Basic Passive Componets - Optical circulator And Optical Attenuator
Passive devices are neglected in the rush to complete the design of an electronic system. Many engineers select passive devices as an afterthought; they just pick them from a list of standard components. Although this practice is adequate for some circuits, it does not suffice in the demanding world of high-frequency amplifiers, precision sample-holds, data converters, or other demanding circuits. The hardware designer must select adequate passive components to obtain specified performance in demanding applications.
Optical attenuators are commonly used in fiber optic communications, either to test power level margins by temporarily adding a calibrated amount of signal loss, or installed permanently to properly match transmitter and receiver levels. Sharp bends stress optic fibers and can cause losses. If a received signal is too strong a temporary fix is to wrap the cable around a pencil until the desired level of attenuation is achieved.[1] However, such arrangements are unreliable, since the stressed fiber tends to break over time.
Fixed optical attenuators used in fiber optic systems may use a variety of principles for their functioning. Preferred attenuators use either doped fibers, or mis-aligned splices,or total power since both of these are reliable and inexpensive. Inline style attenuators are incorporated into patch cables. The alternative build out style attenuator is a small male-female adapter that can be added onto other cables.
Optical Attenuators are used in fiber optic communications to reduce optical fiber power at a certain level. Types of the fiber optic attenuators are based on the connectors and attenuation level. A commonly used version is the female to male plug type Bulkhead Attenuator which has a connector at one side and a adapter at the other side. We provide various types of optical attenuators, including FC, SC, ST, LC, E2000 Attenuators, available in PC/APC/UPC polish types. Our Fixed Attenuators can be with different attenuation levels from 1 dB to 30 dB, while the Variable Optical Attenuators which are generally used as In-Line Attenuators can be with a range of 0 ~ 60 dB attenuation level.
Fiberstore Fiber Optic Attenuator and Terminator Kits
Fiberstore Fiber Optic Attenuator and Terminator Kits each contain six fixed attenuators, five terminators, and a selection of dust caps. Components in the FAK03 kit have FC/PC connectors while those in the FAK05 kit have FC/APC connectors. Each kit is packaged in a plastic box measuring 7.0" x 3.5" x 1.25" (177.8 mm x 88.9 mm x 31.8 mm) and has nine labeled compartments. The label on the lid indicates the contents, associated Thorlabs item number (where applicable), attenuation value and tolerance for the attenuators, and wavelength range and return loss for the terminators. The table to the right lists the description and quantity of each item included in these kits.
An optical circulator is analogous to an electronic circulator and both perform similar functions. fiber optical circulator is a three-port device that allows light to travel in only one direction. A signal entering to Port 1 will exit Port 2 with minimal loss, while a signal entering Port 2 will exit Port 3 with minimal loss. Light entering port 2 experiences a large amount of loss at port 1, and light entering port 3 experiences a large amount of loss at ports 2 and 1. Optical circulators are non-reciprocal devices. This means that any changes in the properties of the light caused by passing through the device are not reversed by traveling in the opposite direction.
Optical circulators are non-reciprocal optics, which means that changes in the properties of light passing through the device are not reversed when the light passes through in the opposite direction. This can only happen when the symmetry of the system is broken, for example by an external magnetic field. A Faraday rotator is another example of a non-reciprocal optical device.
SM Fiber Optical Circulators
Fiberstore 1310 nm SM Fiber Optic Circulators are available unterminated, with FC/PC connectors, or with FC/APC connectors. The FC/PC and FC/APC connectors have a 2 mm narrow key. Our CIR1310, CIR1310-FC and CIR1310-APC circulators have a max output power of 300 mW. The CIR-1310-50-APC broadband fiber optic circulator is specifically designed for OCT applications. This circulator boasts a broader wavelength range than our standard 1310 nm SM fiber optical circulator and has a maximum output power of 500 mW. For more information, please see our full presentation on our circulator for OCT.
Fiberstore offers a wide variety of collimation and coupling components that can be used to effectively collimate or couple light out of and into FC/PC, FC/APC, or SMA terminated fiber. Optical isolators help protect sensitive laser sources and components from back reflections while fiber couplers, EDFA, circulators, and switches are the fundamental tools to creating fiber based optical circuits. We also offer a line of components for optogenetics applications, including fiber optic cannulae, patch cords, and light sources.
Selecting The Right OTDR for Your Test Application
Optical time-domain reflectometers (OTDRs) are commonly used as troubleshooting devices to characterize the loss and length of optical fiber in manufacturing, warehousing, installation, and maintenance. They range in size from small handheld devices to large desktop instruments, but all are used to measure fiber loss, the loss and reflectance of fiber splices, and to locate loss irregularities within the fiber. Test kits consist of a light source and power meter, etc. in a carrying case. Also offered are power meters, length measurement testers, optical power meter and talk sets. Although OTDRs are a mature product, manufacturers continue to introduce iterative changes to existing product lines to add new capabilities, improve measurement performance, or increase technician productivity. We consulted with various OTDR manufacturers to get their input on the latest in OTDR technology and their opinion of the key features to consider when selecting an OTDR.
The primary optical components in an OTDR are a pulsed laser, a bidirectional coupler, and a detector, typically an avalanche photodiode. The laser is connected to one leg of the coupler, which is connected to the fiber under test. As the laser pulse travels down the fiber, a small fraction of its light is scattered by the fiber and any other reflective events back toward the laser/coupler. The backscattered light of many pulses is measured over time and plotted as a function of distance along the fiber. This plot, generally a downward sloping line, displays the intrinsic fiber attenuation in units of dB/km at the wavelength of the laser (see Fig. 1). Sudden spikes on the line indicate reflective features in the fiber, while discrete downward steps indicate nonreflective point defects. An OTDR test can take anywhere from a few seconds to three minutes.
An OTDR or otherwise called an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer is an instrument designed to distinguish between different optical fibers. It functions by injecting a number of pulses through the fibers and takes light from the end of that fibre that is reflected back from certain areas along the fibre itself.
The cost of the otdr tester for sale is determined according to its quality and reliability and is usually tested on the basis of its range of measurement performance, performance when resolving and measuring finely spaced events, the amount of time it takes to take the measurements and its versatility in performing equally under different types of environmental situations. Other areas of focus will also be placed on available and additional features, size, weight and user friendliness. Thus, the better it performs under a wide range of tests, the higher the Optical Time Domain Reflectometer prices will be.
As technology has greatly advanced throughout every single industry, available Optical Time Domain Reflectometers are now expected to measure extremely long distances between various points of fault. This is where it becomes more challenging to make use of only the highest quality of otdr testers as it is required to pick up faults over longer distances, faults and many different splices that are spaced at short intervals and even to pick up differences in features between many different optical fibres that are joined together.
It is therefore vital that you only purchase Optical Time Domain Reflectometers for sale at reputable providers with years of expertise within the optical fibre industry as the success of the testing process will be a direct result of the level of quality of the otdr tester.
Fiber Optic Test Kits, Power Meters, Length Testers, Fault Locators, Talk Sets, ST LC multimode adapter. We carry an incredible selection of fiber optic test equipment. Selecting the right OTDR for your test application requires a firm grasp of the details of the fiber link you are testing and the type of information you want to obtain. Once these have been established, OTDR manufacturers will happily help you find a solution that achieves these objectives at the lowest possible cost.
Fiber Optic Test Equipment including fiber optic loss test set, fiber optic test tool kits, fiber continuity tester, visual fault locator, fiber identifiers, fiber optic inspection microscope, fiber optic power meter, fiber optic light source, fiber optic talk set, OTDR launch box and fiber optic safety glasses.
Selecting The Right OTDR for Your Test Application
Optical time-domain reflectometers (OTDRs) are commonly used as troubleshooting devices to characterize the loss and length of optical fiber in manufacturing, warehousing, installation, and maintenance. They range in size from small handheld devices to large desktop instruments, but all are used to measure fiber loss, the loss and reflectance of fiber splices, and to locate loss irregularities within the fiber. Test kits consist of a light source and power meter, etc. in a carrying case. Also offered are power meters, length measurement testers, fusion splicer and talk sets. Although OTDRs are a mature product, manufacturers continue to introduce iterative changes to existing product lines to add new capabilities, improve measurement performance, or increase technician productivity. We consulted with various OTDR manufacturers to get their input on the latest in OTDR technology and their opinion of the key features to consider when selecting an OTDR.
The primary optical components in an OTDR are a pulsed laser, a bidirectional coupler, and a detector, typically an avalanche photodiode. The laser is connected to one leg of the coupler, which is connected to the fiber under test. As the laser pulse travels down the fiber, a small fraction of its light is scattered by the fiber and any other reflective events back toward the laser/coupler. The backscattered light of many pulses is measured over time and plotted as a function of distance along the fiber. This plot, generally a downward sloping line, displays the intrinsic fiber attenuation in units of dB/km at the wavelength of the laser (see Fig. 1). Sudden spikes on the line indicate reflective features in the fiber, while discrete downward steps indicate nonreflective point defects. An OTDR test can take anywhere from a few seconds to three minutes.
An OTDR or otherwise called an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer is an instrument designed to distinguish between different optical fibers. It functions by injecting a number of pulses through the fibers and takes light from the end of that fibre that is reflected back from certain areas along the fibre itself.
The cost of the otdr tester for sale is determined according to its quality and reliability and is usually tested on the basis of its range of measurement performance, performance when resolving and measuring finely spaced events, the amount of time it takes to take the measurements and its versatility in performing equally under different types of environmental situations. Other areas of focus will also be placed on available and additional features, size, weight and user friendliness. Thus, the better it performs under a wide range of tests, the higher the Optical Time Domain Reflectometer prices will be.
As technology has greatly advanced throughout every single industry, available Optical Time Domain Reflectometers are now expected to measure extremely long distances between various points of fault. This is where it becomes more challenging to make use of only the highest quality of otdr testers as it is required to pick up faults over longer distances, faults and many different splices that are spaced at short intervals and even to pick up differences in features between many different optical fibres that are joined together.
It is therefore vital that you only purchase Optical Time Domain Reflectometers for sale at reputable providers with years of expertise within the optical fibre industry as the success of the testing process will be a direct result of the level of quality of the otdr tester.
Fiber Optic Test Kits, Power Meters, optical switch, Fault Locators, Talk Sets, & Connector Adapters. We carry an incredible selection of fiber optic test equipment. Selecting the right OTDR for your test application requires a firm grasp of the details of the fiber link you are testing and the type of information you want to obtain. Once these have been established, OTDR manufacturers will happily help you find a solution that achieves these objectives at the lowest possible cost.
Fiber Optic Test Equipment including fiber optic loss test set, fiber optic test tool kits, fiber continuity tester, visual fault locator, fiber identifiers, fiber optic inspection microscope, fiber optic power meter, fiber optic light source, fiber optic talk set, OTDR launch box and fiber optic safety glasses.
How to choose the fiber optic adapter
As we know, fiber optic connector is an important fiber optic component used to link two fiber optic lines together. Beside connector, there is also another item, which is fiber optic adapter with panels to connecting multi fiber optic line. Specifically, the fiber optic adapter is a small device that used to terminate or link the fiber optic cables or fiber optic connectors between two fiber optic lines.
Fiber Optic Adapter includes FC, SC, ST, LC, MT-RJ, MU, E2000, FC/APC, SC/APC, LC/APC, e2000 fiber adapter apc ,mating sleeves, hybrid fiber optic adapters,Single mode fiber optic adapters, multimode fiber optic adapters.Fiber optic adapters are used in fiber optic connection, the typical use is to provide a cable to cable fiber connection.people sometimes also name them to be mating sleeves and hybrid adapters ,mating sleeves means this fibre optic adapter is used to connect the same type fiber optic connectors,while hybrid adaptors are the fiber optic adapter types used to connect different kinds of fiber optic connectors.
Hybrid fiber optic adapter
Hybrid fiber optic adapters are another type used to link two different kinds of fiber connectors or cable assemblies. For example, LC to SC hybrid adapter, it can link fiber optic connector at one side and SC connector at the other side. Hybrid fiber adapters can be also used for single mode and multimode fiber optic connections with PC or APC sleeves, in simplex and duplex style.
For a large section of the networking industry, we manufacture and supply premium quality Hybrid Fiber Optic Adapters. There are various kinds of these types of adapters such as FC, ST, SC, LC, MU, DIN series. Moreover, these adapters are used basically used to link two different kinds of fiber fiber optic connectors. Also, these adapters are single mode and multi mode types, with PC or APC sleeves, in simplex and duplex style. In addition, these adapters use high precision ceramic sleeves which enable reliable ferrule mating.
Bare fiber adapter
Bare fiber adapter is structured with optic fibers on one side and the adapter on the other side. It is used to link the bare optical fiber cable to fiber optic equipments. The adapter side is a connector that can plug into the equipment and enable a quick and easy termination for the optic fiber. Because this feature of the bare fiber adapters, they are widely used for emergency situation for fast and temporary fiber optic or urgent connection, testing bare fiber, fiber on the reel, fiber before and after installation and so on. SC, FC, LC, ST bare fiber adapters is now available in the market.
SC fiber optic adapter
SC fiber optic adapters supplied by fiberstore are simplex and duplex styles, in single mode and multimode versions. Single mode APC SC fiber adapters are also available. As one of the most economic and reliable performance fiber optic connection types, SC fiber optic components are widely used in CATV, LAN, WAN and test fields.
Fiberstore SC fiber optic adapters are compliant to IEC definition for fiber optic interfaces SC family and TIA/EIA 604-3-A fiber optic intermateability standards for SC. Our SC fiber optic adapters use premium zirconia sleeves in plastic housing, body colors are as per industrial standards, SC single mode UPC adapter as blue, SC single mode APC adapter as green and SC multimode UPC adapter as beige. Each type has simplex and duplex versions.
ST Fiber Optic Adapter
We are counted as one of the leading manufacturer and supplier of ST Fiber Optic Adapters that are fabricated using high quality raw material, advanced technology and updated machines. These adapters include single mode & multi mode types that are simple & stylish and are also available with zirconia sleeves and optional bronze sleeve for multi mode. Further, these adapters are well known for their fine repeatability, superior interchangeability, excellent stability and Low insertion loss & back reflection loss.
LC Fiber Optic Adapter
LC fiber optic adapters are used with equipment with male type LC fiber optic connectors, the LC family fiber optic connectors are known as one of the most popular small form fiber optic connectors in the world, they are used for density installations. LC fiber optic adapters are single mode and multimode types. We supply LC fiber optic adapters, including simplex, duplex and quad types; these LC adapters are single mode and multimode styles with plastic housing and zirconia sleeve, with optional bronze sleeve adapters for multimode. There are stand LC fiber adapter and SC footprint LC fiber optic adapters available.
FC Fiber Optic Adapter
FC fiber optic adapters are metallic body and zirconia sleeves; they are used to link FC fiber optic connectors and components. FC is one of the early developed fiber optic connector types yet it is still widely used today. FC fiber optic adapters and equipment are known for general and average applications in fiber optic communications.We supply FC fiber optic adapters, including square type, single D type and double D types, in single mode and multimode versions. All these adapters are with metal housing and ceramic sleeves, for multimode FC fiber adapter there is optional bronze housing types
Fiber Optic Splitter for GEPON Network
GPON (Gigabit ethernet Passive Optical Network) - EPON is Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) PON, while GPON is Gigabits Ethernet (10 Gbps) PON. Ethernet PONs build on the ITU standard G.983 for ATM PONs and seek to bring to life the dream of a full services access network that delivers converged data, video and voice over a single optical access system.
There are several primary components of a last-mile PON -- the OLT, the fiber and splitters, and the ONU:
* OLT (Optical Line Terminal) - located at the CO, the OLT interfaces with the metropolitan network. The main functionality of the OLT is to adapt the incoming traffic (Voice/Data/Video) from the metropolitan rings into the PON transport layer.
* ONU (Optical Network Unit) and ONT (Optical Network Termination) - ONU and ONT are basically the same device – ONT is located at the customer premise, and ONU is located outside the home. ONU receives optical signal and converts it into an electrical signal for use in the customer premises.
* PON Splitters - With a single PON splitter, 32 subscribers can be served with two-way ATM. This way, it is not necessary to include a lot of add/ drop multiplexers and install the dreaded OSP cabinet. The PON splitters can be arranged in star, ring, or tree configurations to increase reliability.
A PON network may be designed with fused fiber splitter, or it can have two or more splitters cascaded together. Since each optical connection adds attenuation, a single splitter is superior to multiple cascaded splitters. One net additional coupling (and source of attenuation) is introduced in connecting two splitters together.
A single splitter is shown in the GPON network diagram below. Note that the splitter can be deployed in the Central Office (CO) alongside the OLT, or it may be deployed in an OutSide Plant (OSP) cabinet closer to the subscribers. A splitter can also be deployed in the basement of a building for a Multiple Dwelling Unit (MDU) installation (not shown).
An interesting (and strange) fact is that attenuation of light through an optical splitter is symmetrical. It is identical in both directions. Whether a splitter is combining light in the upstream direction or dividing light in the downstream direction, it still introduces the same attenuation to an optical input signal (a little more than 3 dB for each 1:2 split).
There are two basic technologies for building passive optical network splitters: Fused Biconical Taper (FBT) and Planar Lightwave Circuit(PLC). Fused Biconical Taper is the older technology and generally introduces more loss than the newer PLC splitters, though both PLC and FBT splitters are used in PON networks.
A Fused Biconical Taper (FBT) splitter is made by wrapping two fiber cores together, putting tension on the optical fibers, and then heating the junction until the two fibers are tapered from the tension and fused together. FBT attenuation tends to be a bit higher than attenuation from PLC splitters.
A 1:8 PLC splitteris diagrammed in the figure below. A PLC splitter is made with techniques much like those to manufacture semiconductors, and these optical splitters are very compact, efficient, and reliable. 1x32 splitter may be no larger than 1 cm x 2 cm.
The loss to be expected from a 1:8 splitter like the one diagrammed above is less than one dB greater than what would be expected from a perfect splitter, which has exactly 9 dB of loss (3dB for each 1:2 split). A good 1:32 PLC splitterhas an attenuation in both directions of less than 17 dB or even 16 dB (a perfect 1:32 optical splitter would introduce 15 dB of loss).
OTDR Testing– Optional, but a good practice
TIA-standards also contain component specifications including maximum loss values for connections, splices, and optical fiber segments. Many installers find it a good practice to measure the loss of each connection and splice, and check cables for “macro-bends” and other defects for quality assurance purposes. The type of fiber tester normally used for these functions is an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer or OTDR.
OTDRs operate like radar. They generate short pulses of light and then sample the light backscattered by fiber segments and reflected by connections and other events. This allows the user (or puneng networks The setup used to measure the loss of an optical fiber cable with an OTDR is shown in Figure 3. To measure the loss of the first and last connection in each fiber link or link segment under test you must use a launch and receive cable respectively. Launch and receive cables may also be called “launch reels”, “pulse suppressors”, or “test cables”. Typically, these test cables include 100 or more meters of fiber in a ring-shaped or rectangular case, terminated by jumpers that will mate with the fiber under test.
To illustrate the advantages of an OTDR, consider a 100 m (328 ft) backbone cable with the following component loss values:
* Equipment room connection (1.2 dB)
* Splice (0.1 dB)
* Fiber (0.1 dB)
* Telecom closet connection (0.3 dB)
According to the TIA-standards, the maximum acceptable loss for this cable is 1.5 dB of connection loss (0.75 dB for each connection) plus 0.3 dB of splice loss and 0.1 dB of fiber loss (1 dB / km) for a total of 1.9 dB. Since this cable has an overall (end-to-end) insertion loss of 1.7 dB, it probably would be certified by an OLTS measurement. But as shown in Figure 4, an OTDR trace of this cable would reveal that the telecom closet connection has a loss of 1.2 dB, which exceeds the TIA-standard specified maximum of 0.75 dB. An OTDR can indicate and localize problems that would often be missed by an OLTS or optical power meter / light source kit.
In cases where an OLTS can detect a fault, for example the “infinite” loss caused by an open connection or fiber break, it cannot tell you where the fault is located. An OTDR trace, on the other hand, will locate such events, as illustrated in Figure 5.
An OTDR test can not replace an OTLS measurement. fiber optic test light source is required by the TIA standards, and OTDR measurements can slightly under-estimate loss, especially on multimode fibers. An OLTS test would indicate fiber mis-matches of 50/125 and 62.5/125um fibers with a high loss reading. An OTDR which uses a laser and does not fill the outer modes may not pick up the core mismatch.
OTDR tests in many cases offer additional information that can help you detect and proactively fix problems often missed by OLTS tests. And on some jobs you may be required to test all optical fiber cables using an OTDR by a quality-conscious customer who has received advice from a detail-ori ented consultant. On other jobs, having an OTDR characterization of the fiber(s) at the time you signed-off on the project can protect the installer from damages caused by installers that come in later and pull other cable(s) into the pathways that may damage the fiber, caus ing macro- or micro bends or breaks.
Dust, dirt, oils, and other common contaminates, along with poor installation practices can cause hours of grief for network service technicians. The good news is proper cleaning tools and good test techniques allow trained technici ans to effectively remove contaminates, find and correct fiber problems, and get networks back in service. Whether or not you do OTDR testing is up to your schedule, budget, and often your customer.
Recommended Approach to Cleaning, Inspecting and Testing:
* Always presume connectors are dirty prior to mating.
* A fiber optic termination has two connectors always clean both! Cleaning one and remating it to a dirty connector is not productive.
* Use optical quality cleaning materials to clean fiber end-faces.
* Use an optical cleaning fluid to minimize the static build up.
* Use a fiber optic microscope with built in eye-protection to inspect connectors prior to mating.
* Light Source & Power Meter or OLTS kits test for Attenuation.
* OTDR test to characterize the installation and get sign-off.
Fiber Optic Test Methodology and Equipment
There is a plethora of test equipment available for fiber optic equipment & system testing. The most common and useful are the following: Optical power meter, Optical light source,puneng networks, Fiber fault locator, Optical connector inspection scopes and the Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR). This article will provide a brief overview of each of these and explain their purpose. However, before we begin, it is important to stress safety when working with fiber optics. All of the light sources used in fiber optic transmission in the AV, broadcast, telecom, etc. applications emit infrared light. That is, light that is invisible to the eye. While invisible, it can still be dangerous, depending on the power. Therefore, care must be taken, especially when using inspection scopes to ensure that any light source is turned off before looking at the end of any fiber.
Optical Power Meter (OPM)‐ The most basic and useful (and essential) of the test equipment is the optical power meter. This is equivalent to an electrician having a volt meter. The OPM allows you to measure optical transmitter output power, power at various junction (connector or patch panel) points, and receiver input power. In many cases, the optical power meter will be all that you need to properly diagnose a system problem and get the system up and running quickly. The optical power meter can provide an absolute measure of power in either micro or milliwatts (μW, mW) or dBm (power referenced to 1 mW). An absolute reading of 1mW is equivalent to 0dBm. Since most equipment uses dBm to indicate its optical power characteristics, the dBm scale on the power meter is the most convenient to use. Optical power meters will also have buttons to select the wavelength of the light they are measuring. There are selections for 850, 1300/1310 and 1550nm. It’s important to match the meter’s wavelength setting to that of the light you are measuring to ensure accurate readings.
Optical Light Source (OLS)– The OLS is generally a handheld or portable device that has different types of optical emitters that correspond to the type of fiber used in the system. fiber optic test light source will have emitters of both 850nm and 1300nm while singlemode OLS units will emit light at 1310nm and 1550nm. More flexible OLS units will have light sources applicable to both multimode and singlemode fiber. When used in conjunction with an OPM, the entire fiber infrastructure including fiber, splices and connectors can be tested at different wavelengths to verify the fiber installation’s integrity, without the need for any transmitter/receiver equipment. Since an OPM and OLS are used at different ends of the fiber, two persons are required to properly te st the fiber. Obviously, this can be difficult if adequate, trained personnel are not readily available. OLS prices range from $1K - $5K depending on type of source(s), LEDs and/or lasers and wavelengths.
Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR)– The OTDR is a versatile, one person instrument that identifies and quantifies events such as fiber distance & attenuation, connector and splice losses and fiber breaks. In addition, it will measure the distance to these events as well as the total length of the fiber. Some of these events are characterized as expected (such as connector loss) while some are unexpected, such as fiber breaks, sharp fiber‘kinks’ or tight bends, etc.
The OTDR works by sending very short, high intensity pulses of light down the fiber and measures the reflection or backscatter of this light as it propagates down the fiber. By measuring the time it takes for the pulse of light to return as well as its amplitude, the OTDR will calculate the distance to these events as well as the magnitude of each. It is a very versatile and effective way to perform single-ended testing and troubleshooting of a fiber link. While an optical loss test or OPM can only measure total loss of a fiber span including connectors, splices, etc, the OTDR can not only measure total loss but is the only instrument that can identify the location and size of any anomaly within the fiber span to better aid in quickly finding and repairing the problem. However, this versatility comes at a price. The cost of a basic, portable OTDR is in the range of $5-8K while the cost of a basic optical power meter is in the range of a few hundred dollars. While not for everyone, the OTDR can save time and money in diagnosing a fiber problem to ensure that system downtime is held to a minimum. While the OTDR is straightforward to use, it does require a higher set of skills and some initial training to help better understand its functions, capabilities and limitations. It is generally not a piece of equipment that most installers would have access to.
Fusion Splicer – A fiber optic fusion splicer is a device that uses an electric arc to melt two optical fibers together at their end faces, to form a single long fiber. The resulting joint, or fusion splice, permanently joins the two glass fibers end to end, so that optical light signals can pass from one fiber into the other with very little loss. Fusion splicing is the act of joining two optical fibers end-to-end using heat. The goal is to fuse the two fibers together in such a way that light passing through the fibers is not scattered or reflected back by the splice, and so that the splice and the region surrounding it are almost as strong as the virgin fiber itself. The source of heat is usually an electric arc, but can also be a laser, or a gas flame, or a tungsten filament through which current is passed.
FiberStore offer a selection of Fiber Testers & Tools to fit any fiber optic cable lineman or powerline worker jobs. We stock top high quality Test Equipment for the communications applications. In the fiber optic installation and maintenance works, Optical Power Meters, Fiber Light Sources, Fiber Scopes and OTDR are commonly used for fiber optic testing. And Splicing fiber tools, termination tool kits and cleaning tools, like strippers, cable cutters, splice protective sleeves help work easier. We not only provide well-known brands such as CLETOP, EXFO, Noyes, AFL and many more, but also offer innovative, high quality products to lower costs.
