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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 is the fundamental difference between a fusion splice and a mechanical splice in fiber optic installations?

    Answer: Fusion splicing permanently welds fiber ends with an electric arc; mechanical splicing aligns and clamps fibers with a fixture

    Fusion splicing uses an electric arc to melt and permanently fuse two fiber ends together (typical loss <0.05 dB), while mechanical splicing aligns fibers in a holder with index-matching gel (typical loss ~0.2–0.5 dB).

  2. In optical fiber testing, what does an optical return loss (ORL) measurement indicate?

    Answer: The ratio of launched power to reflected power, indicating the quality of connectors and splices

    Optical return loss (in dB) measures how much power is reflected back toward the source; a high ORL value (e.g., >50 dB) indicates minimal back-reflection from clean connectors and splices.

  3. Which GPON standard specifies a downstream rate of 2.488 Gbps and upstream rate of 1.244 Gbps?

    Answer: ITU-T G.984 (GPON)

    ITU-T G.984 defines GPON with 2.488 Gbps downstream and 1.244 Gbps upstream, supporting split ratios up to 1:128 and distances up to 20 km.

  4. What phenomenon limits DWDM channel count and spacing in standard DSF (G.653) fiber?

    Answer: Four-wave mixing (FWM), which is strongest near the zero-dispersion wavelength

    Four-wave mixing generates new frequencies that interfere with adjacent DWDM channels and is most severe near the zero-dispersion wavelength, making G.653 DSF unsuitable for dense DWDM.

  5. In a structured cabling installation per TIA-568, what is the maximum channel length specified for OM4 multimode fiber in a 40GBASE-SR4 link?

    Answer: 150 m

    40GBASE-SR4 supports up to 150 m over OM4 laser-optimized multimode fiber per IEEE 802.3ba, making it suitable for data center inter-rack connections.

  6. What is the primary role of forward error correction (FEC) in long-haul optical transport systems?

    Answer: To detect and correct bit errors at the receiver, extending reach without regeneration

    FEC adds redundant check bits so the receiver can identify and correct errors, effectively improving the optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) margin and extending unregenerated reach.