What Is OTDR Testing?_
Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) testing sends light pulses through a fiber optic cable and measures reflections to map the cable's characteristics: length, splice locations, connector losses, and faults. OTDR testing is essential for validating long fiber runs and diagnosing issues like macrobends, microbends, or bad splices in data center backbone cabling.
Technical Details
An OTDR works by sending short pulses of light into the fiber and analyzing the backscattered and reflected light that returns. The time delay of each reflection indicates distance, while the amplitude indicates loss. An OTDR trace shows a characteristic pattern: gradual slope (attenuation in the fiber), spikes (reflective events like connectors), and steps (non-reflective events like splices or bends). OTDR testing provides information that power meter/light source testing cannot: the location and type of every event along the fiber run. This makes it invaluable for troubleshooting and for validating long backbone runs. OTDR tests should be performed in both directions to account for launch conditions.
How Leviathan Systems Works with OTDR Testing
Leviathan Systems performs OTDR testing on all fiber installations as part of our network testing and commissioning process, providing documented test reports for every connection.