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.
