TB 004-OTDR Testing of Links V2.1

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TB Number 004

Version 2.1
Supersedes 2.0
Date: 27/09/2019
Media Optical Fibre

VTI Services Technical Bulletin (TB)


OTDR Measurement of Installed Optical Fibre Cabling
Permanent Links and Links
This bulletin is supplied for information only and is intended to provide only guidance. Technical bulletins are issued by VTI Services
technical director as to VTI Services position at the time the bulletin was issued. Information on VTI Service’s Disclaimer of Liability
can be found on www.vti.net.au

Text in Italics is derived from the standards.


Clause references art to AS/NZS 14763.3:2017, unless stated otherwise
1. Applicability

The following applies only to telecommunication cabling installations in Australia and New
Zealand using an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) for measurement of installed
optical fibre links and permanent links in accordance with AS/NZS 14763.3:2017.

2. Link definition

Permanent Link is horizontal cabling between the floor distributor and the telecommunications
outlet. Link is any other cabling usually comprising a single fixed cable with connectors at each
end. Hereinafter the word ‘Link’ is used to collectively describe both permanent links and links.

3. Summary

OTDR testing to AS/NZS 14763.3:2017 needs to show/report in both graphical and numerical
form the test results for;
• attenuation of − the link
− the local and remote test interface connections
− any embedded components
• length of the link
• propagation delay of the link
• optical return loss of connecting hardware However, ORL is not a requirement unless
stated in the client’s quality plan (QP). (AS/NZS 11801.1 Appn ZZ2 Clause 10.5.3.3)

4. Conformance requirements for testing

The following requirements apply to OTDR testing to achieve conformance to AS/NZS


14763.3:2017 and conformance to AS/NZS 11801.1 and AS 11801.x series.

Where the client’s quality plan specifies variations to this document, conformance to AS/NZS
14763.3:2017 and to AS/NZS 11801.1 and AS 11801.x series may not be achieved.

4.1. Test equipment


Launch and tail cords shall be longer than the dead zone of the tester.
Launch cord should be least 75m for MMF and 150m for SMF.
Tail cord should be least 75m for MMF and 150m for SMF. (Cl 6.3.3.6 & .7)

OTDR characterisation using launch cord only is not permitted in the test standard and will
not achieve testing conformance.

The connector hardware on the launch and tail cords interfacing to the cabling under test
shall be reference connectors with correct end face geometry. The attenuation between
two reference connectors shall be no greater than 0.10 dB (MMF) and 0.20 (SMF).

TB 004-OTDR Testing of Links V2.1 1 of 5


TB Number 004
Version 2.1
Supersedes 2.0
Date: 27/09/2019
Media Optical Fibre

The OTDR tester itself must provide the specified launch modal distribution for MMF (e.g.
meet Encircled Flux requirements). Otherwise, add a suitable mode controlling device at
the OTDR-end of the launch cord. (Cl 6.4 & 6.5)

4.2. Wavelength of measurement


Wavelength measurements shall be done at;
• MMF, 850 nm and 1300 nm
• SMF, 1310 nm and 1550 nm
There are no requirements to measure at other wavelengths in AS/NZS 14763.3:2017.

4.3. Direction of measurement


OTDR testing of link attenuation using a launch cord and tail cord is obtained by measuring
in both directions and averaging the results. This is not necessary where the link contains a
single length fixed cable and terminating connectors only and where the scattering
characteristics of the optical fibre within the launch and tail cords are the same. (Cl 6.2.2 e)

When OTDR testing the attenuation of cabling components (local and remote connections),
the cabling under test shall be tested in both directions. (Cl 6.2.2 d)

When OTDR testing in two directions, the attenuation measurements are derived by
averaging the associated bi-directional test results. (Cl 6.2.2 f)

Optical Return Loss (ORL) results (when specified in the QP) are not averaged; the worst
result from either direction is to be reported.

If the link contains any embedded connections (e.g. Consolidation Point, connector or splice),
bi-directional testing shall be done at both wavelengths to obtain accurate results.

5. OTDR test method

The OTDR optical source shall be selected for the mode and wavelength required and appropriate
settings established for range, pulse width, index of refraction (IOR), and averaging time. Annex
C (Informative) of AS/NZS 14763.3:2017 sets out the operational capabilities and limitations of
optical time domain reflectometry.

All connectors should be inspected and cleaned as necessary before each individual test.

Prior to, and at times during OTDR attenuation testing, the reference connectors on the launch
and tail test cords shall be mated to verify and record the quality of the connection (Cl 9.1.2.2)

Connect the test equipment to the cabling under test as per Figure 5.1 below using a launch test
cord and a tail test cord.

The OTDR trace should clearly show the attenuation elements and the length of the link. In the
tester’s results, the accompanying tables or numerical values (not shown in Fig 5.1) should
indicate the attenuation (and optical return loss if specified in the QP) of connecting hardware.

During ORL testing, a variable attenuator between the OTDR and the cabling under test may be
required to reduce the optical power to a level that does not saturate the OTDR receiver. See
Item 7.

TB 004-OTDR Testing of Links V2.1 2 of 5


TB Number 004
Version 2.1
Supersedes 2.0
Date: 27/09/2019
Media Optical Fibre

Figure 5.1 OTDR equipment set-up and one-direction trace of link attenuation
Note: There are no pigtail (spliced) terminations in this link under test.

6. Treatment of attenuation test results

Compliance to AS 11801.x series requires the OTDR attenuation test results be compared to the
PASS Limit (the sum of all the components in the link) to determine an overall PASS or FAIL.

The PASS Limit is based on components and is calculated from; (Corrigendum 1, Cl 9.1.1.8)

MMF Limit = (2 x 0.5 dB) + Σ (cable attenuation) + Σ (embedded connector attenuation)


SMF Limit = (2 x 0.75 dB) + Σ (cable attenuation) + Σ (embedded connector attenuation)

In addition to the calculated PASS Limit based on components, the client may also have an
Application PASS Limit. The lower of these two limits will determine the overall PASS or FAIL.

Allowable attenuation values


Table 6.1 below sets out the allowable attenuation values to be used in the calculation of the
component PASS Limit and for each hardware connection.

Application Pass Limits should be obtained from the client or from the relevant application
standard.

TB 004-OTDR Testing of Links V2.1 3 of 5


TB Number 004
Version 2.1
Supersedes 2.0
Date: 27/09/2019
Media Optical Fibre

Table 6.1 Allowable Budget Attenuation Values

Component and Wavelength AS/NZS 11801.1


Attenuation (Loss)
Maximum
Mated Ref to Ref Connection
MMF at 850 & 1300 nm 0.10 dB
SMF at 1310 & 1550 nm 0.20 dB
Mated Ref to Non-Ref Connection
MMF at 850 & 1300 nm 0.50 dB
SMF at 1310 & 1550 nm 0.75 dB
Non-Ref to Non-Ref at all wavelengths
MMF 0.75 dB
SMF 0.75 dB
Splice
MMF at 850 & 1300 nm 0.30 dB
SMF at 1310 & 1550 nm 0.30 dB
Connector with splice at Link interface
MMF 0.80 dB
SMF 1.05 dB
Connector with splice embedded in Link
MMF 1.05 dB
SMF 1.05 dB
MPO/MTP Cassette at Link interface
MMF 1.25 dB
SMF 1.50 dB
MPO/MTP Cassette embedded in Link
MMF 1.50 dB
SMF 1.50 dB
MMF multimode OM3, OM4
at 850 nm 3.50 dB/km
at 1300 nm 1.50 dB/km
MMF multimode OM5
at 850 nm 3.00 dB/km
at 1300 nm 1.50 dB/km
SMF Singlemode at 1310 & 1550 nm
OS1a 1.00 dB/km
OS2 0.40 dB/km
Ref = Reference Connector Non-Ref = Non-reference (Random) Connector

7. Treatment of ORL for connecting hardware (if specified in the Quality Plan)

The optical return loss (ORL) of cabling components is calculated by the tester from the heights
of the reflected event peaks. Any peak saturation (indicated by a horizontal flat line at the peak)
will result in incorrect ORL results.

The terms ‘Return Loss and ORL’ are sometimes expressed by some OTDR manufacturers as
‘Reflectance’ with a negative sign.

TB 004-OTDR Testing of Links V2.1 4 of 5


TB Number 004
Version 2.1
Supersedes 2.0
Date: 27/09/2019
Media Optical Fibre

Allowable ORL values


To determine an overall PASS or FAIL for the link, the ORL of each component shall be closer to
zero (i.e. not greater) than the allowable ORL value shown in Table 7.1.

Table 7.1 Allowable return loss values


Component AS/NZS 11801.1
at both relevant wavelengths Return Loss Minimum
Connectors, mated
SM APC 60 dB
SM PC 35 dB
MM PC 20 dB

8. Propagation delay

Propagation delay must be reported as part of the documented results for compliance to AS/NZS
11801.1. If the OTDR tester results do not report propagation delay, it must be calculated and
recorded in the final test report. Submission of an OTDR trace without a propagation delay record
makes the whole test results non-conforming.

Propagation Delay = (Cable Length L x 5) nano-seconds

9. Mated connections in close proximity

Each MPO cassette shall be considered as two mated connector interfaces when determining
optical attenuation budget. Also, connectors containing a mechanical or fusion splice with a
pre-polished stub are deemed to be a connector and a splice for loss budget calculations.
(Appendix ZZ2 Cl 9.1.1.8)

The optical return loss of two or more mated connections within the OTDR event dead zone shall
be that of a single mated connection. This also applies to MPO Cassettes. Also applies to stub
connectors, spliced pigtails and similar.

A link containing connections in close proximity must be tested in both directions, at both
wavelengths and the attenuation results averaged.

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