Troubleshooting Optical-fiber Networks: Understanding and Using Your Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer

The fiber optic equipment market will grow to over $24 billion in 2004. Careful assessment of critical networks is made easier with the use of an optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR), which measures the elapsed time and intensity of light reflected along an optical fiber. They are useful tools for locating problems in an optical network as they can compute the distance to breaks or attenuation. The accuracy and power of modern OTDRs often exceeds the skill of the operator using it! This book offers comprehensive, state-of-the-art information about time-domain fiber-optic testing. Readers will gain an understanding of how to troubleshoot optical-fiber networks using an OTDR, while learning the fundamental principles underlying the operation of these powerful testing instruments. From basic fiber optics and fiber testing, to detailed event-analysis techniques, this book covers the entire spectrum of time-domain optical cable test theory.