Sources (central offices)

A source is a point where your network is fed from. It could be a central office, a distribution cabinet, or a tie-in point to an existing network. In some projects, sources are called central offices.

Sources are used in Fiber Planner, Fiber Design and Power Design projects.

How does FOND use sources?

When FOND generates your plan or design, it starts the network at a source and builds outwards to serve every address.

Let FOND choose, or add your own

• Leave sources empty if you don’t yet know where the network will be fed from. FOND chooses the location itself in some project types.
• Add one or more sources if you know where the feed is, for example an existing central office or a point where you’ll tie in to an existing network. FOND then starts the network only at the sources you’ve provided.

If you add several sources, FOND won’t necessarily use them all. It uses as few as the network needs.

What makes a good source?

• It’s where the real feed is, such as the central office building, the cabinet, or the exact tie-in point on the existing network.
• It’s on or close to your candidate network, so FOND can connect it. FOND will snap it to the nearest underground point or pole.
• There are only as many sources as you really have. Extra sources give FOND options you don’t intend to use.

Get sources into your project

• Upload your own. Sources must be points. See Input data requirements.
• Draw them with the drawing tools (see below).

Area Select doesn’t import sources.

Edit sources

1. Open the drawing tools:
   
   • Fiber Planner: choose Input data › Central office › Draw.
   • Design projects: in the Input data step, choose Sources › Draw.

1. Make your changes:
   • Add a source by choosing Draw central office and clicking the map.
   • Move a source by selecting it and dragging it.
   • Delete a source by selecting it and deleting it.
2. Save your changes by clicking Finish.