On Sun, 02 Apr 2006 22:31:06 -0500, Bob Bob wrote:

It takes a machine that
can penetrate or couple to the fiber without damaging its throughput
(much).

Hi Bob,

Having done it often, I can say it is far, far simpler than that. It
is obtained through the evanescent mode and optical couplers just like
RF couplers work on the exactly the same principle. You simply abrade
the surfaces of two conjoined lengths of fiber optic; mate them like
snakes along their length; and wah-lah as the French would say.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC