Wondering what your OTDR results are really telling you?

Optical Time Domain Reflectometers are powerful instruments used to find the extent and location of fiber cable problems, as well as perform routine analysis of new cables and splices.

Technicians that normally only use OTDRs for routine testing will often misinterpret OTDR results when looking at a damaged cable. We've seen repair crews sent to the wrong location because entered the wrong OTDR settings or measured distances incorrectly. This can lead to wasted time and confusing disputes between fiber cable owners, operators, installers, splicers and manufacturers.

Two Fiber Planners principals spent years selling OTDRs, giving OTDR training, and troubleshooting measurement and fiber problems, so we've seen it all. If you're looking at an OTDR trace and wondering what it's trying to tell you, give us a call and we'll help you figure out. We do these OTDR reviews on an hourly basis using faxes, telephones and e-mail.

If you need more in depth failure analysis or litigation consulting, we can also come on site, find the causes and determine a course of action.

We also conduct OTDR training at customer facilities on request.

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• Industry standards development
• Technical assistance to vendors
• Failure analysis and litigation consulting
• OTDR analysis and training
• Technical note publishing
• Helicopter laser surveys of inaccurately sagged fiber cable or conductors
• PLS-CADD modeling
• Feasibility studies of internal and dark fiber projects
• Telecommunications network design optimization
• Materials testing/replicating field failures