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Fiber Optic Memory Lane

Larry Johnson of the Light Brigade briefly describes the temporary museum erected at the 2011 Broadband Properties Summit.  The row of signs described the evolution of communications using light; from the development of the laser and fiber optic cable to the integration of these technologies. He talks of the Light Brigade/FTTH Council relationship to provide training for fiber optic professionals and the importance of maintaining certification in a world of ever-changing technologies.

What struck me about this display is how these boards represent a living history; a history which my friends and colleagues are part of in one form or another.  

Please share your favorite fiber optic memories in the comment section below.   

4 responses to “Fiber Optic Memory Lane”

  1. Ken Avatar
    Ken

    I have a bunch of fiber optic memories; probably the most significant was when I wiped out service to 160,000 cable subscribers by shorting a power supply bus on a chassis that housed fiber optic transmission equipment.  Unfortunately, there was no built-in redundancy in the power supplies (or short-circuit protection) and it took several hours of rewiring and kludges to get the system up and running.  

    What made it so bad was that premium services were going to be provided at no charge for all of the subscribers for the entire weekend starting only a few hours after my blunder.  People immediately started calling into the cable system demanding to know why there were no premium channels.  When the GM showed up in the transmission room, I knew it was serious business.

    Through rewiring, soldering and maybe some bubblegum, we somehow got the service working within 30 minutes of the start of the free weekend.  I had a pit in my gut the size of the Grand Canyon as I made my way to the GM's office.  It got even worse when I realized that I had to call my boss and tell him what happened and pass on the request of the GM that I stay there over the weekend.  

    I figured it was the end of the world; or at least my career.  I can't remember the exact conversation, but I do remember how Joe Hawkins eased my concerns with his laughter.  He also told me to make sure I treated the customer to a nice dinner or two.  The GM also request spare parts, so I could fix it after the weekend promo was over.  The other request he had was not to touch they system over the weekend. I didn’t touch the system, but I had fun with my new found friends from the cable system.  

  2. […] The Korner – Fiber Optic Memory Lane and More…. Larry Johnson of the Light Brigade […]

  3. Bill Fielding Avatar

    Ha!  Great story Ken…ah the memories!  I had a similar experience back in the days when I was selling analog carrier  equipment.  To leverage a sale in a small independent in North Dakota I offered to put in a system and install it myself to show how easy it was vs the competition.  As I was installing the central office end of the system I was up on a ladder wiring CO battery to the equipment while yakking to the GM and his installers the merits of my product.  Unfortunately, I connected the ground lead to the battery side and the entire office went silent (this was an analog office and if you have ever been in a combined local and toll switch the relay chatter is constant).  I had killed the office and any calls in process, in service, local and long distance was put to sleep in an instant.  The GM just laughed as he walked over to the CO power board to bring battery back on line, saying, "Yep!  That system is real easy to shut my entire telephone company down!"  But he did buy that sytem and many more overtime.  Ah…memories…
     
    Bill Fielding

  4. Ken Avatar
    Ken

    Bill, thanks for your memory.  That is a classic.  I was only in an analog office one time and it was loud.  I can only imagine your thoughts as the silence must have been deafening.  

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