AFL has introduced the FleXpress fast optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) test for its FlexScan family of pocket-sized OTDRs.
With OTDRs often requiring around a full minute to characterise a single optical fibre at 1310 and 1550nm, the new OTDR test mode is designed to speed up the process, completing dual-wavelength network verification in less than five seconds per fibre. It includes automated remote control of AFL optical switches for testing MPO connections and/or high fibre count cables, and stores test results automatically in Telcordia-compatible .SOR files, which can be uploaded for reporting using the TRM 2.0 Test Results Manager software.
FleXpress is available as a free update to FlexScan FS200-300 (1310/1550 nm) and FS200-304 (1310/1550/1650 nm) point-to-point and PON OTDRs. Commenting on the launch, Michael Scholten, senior product marketing manager at AFL said: ‘With today’s optical cables often containing 1,500 or more fibres, testing an entire cable at one minute per fibre would take over 25 hours—double that if the network operator requires bidirectional OTDR test. FlexScan can complete the same test in just over two hours.’