Understanding Optical Time Domain Reflectometry

Laser

OTDR Trace Analysis

OTDR Block Diagram Diodes

The optical time domain

Pulse Generator
1
Coupler

Photodiode
Detector
dB
re-flectometer (OTDR) 2
injects an optical pulse into Amplifier 1 Front-end reflective event dB
one end of the fiber and
analyzes the returning Injection
Time Base Sampling
backscattered and reflected Control ADC Level
Averaging
signal. Unit Processing Connection between RMS Dynamic
the OTDR and the patch cord Range
Loss
2 Connector Noise Level (RMS)
An operator at one end of a or launch cable.
(SNR = 1)
fiber span can measure and
km
localize attenuation, event
loss, reflectance, and ORL. Loss
Mechanically mates
two fibers together 7 Mechanical splice
and creates a reflective event.
A schematic diagram showing OTDR technology
Ghost Reflectance: Dynamic Range
• Polished Connector: ~ –45 dB Loss
(L) (L)
• Ultra Polished Connector: ~ –55 dB and Injection Level
Mechanically aligns two fibers
• Angled Polished Connector: up to –65 dB Dynamic range determines the
together using a self-contained
What Does an OTDR Measure? Insertion loss: ~0.5 dB observable length of the fiber and
An unexpected event resulting assembly.
(Loss = 0.2 dB with a very good connector) depends upon the OTDR design and
from a strong reflection causing Reflectance: ~ –55 dB
An OTDR detects, locates, and measures events on fiber links, requiring settings.
“echoes” on the trace. Insertion loss: ~ 0.5 dB
access to only one end of the fiber.
When it appears, it is often seen The injection level refers to the power
Attenuation (also called fiber loss) after the fiber end. 6 Gainer level in which the OTDR injects light
Expressed in dB or dB/km, attenuation represents the loss or the rate of Reflectance: lower than echo source into the fiber under test.
A splice gain that appears
loss between two points along the fiber span. Insertion loss: none after splicing together two Poor launch conditions, resulting in
Gain fibers with different low injection levels, are the primary
Event Loss backscatter coefficients. reason for reductions in dynamic
The difference in the optical power level before and after an event, Reflectance: none range and, therefore, measurement
expressed in dB. 3 Macro bend Insertion Loss: small gain accuracy.

Reflectance Loss
9 Fiber end or break
1550 nm
The ratio of reflected power to incident power of an event, expressed
as a negative dB value. Loss Macro bending results from physical Smart Link Mapper (SLM)
1310 nm
constraints on the fiber. Bending loss is The SLM intelligent optical software
Noise
Optical Return Loss (ORL) higher as wavelength increases. A fiber end or break refers to where the
application helps technicians use a
The ratio of the reflected power to the incident power from a fiber Distinguishing a bend from a splice fiber terminates. The end reflection
Viavi OTDR more effectively, without
optic link or system, expressed as a positive dB value. requires using two different wavelengths. depends on the fiber end cleavage and
the need to understand or interpret
Reflectance: none (generally)
Insertion loss: varies according
1550 nm its environment.
Reflectance:
OTDR results. Each event is displayed
as an icon giving users a schematic
to wavelength 0.19 dB/km • PC open to air: ~ –14 dB
• APC open to air: ~ –45 dB
view of the entire link, known as
SmartLink. SLM can completely
Insertion loss: high (generally)
How to Configure the Main OTDR Settings correlate to the original OTDR trace
as experts desire.
Pulse Width
The pulse width controls the amount of light injected into a fiber.
> 0.5dB
A short pulse width enables high resolution and short dead zones but
less dynamic range. ADZ 1310 nm
A long pulse width enables high dynamic range but less resolution and
Launch cable
Event is hidden 0.33 dB/km
large dead zones. Using a launch cable allows for
characterizing the connector at the
4 Attenuation Dead Zone
Acquisition Time origin of the link by moving it outside The attenuation dead zone (ADZ) 5 Fusion splice
The time during which the OTDR acquires and averages data points the dead zone of the OTDR connector. is the minimum distance after
from the fiber under test. Increasing the acquisition time improves the The last connector can also be tested a reflective event where a Loss
using a receive cable.
dynamic range without affecting resolution or dead zones. non-reflective event (splice)
can be measured (usually 0.5 dB). A fusion splice uses a splicing machine
Index of Refraction (loR) In this case, the events are more to thermally fuse two fibers together.
The IoR converts the time that the OTDR measures to distance and closely spaced than the ADZ and Reflectance: none
displays it on the trace. shown as one event. ADZ can be Insertion loss: < 0.1 dB
reduced using smaller pulse widths.
8 Event Dead Zone
Entering the appropriate value for the fiber under test will ensure
Receive Cable MUX/DEMUX The event dead zone (EDZ)
accurate measurements of fiber length. 1.5 dB
is the minimum distance that
Bidirectional Analysis distinguishes two consecutive
! To obtain accurate measurements, always clean
connectors prior to OTDR testing!
Splice loss
Fiber backscatter coefficient mismatches can cause
a splice to appear as a gain or as a loss, depending
upon the test direction.
unsaturated reflective events.

Slope Splitter EDZ Here the events are more closely spaced
Bidirectional analysis is used to minimize possible than the EDZ and are shown as one event.
mismatches by measuring the splice loss in both Event is hidden It can be reduced using smaller pulse widths. Noise
Splice gain directions and averaging the result to obtain the
true splice loss.

OTU-8000 Distance Range specifies the distance that the OTDR will display on the X axis
Optical Test Unit for ONMSi
Fiber Monitoring

km
Launch cable Fiber link

2 4 5 6 7 8 9
3
1
Front-end
T-BERD®/MTS-2000/4000 T-BERD®/MTS-8000E/-6000A reflective event Connector pair Macro bend Connector pair Fusion splice Fusion splice Mechanical splice Connector pairs Fiber end
& SmartOTDR Handheld Optical Test Platforms
Optical Test Platforms

Smart Link Mapper - Icon based fiber link view To learn more, visit viavisolutions.com
© 2016 Viavi Solutions Inc. Product specifications and descriptions in this document are subject to change without notice.
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