Optical Loss Testing

OLTS - Introduction
 Once a fiber optic system is installed, the
first test to be done is the Optical Loss
Testing to verify the continuity in each fiber.
 This test is used to verify levels of Tx and Rx
power levels and also measure the
attenuation of optical segment between
connection points.
 This test is also performed periodically as
the system ages to check whether the
attenuation is in specified limits or not.
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 OLTS - Introduction
 The term “Optical Loss” describes the difference
between the amount of light sent into the
transmitting end of a fiber optic cable, and the
amount of light that successfully makes it to the
cable’s receiving end.
 When ever these tests are performed all the values
are documented so that every time we compare
test results with previous values to checkout
increase or decrease in attenuation.
 All these results are maintained in a specific form
called as Optical Loss Test form.

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 OLTS form
 If the power meter don’t have zeroing facility, this
form should also include reference reading.

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 Optical Power – Power or
Loss? (Absolute vs Relative)
 Practically every measurement in fiber optics
refers to optical power.
 The power output of a transmitter or the input
to receiver are "absolute" optical power
measurements, that is, you measure the
actual value of the power.
 Loss is a "relative" power measurement, the
difference between the power coupled into a
component like a cable or a connector and
the power that is transmitted through it.
 This difference is what we call optical loss and
defines the performance of a cable,
connector, splice, etc.
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 Referencing
 Testing is performed mainly using light source,
power meter, reference jumpers, mating sleeves,
optical talk sets.
 Before starting the test, it is necessary to do the
“referencing”.
 Referencing can be defined as the process of
removing losses associated with jumpers.
 Jumpers will have certain amount of optical
attenuation that must be taken in to account.
 This value is to be measured and removed from
actual measurement to give original reading.
 This process is called as referencing

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 Referencing contd..,
To measure the attenuation of jumper
 first of all clean the jumpers using a optic pad.

 Change the display of power meter from dbm to

dB mode.
 Connect one jumper to the light source and the
other to power meter and both these are
connected using a mating sleeve
 Now the light source and the power meter are
switched on and allowed to stabilized.
 Also both should be at same wavelength.

 Now the power meter which is in dB mode gives

the reference value which is to be noted down.
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 Referencing contd..,
 After reference is taken don’t switch off
the light source and the power meter
 For all subsequent readings this value is to
be subtracted manually.
 Some power meter have the zeroing
facility, which after measuring the
reference value can be zeroed so that the
reference value is internally stored.
 For all the subsequent readings taken, the
reference value is subtracted and the
actual reading is displayed. 8
 Power Meter
 Power meter are designed to display values in either
dB or dBm mode.
 Power meter should be able to operate at
wavelengths that are used by fiber under test

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 Optical Talk Set
 After referencing is done, the two
technicians will be separated to the
two ends of fiber under test.
 To ensure communication from
distant places, they will make use of
a optical talk set.
 Generally this talk set is connected
to the last fiber which are under test.

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 Light source
 Before starting the test make sure that
light source is capable of producing the
wavelengths of the fiber under test.
 Typically a light source is required to
operate at 850 nm or 1300 nm for multi
mode applications.
 For single mode applications light source
is required to operate at 1310 nm or 1550
nm
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Light source contd..,
 For measuring short fiber spans
typically for some LAN applications, LED
based sources are used.
 For measuring larger single mode span
applications typically for WAN
applications, high power Laser based
sources are required,

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Testing procedure
 Now connect the light to first fiber
under test and the same time power
meter is to be connected at the other
end and reading is taken.
 By doing so on all the fibers under test
now the technicians are supposed to
change their positions.
 This might be ok if the source and
destination are few meters away.
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 But if the distance is more, it is more time
taking process.
 To avoid that it is better for the technician to
carry both the light source and power meter
and the fibers are tested in pairs.
 Now in the following figure from A, fiber 1 is
connected to light source and fiber 2 is
connected with power meter.
 Similarly at the other end i.e. at B, fiber 1 is
connected with power meter and fiber 2 is
connected to light source.

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 The test is repeated for fibers 3&4,
followed by 5&6.
 In this way fibers 1,3,5 are tested for A
to B and the fibers 2,4,6 are tested from
B to A.
 Now the positions are interchanged
w.r.t light source and power meter when
compared to previous setup and test is
performed
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 Make sure that each reading is
documented and also the direction of
the test is also noted.

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Bidirectional Test Sets
 Bidirectional optical loss test sets are also
available these days from different
manufacturers which include both the light
source and power meter.
 What ever be the test set referencing is
mandatory.
 When these jumpers are connected between
the source and power meter it gives the
reference value in both directions.

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 After reference is taken the two technicians will be
seperated and test is performed
 Using bidirectional test sets one need to simply
change the ports and take readings.
 These test sets are also capable of storing reading
so that they can be taken prints or downloaded to a
computer for documentation purpose which saves
considerable amount of time.

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 For some low budget applications of small
companies, it would be costly to use high
power laser source.
 In such situations they can make use of optical
talk set as the light source.
 Most of the talk sets (not all) can be used as
light sources.
 In some conditions it is necessary to perform
these tests by only one technician.
 A multi port optical splitter makes this
possible.

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 A light source is connected to the input of
splitter and each of the output is connected to
fibers under test through reference jumpers.
 At the other end, technician used power meter
to check the attenuation values.
 More the number of fibers under test, larger is
the splitter size needed.
 dbm-dbm=db
 This optical loss testing is a powerful tool to
ensure success for any fiber optic system

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Fiber Test Instruments
 There could be many types of test
instruments used to test the fibers.
 Fiber identifier is a test instrument
which is used to check whether fiber
correctly carrying the light and also the
direction of light.
 Fiber Tracer is a test instrument which
helps technicians quickly to identify
fault location
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Fiber Tracer
 Continuity checking makes certain the fibers
are not broken and to trace a path of a fiber
from one end to another through many
connections.
 It looks like a flashlight or a pen-like
instrument with a lightbulb or LED soure
that mates to a fiber optic connector.
 Attach a cable to test to the visual tracer
and look at the other end to see the light
transmitted through the core of the fiber.

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Fiber Tracer contd..,
 If there is no light at the end, go back to
intermediate connections to find the bad
section of the cable.
 When the light from fiber tracer is launched
into the fiber, bad splices, fiber breaks and
bends glow bright due to light leakage
present at the fault.
 Optical power of light is high enough to see
the power through the cables and also
through connector ferrule.

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Fiber Tracer contd..,
 Fiber tracers which make use of
either red light, white light and
bright LED are available for fiber
continuity check.

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Fiber Tracer

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Fiber Optic Microscopes
 Other type of test equipments used for visual
inspection include microscopes used to verify
cleave quality and the end surface quality of
the connectors.
 Fiber optic microscopes are used to inspect
connectors to check the quality of the
termination procedure and diagnose problems.
 A well made connector will have a smooth ,
polished, scratch free finish and the fiber will
not show any signs of cracks, chips or areas
where the fiber is either protruding from the
end of the ferrule.
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Fiber Optic Microscopes
contd..,
 Microscopes helps to eliminate fiber imperfections
 These can work on either AC or DC and are equipped
with internal safety filters to protect users from laser
beams.
 Even they have filters, it is not recommended to inspect
live fiber using the scopes.

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 Testing and trouble shooting of any optical fiber
system include three factors as Identify, Locate
and Resolve the problem.
 In case of any problem first of all visually check if
you can find the fault.
 Also make sure that jumpers are properly cleaned
which may also leads to errors.
 Documentation is required to trouble shoot the
problem to get some previous records.

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