The Micro OTDR is the perfect tool for the construction and maintenance of cable plants. It also measures the attenuation in optical fibers and splices, as well as the length and the distance to any event, such as a break in fiber link. This affordable instrument is PC-based, that gives the user many advantages! This high quality Micro OTDR is accurate enough for laboratory use but portable and rugged enough for field applications. Read more about it in this version of the AFS Newsletter!
 

Micro OTDR's
 

Multimode And Single mode
 
AFS offers five models of Micro OTDR's, one multimode and four single mode versions with different dynamic ranges. Take a look at the advanced features of the uOR-100 series and uOR-200 series!
 
These features applies for all AFS Micro OTDR's:
- A distance range up to 240 kilometers.
- Refractive Index Range Setting 1.0000 to 2.0000.
- Loss Resolution of 0.001 dB.
- Supply current from USB port <200mA.
- Low distance accuracy.
- Event dead zone 3.5 meters.
- Handheld, lightweight and easy to use.
- Optional there can be ordered a short patch cord, it makes is possible to test cables with different types of connectors.
Click on picture for additional information

Profits Of PC-based
 
All the AFS Micro OTDR's are PC-based OTDR's, that gives the user many advantages. Read in the following part for what reasons the OTDR's are used in conjunction with a PC or Laptop with a USB interface:
- The unit is powered via the PC USB port and requires no batteries or external power supply.
- The USB connection allows the instrument to be controlled from a laptop or PC and runs off of Windows 98 or more recent.
- The software allows the user to determine all the necessary characteristics of the Optical Fiber and is capable of displaying, storing, reading, printing and analyzing several traces simultaneously.
- The OTDR has never a full memory, because all data will be saved on the PC or laptop. The memory- Trace storage is unlimited in contrast to other manufacturers.
 
 
 

Technical Specifications In Detail
 
As given above, there are five different versions of the AFS PC-based Micro OTDR's. Naturally they all have various features. That is the subject of the following part. The differences between the models (types) are like explained in the tabular overview below. The dynamic range is the feature which distinguish the SM OTDR'S of each other.
 

Type

Single-/ Multimode

Wavelength

Dynamic range

uOR-101

MM

850/1300

26/25 dB

uOR-201

SM

1310/1550

32/31 dB

uOR-202

SM

1310/1550

36/35 dB

uOR-203

SM

1310/1550

40/39 dB

uOR-204

SM

1310/1550

43/42 dB
   
- The pulse width of the MM goes from 10 to 1000 nS, at the SM from 10 to 20000.
- Attenuation Dead Zone of the MM is 20m and SM 14m.
 

All in all, testing fiber optic cable plants are easy if you have the right instruments and follow industry testing standards. When diagnosing problems, you must be creative to develop techniques that help reveal problems that show up on standard tests. It is most important to know your tools operation and limitations, and how to work around them. It is most helpful to have good cable plant documentation, since knowing what you are looking at will make it much easier to find problems.
 

AFS appreciate the opinions of the distributors and the customers at [email protected]. AFS uses this information to improve its products and by the development of new products.

AFS supports technical questions at [email protected].
 
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