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Showing posts with the label telecoms

Antenna Theory Crash Course Part 1: Unveiling the Basics - What Exactly is an Antenna?

Welcome to the first instalment of our crash course in antenna theory! If you've ever wondered how your mobile phone connects to a network or how radio signals travel through the air, you've already encountered the crucial role of antennas. In this post, we'll lay the groundwork by answering a fundamental question: what exactly is an antenna? We can define an antenna in several ways. Firstly, an antenna is "a usually metallic device (as a rod or wire) for radiating or receiving radio waves". The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) provides a similar definition, describing the antenna or aerial as " a means for radiating or receiving radio waves ". More technically, an antenna can be understood as a transitional structure that sits between free-space and a guiding device . This guiding device, which could be a coaxial line or a waveguide, serves to transport electromagnetic energy . Think of it like this:  When transmitt...

Telecoms: Fibre Optic testing with OTDR

 OTDR (Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer) Explained for Everyone In fiber optics, keeping the network running smoothly is important. One of the best tools to check how well things are working is the OTDR. What is an OTDR? An OTDR is a device that tests fiber optic cables by sending light through them and looking at what comes back. This helps technicians find problems, check how long the cable is, and make sure everything is working well. Why is an OTDR Important? Find Problems Fast: It quickly spots breaks or issues in the cable. Monitor Performance: It checks how well the fiber is working by looking at things like signal loss. Efficient Maintenance: It helps decide what needs fixing first, saving time and money. Using OTDR technology makes fiber optic systems more reliable and helps prevent problems before they happen. As our internet and communication networks grow, tools like the OTDR will be key in keeping everything running smoothly. Let's aim for not just working networks, b...

Clear Fibre Transmission

  Understanding Fiber Polish and Cable Connectors In fiber optics, the quality of the connection is everything. The process of fiber polishing and the type of cable connectors used play a crucial role in ensuring optimal performance for data transmission. Here's a breakdown of both these concepts. Fiber Polish: The Key to Clear Transmission Fiber polishing is the finishing process applied to the end faces of optical fibers after cutting them. The goal is to create a smooth and flat surface that minimizes reflections and reduces signal loss, ensuring efficient light transmission. Types of Fiber Polish: Flat Polish: PC (Physical Contact) and UPC (Ultra Physical Contact) In this method, the fiber ends are polished flat and come into physical contact when connected. PC connectors are commonly used in telecom and data applications due to their reliable performance. Angled Polish: APC (Angled Physical Contact) The fiber ends are polished at an angle, typically around 8 degrees. This...

Telecoms: Fibre Channel, Port Channel and things

 In the fast-evolving world of telecommunications, data transmission and networking play pivotal roles in supporting modern businesses. Two critical technologies that help manage the movement of vast amounts of data are Fibre Channel and Port Channel . While these terms may sound similar, they serve different purposes within the infrastructure of networks and data centers. In this post, we’ll dive into Fibre Channel , Port Channel , and other key concepts that keep telecom networks running smoothly. Fibre Channel: High-Speed Storage Networking Fibre Channel (FC) is a high-speed network technology primarily used to connect data storage systems to servers. It’s designed for storage area networks (SANs) , offering a reliable and high-performance solution for moving data between servers and storage devices, especially in data-intensive environments like large enterprises. Key Features of Fibre Channel: High speed: Fibre Channel can deliver speeds from 1 Gbps up to 128 Gbps. Reliab...

TechTalk: Enabling SNMP in Cisco Routers / Switches

 TLDR This article will guide your through the steps to enable SNMP in Cisco Routers and Switches Description Telnet to the router/switch prompt# telnet testrouter Go to the enable mode by specifying the password: Router>enable Password: Router# Go into configuration mode: Router#configure terminal Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z. Router(config)# Use the command below to add a Read-Only community string: Router(config)#snmp-server community public RO where " public " is the Read-only community string. To add a Read-Write Community string, use the command below: Router(config)#snmp-server community private RW where " private " is the Read-write community string. Exit the configuration mode and save the settings: Router(config)#exit Router#write memory Building configuration... [OK] Router# To enable SNMP traps, follow the steps below in the Configuration mode of the Router/Switch: First, set the host to which the traps have to be sent u...

Telecoms: 802.1Q and Trunking 101

This is a quick tutorial on 802.1q tagging and trunking that I've found to be very useful. The commands that can be used to configure the switches are below: >en #conf t #int fa0/1 #switchport mode access #switchport access vlan 2 #exit #int fa0/2 #switchport mode access #switchport mode access #switchport access vlan 3 #exit #int fa0/24 #switchport mode trunk #exit Set static IP addresses on the PC as follows PC1: 10.0.0.1 PC2: 20.0.0.2 PC3: 10.0.0.3 PC4: 20.0.0.4 My packet tracer file can be found here