Cable Commissioning

• Tests the cable for damage

• Double checks length and attenuation
• And measures the polarization mode dispersion
 Reflectometers
• Two types:
1. Optical Time Domain Reflectometer

- Measures reflectance and ORL

- Can characterize connectors and mechanical splices

- Accuracy of plus/minus 2dB

 Importance 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 repair

 Types of Testing
• End to End loss testing
• Cable Commissioning
• Splice and connector optimization
• System ORL characterization
• Dispersion verification and wavelength
measurements
 End 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 wavelength
 Overview

1. The need for testing

2. Testing devices
3. Problems with today’s equipment.
4. Cost of equipment
Optical Fiber Testing

Paul Minko

EE 566
Oct. 22, 2003
 Reflectance
• Do to glass air
interface
• Rayleigh
backscattering
• Pr = Reflected
Power
• Pi = Incident Power
 Reflectometer
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 dB

 Difficulties
• 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 down
 Leading Manufactures
Agilent/HP Tektronix

Fluke Advantest

NetTest Fluke Networks

Cal Instruments
 Portable OTDR
Dynamic range: 45 dB

Fiber break locator

Multi-fiber testing for fast

high-count cable qualification

Perform power and loss

measurement with the built-in
light source and the power meter
Agilent E6000C Mini-OTDR module.

Price range: $10,000 - $16,000

 Noyes Optical Light source

Price range:
$375.00 to $1000

1000 to 4000+ for

Laser source
 Noyes Optical Power Meter

Power 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 testing
Noyes OPM 6 & OLS 6
Price range: $500 - $1600
Optical Power Meter & Light Sources
 References
[1] Exfo - Fiber Optic Solutions
Available: http://documents.exfo.com/appnotes/tnote009-ang.pdf

[2] American Tech Supply.com – Hardware Supplier

Available: http://www.americantechsupply.com/

[3] Fiber Optics & Fiber Optic Manufactures

Available: http://www.fiber-optics-ez.com/fiber-optics/

[4] Metrictest.com – Instrument provider

Available: http://www.metrictest.com/c_agilent/hp_e6000c.asp