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Loss Testing Methods

This document describes and compares three main methods for measuring fiber optic attenuation: the cut back method, insertion loss method, and OTDR method. The cut back method offers the highest accuracy but is time consuming, requiring fibers to be cut and re-cleaved. The insertion loss method is more practical for field work but has higher measurement uncertainty due to connector loss. The OTDR method can locate point losses along a link but provides less accurate absolute loss measurements than the other methods. Each method has its appropriate uses depending on the measurement needs.

Uploaded by

Amir Salah
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
30 views

Loss Testing Methods

This document describes and compares three main methods for measuring fiber optic attenuation: the cut back method, insertion loss method, and OTDR method. The cut back method offers the highest accuracy but is time consuming, requiring fibers to be cut and re-cleaved. The insertion loss method is more practical for field work but has higher measurement uncertainty due to connector loss. The OTDR method can locate point losses along a link but provides less accurate absolute loss measurements than the other methods. Each method has its appropriate uses depending on the measurement needs.

Uploaded by

Amir Salah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Loss testing methods

Introduction
This note describes the 3 main fiberoptic attenuation measurement methods, which are:

 Cut Back Method

 Insertion Loss Method

 OTDR Method

Each method has its place and offers varying degrees of accuracy or convenience.

Definition
Insertion Loss (IL) is defined as the total decrease in power between the input and output terminal of the Device Under Test (DUT).

Cut back method


The cut back technique offers the highest measurement accuracy and resolution, however it is time consuming and impractical in most situations,

since it requires fibers are cut and cleaved as part of the measurement process. Its usage is typically confined to r&d or quality assurance

laboratories .

This method is actually the reverse procedure of the more common insertion loss technique.

For multimode measurements, a device to control modal distribution may be required. On some (probably old) fibers, some method of

performing cladding mode stripping may be required.

 Turn on the instruments, set the wavelength, and leave to warm up. Clean and inspect the patch leads.

 Set up the source reference condition, using cladding mode stripping patch leads and mandrel wrap as appropriate.

 Measure the output power from the DUT = P2 dBm

 Cut the input fiber from the DUT. Cleave the end, and measure the input power to the DUT = P1 dBm. Hence the name ‘cut back’

 Compute the attenuation in dB of the DUT, eg P1 - P2 dB

 Many meters have a reference facility, which if used correctly, eliminates the last step and displays the losses directly.

Source

Meter

Further reading; TIA/EIA 455-78A, Spectral-Attenuation Cutback Methods for Single-Mode Fibers.

Insertion loss method

The insertion loss technique is more practical for field work. However measurement uncertainty is compromised by connector loss uncertainty. It

is commonly used in field situations where acceptable measurement performance is obtained regardless of connector performance.
It is common practice to perform the technique in two directions, and average the result. It ia also commonly performed at two wavelengths.

 Turn on the instruments, set the wavelength, and leave to warm up. Clean and inspect the patch leads.

 Set up the source reference condition, using cladding mode stripping patch leads and mandrel wrap as appropriate.

 Measure the source output power P1 dBm

 Connect the DUT, and measure the output power from the DUT = P2 dBm

 Compute the loss in dB of the DUT, eg P1 - P2 dB

 Many meters have a reference facility, which if used correctly, eliminates the last step and displays the loss directly.

Source

Meter

Optical TDR method (backscatter)


This backscattering method of measuring loss is particularly suitable for measuring and locating point losses along an installed system, such as

those caused by a fusion splice. Due to several factors the measured value is less accurate than the other two methods.

An optical time domain reflectometer is essentially an optical radar. It puts out a powerful light pulse, and then measures the reflected signal

amplitude over time. The reflected signal is very weak, and requires extensive averaging to reduce detection noise. The user has to input some

information such as refractive index ( the speed of light in glass relative to the speed in a vacuum). From this, it mathematically deduces the

power level at each point along the link, and from this, it is possible to determine loss figures, and the location of point losses.

Importantly, to achieve accurate absolute loss certification, loss must be measured from each end, and averaged. For craft level measurements,

and to certify point losses, this is a valuable tool.

The source / meter measurement is still required, because it provides unambiguous end to end loss measurements, including the connectors each

end, whereas an OTDR has some difficulty in doing this.

An optical TDR has difficulty to accurately measure installed splitter based systems, such as PON applications, so a source / meter measurement is

required. There are two reasons for this: Firstly, because it can only work in one direction where spitters are used. Secondly, the loss created by eg

a 16 way splitter is around 15 dB, so only a high performance instrument set on a long pulse length can see beyond the splitter, and in this mode

it has very poor spatial resolution. The typical specification for dead zone in this mode is too long to be useful in a short distance network.

Further reading: Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry by Duwayne Anderson and Florian Bell. Tektronix Part Number 001-1134-00

You may print, photocopy and redistribute this document for educational use only, provided that this page is printed as is, without modification.

This content may not be used commercially.

Kingfisher International are specialist designers and manufacturers of handheld fiber optic test equipment, with a mission to simplify optical

communications.

Our equipment is used in all phases of fiber optic manufacture, installation and maintenance. Our comprehensive documentation and resources

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