Guidebook for

Optical Time Domain Reflectometer

May 2006

Communication and Measurement Business Headquarters

Yokogawa Electric Corporation

Copyright (C) 05 NTT Advanced Technology Corporation

Optical Time Domain Reflectometer

Optical Time Domain Reflectometers

can measure distance to the
connector and the loss at that point
by using only one end of the optic
fiber. AQ7260
OTDR

<Usage>
Loss Measurement: transmission loss (loss between optional
zones), loss at the connector
Distance Measurement: distance to the connector, distance to
point of defaults, the length of optic fiber
Return Loss Measurement: return loss at the connector and at
the tip of optic fiber 1

1
 The Conditions of the Optic Fiber and
the OTDR Waveform Display
Bending point
Open tip
Incoming light
Fusion point Connector
←Backscattered light level

Distance →
2

Characteristics (1)

Dynamic Range
These figures display the amount of loss. The bigger the figure,
the bigger the loss (or longer the distance).

Dynamic range
(SNR=1)

2
 Characteristics (2)

Attenuation Dead Zone

This reflects the minimum distance from the Fresnel reflection where loss
measurements are made.

Optic fiber Connector

Connection loss

Attenuation dead zone

Characteristics (3)

Event Dead Zone

The smallest distance to detect a reflective event that follows another
reflective event.

Optic fiber Connector

Peak

Event dead zone

3
 Measurement Flowchart
Check measurement
environment
Power ON
In principle, keep both ends
open.
Set up measurement conditions
Must take care particularly
when using maintenance
wavelength (1,650nm)
according to the construction Execute measurement
and maintenance
specifications when
connecting active lines. Store measurement results Write up report
Clean OTDR and the optic
connectors.
Power OFF

Setting the Measurement Conditions

The following conditions must be set up prior to making measurements.

a) Measurement Wavelength
Set up the measurement wavelengths according to the figures
specified in the construction and maintenance specifications or set the
wavelengths adjusted to the wavelength used in the optical lines.
b) Distance Range
c) Pulse Width
d) Attenuation
e) Group Refractive Index
Must make accurate settings according to the optic fiber
characteristics. Make settings according to the group refractive index
written in the specifications of the optic fiber manufacturer or the
construction and maintenance specifications.
f) Others: Average out the number of times (time), event detection
threshold level, approximation process 7

4
 Measurement Conditions Settings
TRACE MARKER FILE OPTION SETTING

INITIALIZE
MEASURE CONDITION AUTO SEARCH CONDITION

WAVELENGTH EVENT SEARCH

AUTO SET APPROX. METHOD UNDO

Dist. RANGE BACKSCATTER

PULSE WIDTH SPLICE LOSS MULTI WL

MEASURE
ATTENUATION RETURN LOSS
OFF
AVE CONDITION END OF FIBER

AVE INTERVAL
DONE
GROUP INDEX OTHER CONDITION
DATA SIZE FILTER

AVERAGE METHOD PLUG CHECK CANCEL

AVE CONTINUE

Cursor Movement
Select MEASURE
CONDITION
Cancel LIST

The changed conditions will be final.

Screen for List of Measurement Conditions Settings 8

Setting the Distance Range

Set the distance range to the closest distance when the length of the optic fiber
under test is known.
eg.) optic fiber: 15km → distance range , 10km, 20km, 40km,
[Ref] The measurement time will be longer when the distance range is longer.
The distance range can be set automatically with the auto range function
when the length of the optic fiber under test is unknown.

To avoid ghost waveforms due to secondary reflections, we recommend to set

the distance range to the closest distance that is over two fold of the optic fiber
under test when measuring short optic fibers under 10km particularly with little
loss and does not terminate at the far end (has large Fresnel reflections)

eg.) optic fiber: 4km →distance range: , 5km, 10km, 20km

5
 Ghost Waveform due to Secondary Reflection

OTDR
First reflection

Second reflection
Distance L Distance L

Ghost

Secondary reflection

Distance Range Widen

10

Setting the Pulse Width

Pulse width is the width of the optical pulse from the OTDR reflected in a
time frame. Long pulse widths are suitable for long distance measurements
but then the dead zone will become wider and the connector for short
intervals will disappear. On the other hand, short pulse widths can identify
connectors of short intervals but it cannot make long distance measurements
as the optical power will decrease.
The pulse width can be set automatically according to the distance
range by using the automatic range function.
Relationship between the Pulse Width and Dynamic Range Dead Zone (for reference)
Pulse Width Dynamic Range Attenuation/Event
1.31/155μm Dead Zones

10ns 12/10dB 8/3m

20ns 13/11dB 9/4m
200ms 21/19dB 27/16m
1μs 30/28dB 122/122m
20μs 45/43dB 2030/-m 11

6
Examples of Measurements using Different Pulse Widths (1)

The following diagrams are measurement results when the optic fiber is
approximately 40m and the pulse width is 4μs and 100ns.

Results when using 4μs Results when using 100ns

12

Examples of Measurements using Different Pulse Widths

(2)
The following diagram shows the measurement results of connected optic
fiber using pulse widths of 10ns, 50ns, and 100ns.
40m 15m 20m
OTDR

Pulse width 10ns Pulse width 50ns Pulse width 100ns

13

7
 Setting the Attenuation
Attenuation can be set up automatically to the value suitable to the
pulse width under test by using the auto range function.
However, the reflection point may saturate, as shown in the diagram below,
when large Fresnel reflections occur due to bad connections.
Accurate return loss values cannot be measured when the reflection point is
saturated. Please set the attenuation to a larger figure so that the waveform
will not saturate.

Saturating Increase the

attenuation value

14

Selecting Collinear Approximation (LSA and TPA)

Approximation Lease Square Approximation (LSA) Two Point Approximately (TPA)

Process
Calculate the loss between two points Calculate with the difference in level
with lease square between two points

○ ×
Waveform with
a lot of noise

× ○
Waveforms with
reflections

15

8
 How to Measure Distance
Yokogawa Electric Corporation

Distance between the base

Marker point to each marker

Distance from the base

point to cursor Cursor

Distance between market 1 and 2

Marker 1 Place at the starting point of the zone under test

Marker 2 Place at the final point of the zone under test
16

How to Measure Loss

Connection loss at cursor point.

Loss characteristics per

1km of the optic fiber, the Loss characteristics per
distance between Marker 1km of the optic fiber, the
1 , Marker 2, and their distance between Marker
losses 2 and Marker 3, and their
losses.
Marker 1 Place before Marker 2 where there will be no influence from the connector right before
Marker 2 Place on the connector right before the point where the level will change.
Marker Y2 Place behind the connector where there is no influence
Marker 3 Place behind Y2 and immediately before the next connector
17

9
 How to Measure Reflection and Return Loss

Pulse
width:
50ns

Pulse
Reflections will change
width:
according to pulse width 20ns

Reflection amount
Pulse width Can switch reflection and
return loss display with
settings

Marker 1 Place immediately before the waveform rises (the point where the
level changes)
Marker 2 Place on the peak of the waveform or to the right of the peak.
18

Automatic Detection Function

Event Distance Connection loss Return loss Accu loss dB/km Event Zone

The right or wrong judgment of the measurement results on the

distance, loss, and return loss can be made automatically.
19

10
 Storing the Measured Results

Can store data in FILE

inner memory
(20MB) and USB
memory. Drive
Control Number
Control Number + Comment

Type Can enter control

The file can be number and text as file
stored in name. The control
SOR (Telecordis) number is
TRD (AQ7269) automatically updated.
BMP (image)
CSV (text), etc.

20

How to Measure Loss within Total Interval

Enter dummy fiber

AO
OTDR Customer’s
residence
Measurement interval

Measure loss within

measurement interval
with Marker 1 and 2
(TPA)

Can measure loss in total interval by

entering dummy fiber in the incoming
tip to reduce measurement errors due
to effects of large Fresnel reflection
by incoming tip. 21

11
 How to Measure Long and Short Optic Fibers

OTDR

10km 20m

Distance range: 20km

Pulse width: 100ns
Cannot detect
connector Reduce the pulse
width and
measure

Distance range: 20km

Pulse width: 10ns
Can detect
connector

22

Easy to Use Functions

■Automatic Setting of Measurement Conditions

OTDR will automatically detect and set up the best value for distance range,
pulse width, and attenuation

■”One Button” Measurements

An automatic function that automatically sets up the measurement
conditions, executes the measurement, automatically detects the event,
and stores the measurement results.

■Real Time Measurement

Displays the waveform in real time. Can easily find out if there are any
changes in the conditions of the optic fiber or whether the measurement
conditions are suitable.
■Fixed Waveform
Stores the displayed waveform when the measurement is completed (a fixed
display). This is effective when searching for defects when comparing with real
time displays.
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