NCTI

Train up

Delivery: Online

College Credit: 2 credit hours

Estimated Length: 28 seat hours

Price: $815 Course Assessment/Equivalency Exam: $120

HFC course

 
 
Course Overview The NCTI® Fiber Installation and Activation course is a comprehensive resource that provides essential and updated knowledge for deploying fiber-optic cable in today’s broadband networks. This course covers fundamental aspects such as optical transmission, modulation, and transport through optical fibers, as well as the reception and conversion of light back to electrical signals. Participants will gain insights into the various types of optical fibers, their characteristics, and practical applications. Furthermore, the course explores important topics like fiber-optic network architecture, topology, design, and construction practices. It equips students with the necessary skills to install and activate fiber-optic networks, including splicing techniques utilizing both mechanical and fusion methods. The course also provides a comprehensive overview of passive optical network (PON) access technologies, specifically fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) topologies, encompassing GPON, EPON, RFoG, and next-generation access (NGA) architectures.

Delivery Options

The course is delivered online. Lesson and final exams are taken online.

Completion Time:

The estimated completion time for this course is 28 hours. The maximum allotted time is four months from enrollment.

Benefits:

  • earn two hours of college credit
  • receive credit toward NCTI Master Technician certification
  • receive an industry-recognized NCTI certificate of graduation

Upon completing this course, students will be able to:

  1. Identify the optical spectrum and wavelengths of light waves used for fiber-optics communications.
  2. Describe the optical sources and receivers used for fiber-optics communications.
  3. Describe safety materials and procedures for handling and splicing optical fibers.
  4. Recognize common standards used in fiber‐optic transmission systems.
  5. Describe the different optical fiber types and factors that determine how well light waves are transported through the fiber.
  6. Identify different types of fiber-optic cable and their applications.
  7. Describe optical connectors, patch panels, and ancillary optical devices such as splitters, pigtails, and attenuators.
  8. Explain the procedures to prepare a splice closure and a fiber‐optic splice tray.
  9. Describe how to splice fiber-optic cable.
  10. Explain the considerations and specifications for proper installation of fiber‐optic cable.
  11. Describe the different types of optical modulation and optical detection.
  12. Explain the differences in coarse wavelength division multiplexing, wide wavelength division multiplexing, and dense wavelength division multiplexing technologies.
  13. Identify optical network architectures and topologies, including fiber-to-the-user (FTTx) networks.
  14. List the steps in the setup of an optical transmitter and receiver.
  15. Define and give examples of an optical power budget.
  16. Discuss the application and operation of centralized and distributed node powering.
  17. Recognize the different passive optical network (PON) access architectures.
 

Outline:

1. Fiber-Optic Technology

Fiber-optic technology basics, light sources, and optical receivers

2. Fiber-Optic Cable Properties 

Optical fiber types, fiber performance, and optical fiber dimension tolerances

3. Introduction to Fiber-Optic Networks

Basic HFC architecture, optical nodes, fiber-optic services, fiber transmission standards, and fiber safety

4. Fiber-Optic Network Design

Network design guidelines, network design route, and network documentation 

5. Fiber-Optic Network Architectures and Topologies

Fiber-optic network architecture, FTTx networks, and passive optical networks

6. Passive Optical Networks

Passive optical networks, PON architectures, and next-generation access

7. Optical Transmission Systems

Optical modulation techniques, optical detection and demodulation, and wavelength division multiplexing

8. Optical Signal Transmitting and Receiving

Optical transmitters, optical receivers, and optical transport elements

9. Fiber-Optic Cable Construction Techniques

Safety overview and fiber-optic cable outside plant installation

10. Fiber-Optic Node Powering

Optical network powering, outside plant power distribution, and node equipment

11. Outside Plant Fiber-Optic Cable Installation

Aerial fiber-optic cable installation and underground fiber-optic cable installation

12. Fiber-Optic Components and Terminations

Optical cabling standards and elements, optical connectors, and optical patch panels and ancillary devices

13. Fiber-Optic Cable Splicing Preparation

Fiber-optic cable splicing and splice closures

14. Fiber-Optic Cable Splicing and Terminating

Splicing techniques and facility terminations