FOA Fiber U Quickstart Guide: Fiber Optic Testing With OTDRs

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The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

Fiber Optic Testing

QuickStart Guide: OTDR Testing
FOA "Quickstart Guides" are short,
simple guides to basic fiber optic tests.
All are written in the same
straightforward format: what equipment
do you need, what are the procedures
for testing, options in implementing the
test, measurement errors and
documenting the results. References to
FOA "1 Page Standards" are provided
to allow printing out the directions.

Insertion Loss of Cable Plants And

Patchcords
Optical Power In Fiber Optic
Communications Systems

Other FOA Quickstart Guides are linked

at right >

Fiber Optic Testing With Optical Time Domain Reflectometers - OTDRs

This is your "QuickStart" guide to testing fiber optic cable plants with an OTDR. We'll
give you the basic information you need and provide some printable references. Just
go to the topics below to find the information you need. Links to videos and more
comprehensive information will be provided in each section.
Before you get started: Is an OTDR appropriate for testing your cable plant?
OTDRs were originally designed to test and troubleshoot long haul networks. New
generation OTDRs made for FTTH and LANs can test much shorter networks. If you
do not know if your OTDR is designed for shorter networks, check the OTDR manual
or contact the applications support department at the OTDR manufacturer to ensure
you do not waste time trying to test a network that is too short to test with the OTDR.
For more information on OTDR testing, refer to the FOA Guide page on OTDRs.

Get started - choose your topic:

Testing A Fiber Optic Cable Plant
Reading AN OTDR Trace

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Attenuation of Fiber
Length or Distance
Loss Events: Splices, Connectors
Reflectance

Testing A Fiber Optic Cable Plant

This test will acquire a trace of an installed fiber optic cable plant, singlemode or
multimode, including the loss of all fiber, splices and connectors. The method shown
is on the FOA "1 Page Standard" FOA4 which you may print or download and insert
in your documentation.

Equipment Needed To Perform This Test

1. OTDR appropriate for the fiber being tested (Multimode: 850 and/or 1300nm,
singlemode, 1310, 1550 and/or 1625 nm)
2. Launch and receive reference cables of the same fiber type and size as the
cable plant and with connectors compatible to those on the cable plant.
Notes:
a. If you are only testing for length, you only need a launch reference
cable. The receive cable allows you to measure loss of the final
connector on the cable.
b. Reference cables must be long enough for the OTDR's initial test
pulse to settle down back to the baseline.
c. Connectors on the launch and receive cables must be in good
condition (low loss) to properly test connectors on the cable under test.
3.

Mating adapters compatible to connectors

4.

Cleaning supplies

Test Procedure

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1.

Turn on OTDR and allow time to warm-up

2.

Clean all connectors and mating adapters.

3.

Attach launch cable to OTDR. Attach receive cable (if used) to far end of cable.

4.

Set up test parameters on OTDR.

5. Attach cable to test to end of launch cable. Attach receive cable (if used) to far
end of cable.
6.

Acquire trace.

Note: Most OTDRs have an "auto test" function, but these functions are not
foolproof. Most problems with OTDR tests occur when untrained users use the
autotest function without having an understanding of how the instrument works, what
a good trace looks like and, most inportantly, what are the characteristics of the
cable plant they are testing (length, number and locations of splices and
connectors). Refer to the next section on reading OTDR traces. Once you are
confident that the autotest function is giving valid results, it is a major timesaver in
OTDR testing.

Reading OTDR Trace Of A Cable Plant

Here is a schematic of what an idea OTDR trace should look like aligned to the
cable plant being tested showing how events will look in the trace. Here is more
information on analyzing OTDR traces.

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What Test Results Should You Expect?

The results of your test can be estimated by knowing typical component losses (fiber
attenuation, splice loss, connector loss) and calculating a loss budget for the cable
under test. Use a calculator or the FOA iPhone/iPod/iPad app.

Reducing Measurement Uncertainty

1.

Clean all connectors regularly before and while testing.

2. Set OTDR parameters for the highest resolution that will allow covering the
length of cable being tested by reducing the test pulse width or duration. Use longer
averaging times if necessary to reduce noise.
3. Do not try to analyze traces where the segment being analyzed is nonlinear,
usually caused by a high reflectance event or inadequate OTDR resolution.
4. Repair or replace launch and receive reference cables when their connector
losses or reflectance become unacceptable.

Documentation
Record the following data to document your tests and keep copies for future
reference:
1.

Date of the test

2.

Cable being tested and fiber identification

3.

Operator

4.

Test equipment used

5.

Test wavelength(s)

6. Store trace Include documentation on location of events and lengths as

appropriate.

Measuring Distance With The OTDR

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1. Place one of the markers on the OTDR (usually called Marker A) just before the
reflectance peak from the connection between the launch cable and the cable under
test.
2. Place the second marker (usually called Marker B) just before the reflectance
peak from the connection between the cable under test and the receive cable. (If no
receive cable is used, there should still be a reflectance peak from the final
connector on the cable under test.)
3.

The OTDR will calculate the length of the segment between the markers.

Measurement Uncertainty
1. The OTDR measures the length of the fiber, calculated from the index of
refraction of the glass in the fiber. If you have the actual value of the index of
refraction, enter that in the OTDR setup.
2. The OTDR measures the length of the fiber, not the length of the cable. The
fiber is usually 1-2% longer than the cable so you may need to factor that into the
length if you are testing a long length of cable.

Measuring Fiber Attenuation Coefficient

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1. Place one of the markers on the OTDR (usually called Marker 1 or A) on the
fiber segment to be tested away from any splice or connection in the cable under
test.
2. Place the second marker (usually called Marker 2 or B) further away from the
OTDR on the same segment.
3. The OTDR will calculate the loss of the segment between the markers and the
distance and show the results in dB/km.
Reducing Measurement Uncertainty
1. Ensure the markers are not placed on curved parts of the trace which will cause
erroneous readings.

Measuring Splice or Connector Loss

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or
1. Place one of the markers on the OTDR (usually called Marker 1 or A) just before
the splice or reflectance peak from the connection in the cable under test.
2. Place the second marker (usually called Marker 2 or B) just after the splice or
the reflectance peak from the connection in the cable under test.
3.

The OTDR will calculate the loss of the segment between the markers.

Reducing Measurement Uncertainty

1. Ensure the markers are not placed on curved parts of the trace which will cause
erroneous readings.
2. The loss of the fiber in the distance between the markers will be added to the
measured loss. To avoid this, use the "least squares" method for loss. Check your
OTDR manual for instructions .

Measuring Reflectance

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1. Place one of the markers on the OTDR (usually called Marker 1 or A) just before
the reflectance peak from the connection in the cable under test.
2. Place the second marker (usually called Marker 2 orB) at the top the
reflectance peak from the connection in the cable under test.
3.

The OTDR will calculate the reflectance of the peak chosen by the markers.

Reducing Measurement Uncertainty

1. Ensure the markers are not placed on curved parts of the trace which will cause
erroneous readings.

Learn more about OTDR testing

Also watch the FOA YouTube Videos on OTDR testing
Download the FOA "1 Page Standard" FOA4 on OTDR testing

References
FOA Standard
FOA "1 Page Standard" FOA4
Online FOA Reference
FOA Reference Guide to Fiber Optics( general) , Basics/Testing, Test Section

Reference Textbooks
FOA Reference Guide to Fiber Optics, Chapter 8
FOA Reference Guide to Outside Plant Fiber Optics, Chapter 8

Videos

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FOA YouTube Videos , with individual links as appropriate

This information is provided by The Fiber Optic Association, Inc. as a benefit to those
interested in teaching, designing, manufacturing, selling, installing or using fiber optic
communications systems or networks. It is intended to be used as an overview and/or basic
guidelines and in no way should be considered to be complete or comprehensive. These
guidelines are strictly the opinion of the FOA and the reader is expected to use them as a
basis for learning, as a reference and for creating their own documentation, project
specifications, etc. Those working with fiber optics in the classroom, laboratory or field
should follow all safety rules carefully. The FOA assumes no liability for the use of any of
this material.

Table of Contents: The FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics

(C)2013, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

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