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From: svoboda@motcid.UUCP (David Svoboda)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: tapping into a fiber optic cable
Message-ID: <3332@ash31.UUCP>
Date: 1 Jun 90 14:39:44 GMT
References: <61338@sgi.sgi.com>
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Div., Arlington Heights, IL
Lines: 22

From article <61338@sgi.sgi.com>, by rpw3@rigden.wpd.sgi.com (Rob Warnock):
> In fact, there are companies [not mine] out there working on using this
> phenomenon to build practical fiber-optic "quick-connects". The idea is
> that instead of the current labor-intensive cut, epoxy, cure, polish,
> examine, polish, examine... sequence to terminate fibers to "ST" connectors,
> one would simply strip off the outer jacket, stick the bare fiber into a hole,
> and twist down on a knob which would bend the fiber up against the receiver
> or LED (yes, you can *send* this way, too).
> 
> Look for such commercial products in a year or so.

Look in your handy-dandy Inmac catalog.  A year and a half ago I installed a 
fiber optic "parallel cable" on an unruly laser printer.  The setup consisted 
of an optic xcvr at either end (a black box the size of a null modem) and a 
two "conductor" plastic optic cable.  Just strip, stuff, and twist, as you 
said.  About 130 bucks for two xcvrs and a cable.  Extends a parallel 
connection a LONG way, with no EM noise whatsoever (of course).

Dave Svoboda, Motorola CID, RTSG, Arlington Heights, IL
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