OptiFiber® Pro OTDR Family

Most OTDRs are designed for a myriad of applications, causing the user interface to be difficult to navigate and interpret. OptiFiber Pro combines the latest “gesture-based” interface technology with a capacitive touchscreen to deliver the most innovative and user-friendly OTDR.

Advantages:

• Single-touch tap and swipe control for selecting and scrolling menu items
• Multi-touch pinch to zoom for easy magnification control on a graphical fiber trace
• Task-focused design to reduce back and forth navigation through screens
• Capacitive touchscreen eliminates the need to recalibrate unlike legacy touchscreens
• Context sensitive on-screen help that gives users additional details or problem resolution suggestions

Driven by server virtualization and multi-gigabit links between servers, networks and storage, the datacenter architecture employs more patch cords and dense topology connectors, rendering carrier-class OTDRs with long dead zones ineffective. OptiFiber Pro not only makes fiber deployment in datacenters possible, but provides the highest level of accuracy for quick problem resolution.

With a simple one-touch selection, users enter DataCenter OTDR mode - without setup time for fine-tuning as needed in legacy OTDRs. DataCenter OTDR mode automatically detects OTDR parameters - end-detection algorithms, pulse widths, etc - without getting confused by the short links or number of connectors.

Advantages:

• Ultra-short event and attenuation dead-zones precisely locates events and faults on fiber links in the Enterprise
• DataCenter OTDR™ mode automatically sets the configuration to quickly test datacenter fiber
• The EventMap feature depicts fiber events in a way that requires no trace analysis expertise

An important aspect in maximizing an OTDR’s value is to properly plan its day-to-day usage. With built-in project management, OptiFiber Pro allows a project manager to define each user’s role, settings and the associated tasks to be performed – transforming the OTDR into an all-in-one fiber testing tool complete with planning, inspection, certification and reporting.

OptiFiber Pro enhances job efficiency by allowing the workflow planner to create and manage operator and job profiles per project - defined jobs or sets of cable IDs can be assigned to specific operators. The progress and status of each project can also be easily monitored.

Advantages:

• Full OTDR capability that certifies fiber performance based on job assignment for each operator
• Powerful project management facilitates OTDR sharing with clear job assignment for each operator
• Easy monitoring of job progress with pass/fail results
• On-screen report generation and upload to LinkWare™ application

Extremely short event and attenuation dead zone for the Enterprise
The OptiFiber Pro leverages the most sophisticated optical technology to provide the shortest event dead zone (0.5 m typical for MM) and attenuation dead zone (2.2 m typical for MM and 3.6 m typical for SM) of any OTDR. This technological advancement allows OptiFiber Pro to detect and measure closely spaced faults where no other OTDR can in today’s connector-rich datacenter and storage area environments.

Two second trace per wavelength
Another breakthrough with OptiFiber Pro is the data acquisition speed. While in Quick Test mode, a complete set of data is acquired in as little as two seconds per wavelength. OptiFiber Pro then analyzes the data and displays it as an EventMap, Table or Trace. The end result is less time spent testing and more time performing other tasks.

On-screen help – corrective action
On-screen “help” suggests corrective action(s) for resolving fiber problems during each testing step. The “help” offered is context sensitive which allows users to quickly pinpoint possible resolutions. An easy-to-read, gray icon in the bottom, left-hand corner shows detailed corrective action recommendations.

SmartLoop OTDR enables automated testing and analysis of two fibers in a single test while meeting standard requirements. This patented process automatically separates the two fibers for individual pass/fail analysis, display, and reporting. Not only does this cut the testing time by at least half, it also enables instant bi-directional averaged test results without moving the OTDR to the far end. In addition to getting the job done quicker, SmartLoop OTDR further enhances the ease and speed of testing in environments where the far end is difficult of even dangerous to reach because the OTDR never has to be moved to the far end. In addition to getting the job done quicker, SmartLoop meets the standard's requirements of leaving the launch and tail fibers in their initial locations during both bi-directional tests.

Test it right and test it fast with SmartLoop - included for free in all OptiFiber Pro modules.

OptiFiber Pro's SmartLoop technology test two fibers in one tests while providing individual pass, fail and bi-directionally averaged results for each fiber link.

OptiFiber Pro incorporates the FiberInspector Pro video inspection system which enables you to quickly inspect and certify fiber end-faces inside ports or patch cords. It’s 1-second automated PASS/FAIL certification, per IEC 61300-3-35, eliminates human subjectivity and enables anyone to become a fiber inspection expert. Results can be saved in the certification report alongside OptiFiber Pro's OTDR results.

LinkWare Live is a cloud-based service that lets you manage certification jobs anytime, anywhere, with anyone on any device.  With LinkWare Live, you can

• Keep track of every test on every job.  Get an overview of every project from any smart device. Drill down to each individual test. Instantly receive notification of incorrect test setting or cable IDs.
• Get it right the first time. Define cable IDs and test settings from your PC or tablet. Then send them to the testers or Brother printers at the jobsite for mistake-free testing and labeling.
• Keep your testers up to date. Standards can change without notice, and an out-of-date test report can mean hours of re-testing. LinkWare Live automatically ensures your testers are running the latest.
• Stop wasting time and gas driving testers back to the office. Integrated Wi-Fi allows you to upload your test results straight from the job site to LinkWare Live. Then download them automatically to the right job for fast report generation with LinkWare PC.
• Avoid Project Delays. Track the last used location and monitor the status of all testers to ensure they are always calibrated and running the latest firmware*
• Supports all Versiv models: DSX CableAnalyzer Series, CertiFiber Pro, OptiFiber Pro, and the FI-7000.

*See supported countries.

OptiFiber Pro HDR has a dynamic range up to 42 dB and adds new wavelengths for outside plant/FTTx/PON testing requirements. Three wavelength combinations are available depending upon your requirements.

• 1310/1550 nm
• 1310/1490/1550 nm
• 1310/1550/1625 nm

OptiFiber Pro HDR is optimized for FTTx/PON testing through splitters. 1x16 and 1x32 are most commonly found today but OptiFiber Pro HDR is future proofed for testing even nx128 splitters. With its Discover function, you can automatically locate splitters and their ratios. Up to 3 cascaded splitters can be configured in the setup.

OptiFiber Pro HDR provides two PON test suites: Auto PON OTDR and Manual PON OTDR.

• Auto PON OTDR -The tester automatically selects settings that give you the best view of the events on OSP (outside plant) cabling. The tester automatically uses the DISCOVER function to identify splitters. This mode is the easiest to use and is the best choice for most applications.
• Manual PON OTDR - This mode lets you select settings to control the parameters of the trace. You can also enter the ratios of splitters that you know are on the link, or use the DISCOVER function to locate splitters and identify their ratios.

A bend in a fiber cable, if pulled around a sharp corner for instance, allows light to escape from the fiber’s core. This Macrobend may be a risk for mechanical or optical failure. OptiFiber Pro automatically identifies bends and their location by comparing the loss of an event at multiple wavelengths.

Starting with settings from Auto OTDR mode, Expert Manual mode allows user to quickly experiment with settings to uncover details of interest.

• Easy to use manual settings – simplifies experimentation via on the trace screen
• Change the range, pulse width, averaging time, and wavelength
• Try the setting out before saving

When testing or certifying fiber runs, you want the test results to reflect the links as-built. Sometimes an OTDR can misidentify or not find all the actual events within a link. The Edit Event function provides users with the ability to edit, add or remove events including:

• Changing an event to: an APC connector, a splice or a loss event
• Allows the insertion of a splice, such as a 0dB event, at a given location when the splice is hidden due to noise or the splice loss is lower than the minimum detection threshold
• Once the event is modified, the PASS/FAIL status of the link will be updated to reflect the modification
• APC connectors may be identified as a splice instead of as an APC connector because they are non-reflective like a splice. This can cause problems since the loss budget for a splice is less than that of an APC connector. Allowing you to edit the splice and change it to an APC connector allows the loss budget to be calculated correctly for the link.
• Edited events are marked in reports so they can easily be identified as having been edited

When testing a fiber run (particularly in outside plant applications) you may only be interested in a small section of the cabling. For example, if you are repairing a short section of a longer trunk, span allows you to define the start and end of your short section so that the OTDR analyzes only the section that you repaired.

• Provides the ability to perform PASS/FAIL analysis on a section of fiber under test
• PASS/FAIL analysis is only generated for events located with the span distance
• Events outside the span range are evaluated as info only

LinkWare™ PC management software

Leveraging the popular and multi-featured LinkWare cable test management software application, OptiFiber Pro users can easily access the hassle-free project management, report generation, and software upgrade capabilities to manage workflow and consolidate test results.

Stackable results & batch process of traces via LinkWare PC

LinkWare PC allows for the batch processing of traces so you can quickly and easily make edits to many traces at one time. Stacking traces allows you to visually identify differences between identical fibers, such as strands within a trunk. LinkWare PC does this by allowing multiple traces to be overlaid and stacked with separation so that differences in the graph can easily be spotted.

An important aspect in maximizing an OTDR’s value is to properly plan its day-to-day usage. With ProjX management system, OptiFiber Pro allows a project manager to define each user’s role, settings and the associated tasks to be performed – transforming the OTDR into an all-in-one fiber testing tool complete with planning, inspection, certification and reporting.

Advantages:

• Powerful ProjX management system facilitates OTDR sharing with clear job assignment for each operator
• Easy monitoring of job progress with pass/fail or document only results
• Built-in Visual Fault Locator (VFL) to facilitate troubleshooting
• On-screen report generation and upload to LinkWare™ application
• Integrated Wi-Fi allows you to easily upload results to LinkWare™ Live

Fluke Networks Test Reference Cords and Launch Fibers with LC connectors feature our unique metal latch design. Traditional LC connectors use a single-piece plastic design that flexes the latching mechanism each time the connector is inserted and removed and eventually breaks, making them unsuitable for repeated use in testing. The Fluke Networks Metal LC latching system uses a multi-piece metal design with a spring located between the latch and connector body. Since this latch is not part of the body and does not flex, the life of the latching mechanism is greatly improved, thereby extending the life of the LC connector and therefore the TRC’s and launch cords.

The Metal LC connector is compliant with IEC 61754-20 and TIA-604-10B intermateability standards. That latch has also been tested for up to 10,000 insertions with no degradation in performance and passes all Telecordia GR-326-CORE durability tests including thermal, humidity, vibration, flex, impact, and salt spray. While the connector itself is the most rugged available, the glass fiber endface is still susceptible to damage, so it’s important to inspect the endface to make sure it’s contaminant-free and to properly clean it if necessary.