Fiber Optic Testing and Troubleshooting

Stan Kubota, Exsell Training Services

Updated 11/26/2001

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

Agenda
Review of Tools in Use Today Review of Measurements Required Today Construction Testing Maintenance Testing and Troubleshooting Tips

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

Review of Measurements Required Today

Fiber Attenuation Characteristics (dB/km) Transmitted Power Level, Receive Power Level (instantaneous and over time, watts, dBm) Insertion Loss, Attenuation, End to End Loss Measurements (dB)

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

Fiber Loss
Corning
AT&T

uManufacturers

specs include fiber loss at specified wavelength expressed in dB/km

Exsell Training Services 4

8/7/1998

Link Loss
Patch Cable System Fiber Patch Cable

Transmitter

FPPU

Splice

FPP

Receiver

Loss of complete system from transmitter to receiver including system interconnects.

8/7/1998 Exsell Training Services 5

Review of Measurements Required Today

Fault Location, Distance related Measurements Optical Return Loss Measurement Reflectance Optical Spectrum Polarization Mode Distortion (PMD)

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

Pictorial View of ORL

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

Optical Spectrum Analyzer Typical Output

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

Polarization Mode Distortion (PMD)

Theoretical fiber

Hi-Birefringent Fiber

PMD Delay

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

Review of Tools in Use Today

Light Source
LED Laser CW (Continuous Wave) Modulated (2kHz)

Powermeter
Wavelengths Referencing Memory Bi-directional Testing 2kHz Detection Monitoring

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

10

Review of Tools in Use Today

Optical Return Loss Meter Visual Fault Locator (VFL) OTDR Optical Signal and Direction Detector Fiber Optic Talk Set Variable Attenuator
Exsell Training Services 11

8/7/1998

Review of Tools in Use Today

Optical Tap or Programmable Switch Optical Spectrum Analyzer (OSA) Polarization Mode Distortion Analyzer

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

12

Construction Testing
Fiber on Reel
Verifying fiber cable integrity as received from the factory Verifying manufacturers specifications for the fiber in the cable OTDR, real time mode, use first fiber as reference trace to compare all other fibers to

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

13

Construction Testing
Fiber Installed
Verifying fiber cable integrity after installation Verifying end to end continuity of each fiber OTDR, real time mode, use first fiber as reference trace to compare all other fibers to

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

14

Construction Testing
End to End Testing
powermeter, lightsource testing, both directions optical return loss and PMD, as required assures no transpositions, catches any bad patch panel adapters or pigtail connectors identifies problem fiber runs OTDR trace of one typical fiber, verify distance

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

15

850nm
ON

1300nm
850nm

FIBER NETWORK
ON

-20.0
850nm 1300nm

OFF

1300nm OFF 1550nm

Source

Power Meter

Typical Insertion Loss Measurement after Referencing

8/7/1998 Exsell Training Services 16

A
1310 nm, 1550 nm to the B side

1310 nm, 1550 nm to the A side

FIBER NETWORK

FOT-920 Max Tester

I/O

FOT-920 Max Tester

FasTest Insertion Loss Measurement

Exsell Training Services

I/O

8/7/1998

17

Construction Testing
Troubleshooting Problems Found in End to End testing

8/7/1998

finding where the high loss feature is finding the disconnect patch panel connector check obtain correct optical distances to features use the VFL and OTDR
Exsell Training Services 18

Construction Testing
Cable Plant Acceptance
Report on End to End Loss Measurements Report on Optical Distances to All Features Notes, comments, reminders, cautions What are your standards?

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

19

Construction Testing
Documentation and Record Keeping
As built loss, distance, ORL, and PMD Create and use a standard labeling system Locate the documentation in a central location Provide rapid access to information Update as changes are made

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

20

Maintenance Testing and Troubleshooting Techniques

What indicators are available? Check the obvious Use the records and documentation Determine the most advantageous location(s) for troubleshooting Deploy resources, people and equipment

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

21

Maintenance Testing and Troubleshooting Techniques

Locating the break or problem
VFL, Visual Fault Locator
useful on distances under 3km 670 nm red light leak shows where break or problem might be useful with jumpers to do quick assessment of connector quality check pigtail splices, close in transition splice

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

22

Visual Fault Locator

Light emission due to bends Typical range is 5 km

Connector End Face Quality

Visual Light Source (670 nm)

8/7/1998 Exsell Training Services 23

Source used with Live Fiber Detector

Direction of light, level, and 2 kHz

Light Source, CW or 2 kHz modulated

8/7/1998 Exsell Training Services

Live Fiber Detector

24

Maintenance Testing and Troubleshooting Techniques

Locating the break or problem
OTDR,Optical Time Domain Reflectometer
setup .what index of refraction, what pulse width, what averaging time, what total display distance, is there a reference trace from previous recordings shooting the fiber and diagnosis do I see a good launch, do I see the end, should I adjust the setup and shoot again, what problems are there

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

25

OTDR Basics
OTDR
Laser Pulser

Connector
Coupler

Splice

EOF

Amplifier Detector

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

26

OTDR Dead Zone

Caused by the pulse being launched into the fiber under test The wider the pulse width is, the larger the dead zone Every reflective event causes this dead zone Rough calculation for length of dead zone is DZ = PW x Speed of Light
8/7/1998 Exsell Training Services 27

Event Dead Zone

The ability to DETECT an event that closely follows a reflective event There is one Event Dead Zone for each reflective event Bigger reflectance (saturated) means larger Event Dead Zone Measured on the trace at 1.5 dB from the peak of the reflective event

1.5 dB

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

28

Resolving Features
Smaller pulse width launch pulse means more resolution in defining features on fiber Also means less power is being launched into fiber, resulting in less distance being covered Larger pulse width means less resolution, but longer distances
8/7/1998 Exsell Training Services 29

Resolution
Network C S S OTDR C 5 m 5 m 200 m
Pulse
Patch Cord

1 us
Pulse

30 ns
Pulse

10 ns

1000ns (1us) pulse covers close in connections 30ns pulse begins to discover close in connections With a 10ns pulse you can measure every thing including your first connector! However you cant go very far with a 10 ns pulse
30

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

Sampling Resolution
Distance Range / number of acquisition points Its a physical specification of the OTDR It has nothing to do with accuracy! Example: 80 km /16000pts = 5 meters (two events 3 meters apart would not be seen by the OTDR).

5m
8/7/1998 Exsell Training Services 31

Offset Acquisition for Added Resolution

In essence placing the OTDR acquisition memory at a location where it is most effectively used Minimum acquisition memory should be 16K data points Offset should be in feet or meters from the front connection of the OTDR
8/7/1998 Exsell Training Services 32

Optical Distance vs. Physical Cable Distance

OTDR measures optical distance using an internal timer, timing the pulse sent and the time the event returns to the OTDR Fiber spirals in cable, fiber length is not equal to sheath marking length Maintenance coils, splice tray coils, etc. add to the discrepancy between physical distance and optical distance
8/7/1998 Exsell Training Services 33

patch panel

OSP cable OSP splice case wall mount transition splice

OSP cable OSP splice case

patch panel

OSP splice case

cable coil wall mount transition splice

Physical Distance vs. Optical Distance

8/7/1998 Exsell Training Services 34

Reflectance
An event at a specific point in an OTDR trace, a Fresnel reflection, change in IOR Indicated by an upward movement of the OTDR trace, an increase in reflected power Perfect reflector, a flat surface reflects 4% of the incident power or about -14.7dB OTDR end of fiber reflectance value gives connector quality information
8/7/1998 Exsell Training Services 35

OTDR Ghost
Apparent feature or event on OTDR trace caused by the launched pulse reflecting off features in the fiber with power levels high enough to be captured by the OTDR Distance measurements to these features is some multiple of real events Loss across these apparent features is zero
8/7/1998 Exsell Training Services 36

Gainer Splice
Indicated by an apparent increase or gain in returned power level at the splice location Caused by a number of factors such as mismatches in numerical aperture, core diameter, mode field diameter, or back scatter characteristics of the two fibers spliced Viewed from the opposite direction will result in a definite loss
8/7/1998 Exsell Training Services 37

Pulse Suppressor
A known length (typically 1000 ft) of fiber placed between the OTDR and the fiber under test, acts as a long jumper Originally used to suppress the dead zone Dead zone cannot be suppressed Useful for allowing a measurement of loss of the first mated pair at the patch panel Useful for measuring fiber loss (dB/km) on short fiber runs
8/7/1998 Exsell Training Services 38

Tips and Things to Watch For

All Manufacturers are not 100% defect free (this is not to say that they produce poor products) Fiber can have variations in core size, core to cladding concentricity, micro-voids, etc. that exist at random locations on the fiber, and tests okay at the factory
8/7/1998 Exsell Training Services 39

Tips and Things to Watch For

Connectors, Jumpers, Pigtails while manufactured in a clean environment and with precision machines may also have defects
film on connectors, trapped dust/dirt from protective covers ferrule to fiber concentricity offsets

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

40

Tips and Things to Watch For

Patch panels, adapters or feed-throughs
trapped debris in adapter loose or faulty connector insertion out of tolerance adapter sleeves

Transmitters
LED or Laser output varying over time on board connector, adapter problems
8/7/1998 Exsell Training Services 41

Tips and Things to Watch For

Receivers
detector input power margin variation on board connector, adapter problems

Test Equipment

8/7/1998

dirty connectors, bad jumpers internal connectors and adapters worn not properly referenced not in calibration
Exsell Training Services 42

Tips and Things to Watch For

Real Time Fiber Monitoring
use single, representative, spare fiber in a cable, from all cables to be monitored use remotely controllable OTDR use programmable optical switch (1 x N) program to scan the fibers to be tested, to alarm at discrepancies active fibers can be monitored via WDM and 1625 nm wavelength OTDR
8/7/1998 Exsell Training Services 43

1310 1550 1310

What is a WDM?
A fiber coupling technique allowing two wavelengths to be combined onto a single fiber, or two wavelengths to be de-coupled from a single fiber onto multiple fibers The coupling ratio between incoming and outgoing wavelengths is rigorously controlled, optimized for 1310,1550 or 1625nm
8/7/1998 Exsell Training Services 44

1550

Tips and Things to Watch For

Cleanliness Is Everything in Fiber Optics
splicing, testing, turning up equipment clean clean clean

Safety Is Even More Important

8/7/1998

glass and materials disposal cover all open patch panel adapters not in use know your LED and laser emission classes know the limitations of your equipment
Exsell Training Services 45

Commercial Time
Exsell Sales Associates can supply all the equipment referred to in this presentation In addition we conduct formal training on fiber optics technology In addition we supply cable, patch panels, jumpers, adapters, and all related fiber optic components

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

46

The End
Questions Contacts
Stan Kubota, Exsell Sales Associates
800-873-1873

Paul Raine, Exsell Sales Associates

800-873-1873

8/7/1998

Exsell Training Services

47