Loop back plug and method

Abstract

A loop back connector and methods for testing lines in a fiber optic network are disclosed. The loop back connector includes a ferrule having an interface side constructed for optical connection to a multifiber optical cable. The loop back connector also includes first and second optical loop back paths, each having first and second terminal ends positioned at the interface side. The terminal ends of each loop back path are adapted to be aligned to fibers in the multifiber optical cable. The method includes injecting a signal on a first optical path at a first location, looping back the signal at a second location onto a second optical path, and receiving the signal on the second optical path at the first location.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A termination arrangement comprising:
 a fiber optic cable including a plurality of optical fibers enclosed within a jacket, the fiber optic cable defining a breakout location at an intermediate location along the fiber optic cable;   a sealed region surrounding the fiber optic cable and covering the breakout location;   a tether that branches from the fiber optic cable at the sealed region, the tether extending from the sealed region towards a distal end that is terminated by a ruggedized multi-fiber connector; and   a drop terminal including a plurality of fiber optic connectors;   a second cable that is shorter than the fiber optic cable, the second cable including a plurality of optical fibers that couple to the fiber optic connectors of the drop terminal, the optical fibers of the second cable being terminated by a multi-fiber connector that is configured to be coupled to the multi-fiber connector of the tether.   
     
     
         19 . The termination arrangement of  claim 18 , wherein the sealed region includes an overmolded closure disposed around the breakout location of the fiber optic cable and partly around the tether. 
     
     
         20 . The termination arrangement of  claim 18 , wherein the tether is a ribbon tether. 
     
     
         21 . The termination arrangement of  claim 18 , wherein the tether if branched out from the fiber optic cable at a manufacturing center.