Testing and troubleshooting

enterprise fiber-optic cabling

Presenter:
Neftali Usabal
Fluke Networks - LATAM
 Agenda

Testing Methods and Standards

Why we test optical systems
Terminology & types of testing
Standards based testing requirements
Cleaning and Inspection
Attenuation (loss)Testing Overview (Tier 1)
OTDR Testing Overview (Tier 2)
 CERTIFICATION TESTING OF OPTICAL CABLING

Product acceptance upon receipt

Installation Acceptance following
deployment of system
Accounting/Documentation of your
system for:
As Built records
Performance Benchmarking
MAC & Rework
Proof/Verification that the final system
meets design specifications and
contractual obligations

Efficient and properly performed certification testing will

ensure that you get paid fast and avoid callbacks!
 Factors Affecting Signal Loss

Intrinsic
Splice Loss (non reflective event)
Connector Loss (reflective event)
Macrobending
Microbending
 Factors Affecting Performance

Chromatic Dispersion
(Singlemode Fibers)
Polarization Mode Dispersion
(Singlemode Fibers)
Modal Dispersion (Multimode
Fibers)
Dispersion or pulse broadening
 Testing Standards

ANSI/TIA/568-C.1
Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling
Standard.
ANSI/TIA/568-C.3
Optical Fiber Cabling and Components Standard. Includes guidelines for Field-
Testing Length, Loss and Polarity of Optical Fiber Cabling Systems
ANSI/TIA/-526-14-A
OFSTP-14A Optical Power Loss Measurement of Installed
Multimode Fiber Cable Plant (ANSI/TIA/EIA-526-14A-98)
ANSI/TIA/526-7
OFSTP-7 Measurement of Optical Power Loss of
Installed Single-mode Fiber Cable Plant
(ANSI/TIA/EIA-526-7-98)
ISO IEC 14763-3
Defines testing methods and limits including definition of test Reference Cords
TIA/TSB 4979 Methods for meeting Encircled Flux launch conditions
 ANSI/TIA-568-C.0-2
Titled:
Generic Telecommunications Cabling for Customer Premises
Addendum 2, General Updates
Published August 2012

New application limits

40GBASE-SR4 (100 m, 1.9 dB over OM3)
40GBASE-SR4 (150 m, 1.5 dB over OM4)
100GBASE-SR10 (100 m, 1.9 dB over OM3)
100GBASE-SR10 (150 m, 1.5 dB over OM4)

Limits are getting tighter, CPR and MPD no longer good

enough
 ANSI/TIA-526-14-A
Was considered adequate for the time (2003)

Test limits getting tighter

1000BASE-SX (2.6 dB over OM1)
10GBASE-SR (2.6 dB over OM3)
Consultants tightening loss budgets
Manufacturers tightening loss budgets

ISO/IEC 14763-3 (2006) changed to MPD

Modal Power Distribution
Tighter than CPR
Now also adopting Encircled Flux to replace MPD
 ANSI/TIA-526-14-A (2003)
Replaced with ANSI/TIA-526-14-B (Oct 2010) titled:
Optical Power Loss Measurements of Installed
Multimode Fiber Cable Plant

Replaced Coupled Power Ratio with Encircled Flux

More to come on this later!
 Optical Test Equipment Summary
Type of
Equipment Investment Used For Required Tests For
Test

VFL, Continuity, Polarity,

Visual $300 - $4000 Verification Rarely
Microscope, Cleanliness

Verification to
Sometimes
Power & Power manually Power, loss,
$1K -$5k as proxy for
Attenuation Meter determined loss continuity, polarity
Tier 1
budgets
End -to end Loss,
Attenuation Optical Certification to Continuity, length
Testing LossTest $6K - $13K performance Always polarity & compares
(Tier 1) Set (OLTS) standards to performance
standards
Certification &
Analyzes Events
OTDR Troubleshooting
(splice & connector)
OTDR $8K - $17K to ensure Typical
(Tier 2) by measuring
installation
reflectance
workmanship
Fiber inspection and cleaning

12
 #1 Problem: Dirt!
Contaminated connector end-faces: Leading cause of fiber link
failures
Particles of dust and debris trapped between fiber end faces
cause signal loss, back reflection, and damaged equipment
Many Sources of contamination:
Equipment rooms & Telecommunication rooms in filthy environments
Improper or insufficient cleaning tools, materials, procedures
Debris and corrosion from poor quality adapter sleeves
Hands of technicians
Airborne

13
 Why Bother Inspecting End
Faces?
To Prevent Damage
Debris will embed in glass when contaminated connectors are mated
When embedded debris is removed, pit remains in glass as permanent
damage
Pits cause signal loss and back reflection
Debris causes other damage such as chips and scratches

14
 Inspection images

Good Connector

Fingerprint
on Connector

Dirty Connector

Real images as captured from the Fluke Networks Fiber Inspector

 COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

Protective caps keep end-faces clean - NO

Caps are a source of contamination: mold-
release compound from manufacturing
End-faces are NOT clean when they come
pre-terminated from the factory in a sealed
bag

Canned air will blast away dirt - NO

Is ineffective on smaller, static-charged
particles
Blows larger particles around rather than
removing them
Is ineffective on oils and compound
contaminants

Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is the best solvent NO

IPA does not work on non-polar
contaminants
Pulling lubricants, buffer gels, etc.
IPA leaves a residue when not used properly
 Cleaning with IBC Cleaners
IBC OneClick Cleaners for cleaning different end
faces/connectors no training required
1.25 mm LC and MU connector and end faces
2.5 mm SC, ST, FC, E2000 connector and end
faces
MPO/MTP connector and end faces

Cleans Ports on devices and patch panels

as well as Cords .with an adapter

Dry cleaning is less efficient for cleaning grease

(dried skin oil) than wet cleaning with a solvent and
swabs/cleaning cubes
 CLEANING WITH SOLVENT PEN

Start with a clean, lint-free wiping surface every time

Material left exposed accumulates ambient dust
Material used once should not be used again

Use a minimal amount of specialized solvent

Important that solvent be removed after cleaning
Move the end-face from the wet spot into a dry zone
Cleaning with a saturated wipe will not fully remove
solvent
Cleaning with a dry wipe will not dissolve contaminants
and can generate static, attracting dust

Proper handling and motion

Apply gentle pressure with soft backing behind cleaning
surface
Hold end-face perpendicular to cleaning surface
No figure-8 motion as thats for polishing only

Inspect both end-faces of any connection before insertion

If the first cleaning was not sufficient, then clean again until all
contamination is removed
 Company Confidential

Hands ON - Fiber Inspection

Tap TOOLS

Tap FiberInspector

Focus the image with the knob

on the probe

Press to pause or enter

the still mode
 Company Confidential

Hands On: Fiber Inspection

Tap SCALE ON

Tap NEXT SCALE

Drag fiber to center of scales

Zoom on image

Tap GRADE

Tap GRADE again

Optical Loss Testing
 Tier 1 Fiber Certification with OLTS
Double Ended Test
Absolute Loss measurement
Compares Loss to industry
standards
Pass/Fail Results
Other helpful Capabilities
Length measurement
Project/Loss budget Wizard
Two fibers at a time
Bidirectional testing
Set Referencing Wizard
 Managing Uncertainty
These things must be done correctly!
Use good/clean Test Reference Cords
ISO/IEC 14763-3 (2006)
Reference grade connectors were required
Multimode 0.10 dB
Singlemode 0.20 dB
Set Reference correctly!!
Helps minimize uncertainty
Eliminates negative loss incidents
Proper Launch Conditions
Encircled Flux Per TSB 4979
 Impact of test reference cords
In ISO/IEC 14763-3 (2006), cords were recognized as a source
of great uncertainty

This standard reduced uncertainty by defining the

performance of the test cord connector

Reference grade connectors were required

Multimode 0.10 dB
Singlemode 0.20 dB

0.10 dB 0.75 dB 0.20 dB 0.75 dB

0.30 dB 0.50 dB
Setting a ReferenceWhat is done today
Sadly, most folks are setting a reference this way

? dB

Issues
You have no idea what the loss is in the adapter
Whatever it is, its subtracted from your measurement
The uncertainty is horrendous negative loss
 What is done today
So you end up with this
y dB

x dB z dB

Measurement = x + y + z - ?

Issues
You have no idea what the loss is in the adapter
Whatever it is, its subtracted from your measurement
The uncertainty is horrendous negative loss
 What is done today
Lets take an example

0.75 dB

Issues
You have no idea what the loss is in the adapter
Whatever it is, its subtracted from your measurement
The uncertainty is horrendous negative loss
 What is done today
Lets take an example
0.1 dB

0.3 dB 0.3 dB

Measurement = 0.3 + 0.1 + 0.3 0.75

= -0.05 dB

Issues
You have no idea what the loss is in the adapter
Whatever it is, its subtracted from your measurement
The uncertainty is horrendous negative loss
 What is done today
ANSI/TIA describes this as Method A

? dB

Not for enterprise cabling systems

Used in long haul measurements
Uncertainty of one connector not considered critical?
 What is done today
For testing an installed fiber optical link, should always use
the 1 Jumper Reference Method

Does require the test equipment to have interchangeable

adapters on the INPUT ports
 Removed from INPUT port
only
Its ok to remove the fiber from the input ports

You cannot remove the fiber from the output port, doing so
will invalidate the reference you just made
 Connect known good cord
To the INPUT ports
 Connect known good cord
To the INPUT ports
 Connect known good cord
How do I know if those cords are good?
 Verifying the cords
Connect them together using a singlemode adapter and
measure the loss

* ISO/IEC 14763-3
0.1 dB for Multimode
0.2 dB for Singlemode

ANSI/TIA-568-C.0
0.75 dB?

Cabling Vendors
0.50 dB?
* This can be up to 0.15 dB for LC

Why not save this as proof of good test reference cords?

 Test Reference Cord Values
ISO/IEC 14763-3
1 Jumper method (0.1 dB for Multimode and 0.2 dB for Singlemode)
ANSI/TIA-568-C.0
Does not call out test reference cord values ( 0.75 dB?)
You are expected to specify this

Require documentation of TRCs

Disconnect
 Connect to the fiber optic
link
ANSI/TIA-568-C.0

0.75 dB 0.75 dB

First and last connections 0.75 dB

All other connections 0.75 dB
 Launch conditions
Diagrams shown to visualize the issue as best as possible

Source 1 Source 2
Over filled Under filled
 EF assessment
improvement
EF specifies power throughout core using multiple control radii.

EF provides tight tolerance on mode power distribution in the outer radii

enabling improved agreement between EF-compliant test instruments.

Source 1 Source 2
Over filled Under filled
 TIA-TSB-4979
Titled:
Practical Considerations for Implementation of Multimode Launch
Conditions in the Field

TSB = Telecommunications System Bulletin

Not an official standard
An advisory document
Chances are will end up in ANSI/TIA-568-D.3

Helps users understand Encircled Flux and the options for

implementing it
 Practical implementation of
EF
Option 1
Use an external mode controller
Replaces the mandrels
 Practical implementation of
EF
Option 2 -Matched source and test reference
cord
 Tier 1 Fiber Certification
Summary
At a minimum, use a mandrel
This does not yield the controlled launch
condition the industry desires that is Encircled
Flux
Dont use a VCSEL source
Too much variability
Not standards compliant
Consider investing in fiber optic test
equipment that allows a 1 Jumper
Reference reduced uncertainty
Verify your Test Reference Cords
Save the results and make it part of your
documentation
If Encircled Flux is a contractual
requirement, or you care about getting as
many passes as possible:
Reference TIA/TSB 4979
EF Mode Controllers
DTX-EFM2
CertiFiber Pro
OTDR TEsting

46
 What is An OTDR?
-OptiFiber Pro OTDR

5.7 inches
touchscreen display Taptive
gesture based
user interface

Singlemode,
Multimode and
Quad modules 10.6 x 5.0 x 2.5
inches

EventMap
8-hour battery life
 What Does An OTDR Do?

OTDR Port
Connector OTDR
Sends pulses of light out
Directional
Two Keeps checking for
Coupler Color
Laser
Display reflected light
Diodes
The farther the light goes,
Fiber
the more time it takes to
Under come back
Test Processing (measures length)
& Control
The farther the light goes,
the more loss it encounters,
Very Sensitive so less comes back
Photo (measures fiber loss)
Detector
When light hits a
Optical Fiber connection, an extra spike
Electrical
of light reflects back
(finds connections)

48
 OTDR in Action

Loss

Distance
The OTDR measures reflected energy and
NOT the transmitted light level.

49
 OTDR Technology

Rayleigh Scattering

Fresnel Reflection

50
Rayleigh Scattering

Scattering, (Rayleigh
Scattering) occurs when
transmitted light energy is
higher than what the glass
molecules can absorb and
the energy is released in all
directions. It is the major Backscattering occurs
loss factor in fiber. from about 0.0001%
of the light being
reflected back to the
OTDR.

51
Fresnel Reflection

Fresnel Reflection occurs Coupling loss air gap

when light traveling in one causes loss of light
material encounters a transmitted
different density material
(like air). Up to 8% of the
light is reflected back to
the source while the rest
continues out of the
material.

52
 What is reflectance?

An air gap between the end faces of a fiber

also cause Fresnel reflections to occur.
 What do those numbers mean?
Reflectance is the preferred term when characterizing a single
connector.
It is a measure of the amount of power reflected by a connection.
It includes one connector
It is always negative. Preflected
Smaller is better (e.g. -35dB is better than -20dB) Refl 10log
P
incident

Return Loss is the preferred term when characterizing an entire link

It is a measure of the amount of power NOT reflected by a link.
Includes all connections and fiber
It is always positive.
Bigger is better (e.g. +35dB is better than +20dB)
Pincident
ORL 10 log
P
reflected
 Why should you care?
High reflectance causes increased Bit Error Rates
(CRC errors) on the network
What Do OTDR Test RESULTS Look Like?

56
Test Example: Tier 2 (OTDR)
Horizontal Cables
TR
X X X

MC X
Backbone Cables

OTDR
characterizes link
details
 EventMAP & EVENT Table
from OTDR

58
EventMap Event Table
 EVENTMAP
Easy to understand map of the
physical infrastructure
Icons represent events.
Passing reflective event
Failing reflective event
Hidden reflective event
Passing loss event
Failing loss event
Hidden events loss is added to
previous events loss
Typical OTDR TEST RESULT

Reflection

Backscatter

60
Reflective Event

Connector

61
Loss Event

Non-reflective event
Splice or severe bend

62
 End Event

End of Fiber

63
 Gainer Event
Gainer

64
50 micron fiber connected to a 62.5 micron fiber
 GHOST EVENT

Ghosts

65
 Dynamic Range

Determines the length of fiber that can be tested

Provided as a dB value
Larger values mean longer distance (typically for telcos)
and a larger dead zone
Premises OTDRs do not need a large dynamic range
and benefit with a small dead zone
Pulse needs to be wide enough to get to
the end of the fiber

66
 Dynamic Range

Initial backscatter level at OTDR front connector

Measurement
Dynamic
Range

dB

Noise

0
0 Length
Dynamic range is the maximum attenuation level that the test
equipment can recognize and therefore may be used to
determine how long of a fiber can be measured.
67
 Dead Zone

A dead zone is like when

your eyes need to recover
from looking at the bright
sun or the
flash of a camera
It can be reduced by using
a lower pulse width, but it
will decrease the dynamic
range.

68
 Two Types of Dead Zones

Event
Typically occurs in a trace dead zone
whenever there is a
connector
The OTDR receiver goes
blind from the strong
reflection
Includes duration of the
reflection and recovery Attenuation
dead zone
time for the receiver.

69
 Attenuation Dead Zone
vs.is the
Event Dead Zone Event Dead
minimum Zone
distance the
OTDR can detect an event after the preceding
event

OFP Typical Event Dead Zone is:

0.5m @ 850 nm, 3 ns, -40 dB Reflectance
0.7m @ 1300 nm, 3 ns -40 dB Reflectance
0.6m @ 1310 nm, 3 ns, -50 dB Reflectance
0.6 m @ 1550 nm, 3 ns, -50 dB Reflectance
 Attenuation Dead Zone

vs. Event Dead

Attenuation Dead Zone is the minimum
Zone
distance between two events on an OTDR
where the OTDR can assess the event loss

OFP Typical Attenuation Dead Zone is:

2.2m @ 850 nm, 3 ns, -40 dB Reflectance
4.5m @ 1300 nm, 3 ns -40 dB Reflectance
3.6m @ 1310 nm, 3 ns, -50 dB Reflectance
3.6 m @ 1550 nm, 3 ns, -50 dB Reflectance
 Using a LAUNCH AND TAIL
Fiber

Launch Tail
Fiber Fiber

Will give loss of the

first connector
Will give loss of the
last connector

72
 Launch & TAIL Fiber

A must for measuring the loss of the

first and last connector in a fiber link
Launch fiber must be significantly longer than the
attenuation dead zone of the OTDR
With short dead zones you can use a short launch
fiber

73
Launch Fiber Compensation

74
 Getting to Systems Acceptance
Verification Testing
Typically performed after MC,
IC and / or HC connector
installation
Improves attenuation testing
time
Attenuation Testing
Final System Verification
Certifies Loss is within
Performance Standard
requirements
OTDR Testing
Tests links and point
discontinuities
 Support Resources
Knowledge Base:
http://myaccount.flukenetworks.com/f
net/en-us/supportAndDownloads/kb

Technical Assistance Center

24 x 7 assistance:
support@flukenetworks.com
USA: 1-800-283-5853

Resources for Experts

Designers:
http://www.flukenetworks.com/experti
se/role/Architects-Consultants-
Designers
Installers:
http://www.flukenetworks.com/experti
se/role/guide-to-contract-installers-
and-installation