data from sensors and cameras, and the information is received and processed by the station.

The technology is relatively cheap and provides very efficient data transmission, even at data rates up to 1Gbps. What's more - eavesdropping or monitoring of the transmitted data is not possible, which is extremely important for military applications. Currently, the range of the laser link is limited to about 2 km, but it is probably only a temporary inconvenience.

Research on this technology has been ongoing for some time. In 2008, Hani J. Kbashi from the University in Baghdad published a study on theoretical principles, basic calculations and practical solutions for laser equipment for wireless transmission using Intensity Modulation with Direct Detection (IM/ DD). The EADS project is carried out in parallel and employs the same transmission method.

In the near future, wireless optical transmission may revolutionize the market for multimedia services. Extremely broadband characteristics and easy implementation are the factors that can decide on the popularity of this technology. Maybe, in a short time the light will dominate not only in the cable infrastructure but also in wireless systems.

The differences between universal and distribution optical fiber cables

Novice installers may have problems with choosing which type of the cable will be optimal for a particular application. Let's focus on the single- and multi-mode cables with 8 fibers, which register the highest sales figures:

Universal cable (left) and distribution cable (right)
1. Optical fiber
2. Gel inside the central tube
3. Central tube
4. Aramid yarn
5. LSZH jacket

 

 

Universal Ultimode cables can be used in indoor and outdoor applications. The fibers are contained in central gel-filled tube. The gel in the tube is a kind of protective coating for optical fibers, which absorbs mechanical stresses and protects against environmental factors.

The universal cables are mainly intended for horizontal connections in buildings and outside buildings. Due to the small size and flexibility, the cables are ideal for installation in cable ducts. They are used in modern FTTH and FTTB systems, in server rooms, between buildings. Because of the gel-filled structure, the vertical cable runs of the cables installed in buildings should not be longer (higher) than 30 meters.

Distribution Ultimode cables belong to the "Minibreakout" category intended for applications in buildings. The fibers in tight buffers are contained in one sheath. Individual fibers are comfortably accessible, which makes it easier to install optical connectors, to make splices etc. The aramid yarn is designed to protect fibers from mechanical damage. The jacket (sheath) is made of low smoke zero halogen flame retardant poly-olefin (LSZH). Indoor distribution cables from ULTIMODE IDC series are gel-free fiber optic cables intended for horizontal and vertical connections in buildings.

Galileo is already tested!

On December 1, 2012, the testing ground station located in the heart of the Ardennes forest in Belgium received the first test signal from the FM3 satellite put into orbit in the process of forming the European navigation system, Galileo. FM3 and FM4 satellites were sent into orbit in October and joined two satellites launched a year earlier. Galileo global navigation satellite system (GNSS) will be an alternative to the American GPS (Global Positioning System) and Russian GLONASS GNSS. It should be more accurate, and above all, independent from military forces.

The first signal was transmitted by the satellite in band E1 (1559-1591 MHz), also used by GPS. Then, the satellite transmitted signals in the other bands that are to be ultimately used by the Galileo system, E5 (1164-1215 MHz) and E6 (1260-1300 MHz). According to the schedule, subsequent satellites will be launched and tested in the beginning of 2013. The system should become functional by the end of 2014, with 14-18 orbiting satellites.

 

Galileo is a joint project of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission (EC). The satellites will be deployed in three orbital planes at an altitude of 23 222 km and inclination angle of 56º in relation to the equator. The final system is to have 30 orbiting satellites (27 operational and three spare). The completion of the system is planned for 2020. At the moment, there are four satellites, which is the absolute minimum necessary for testing the efficiency of the system. 

The concept of operation of the Galileo system includes two ground operations centers, in Fucino, Italy, and in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich (Germany), plus the Safety of Life Center in Madrid for applications where guaranteed precision of time and position is of critical importance, working 24/7 and responsible for rescue operations. The headquarters of the EU Satellite Navigation Agency is Prague.

The advantage of the Galileo system will also be the interoperability with GPS and GLONASS, two other global satellite navigation systems, as well as with other, non-navigation systems. The integration with GSM/UMTS/LTE infrastructure could revolutionize the telecommunications market by offering new services. The simultaneous use of Galileo and GPS will significantly increase the availability of satellite navigation signals in highly urbanized areas (coverage up to 95% of the areas compared with the current 50%). Wider bandwidth and higher power of Galileo transmitters in relation to GPS circuitry will allow the use of satellite navigation in buildings and some tunnels.

The Brave New World?

Already in several US cities, Comcast Corporation provides cable television services combined with the security and control of "smart homes", under the name of Xfinity Home Security. Signals from home sensors (of motion, smoke, glass break, etc.) and images from surveillance cameras arrive, thanks to wireless transmission, to the home control unit and then are sent to the data center in Colorado. The transmission between the sensors and the control unit is based on the ZigBee protocol which, specially designed for such applications, does not interfere with wireless (WiFi) devices.

Depending on the system settings, some of the data is stored on servers in the data center, other part is analyzed by special software, and some of the information or images may also be sent to the smartphone of the home's owner. The video recordings are stored on the service provider servers for 30 days.

The system can be used for remote control of home appliances and the lighting, heating, etc. It can also be programmed in a more sophisticated way, for example, if a child does not come back home by the programmed time (does not insert the key into the lock), the parent will receive a message on his/her phone. So the users can create their own applications, with the help of the supplied software.

According to Mitch Bowling, SVP and GM of New Businesses in Comcast Cable, responsible for the Xfinity Home Security project, the system is safe due to the encryption of data. It is impossible that a hacker could view video channels or open the locks. However, all data stored on the server can be made available to the relevant authorities, with the consent of the court.

The cost of maintaining such a system consists of the following elements:

• installation fee - $199,
• sensors - $70 per one item,
• security cameras - $150 per one item,
• monthly service fee for video monitoring and recording - $5,
• monthly service subscription (depending on the number of devices) - $29.,95 to $39.95.

Similar services have been launched by Verizon Wireless and Time Warner. This year, Google is to start another project, based on the already introduced "Android@Home" framework for home automation and open source applications for control of electrical and electronic devices from mobile phones.
An example of such an application is the Homebuddy utility which communicates with a controller, e.g. Vera Z-Wave, via the Internet or Ethernet network to switch on/off power, adjust temperature, control various devices.

"Homebuddy" in action

 

Google wants to go one step further and create Smart Home system based on cloud computing, similarly to Comcast. Devices such as Vera Z-Wave controller would send information to a central server processing it in order to optimize the performance of the building. The user would only configure the system, also through a web browser or Android smartphone, without a need to adjust the parameters.

Google project would perform more sophisticated operations than just switching on/ off home appliances, for example, it could assist the user in shopping by sending on their smartphone a list of products lacking in the refrigerator or after expiration date.

The idea of ​​smart homes has been known since the 70s of last century and is derived from the automation of industrial production, of which some aspects, brought to everyday life, might make it easier and more economical.

Until now, a lack of standards for control of home systems and appliances, problems of external control arising from connectivity issues and the high cost of data processing - caused that the installation expenses were high and the benefits low. Cloud computing technology can change this situation and accelerate the development of smart homes.

How to build a low-cost IP CCTV system?

An economical IP video surveillance system can be based on megapixel IP cameras from Sunell. Thanks to the ability to save surveillance data on remote FTP servers (such services are offered by hosting companies), there is no need for buying and maintaining an NVR operating on 24/7 basis. The camera can be directly connected by entering login, password, IP address and port number for FTP connection, so the only additional device is a router with Internet access.

The architecture of economical IP CCTV system with video recording on a remote server

 

 

In order to ensure good image quality, each camera needs at least 1 Mbps upload bandwidth. The files saved on the FTP server can be played back on a computer running application software provided with the cameras or using a typical video player. Live monitoring is available by logging in directly to the camera from any Web browser or on a smartphone running InView application. Local wireless transmission to a laptop on site is safe thanks to the N2904 access point using WPA-/WPA2-PSK, WPA-/WPA2-AES or WEP encryption.

The recording of the surveillance data on a remote server is not only economical and convenient, but also safe. In the case of a robbery etc. the recorded data cannot be destroyed or stolen, because it is not physically on site.

A new dimension of the Internet and more - a review of the year 2012

In which direction is the market heading? What technologies are most likely to succeed? We present five, most important technological trends that have been discussed in our Newsletters and, according to us, will be growing in the next years.

1. Internet of Things - the nervous system of our planet

Internet of Things (IoT) is a vision in which everyday objects communicate with each other and the users via the Internet, infrared, and radio waves. Appropriately programmed devices and appliances will become "intelligent", eliminating many of the chores consuming our time - the fridge will organize shopping of food products, the air conditioning system will adjust to environmental conditions based on local weather data etc. The number of possible applications is infinite - the technology implemented "in the background" can penetrate all aspects of our material world. The IoT scope will be limited only by the imagination of the manufacturers.

According to Cisco, IoT was born in 2009, when the number of devices connected to the Internet became higher than the population of people living on Earth. However, the year 2012 initiated a new way of thinking about this potential, both in the case of industry and consumers.

2. Cloud computing

Cloud computing is a model of providing IT solutions and services via the Internet, where client computers have continuous access to resources and computing power of servers around the world. This functionality is defined as a service accessible via web software and the necessary infrastructure, giving the users "added value". This means no need for the users to purchase and manage the extensive versions of the software that should be normally installed on their workstations. The main advantages are cost savings associated with moving the computing power from client computers to the servers, the ease of access to services ("everywhere and on everything"), and improved safety.

3. Touch, gesture and voice control

Touch screen market is growing at a very fast pace, much faster than the market of standard screens. A large part of it make smartphones and tablets, the increasing popularity of touch control interface has been even noticed by Microsoft in its new operating system - Windows 8. The system fully supports modern laptops and tablets equipped with such screens.

Voice control also becomes a standard functionality of many electronic devices. The voice recognition software is constantly developed to improve "understanding". An example is the Siri software from Apple. Such programs are used not only in smartphones. At this year's CES, speech recognition functions were demonstrated in TVs, laptops and additional remote controls.

4. High-speed streaming

LTE/4G networks offer a revolutionary speed of mobile Internet (download rates up to 150 Mbps). This technology allows users ultra-fast access to websites with multimedia and games on the Internet. LTE and popular streaming applications enable them to watch video in a good quality on the go. There are available first smartphones equipped with LTE modems.

5. TV market is moving to the Internet

Streaming of television channels via the Internet instead of using dedicated broadcasting networks ensures openness and versatility - the programming can be received on all devices that allow access the Internet (computers, smartphones, televisions equipped with network cards). The year 2012 was quite revolutionary in this respect - almost every new television had network interface and offered access to video on demand and social networking sites. The introduction of the Internet to TVs is also popularizing such services like HbbTV (Hybrid TV) and "Second Screen" supplementing broadcast content with multimedia applications available on other devices (tablets, smartphones, laptops etc).

Will we observe rapid development of the trends in 2013? Or new ones will emerge, with equally great potential, which may affect the shape of the technology and media industries and even change our daily lives? In today's world we may be sure of that.