From the course: Understanding Copper and Fiber Optic Communication Systems
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How to test fiber optic cables
From the course: Understanding Copper and Fiber Optic Communication Systems
How to test fiber optic cables
- [Instructor] Fiber optic cables and fiber strands should be tested after they are installed and terminated and in their final resting position. Proper testing confirms to the user that the cable does not have any defects and that the light signal will be able to pass through its circuit as designated, quickly and completely. There are a few types of testers used in testing fiber optic cables. Some of the main types are visual fault locators, optical loss test sets, and optical time-domain reflectometers, also known as OTDRs. Let's look at them and see what the differences are. First, a visual fault locator is the most basic or rudimentary type of tester. They simply apply a bright light across the cable strand. Any imperfection or failure in the cable will actually display light escaping from it. This type of tester does not measure specific parameters or the cable's performance, and it does not generate a test report. It's more of a quick check, low-cost tester. Imagine this is a…
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