WCA March 2017

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16 Wire & Cable ASIA – March/April 2017
Industrynews
TO help cable installers and
maintenance technicians select the
correct fibre optic testing equipment,
Ideal Networks has published a free
White Paper which offers guidance on
the different tiers for certifying fibre optic
cabling.
“Unlike copper cabling, there are two
tiers available when certifying fibre optic
cabling and these dictate which type of
tests must be performed, and therefore
which testers should be used,” says Dan
Payerle, business unit manager for Ideal
Networks.
“To remove confusion around which type
of test should be used, and whether
performing Tier-2 certification also meets
the requirements of Tier-1 certification,
the White Paper clarifies the different
requirements in detail as well as looking
at the advantages of different testers and
how they work,” he added.
Tier-1 certification is a measurement of
the total insertion loss (or attenuation) of
cabling from one end of the link to the
other and either uses an optical power
meter and optical light source (PM/LS) or
an optical loss test set (OLTS) for testing.
Tier-2 certification provides loss
information about each component of
the link and uses an OTDR (optical time
domain reflectometer) to perform
certification, providing a useful graphical
representation of each connection,
splice and cable segment in the link and
their performance.
When certification is required, it is good
practice to perform a Tier-1 test, and
optionally conduct a Tier-2 test.
Although an OTDR can show the total
link loss like an OLTS does, Tier-2
certification cannot replace Tier-1
certification as there is a subtle
distinction between the total link loss
reported by the two devices.
An OLTS, such as the Ideal Networks
OC I Tier-1 fibre cable certifier, measures
the true optical loss of the link, which
makes it an accurate way to determine
end-to-end loss of a link and a
requirement for Tier-1 certification.
However, an OTDR, like OTDR II from
Ideal Networks, characterises the link
under test and can offer additional
advantages, such as advanced
troubleshooting for faster repairs.
“Ultimately the required testing is an
agreement between the cabling
contractor and their customer,” said Mr
Payerle. “However, in order to provide
customer satisfaction, it is essential that
fibre optic installers understand the
different tiers and therefore which
certification reports will provide the
necessary assurance.”
Ideal Networks – UK
Website:
Ideal Networks’ guidance for Tier-1 and Tier-2
fibre optic testing