There are four main parts to a Test Access Solution for copper line or Fibre Optic Testing. ManagementThe management system controls the Test device and Access Switch. It also provides the interface to the remote user and can control queues at busy times. It is possible the Test Head and Access Switch have their own management control and these are dealt with by the operators control system at a higher level. Test HeadA test head is required to carry out the copper line testing or Optic Fibre test. The complexity and functionality of these units vary between manufacturers, as does the price. The Test section can be treated as a seperate part of the whole scenario and it is feasible to mix and match different suppliers for each part. Access SwitchThe Access Switch is the physical device for connecting into the network. Copper lines generally use a bank of relays that sit in series with the circuit and switch when given commands from a control system. In Fibre networks the access is via a Wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) or a good quality PLC Splitter. The function of the Access Switch is to route the network up to the test device. NetworkThe network will be a copper or Fibre. Copper line circuits are a pair of wires between the customer and the exchange (Central Office) distributed via street cabinets and telegraph poles. Fibre networks are usually accessed at the Optical Distribution Frame (ODF) and test out to the customers Optical Network Unit (ONU) |
Lets explore the full solution in more detail. For clarity I will split out into two sections - 1: Copper Testing 2: Fibre Testing and use the products produced by UTEL as a reference. |