Abstract: A fiber color detector is presented. A magnifying glass and a receptacle are formed in a housing. In addition, a platform including a first side facing the magnifying glass and a second oppositely disposed side is located within the housing. A light source located within the housing is positioned relative to the second side of the platform and radiates light, which emanates through the platform. A fiber is inserted into the receptacle and is positioned between the first side of the platform and the magnifying glass. As such, when the light source generates light, which emanates through the platform, the color of the fiber is contrasted against the color of the platform, when viewed through the magnifying glass. As such, an operator may view and detect the color of the fiber through the magnifying glass.

Abstract: A system for transmitting operational control messages to a plurality of remotely-disposed cable-locating transmitters uses a spare communication line associated with each transmitter to carry the control messages from unit to unit. In the case of a fiber optic cable, the control message is transferred from an incoming telephone line associated with a first cable-locating transmitter to a spare optical fiber. The control message then propagates down the fiber to the next transmitter (where this transmitter does not otherwise have accessibility to a telephone line). This transmitter converts the optical signal to an electrical signal and either uses the control message (if indeed destined for that particular transmitter), or re-converts it to optical form and sends it further along the spare fiber to the next remote cable-locating transmitter further down the line.

Abstract: A plurality of remotely-situated cable-locating transmitters (141-14n) are centrally managed using a database (18) that stores information about each transmitter, including information about the particular version of its operating software. When a software upgrade becomes available, the database is accessed to identify and select those transmitters that need the upgrade. The upgrade is then communicated to each selected cable-locating transmitter, typically via a dial-up communication links (27a-27d, 281-28n).