FIBER-TO-THE-ANTENNA SYSTEMS AND FIBER OPTIC DEMARCATION UNITS
A fiber-to-the-antenna (FTTA) system includes a multi-fiber cable configured to be operatively coupled to fiber optic equipment on the ground, and a fiber optic demarcation unit comprising an adapter optically coupled to the multi-fiber cable. The FTTA system also includes a multi-fiber jumper cable comprising a push-pull connector at one end configured to optically couple to a respective adapter of the fiber optic demarcation unit. Additionally, the FTTA system includes a remote radio head optically coupled to one of the plurality of ports of the fiber optic demarcation unit. The fiber optic demarcation unit can include a strain relief device attached to a housing of the unit and to the multi-fiber cable such that a load of the multi-fiber cable is transferred from an interface between the multi-fiber cable and the housing of the fiber optic demarcation unit.
1 . A fiber-to-the-antenna (FTTA) system comprising:
a multi-fiber cable configured to be operatively coupled to fiber optic equipment;
a fiber optic demarcation unit optically coupled to the multi-fiber cable;
a multi-fiber jumper cable having a push-pull connector at one end portion configured to be optically coupled to the fiber optic demarcation unit; and
a remote radio head optically coupled to the fiber optic demarcation unit.
2 . The FTTA system of claim 1 , wherein the fiber optic demarcation unit further comprises an adapter that optically couples the multi-fiber cable to the demarcation unit.
3 . The FTTA system of claim 1 , wherein the multi-fiber cable comprises twelve fibers, and wherein the multi-fiber jumper cable comprises two fibers.
4 . The FTTA system of claim 1 , wherein the fiber optic demarcation unit comprises a housing defining an environmentally sealed cavity.
5 . The FTTA system of claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises a first housing portion and a second housing portion.
6 . The FTTA system of claim 5 , wherein the first housing portion comprises, a mounting flange configured to create an environmental seal with the second housing portion.
7 . The FTTA system of claim 6 , wherein the housing further comprises a gasket positioned between the mounting flange and a surface of the second housing portion.
8 . The FTTA system of claim 5 , wherein the fiber optic demarcation unit further comprises a plurality of adapters optically coupled to the multi-fiber cable, and wherein the first housing portion defines a plurality of ports configured to hold the plurality of adaptors.
9 . The FTTA system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of adapters are arranged in a cascading configuration.
10 . The FTTA system of claim 5 , wherein the second housing portion defines an opening configured to allow a user to selectively secure the demarcation unit.
11 . The FTTA system of claim 5 , wherein the demarcation unit further comprises a bracket configured to mount the demarcation unit to a wall or a frame of a radio tower.
12 . The FTTA system of claim 1 , wherein the demarcation unit further comprises an optical component optically coupled to the multi-fiber cable and to the multi-fiber jumper cable.
13 . The FTTA system of claim 12 , wherein the optical component is a fanout device.
14 . The FTTA system of claim 12 , wherein the optical component is a wavelength division multiplexer.
15 . A fiber-to-the-antenna (FTTA) system comprising:
a multi-fiber cable operatively coupled to fiber optic equipment; and
a fiber optic demarcation unit optically coupled to the multi-fiber cable and configured to be coupled to a remote radio head, the fiber optic demarcation unit comprising a housing and a strain relief device attached to the housing and to the multi fiber cable such that a load of the multi-fiber cable is transferred from an interface between the multi-fiber cable and the housing of the fiber optic demarcation unit.
16 . The FTTA system of claim 15 , wherein the strain relief device is attached to the multi fiber cable about two feet from the housing.
17 . A housing for a fiber optic demarcation unit in a fiber-to-the-antenna system, comprising:
a first housing portion comprising a first wall, a side wall extending from an edge of the first wall, and a mounting flange extending outward from the side wall, the side wall defining a port for holding an adapter; and
a separate second housing portion comprising a second wall,
wherein the first housing portion and the second housing portion are configured to be coupled to create an environmental seal.
18 . The housing of claim 17 , further comprising a gasket positioned between the mounting flange and a surface of the second housing portion.
19 . The housing of claim 17 , wherein the first housing portion further comprises a first lip extending from the mounting flange, and wherein the second housing portion further comprises a second lip extending from the second wall, the second lip being adjacent the first lip.