Summary
- Basic summary - a tool used to measure distance, loss, reflection, and other important variables on a strand of fiber. It uses pulses of laser light and detects the reflections to determine distance to events.
Basics
- An OTDR test cannot be performed on a strand of fiber with light on it (a transceiver transmitting on the other end of the fiber being tested).
Conducting an OTDR test
- Contracting out OTDR testing is common and local splicers and/or fiber installers can be contacted to perform a test (for a fee)
- Purchasing your own
- Brands such as Viavi, Fluke, AFL, and others can provide quotes or sometimes rentals
- There are also some lower cost testers with far less detail that might work in some situations such as FlexOptix's S.OB1612.40.OD
OTDR Results Display
The OTDR will likely have an on-screen display to show you results. You should also have the option to save the results to a file for later review.
Here is an example of a WiscNet metro backbone link validated for 1550nm (with job details scrubbed):
More information
OTDRs: Finding the Weak Spots in Fiber Links
The FOA Quick Start Guide to OTDR
The FOA Reference: Fiber Optic Testing