FOA CFOS/H study plan

Define and correctly use core fiber terms: core, cladding, coating, buffer, jacket, numerical aperture, mode field diameter, and index of refraction.

Compare single-mode and multimode fiber (multimode categories such as OM1 through OM5, and OS2 single-mode) and state where each fits in a home or MDU plant.

Explain step-index versus graded-index multimode behavior and how modal dispersion limits reach.

Calculate link loss budgets from component loss values and compare the result with typical transceiver reach and loss margins.

Describe typical home fiber architectures (fiber to the home ONT placement, fiber-to-the-room, MDU riser and drop topologies) and label the network segments from OLT to subscriber equipment.

Identify the construction, jacket ratings, and use cases of common indoor and drop cables (simplex, duplex zipcord, distribution, breakout, and ruggedized drop cable) and select a cable for a given in-wall, riser, or aerial application.

Compare connector types used in home plants (SC, LC, and hardened/outdoor drop connectors) and match connector polish and ferrule type to the fiber and application.

Explain how to interpret and act on a connector end-face inspection result using the standard defect zones and acceptance criteria concepts.

Distinguish passive hardware roles: patch panels, wall outlets, splitters, WDM components, attenuators, and media converters.

Specify a component bill of materials for a two-story home with four fiber outlets, including cable, connectors, and hardware.

Plan a cable route for a home installation that respects minimum bend radius, pulling tension, and separation from electrical wiring and heat sources.

Demonstrate proper cable preparation and connector termination steps for at least one field-installable or splice-on connector type, listing the sequence from strip to cure.

Describe how to splice in a home plant: fusion splicing versus mechanical splicing, when each is appropriate, and how to protect the splice.

Write a procedure for securing, labeling, and dressing cable in a residential enclosure and at the outlet.

Explain how to handle and dispose of bare fiber safely and what personal protective equipment a home installer needs.

Explain what an optical loss test set measures, describe the one-jumper and three-jumper reference methods, and state why the reference method changes the reported result.

Compute a link's expected loss and set a pass/fail limit, then interpret a measured result against that limit.

Describe how an OTDR works and how to read a trace for splice, connector, and bend events, including the effect of launch and receive fiber.

Perform and document connector end-face inspection, and state when visual fault locator use is appropriate.

Outline a troubleshooting sequence for a dead outlet and for a high-loss link, ordering checks from least to most invasive.

Design a small home fiber network from a requirements statement: count outlets, choose a topology, and place the enclosure, splitter, and ONT.

Produce a scope of work and a task schedule with dependencies for a single-home installation.

Define acceptance criteria and a handover package (as-built documentation, test results, labeling scheme) for a residential job.

Estimate labor and material costs for a defined home installation and identify the top three schedule risks.

Write a customer-facing design proposal that explains the chosen architecture, outlet locations, and expected performance in plain language.

Plan an MDU or multi-dwelling scenario: riser routing, splitter placement, and per-unit drop design.

Identify code, permitting, and building-access considerations that affect a residential fiber job, and list the approvals needed before work starts.

Create a change-control and documentation process for modifications discovered mid-installation.

Re-derive the loss budget for two different home links without notes and check the answers against the week 1 sheet.

List the failure modes of connectors, splices, and cable in home environments (contamination, tight bend, tension, water, rodent, UV) and the preventive measure for each.

Rehearse the full installation sequence end to end on paper, from site survey through termination, dressing, and labeling.

Self-quiz on fiber fundamentals and component selection until every missed item from weeks 1 through 3 is resolved.

Re-run the test-report and troubleshooting workflow from week 4 without reference material and correct any errors.

Complete a timed mixed practice set across all five domains and log the reasoning behind each wrong answer.

Review the project plan and proposal from weeks 5 and 6 against the exam domain weightings and close gaps in the lightest-covered areas.

Build a one-page final review sheet of formulas, limits, and procedures for last-minute study.