There has been much discussion about Differential Mode Delay (DMD), Effective Modal Bandwidth (EMB), and Overfilled Launch (OFL) bandwidth, but these parameters exist for one reason – to determine whether a link will operate when inserted into a system. OFS has been a strong proponent of the DMD mask method for characterizing high performance multimode fiber, and the results of a recent study show that DMD provides the most rigorous screening of high performance multimode fiber.
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Conserving optical power should be the top priority of any optical network system, to help improve performance at lower overall system cost. Once optical power is lost, it cannot be recovered without expensive amplifiers or electronics. Since applications such as 1000BASE-BX Ethernet and Passive Optical Networks are using bend-sensitive longer wavelengths, bending loss becomes a key concern. OFS' AllWave FLEX Fiber’s 10 mm radius bending loss at 1550 nm is 73 percent better than specified in the G.657A standard. That translates into a 0.45 dB loss advantage, which can provide about 3 km of additional reach, power budget for one additional connector pair or three additional fusion splices, and more reliable service.
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OFS is one of the founding research members of the Georgia Tech 100G Optical Networking Consortium, believed to be the first academic-industrial consortium of its kind in the world. To date, more than $2.2 million in support has been designated for this facility by the consortium’s founding research members –ADVA Optical Networking, Ciena, OFS, and Verizon – and by supporting members. The consortium and facility allow academic and industry personnel to perform multidisciplinary research in all aspects of 100-gigabit-per-second transmission. Research topics range from fundamental studies of 100G optical transmission to assessment of optical and electronic technologies that will be used in such high-speed optical networks.
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Laser-optimized multimode fiber is recognized as the medium of choice to support high-speed data networks. With next-generation 40 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet speeds on the horizon, the industry is developing a new type of multimode fiber, called OM4, which will offer an effective minimum modal bandwidth of 4700 MHz-km at 850 nm. (OFS' LaserWave 550 Fiber already meets or exceeds the emerging standard.) What is OM4 fiber? How can you certify that the fiber you select has the bandwidth you need for these demanding applications? Are there benefits to installing this fiber today? This article seeks to answer those and other important questions.
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... Andrew Oliviero delivered a presentation on "Specifying Optical Fiber for Data Center Applications" at the BICSI Spring Conference.
View the presentation here >>

... John Kamino, multimode product manager, spoke on OM4 fiber for high-speed applications in a webcast sponsored by OFS and presented by Pennwell Publishing.
You can hear his presentation here >>