OTDR Fiber Ring, AFL Launch Cable
OTDR Dead Zone:
Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) is used for testing the fiber optic cables. It can measure splice loss, insertion loss, return loss, fiber length and locate fiber breaks.
However, OTDR has Dead Zone which affects the testing accuracy. To overcome the limitation of OTDR Dead Zone, OTDR Fiber Ring should be used.
OTDR Fiber Ring, AFL Launch Cable:
OTDR Fiber Ring is also named like OTDR Launch Lead, or OTDR Launch Reel, or OTDR Launch Fiber, or pulse suppressor, or OTDR Fiber Ring.
OTDR Fiber Ring is used to connect OTDR and fiber under test to measure the insertion loss of the near-end connection of fiber optic network. It is necessary when using OTDR to measure complete link loss of optical fiber. It reveals the insertion loss and reflectance of the near-end connection of optical fibers.
MAY TELECOM’s OTDR Fiber Ring is almost the same as AFL Launch Cable (OTDR Fiber Ring).
“Fiber Rings from AFL are often a necessity when testing with an OTDR. Fiber Rings are compact launch / receive cables designed to measure the insertion loss of the near-end and/or far-end connection of a fiber optic link using an OTDR. Both a launch and receive cable are required to measure complete link loss of a fiber with an OTDR. A launch cable, which connects the OTDR to the link under test, reveals the insertion loss and reflectance of the near-end connection. A receive cable, which connects to the far-end of the link, reveals the insertion loss and reflectance of the far-end connection. Launch and receive test cables can range from 150 m to 1 km (or longer) in length. Because very long test cables are impractical to transport and use, AFL offers coiled lengths of 50 µm multimode, 62.5 µm multimode, or single-mode fiber conveniently packaged in compact rings.
Fiber Rings with150 m of fiber are ideal for premises fiber network test applications. Fiber Rings with 500 m or 1 km of single-mode fiber are designed for broadband, long-haul fiber network test applications. Fiber Rings are compact and fit easily in many OTDR carry cases and test kits. Fiber Rings are available from AFL in a variety of standard angled and non-angled connector styles including SC, ST, LC, and FC.”
Q: Is OTDR Fiber Ring necessary when using an OTDR?
A: Yes, it is necessary.
OTDR Fiber Ring can minimize the effect of OTDR dead zone away from the first connection in the fiber under test.
OTDR Dead Zone is caused by high return of reflection affected by the pulse width of OTDR.
OTDR Fiber Ring with 500 meters or 1km fibers can ensure OTDR Dead Zone happen in OTDR Fiber Ring and allows OTDR to measure the loss and reflectance of the first connection of OTDR Fiber Ring to prevent fiber under test from being largely affected by OTDR Dead Zone. It will make the OTDR testing more accurate.
Q: How long is OTDR Fiber Ring that I should have?
A: This depends on the following factors：
1. Length of fiber under test;
2. Does the fiber under test have fiber splitters in the fiber optic network, like PON network?
3. The pulse width of OTDR using.
For examples:
1. OTDR Launch OTDR with 500 meters is ued for fiber links of 2km, like in business network.
2. OTDR Launch OTDR with 1km is used for most fiber optic networks, like PON network or point-to-point fiber optic network.
Q: How to buy OTDR Fiber Ring?
A: OTDR Fiber Ring features with several specifications, like fiber type, connector type, fiber length.
For fiber type, there are G.652D, G.657A1, G.657A2, G.657B2, G.657B3, OM3, OM4, etc. In order to measure the most accurate testing results of OTDR, the user should select the same fiber type of fiber under test.
For connector type, there are two connectors of Launch Fiber Cable. For one connector, it is used as input connector, which connects with OTDR. And for the other connector, it is used as output connector, which connects with fiber under test. The user should select the same connector type of OTDR port and fiber under test.
For fiber length, it depends on the length of fiber under test, the pulse wideth of OTDR selected when testing and the splitter existence.
Q: How to Use OTDR Fiber Ring to generate OTDR trace?
A:
1. Use OTDR Fiber Ring asa launch cable. Connect OTDR Fiber Ring between OTDR and fiber under test. Then the loss of the near-end connection can be measured.
2. Use OTDR Fiber Ring asa receive Connect OTDR Fiber Ring with far-end connector of fiber under test. Then the loss of the far-end connection can be measured.
3. Use OTDR Fiber Ring asboth launch cable and receive cable as shown in the diagram at the right. Total insertion loss of fiber under test can be measured.
