What is an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer, and Why is it Important in the Fiber Optic Industry?

An optical time domain reflectometer or OTDR for short is a high tech tool used in the fiberoptic industry. An optical time domain reflectometer measures the time and intensity of light which is reflected through a fiberoptic cable. OTDRs can find faults, breaks, bends and splices in fiber optic cables. This enables a technician to measure the quantity of light loss as well as identify the exact point at which the loss is occurring. Light loss in fiber cable is a serious issue because it can hamper or completely stop data transmission. With so many communications networks dependent on fiberoptic cabling to transmit data, having a way to quickly diagnose problems means repairs can occur much more rapidly leading to less network downtime. An OTDR works by injecting a series of optical pulses through the fiber which are reflected back to the injection point and measured for deviations or aberrations in the light wave. Based on the measurement of the deviation the trouble spot can ...  more