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CTE Fiber Optics & Transmission Systems Flashcards

6 cards from real CTE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 CTE Fiber Optics & Transmission Systems flashcards as text
  1. What does the term 'dispersion-shifted fiber' (DSF, ITU-T G.653) refer to?

    Answer: Fiber designed to shift the zero-dispersion wavelength from 1310 nm to 1550 nm

    DSF moves the zero-dispersion wavelength to 1550 nm to minimize dispersion at the lowest-attenuation window, though it suffers from four-wave mixing in DWDM use.

  2. In a passive optical network (PON), what does the optical splitter enable?

    Answer: It allows a single feeder fiber from the OLT to serve multiple ONTs without active electronics

    The passive optical splitter divides (and combines) light between the OLT's feeder fiber and multiple ONT drop fibers using no active electronics, reducing cost and maintenance.

  3. What is the purpose of dispersion compensation fiber (DCF) used in long-haul fiber links?

    Answer: To introduce negative dispersion that cancels accumulated positive chromatic dispersion

    DCF has large negative dispersion coefficient (~−80 to −100 ps/nm·km), intentionally added to counteract positive chromatic dispersion accumulated over standard SMF spans.

  4. Which optical connector type is most commonly specified in US carrier outside plant (OSP) single-mode fiber installations due to its push-pull latching and low insertion loss?

    Answer: SC connector

    The SC (Subscriber Connector) with push-pull coupling is widely used in US carrier OSP for its low insertion loss (<0.3 dB), repeatability, and compact form factor.

  5. In SONET/SDH terminology, what does the STS-1 signal rate of 51.84 Mbps represent?

    Answer: The base rate of the SONET hierarchy from which higher rates (STS-3, STS-12…) are derived by multiplexing

    STS-1 at 51.84 Mbps is the fundamental SONET building block; higher rates (OC-3 = 155.52 Mbps, OC-48 = 2.488 Gbps, etc.) are integer multiples of this base.

  6. What is the typical optical power budget (loss budget) consideration when designing a 1000BASE-LX Gigabit Ethernet link over single-mode fiber?

    Answer: Maximum 6 dB loss for distances up to 5 km on SMF

    1000BASE-LX on single-mode fiber supports up to 5 km with a maximum allowable channel insertion loss of 6 dB including connectors and splices.