Coupler modules These fiber-optic coupler modules house the company's coupler/splitters. The modules are compatible with termination boxes of leading manufacturers. Also available are rack-mountable coupler modules. Standard and custom configurations may be ordered. Fiberdyne Labs Inc., Frankfort, NY
Terabit IP backbone router The Pluris 2000 terabit network router lets telecommunications carriers support up to 184 terabits of aggregate switching capacity while being managed as a single homogeneous system. The carrier can start with as little as 90 Gbits of switching capacity and 10 Gbits of line capacity, and grow to 184 Tbits of nonblocking switching capacity and 19.2 Tbits of line capacity. The system supports OC-12c, OC-48c, and OC-192 interfaces. The router operates with the OpTXNet, a fiber-optic distributed switching fabric design that interconnects nearly 2000 line cards within a single system. The entry-level list price is $98,000 for a 90-Gbit/sec switch configuration and $45,000 per OC-48c port. Pluris Inc., Cupertino, CA
Wavelength-division multiplexer The EEX-820 wavelength-division multiplexer converts from 100Base-TX/10 Base-T untwisted-pair cable to a standard SC fiber interface. It uses up to 800- or 400-Mbit/sec transmission over one half of the fiber-optic bandwidth normally required for regular fiber capacity, according to the manufacturer. By trunking Fast Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and similar approaches, it is possible to construct a network line of 800 Mbits/sec having the same reliability as FDDI. The unit also features a hot-swapping redundant power supply with Web-based SNMP management (optional) and plug-and-play installation. The model is available for both singlemode and multimode fiber-optic cable. Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. Inc., Tokyo
COMPONENTSEmitter/detector unit The FS501 collocated emitter/detector unit is capable of simultaneously transmitting data in both directions over a single optical fiber. It uses a plastic optical fiber that, according to the manufacturer, is durable and has excellent tensile strength. The fiber is installed by cutting the fiber perpendicularly with a razor blade. No polishing is needed. The fiber is slid into the opening and a crimping nut is tightened by hand. Data rates are in the 50-MHz range, depending on fiber distance. The fiber can be run with a 0.5-inch bend radius to install in tight areas. FiberSwitch Technologies, Rapid City, SD
Mach-Zehnder interleaver The Mach-Zehnder InterLeaver is used to interleave two sets of up to 20 wavelengths with spacings as narrow as 200 GHz to achieve up to 100-GHz channel separation. The components can be used to either multiplex or demultiplex wavelengths with channel separation down to 50 GHz. It can be used to separate or combine any odd or even wavelengths within a specified spectral range (up to 35 nm). It is available with either a low-insertion loss Gaussian response or in a range of customized flat-top responses for wider-channel passbands. ITF Optical Technologies, Ville St.-Laurent, QC, Canada
Transit case The BRAT HDPE transit case comes with or without a handle and wheels and is designed for CPU-based systems and test and measurement OEMs. Features include an integral handle and wheels option that doesn't rob interior space, heavy-duty valence with weather seal, piano hinge, rugged twist latches, and spring-loaded ATA fold-down handle. Diversified Case Co. Inc., Rome, NY
OC-48c framing/mapping chip The amazon is a framing and mapping device that supports OC-48c SONET and SDH traffic. The chip performs all SONET and SDH processing, as well as full-duplex mapping of packets and ATM cells in and out of sonet/sdh payloads. It includes an interface that provides a utopia Level-3 interface for ATM traffic. The chip also includes a POS interface. It is priced at $325 in quantities of 1000. Applied Micro Circuits Corp., San Diego, CA
Modular switch The AnyWay Switch/3 Series is a modular fiber and copper Ethernet switch that is a nonblocking, store-and-forward, 12-port, full wire-speed 10/100-Mbit/sec Fast Ethernet switch using ASIC technology. It supports VLAN switching, allowing managers to reduce unnecessary broadcast traffic, segment networks, and enhance network security. The switch allows network managers to purchase only the port types and quantities they require, while providing an upgrade path for the future. The rack-mountable chassis features three slots for installing from one to three front-loading, hot-swappable, 4-port 10/100-Mbit/sec fiber or copper switch modules in any combination. IMC Networks Inc., Foothill Ranch, CA
TEST EQUIPMENTTunable laser diode The Model 6428 tunable laser diode is designed for testing WDM telecommunications components. According to the manufacturer, the linear and fast motor allows true swept-wavelength characterization. The device's resolution, stability, and settling time also make the laser suitable for "step and measure" component characterization. Mode hop-free performance over the full tuning range enables analysis of narrow-band filters. New Focus Inc., Santa Clara, CA
Mini power meter The Photom mini power meter 211 has a built-in InGaAs sensor. Calibration wavelengths are 850, 1310, and 1550 nm. The meter's dynamic range is 75 dB. The unit measures 61x99x22 mm and is operated by one NiCad battery. It has an auto-off feature. Haktronics Co. Ltd., Tokyo
Polarization controller This all-fiber polarization controller can be operated in the 1300-to-1550- or 980-nm windows, is available in 3, 4, or 5 waveplates, and can be configured for PC-driven or standalone operation. The typical applications are PDL measurements or state-of-polarization servo control. Up to 4? of retardance can be applied independently to each waveplate to change the output state of polarization either in a user-adjustable mode or via an adjustable-speed scrambling feature. The controller presents essentially zero PMD, according to the manufacturer, an ultra-low PDL, and no internal reflections. GAP Optique SA, Geneva
Jitter analyzer The MP1777A jitter analyzer combines a built-in modulator and demodulator to measure jitter for either land or submarine digital transmissions. Jitter tolerance can be measured when the analyzer is used in combination with an external modulated signal source such as the signal generator section of a network analyzer, pulse pattern generator, or an error detector. The analyzer can also evaluate jitter amount as a stand alone instrument. The front panel includes menu-driven touch-screen commands. It measures 426(W)x177(H)x451(D) mm. The analyzer is priced at $15,000. Anritsu Corp., Richardson, TX
INSTALLATION
Fiber safety stickers The Fiber Scrap safety sticker book is designed to help installers properly pick up and discard scraps of bare fiber after cleaving. The book contains clear stickers that are used to pick up pieces of glass fiber as they are removed during the termination process. Prior to cleaving a fiber, an installer can peel a sticker from the book and place it nearby. Pieces of glass can then be placed on the adhesive or picked up with the adhesive and discarded without causing personal injury. The sticker book is available as part of a termination kit or as an individual part. Panduit Corp., Tinley Park, IL
LITERATUREInGaAs product catalog This product catalog of InGaAs photodetectors, receivers, and monitors contains 45 products that are available in numerous configurations of connector types, fiber types, active diameter size, and speeds. Many of the products are new for 1999, including high-speed avalanche photodiode- and PIN-based receivers, optical monitors for instrumentation, and photodiodes in LC receptacles. The new products were designed for high-speed receiver applications, Gigabit Ethernet, and optical monitor networking. EPITAXX Inc., West Trenton, NJ