[AusNOG] Basic question about fibre visual fault locators

[Greg]

Hi Rhys

For short MM cable runs you will probably get away with it using that adaptor(~<100meters with a typical 1mW VFL on OM1(worst case scenario I can think of)). I'm assuming your just looking to ID the other end of fiber. ?
That said, mixing MM / SM adaptors is always risky business.
Usually I have a few patch leads(both OM3 & SM(OS1) on hand with the usual ST/LC fiber ferrule for the VFL and a mix of ST/LC/SC connectors on the other end for the various patch panels/fiber types I come across.
Nothing worse thou when you have a faulty fiber, and you can barely see the fiber VFL light, so having the right gear on hand is handy. Fortunately, basic fiber testing gear has come down a lot in price over the years.
Cheers
Greg

________________________________
From: AusNOG <ausnog-bounces at lists.ausnog.net> on behalf of Rhys Hanrahan <rhys at nexusone.com.au>
Sent: Friday, September 25, 2020 6:26 PM
To: ausnog at lists.ausnog.net <ausnog at lists.ausnog.net>
Subject: [AusNOG] Basic question about fibre visual fault locators


Hi Everyone!



I have a pretty basic question about VFLs. I haven’t used one before but we need to trace some existing old MMF at a site and am about to buy a cheap VFL that has a universal connector for SC, ST, FC. We need LC as all the patch leads convert to this.  But all the LC female to SC male connectors I can see around are either SMF, significantly more expensive or internationally shipped. Need to get my hands on this for next week.



I understand that in normal circumstances that mixing MMF and SMF spec equipment would be a no go, but would it be sufficient to use a SMF adaptor just for the purposes of fault-finding/tracing in this case?



I was looking at an adaptor like this one, coupled with a separate cheap VFL: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SC-Male-to-LC-Female-Single-Mode-Fiber-Optic-Hybrid-Optical-Adaptor-Converter/353200623750



This “looks” like it is the same adaptor all the VFLs are bundling in with the tool anyway (but they are all being shipped internationally). Is there any reason not to settle for this? Thanks!

Rhys Hanrahan
Chief Information Officer
Nexus One Pty Ltd

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