In the ever-evolving landscape of network connectivity, termination methods and cabling designs for fiber networks are shifting to meet the needs of the installation. Whether you’re a seasoned installer or a newcomer to the field, understanding the nuances and trends in enterprise fiber can significantly impact your project's success. In this white paper you will learn the key considerations that guide termination method selection, and the advantages and disadvantages of the typical field termination methods that are available.
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EXCERPT:
A recent survey conducted by Leviton revealed that 77% of network professionals terminate fiber using fusion-splice pigtails and 47% use fusion splice-on connectors, whereas only 28% use mechanical connectors and 8% use field-polish connectors. The increasing popularity of fusion splicing is largely due to the quality of the termination. Unlike mechanical splicing that only aligns and does not physically join fibers, fusion splicing provides a permanent fusion connection between fibers. Typically, fusion splicing has a loss of 0.1 dB or less, whereas mechanical splicing typically has higher insertion loss of between 0.2 dB to 0.50 dB.
While mechanical splices can be valuable for certain applications, fusion splicers can estimate the loss of the fusion splice, reducing the uncertainty of mechanical splicing or field polishing.
For these reasons, coupled with the steady decrease of fusion splicer prices, splicing pigtails, splice-on connectors (SOCs), and splice modules have become popular termination options for the enterprise. Pigtails contain factory pre-polished connectors with a fiber stub that can be fusion spliced to the incoming fiber from a trunk cable. The splices are then protected within a splice sleeve and are stored in splice trays or modules along with any slack fiber. Similarly, SOCs include a factory pre-polished ferrule and a very short fiber stub that is housed within the protective sleeve of the connector.