Distance

Time
OTDR Data
Link
Range
Pulse
OTDR
Theory of
Operation
Tier 1 & Tier 2 Testing
Outline
Link Certification
What is measured?
OLTS (Tier 1) and OTDR (Tier 2) tests
Why do I need both an OLTS and OTDR?
OTDR Theory
Backscatter vs. (Fresnel) reflection
Block diagram
Converting time into distance
Effect of pulse width
OTDR Setup: Key parameters
Analyzing an OTDR Trace
Event insertion loss and reflection
Link (end-to-end) insertion loss
Need for launch and receive cables
Insertion Loss and Reflectance
Attenuation or Insertion Loss in dB of a link or event is
the difference between input and output power when both
powers are expressed in dBm.
dBm is power expressed as dB relative to 1 mW
Insertion Loss = Attenuation = dB loss = Loss
Event reflectance in dB is the difference between reflected
power and input power at an event, such as a connection
or end-of-fiber, when both powers are expressed in dBm.
Link Insertion Loss (Attenuation)
Link
Input
connection
Output
connection
Patch
cord
Patch
cord
Example:
P
IN
= - 20 dBm
P
OUT
= - 23 dBm
Insertion Loss = P
IN
- P
OUT
= -20 dBm - (-23) dBm
= 3 dB
Calculation:
Event Insertion Loss and Reflectance
Connection (mated pair)
P
REFL
= - 40 dBm
Insertion Loss = P
IN
- P
OUT
= -20 dBm - (-20.75) dBm
= 0.75 dB
Reflectance = P
REFL
- P
IN
= -40 dBm - (-20) dBm
= -20 dB
Calculations:
Example:
P
IN
= - 20 dBm
P
OUT
= - 20.75 dBm
Link Certification Tests and Test Equipment
(TIA/EIA TSB-140 Draft)
OTDR Connection or splice reflectivity
OTDR Connection or splice insertion loss
OTDR Link baseline trace
Tier 2 -- Going beyond the minimum
Tier 1 -- Required
Can be verified by inspection (of
cable markers) or measured using
a certification test set or OTDR
Link Length
OLTS or VFL (red laser)
Link Polarity
OLTS (certification test set or light
source and optical power meter)
Link Insertion Loss
What is an Optical Loss Test Set (OLTS)?
Tx Rx
Each unit has a Tx and Rx port.
Tests two fibers at a time
Pass/fail results
Measures length
Rx
Main
Tx
Remote
Certification Test Sets (Pair)
Tx
One fiber at a time
No length measurement
But just as accurate !
Light
Source(s)
Optical Power
Meter
Rx
LED
Laser
Tx
Tier 1 Insertion Loss Test Procedure
1) Set reference
Light Source
Tx
OPM
Rx
Mandrel
(only for LED sources)
Tx cord
P
IN
= -20 dBm
Measure P
IN
and record it
as the 0 dB power level.
0 dB
Rx cord
Connection
(two connectors mated
thru an adapter)
Tx
OPM
Rx
Light Source
2) Check test cords
Tx cord
Allowed insertion loss
depends on connector type.
0.4 dB
Rx
Optical Power
Meter
Light Source
Tx
Tier 1 IL Test Procedure (cont.)
In this example:
IL = -20 dBm - (- 22 dBm) = 2 dB
P
OUT
= -22 dBm
3) Measure link insertion loss
Measure P
OUT
and calculate IL = P
IN
P
OUT
.
2.0 dB
Horizontal
Segment
Backbone
Segment
Link
P
IN
= -20 dBm
An OLTS treats a fiber link as a black box.
It can measure only end-to-end loss.
Power (dBm)
Distance
?
TIER 1
(OLTS: Light Source and Power Meter)
IL (dB)
P
IN
P
OUT
Tier 2: OTDR (Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer)
Fiber
But an OTDR operates more like radar:
OTDR
samples the returned light over time,
converts sample times into distances
(Distance = Speed x Time).
It generates high-power pulses of light,
Power (dBm)
Distance
?
TIER 1 (OLTS)
IL (dB)
P
IN
P
OUT
And finally creates and analyzes a
graph or trace of power vs. distance
Distance
P
IN
P
OUT
C1
S1
C3
Fiber
TIER 2 (OTDR)
C2
Relative
Power (dB)
allowing it to see into the link to
measure individual connections, splices,
and sections of fiber.
Thus an OTDR can make event and fiber
measurements that an OLTS cant:
Event
Loss
Fiber
Loss
Slope
Event reflectance
(calculated from D)
D
And can perform functions an OLTS cant:
Baseline
Trace
Connector Checking
Fault
Location
Break
Expected trace
Actual trace
OTDR Trace
Report
Loss
Connection
But dont throw away your OLTS !
The OLTS is required by TIA/EIA-568-B for
measuring link insertion loss (Tier 1).
It measures IL more accurately than an OTDR
(OTDRs tend to under-estimate loss of multimode links)
And it does not require launch and receive
cables to measure link IL (more on this later).
BOTTOM LINE: It takes both an OLTS and
OTDR to make all Tier 1 and Tier 2 tests.
OTDR Theory and Specifications
Some useful details
There are two main sources of returned
light on an optical fiber link:
Connection
End of Fiber
Fiber Fiber
Fusion splice
OTDR
pulse
Reflection
Backscatter
OTDR
pulse
Fiber Fiber
Connection
End of Fiber
Rayleigh scattering occurs continuously
along optical fiber (at very small power
levels) as the result of microscopic
fluctuations of the fibers index of
refraction. Scattered photons that
are recaptured by the fiber and
travel back toward the OTDR
constitute backscatter.
Fusion splice
Backscatter
Reflection
OTDR
pulse
Fiber Fiber
Connection End of Fiber
Fresnel (fra-nel) reflections are caused by
major changes in group index of refraction that
occur at reflective events on fiber links such
as connections, mechanical splices, and the
end of the fiber. Fusion splices generally cause
such little change in group index of refraction
that they are considered non-reflective events.
Fusion splice
OTDR Block Diagram
Coupler
Pulse
Laser
APD
(Detector)
and Amplifier
ADC
(Analog to
Digital Converter)
Sample
and Hold
DSP
(Digital Signal
Processor)
P
Processor,
memory,
display etc.
Clock

Fiber Under
Test
E O
Distance
OTDR
Link under test
Time
Outbound
pulse time-
distance line
Pulse hits
fiber end
Time distance view of OTDR operation
Samples
Since OTDR sample times represent round-trip times:
D
i
= [Sample Time/2] x [Speed of Light in Fiber]
D
i
= [T
i
/ 2] x [c / N]
Where:
c = speed of light in a vacuum (about 2.99 x 10
8
m/s)
N = group index of refraction for the fiber under test
For example, for T = 10 ns and assuming N = 1.5:
D = (10 x 10
9
)/2 x (3 x 10
8
)/1.5
= (5 x 10
9
) x (2 x 10
8
)
= 1 meter
An OTDR could therefore estimate distance in meters simply by
dividing sample times in nanoseconds by 10. In fact, OTDRs use
wavelength-specific values of N which results in greater accuracy.
By knowing the speed of light in fiber, the
OTDR converts sample times to distances:
Distance
OTDR
Link under test
Time
Outbound
pulse time-
distance line
Pulse hits
fiber end
. . . or graphically:
Samples
And by averaging samples
from 100s or 1000s of pulses . . .
Total Link Length
OTDR Range
Very small
pulse
OTDR
Distance
Horiz. Backbone
Relative
Power (dB)
Creates a trace of power vs.
distance
OTDR Range
Total Link Length
Very small
pulse
OTDR
Distance
Horiz. Backbone
Relative
Power (dB)
Distance
Fiber link under test
Pulse with
zero length
An infinitesimal (zero length) pulse
sweeps out a single time-distance line:
Time
Distance
Fiber link under test
Sample
Point
Pulse with
zero length
So traces created with such a pulse would
map each sample to a point on the fiber link.
Time
Distance
Time
L
But real-world pulses have finite length (L)
and therefore sweep out a set of lines:
Distance
Time
L
So rather than a
point each sample
maps to a segment
of width P on the
fiber link.
Segment
Sample
P
Distance
Time
Backscatter power
increases by 1.5 dB for
each doubling of pulse
width. (Fresnel reflection
power is not impacted by
pulse width.)
A wider pulse has
more power!
This increases the backscatter power
captured by each sample:
Distance
L
Because the speed of light in
optical fiber is the same in
both directions, angles a and b
are equal. Thus P, the
effective OTDR pulse width
(or simply pulse width), equals
one half of the actual length of
the light pulse in the fiber, L.
This allows you to calculate P
in meters from the OTDR
setting of P in ns.
P = L
a b
Time
Distance
Slope = time/distance
=1 / speed
SoPW = L:
Time
So, for example, if an OTDR trace
looked like this using a very small
(infinitesimal) pulse
(m)
0 100 200 300 400
Relative
Power (dB)
Link Length = 300 m
OTDR Range = 400 m
Very small
pulse
OTDR
90 m 210 m
It might
qualitatively
look like this
using a 200
ns (20 m)
pulse:
(m)
0 100 200 300 400
Relative
Power (dB)
Link Length = 300 m
200 ns pulse
(20 m effective
width)
OTDR
90 m 210 m
20 m
Backscatter is
out of the noise
OTDR Range = 400 m
The physical length of an OTDR pulse in optical fiber, L,
equals the speed of light in fiber times the duration of the
pulse, P (ns). The speed of light in fiber is c / N, where c is the
speed of light in a vacuum ( 3 x 10
8
m/s) and N is the fibers
group index of refraction ( 1.5). Therefore:
L = ( c / N ) x P(ns)
Assuming that N = 1.5 and c = 3 x 10
8
exactly*:
L = ( (3 x 10
8
m/s) / 1.5) x P x 10
-9
s
L (m)

= P(ns) / 5
As shown earlier P = L. Thus P (m) = [ P (ns) / 5 ] / 2 or:
P (m) = P (ns) / 10
Effective pulse width in meters: P(m)
Distance
P (m) = P (ns) / 10
L (m) = P (ns) / 5
Or
graphically
. . . .
P(ns)
Time
Examples: P (ns) P (meters)
10 1
20 2
100 10
1000 100
2 s 200
10 s 1,000
This reveals an important OTDR setup rule:
P (m) = P (ns) / 10 *
* To be exact, this relationship requires that N (fibers group index of refraction) equals 1.5 and
c (speed of light in a vacuum) equals 3 x 10
8
m/s exactly. However, because the GIR of most
telecom fiber types is within 1% of 1.5, and C = 2.99 x 10
8
m/s, it is a very good
approximation in most cases. In fact many OTDRs list available pulse width settings in both
ns and meters, side-by-side, as in the example above.
Minimum pulse
width (P
MIN
)
Maximum pulse
width (P
MAX
)
Event and Attenuation Dead Zones

Idealized trace
of a reflective
event at the
shortest pulse
width, P
MIN
.
P
MIN
Real OTDR
trace.
0.5 dB
Event Dead Zone
Attenuation Dead Zone
1.5 dB
Measurement Range Dynamic Range - 6 dB (always specified at P
MAX
)
Dynamic
Range
Measurement
Range
Noise floor trace power
equals average OTDR
noise power or SNR = 1
Level at which
OTDR can accurately
measure 0.5 dB event
0.5 dB
6 dB
P
MAX
Backscatter level at OTDR test port
Determining Measurement Range (MR) in
km from Dynamic Range (DR) in dB

MR (dB) DR (dB) 6 dB
MR (km) = MR (dB) / [ fiber loss / km]
For example:
DR (dB) = 26 dB
MR (dB) = 26 dB 6 dB = 20 dB
Fiber loss per km = 0.25 dB/km
MR (km) = 20 dB / [0.25 dB/km] = 80 km
OTDR Set up
The basics
Key Parameters
Wavelength (850, 1300, 1310, 1550 nm for premises
networks)
Range (should be about 1.5 times link length)
Pulse width
Narrow pulses are best for resolving close events
but are limited to short links.
Wide pulses are good for measuring long links.
Number of averages Traces are always averaged
over hundreds or thousands of pulses. The trade-off is
time vs. trace quality. After about 3 min, you get very
little additional improvement.
The M600 sets Range and Pulse Width automatically
when AUTO SETUP is on.
Range
Too short: less than
link length
Link
Cant see entire link
unpredictable results
Good: about 1.5x to
2x link length
Link
Good trace can
see end of fiber.
Too long: much larger
than link length
Link
Trace is squashed into
left side of display.
Pulse Width
Too wide:
Cant resolve events
About right:
Events can be seen
and trace is smooth.
Too narrow:
Trace disappears
into noise floor.
Link Link Link
Where is this
this event?
Averages
Too many
Trace is smooth but
waste of time.
About right:
Trace is smooth.
Too few:
Trace is noisy noise
floor is too high.
Link Link Link
Analyzing an OTDR Trace
Backscatter portions of an OTDR trace show
power (in the fiber) vs. distance
Power
(dB)
Distance
Backscatter
Q: Why then is the y-axis of an OTDR trace
labeled in dB rather than dBm?
Power
(dB)
Distance
Backscatter
Answer: think of it as dBx
Power is normally expressed in dBm or dB relative to 1
mW.
The y-axis of an OTDR trace shows power in dB relative
to an internal reference level, x, which (unfortunately) is
not 1 mW.
So while the y-axis cannot be labeled in dBm it does
represent power nonetheless.
This means that between any two points A and B on
backscatter segments of an OTDR trace:
Insertion Loss (A to B) = Level A Level B
Power
(dB)
Distance
A B
Insertion loss
Two-point insertion loss: Connection
Power
(dB)
Distance
A B
Insertion loss
Two-point insertion loss: Fiber section
Power
(dB)
Distance
A B
Insertion loss
Two-point insertion loss: Link
The Two Point Loss Method has two major
limitations when used with real-world traces
Ideal trace
Real-world OTDR trace,
which includes effects
of reflectance, effective
pulse width, and noise.
1) Two Point Loss Method adds fiber loss
to measured event loss.
Measured
event loss
Real event loss
A
Fiber loss
B
Fiber loss
Measured
event loss ?
B A
B A
2) Two Point Loss Method is sensitive to
cursor location on noisy traces.
Solution: LSA method(s)
(Least Squared Averaging)
A
1
2
3
4
Active cursor is located
exactly at the location of an
event (start of event spike).
LSA segment
cursors
LSA segment cursors
LSA methods provide a better
estimate of actual event loss
A
LSA loss Event loss Event loss
LSA methods also can measure
event reflectance
A
Reflectance is
calculated from D, the
height of the spike
above backscatter,
P(m), and the fibers
backscatter coefficient.

D
Single Event or Splice LSA Method
(spices, connections, bends)
A
Locate active cursor (A or B)
at event location it can touch
start of event spike.
Adjust LSA line segments so
that they follow the slope of
the backscatter before and
after the event.
Be sure near-right LSA cursor
is after event tail.
Be sure neither LSA segment
overlaps another event.
Near-right LSA
cursor should
be after tail
IL
Multiple Event LSA Method
Two (or more) events close together
Place left cursor at the start
of the initial spike.
Place right cursor at start of
the last spike.
Adjust LSA line segments so
that they follow the slope of
the backscatter before and
after the event.
Be sure near-right LSA
cursor is after event tail and
neither LSA segment
overlaps another event.
A
Near-right LSA
cursor should
be after tail
IL
B
Start LSA Method
(no launch cable)

A
Start method is used to
determine the loss of first fiber
section. But there is no way to
measure IL or reflectance of a
start event.
Place active cursor at the start
of the fiber (D=0).
Adjust the LSA segment so it
follows the slope of the first
fiber segment.
Be sure near-right LSA cursor
is after event tail and neither
LSA segment overlaps
another event.
Near-right LSA
cursor should
be after tail
0
Level
First fiber section
End LSA Method
(no receive cable)
A
End method is required to
determine the loss of last fiber
section. It can also measure
end event reflectance. But
there is no way to measure IL
of an end event.
Place active cursor at the start
of the fiber (D=0).
Adjust the LSA segment so it
follows the slope of the last
fiber segment.
Be sure LSA segment does
not overlap a previous event.
End of fiber
Add an event at start (1) and
end (2) of link. If launch and
receive cables are installed,
use single event method in
both cases.
If launch cable not used, use
Start Method at near-end of
link.
If receive cable is not used,
use End method at far end.
To see total link loss, view
event table -- cumulative loss
at last event will equal total
or end-to-end link loss.
End-to-end link loss
1 2
Link IL
Launch
Cable
Link
Receive
Cable
Without launch and receive
cables the OTDR cannot
measure the IL of the near-end
or far-end connections.
This is a problem in premises
links, which are typically short,
because these connections
represent a large portion of
total link loss.
In this case you must add a
Start Event at the near end
and End Event at the far end.
(Or simply use the Two-point
method with cursors at either
end of the fiber.)
No launch or receive cable
Fiber IL
1 2
Start event End event
Link
Adding the launch cable
enables the OTDR to include
the loss of the near-end
connection in total link loss
calculations, and measure its
reflectance.
In this case, add a Single
Event at the near-end and an
End Event at the far-end.
Adding a launch
cable
1 2
Fiber + Near-
end IL
Single event End event
Launch
Cable
Link
Adding a receive cable
enables the OTDR to include
the loss of the far-end
connection in total link loss
calculations, and measure its
reflectance.
In this case add a Single
Event at both the near- and
far-ends.
Adding the receive
cable
1 2
Link IL
Single event Single event
Launch
Cable
Link
Receive
Cable
Using an OTDR To Generate a Baseline Trace
You must use a launch cable to measure the loss of the
near-end connection.
You must use a receive cable to measure the loss of the
far-end connection.
Both cables must use the same type fiber (50 m, 62.5 m,
or singlemode) as the link under test.
All connectors must be kept clean and undamaged.
For testing links under 2 km, the length of the launch and
receive cables should be about 100 m.
Set wavelength, pulse width, distance range, number of
averages, etc. manually, or use automatic setup features of
your OTDR.
Launch
Cable
(Fiber Box)
OTDR
SM MM
Work Area
Outlet
Horizontal
Patch Panel
Splice
Main
Patch Panel
B A
B A A
B A
Receive
Cable
(Fiber box)
B
Horizontal
Segment
Backbone
Segment
Using an OTDR
To Generate a Baseline Trace
OTDR
screen
0
0 250 50 100 150 200
-2
-1
-3
-4
Relative
Power
(dB)
Distance (m)
A B
Link
being
tested
OTDR
Launch
Cable
Horizontal
Segment
Backbone
Segment
Receive
Cable
Splice
Patch Cord
Reading an OTDR Trace
Launch
Cable
Splice
(Loss 0.1 dB)
Rcv.
Cable
(1) Connection
(Loss 0.4 dB)
Trace
Horiz.
Seg.
(2) Connections
(Loss 0.8 dB)
Backbone
Segment
(1) Connection
(Loss 0.4 dB)
Link Loss
( 2.1 dB)
Link Length
( 130 m)
Using an OTDR to Fault Locate
0
0 250 50 100 150 200
-2
-1
-3
-4
-5
Relative
Power
(dB)
Distance (m)
Baseline
Trace
New Trace
Distance to fault
( 120 m)
Fault !
A B
Cleaning and Testing of Fiber
North American Access Market
Access Market (FTTX) Cable Segments
Feeder Backbone + Distribution + Drop
FTTH - Feeder, Distribution and Drop
FTTB Feeder, Distribution and Drop
FTTC/FTTN - Feeder and Distribution
FTTH = Fiber-to-the-Home
FTTB = Fiber-to-the-Business
FTTC/FTTN = Fiber-to-the-Curb/Fiber-to-the-Node

FTTH PON Network
Special Components - Connectors
APC connectors
needed to reduce
back reflection for
video delivery if using
analog video like
CATV
FTTx Safety Issues
Fiber installation issues
Laser Eye Safety
High power from EDFAs
Multiple equipment transmitting simultaneously
High power
Ensuring all systems are off
Multiple subscribers means problems turning
equipment off

Cleaning tools of the trade
VFI 2 Cletop cleaner
VS 300
VFS 2 w Probe
One-Click Cleaner
OFI200
FCC2-Fiber Connector Cleaner
Nonflammable/Air cargo
safe
Environmentally safe
Fast drying without
residue
Dissolves light oils,
salts, grime and uncured
epoxies
Up to 400+ cleanings
per container

CCT- Connector Cleaning Tips
Used with FCC2
Molded polymer
construction
No fibers, binders,
adhesives or
outgassing to
contaminate
connectors
Traps and holds liquid
and particles
contaminates
Perfect bulkhead fit
Basic Visual/Continuity Check
Basic Light Test Continuity
Visual Fault Identifier
AKA VFI
1. Insert connector into a Visual
Fault Identifier (VFI).
2. Place a small bend in the
900
micron fiber behind the
connector.
3. A red light at the bend will
indicate that the connector is
passing light.
Demo a Sc to bare end fiber to show light escaping

Basic Light Test Continuity
Visual Fault Identifier
AKA VFI
The Connector End-Face Inspection
First step - Verify no energy
with power meter
Inspect connector end-face
for dirt
Clean Connector with CLE-
TOP or One-Click
AT&T standards outline 3
dry cleans and 2 wet
cleans
Once cleanliness at all
adapter points is verified use
meters to determine link is
good

The Connector End-Face
Scratch goes near the core!
Dirt particles
Single-Mode Connector
VS 300
Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master text styles
Second level
Third level
Fourth level
Fifth level
www.afltele.com

Noyes Fiber Systems Technical Help Line
800-321-5298 (USA)
603-528-7780

Contact Information