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Fiber installation----good place to start?

Hello Folks

We want/need to start dabbling in fiber. We have been asked to do a job for which we can order the fiber with the ends already terminated and just run the fiber-----or the more involved, expensive way would be to terminate the ends on-site. I would like to do the latter as I would like to learn how to do it. The job has enough margin to allow us to buy the tools and still make bit of profit. I have been looking at TKT-UNICAM-PFC Corning Unicam Termination Kit. Does anyone have any recommendations on particular kits? I know I can buy the individual components for less but the idea of an "almost" all inclusive kit is appealing. I have been looking through DSL reports 'fiber' and 'networking' forums but they have very slim pickings on anything related to fiber. At this point we are only interested in indoor installs.

Damn, MatrixHDV--here I'm trying to learn how to crawl and you got me running full speed down hill!! You bring up a point I had not even remotely considered--Thanks. Please do keep in mind that we have not had any fiber requests before--but then, we had not looked for any either. What would be the price of a decent(not great, not crappy) fusion splicer? I can get the above mentioned connector kit for around $1500. I did a quick search for fusion splicers and they can get very pricey, specially since I am not in that segment of the market and have no idea what makes a good splicer good:(
Thanks for your input.

The Corning Unicam system is a very nice way of doing fiber terminations. The new pretium kit you are looking at makes it very simple to install connectors. Fusion splicing may be the best option in terms of performance & versatility, however for what you need to do, mechanical connectors are a very viable option. I install thousands of unicam connectors every year using that kit (Well the older version of it) and it hasn't let me down yet. Fusion splicing is great, and I do perform thousands of splices every year as well, but in my experience there can be a significant cost savings in using cam style connectors over splicing. The materials tend to be less expensive, the equipment is less expensive, and I can prep & terminate 12 fibers faster than I can splice them (single strand loose tube, not ribbon).

Where are you looking to buy from? I would suggest shopping around, as pricing can vary greatly. We get excellent pricing on Corning products through Anixter, and I would recommend checking them out.

THANKS, folks

I just found the Corning kit that includes other tools(that I would use with a fusion splicer as well) for $1,100 used--but new:). I'll get that for this job. You have really peaked my curiosity about the fusion splicers and need to get myself educated about them. I found the fusion splicers starting at $2K for the refurbished units with 90-180 day warranties. Fujikuras are quite common in Ebay, are they any good? What brands/models do you fellows use? Please don't name the Ferraris of this world, Chevys and Toyotas will be fine:)

BTW, where is a good forum related to this medium? I have found quite a bit of info in Youtube, but I would like to find a forum similar to this one.

As always, thanks for your input!

The fiber optic association is a good place to start. Fuji are the workhorse of the industry. The 40s should be able to be had cheap, and are pretty nice units to use (so I've heard).

Corning X75 with heatshrink oven.

I've been using the AFL fast connectors for my setup. I find them to be AMAZIng. reusable quick and very low loss.

I was ordering cables from sun telecom and they were quite affordable and pretty good quality. It's probably worth taking a look at.

Personally, I think a mechanical kit is a good way to start. Work your way up to a fusion splicer if the needs of the business demand it.
I sold my fusion splicer after I sold my last bucket truck, so I know it's been at least 4 years. Since that time, I can probably count on one hand the times I thought "boy, I wish I still had my fusion splicer".
If you find yourself in the market for a fusion splicer, the Fujikura machines are pretty good. Look for a used 18/19s. *Make sure you get it from some place reputable.

*Many years ago, Ma Bell bought me a new fusion splicer. The invoice with the machine was $25,900.00. About a month later, somebody cut the locks at the shop and pried open every splicing trailer. They took every splicer, generator, FOTS, etc...
Three months later Bell Security found most of them on eBay and recovered them. I actually got the exact same splicer and t-berd returned to me.
Fujikura keeps a "hot sheet" on stolen machines. At the very least you want to have a unit you can send in for service without having to worry if it's stolen.
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If someone refers to herself / himself as a "guru", they probably aren't.

Thanks everyone.

We ended up buying that same kit from someone on Craigslist for $1100. The fellow included a VFL, several connectors(around 20), and some fiber. He bought it and used only to learn how to do it, and it shows!---the unit is spotless! To the fellows that do fiber on a regular basis: what do you do to drum up business?

We will keep checking on splicers.

To all, thank you.

Funny, in 15 years I've never heard anyone speak positive things about Unicam until this thread. I've always cut and polished.

Yea thats how Ive frequently seen it done around here.
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OptionsDSL Wireless Internet
»www.optionsdsl.ca

This is the place to ask, a lot of people have dabbled in fiber in this forum...

Has no one else tried the AFL fast connectors? I can do em in like 2 minutes and find them to be great, even reusable....

Never dealt with the field installable connector ends, but I have dealt with these since we do have a splicer: »www.fiberinstrumentsales.com/lan···onnector

Well, it's good to know we can post here fiber related questions.
Killa200
Those are really nice connectors, they are very reasonably priced units--the only drawback is that it seems you have to buy 100 at a time:(

We always use fan out kits in all of our enclosures, and our largest jobs are only 24 count in most cases. The trick is icky clean (or similar) and then baby powder. The strands will slide right through every time!

My entire department is certified through the FOA. We can do any type of termination and have a unicam kit but we rarely touch it. Fusion splicing to pigtails is the way to go, and quicker when doing a few dozen strands. I trained on a Fujikura 40s but use a 60s daily. It is an excellent unit with USA support and service.

Unicams might get you off the ground but I would fusion splice and never look back. We buy mostly from Fiber Instrument Sales. I've never ordered anything that wasn't in stock or less than 1 day out.

At any rate...good luck!