Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) Explained

This article discusses the Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR), focusing on the Yokogawa AQ7280 model. An OTDR is the optical equivalent of an electronic time domain reflectometer. It works by injecting a short laser pulse into a fiber optic cable and analyzing the reflected or scattered light. This allows the OTDR to determine optical losses and locate breaks within the optical fiber cable.

Here’s a summary of the key features of an OTDR:

• It runs on an efficient operating system to support multiple functions simultaneously.
• It supports dual operation using both buttons and a touchscreen.
• It’s ready for operation within seconds.
• It can be remotely controlled wirelessly, and data transfer can also be done wirelessly.
• It’s used for measurements of distance, loss, return loss, etc.

Yokogawa AQ7280 Optical Time Domain Reflectometer Features

The following table outlines some of the key specifications of the Yokogawa AQ7280 Optical Time Domain Reflectometer:

The AQ7280 series includes the following models: AQ7282A, AQ7283A, AQ7284A, AQ7285A, AQ7283F, AQ7283H, AQ7284H, AQ7283K, AQ7282M.

Other Vendors of Optical Time Domain Reflectometers

Here are some other popular vendors of Optical Time Domain Reflectometers:

• Fluke Networks
• EXFO
• Anritsu Corporation
• Tektronix
• Metrodata