Optical Fiber TestingOverviewImportance of TestingTypes of TestingEnd to End TestingCable CommissioningReflectanceReflectometersReflectometerDifficultiesLeading ManufacturesPortable OTDRNoyes Optical Light sourceNoyes Optical Power MeterReferencesOptical Fiber Testing Paul MinkoEE 566Oct. 22, 2003Overview1. The need for testing2. Testing devices3. Problems with today’s equipment.4. Cost of equipmentImportance of Testing Ensure the fiber has been Properly installedCheck IL and reflectance of all splices and connectionsProviders must maintain high quality of customer serviceQuickly locate problem areas for repairTypes of Testing •End to End loss testing•Cable Commissioning •Splice and connector optimization•System ORL characterization•Dispersion verification and wavelength measurementsEnd to End Testing •Both units must be referenced with the test jumpers•Confirm power source is connected to test fiber•Reading is only accurate if both units at same wavelengthCable Commissioning•Tests the cable for damage •Double checks length and attenuation•And measures the polarization mode dispersionReflectance•Do to glass air interface• Rayleigh backscattering•Pr = Reflected Power•Pi = Incident PowerReflectometers•Two types:1. Optical Time Domain Reflectometer- Measures reflectance and ORL- Can characterize connectors and mechanical splices- Accuracy of plus/minus 2dBReflectometer 2. Optical Continuous Wave Reflectometer - Also measures reflectance and ORL- Some units measure bi-directional loss- Accuracy of plus/minus 0.4 dB to 1.0 dBDifficulties•Light source and power meter must be referenced at the same point.•Wavelength of light source and power meter must be the same.•Jumpers to test equipment can wear downLeading Manufactures Agilent/HP Tektronix Fluke Advantest NetTest Fluke Networks Cal InstrumentsPortable OTDRAgilent E6000C Mini-OTDR  Dynamic range: 45 dBFiber break locatorMulti-fiber testing for fast high-count cable qualificationPerform power and loss measurement with the built-in light source and the power metermodule. Price range: $10,000 - $16,000Noyes Optical Light sourcePrice range:$375.00 to $10001000 to 4000+ forLaser sourceNoyes Optical Power MeterPower measurements at 850,1300, 1310,1550, and 1625 nm Full fiber documentation via Windows TM 95/98/NT 4.0 data analysis software Singlemode or multimode dual-wavelength testingPrice range: $500 - $1600 Noyes OPM 6 & OLS 6 Optical Power Meter & Light SourcesReferences[1] Exfo - Fiber Optic SolutionsAvailable: http://documents.exfo.com/appnotes/tnote009-ang.pdf[2] American Tech Supply.com – Hardware SupplierAvailable: http://www.americantechsupply.com/[3] Fiber Optics & Fiber Optic ManufacturesAvailable: http://www.fiber-optics-ez.com/fiber-optics/[4] Metrictest.com – Instrument providerAvailable: