Fiber, I looked at it with the naked eye, is it dangerous for my eyes?
SolvedHello,
Hello,
I moved. I didn't want fiber for health reasons (brain), but I didn't know it was dangerous for the eyes. Orange is forcing me to use it; basically, it's fiber or nothing, and I don't think that's normal.
I see a white box, I look at it a bit everywhere and underneath to see the connections (later I'll understand that this white box is a PTO). I didn't see any light, but apparently, you can't see it. It has a white wire underneath connected to the box; I look at this white wire and everything underneath the box, but my Livebox hasn't been connected yet. I have internet thanks to a small external box that Orange lent me. Now, I'm worried about my eyes! I was never warned about this danger, but the previous tenant must have been. I suppose to install the Livebox 5, it needs to be connected to the fiber, so I will have to look under the fiber. Do sunglasses protect? Orange told me that if the technician connects the Livebox, it will cost me about €90, which I can't afford. So, I'm still worried about my eyes, and I wonder how the Orange advisor could ask me to read the number on the box without saying, watch out for your eyes!
Windows / Chrome 110.0.0.0
4 answers
-
Hello again,
It is indeed near infrared, whose effect can affect the retina if one looks directly at the source of emission, depending on its power.
In a way, it's no more and no less than a "classic" Laser device (DVD player), but for the end user, in neither case will the beam "jump out" at you.
I don't see the point of looking at an optical fiber head-on, and I don’t see what danger there could be in observing it from another angle.
-
Moderator
Hello,
I don't see the point of looking at an optical fiber in line.
Especially with an invisible signal. It's better to try to see it through a digital camera whose sensor is sensitive to infrared (test it with a remote control...).
And I don't see what danger there could be in observing it from another angle.
For me, I don't see how you can change the angle since the laser is basically a coherent and highly focused light ;-)
-
@blux
We're talking about the same thing, directly fixing the source, not admiring the fiber placed before us even if it is bare.
I suppose that at least in some cases the radiation is not only infrared since it can happen that the aforementioned fiber (as is the case with mine) emits light (red in this particular instance, but by definition it is not infrared). -
@brucine
Hello,
short-range fiber ports (SR, SX) have LED sources at 850 nm, which is closer to visible red (650 nm), but still far enough that we don't see them in principle, except for "gummy" LEDs like those we had in the past with 10base F.
Long-range lasers (LR, ER, ZR, GPON) have wavelengths that are even further from the visible spectrum (1310/1550 nm).
However, all types of fibers (single-mode and multimode) can be tested with an optical pen that sends out red light, like laser pointers.
-
Moderator@brupala
At work, I'm using OM3, visible red...
But as I said, you really need to be in front of it to see the light, even for multimode (which spreads out a bit more than singlemode).
-
@blux
OM3, but LEDs that cover a wide spectrum undoubtedly, what’s the throughput?
Still, the signal from LEDs is less powerful and much less dangerous for the eye than real long-distance SFP lasers.
-
-
Hello,
Indeed, according to this article, it's dangerous for the retina:
https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-37585054-fibre-attention-les-yeux
Regarding the connection of the Livebox, if the cable is provided, you just need to plug it in; it will save you money.
-
Thank you for your response, I was hoping that since the box wasn't connected, there might be a chance that my eyes were a little spared. Basically, I will have to make the connection by touching, without looking underneath, not easy, it should be Orange that does it for free, they have the equipment to protect themselves, not us. Thank you!
-
@HYPERSENSIBLE
To make the connection, simply look to the side, as described in the article.
-
Moderator@HYPERSENSIBLE
Thank you for your response, I was hoping that since the box was not connected, there might be a chance that my eyes were a bit spared. Basically, I will have to make the connection by feeling, without looking underneath, not easy, it should be Orange who does it for free, they have the equipment to protect themselves, we do not. Thank you!
There is no risk if we don't look directly at the fiber right in line with the pupil. As I said, the laser beam is extremely thin and very directed; a 1° shift and you can't see anything anymore.
-
-
Moderator
Hello,
Is fiber dangerous for the brain????
As for the eyes, you would still have to amuse yourself by looking at the end of the socket which is plugged into the ONT... there is no visible light on the ONT, no it’s a closed box.
The ONT is there to convert the optical signal into an electrical signal.
The box will connect via an electrical cable to the output socket of the ONT, so there is no danger.
For your information: when the Orange technicians installed the fiber at my place... they, without being asked, connected their box and then mine to check that everything was working... and at no cost.
It's very difficult to catch a black cat in a dark room.
Especially when it's not there...-
-
@barnabe0057
And then, as in the picture, whether it's on the Box/ONT side or the wall socket, the fiber is in a sheath.
Only the technician who would look at the end "straight in the eyes" to fix it from the outside to the wall socket would be concerned; I have never seen anyone do that or wear protective glasses.
Retina burns, if there were to be any, are not a chronic or degenerative condition: the effect is immediate, and we would have noticed... -
Moderator@barnabe0057
Orange does not necessarily install a Livebox 5; it depends on the internet subscription contract.
-
-
Thank you all for your help!
