Fiber U Self-Study 



Lesson 3: Fiber Optic Communications  

What communications systems use fiber optics?


Objectives: From this lesson you should learn:

The advantages of optical fiber as a communications medium
How optical fiber is used in communications systems
Other uses for fiber optics
Why use fiber?


Fiber has become the communications medium of choice for telephones, cell phones, CATV, LAN backbones, security cameras, industrial networks, just about every kind of communications - now even all the way to the home. In this lesson, you will learn why fiber is the  medium of choice for most communications networks and how many of those networks use fiber.

For those interested in more detail on how networks work, we recommend
FOA Lectures 34-36 below which discuss how networks work and how bandwidth is allocated in networks.
 

Student Assignment:
Watch the videos, read the references and take the quizzes (Test Your Comprehension)

YouTube Video:
FOA Lecture 1: Fiber Optics & Communications (repeat from Lesson 1, review telecom, CATV and LANs)
Highly recommended: FOA Lectures 34-36
FOA Lecture 34, Networks  
FOA Lecture 35 Network Architectures  
FOA Lecture 36 Network Bandwidth  
Online FOA Reference:
Fiber Optic Communications
Networks   

Book Chapter:
        
FOA Reference Guide to Fiber Optics, Chapter 3

Test Your Knowledge:
Online Quiz
Take the Quiz at the end of Chapter 3 and check your answers

Optional - Extra Credit Reading/Viewing

Optical LANs    Video FOA Lecture 30, OLANs, Optical LANs
Fiber to the Home (FTTH)   Video: FOA Lecture 25: FTTx 
Fiber in Premises Networks  Video: Premises Cabling Lecture 9: Fiber Optics 
Fiber or Copper?  Video: FOA Lecture 24: Copper, Fiber or Wireless? 
Fiber For Wireless Networks  
Data Centers  

Next: Lesson 4: Fiber Optic Transmission Systems and Components         
Return to Lesson Plan



 

Table of Contents: The FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics

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