Yokogawa announced three new Optical Time Domain Reflectometer Modules to cover wider range of applications with its AQ7280 Series OTDR.
Yokogawa AQ7280 series OTDRs are used in the installation and maintenance of fiberoptic cables for core, metro, and access networks, including FTTH links between central offices
and subscribers.
With both production and maintenance operations, there is the need to assess the characteristics of fiber-optic cables, and maintenance personnel also need to perform such
checks while the cables are still in use to maximum efficiency.
Yokogawa has developed these three new OTDR units to satisfy such needs :
- AQ7283J: For ‘water-peak’ testing of optical fibers. This test is important for optical cable manufacturers and those wishing to test suitability of already deployed fibers for Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) transmissions (for example, cable television applications). The AQ7283J specifically tests at 1383 nm which is a wavelength absorbed by water ions (OH) contained in optical fibers as a result of the manufacturing process – for CWDM transmissions the fiber should be a Low-OH type.
- AQ7283E: The module includes a filter that makes it possible to characterize fiber-optic cables while they are in use. In response to the increasing use of longer wavelength communications signals, the accuracy of the AQ7283E maintenance wavelength has been improved to 1625±10 nm. These features ensure that testing does not interfere with live communication signals.
- AQ7282G: For use during installation of Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) networks requiring measurement at 1490 nm. The module is able to measure three wavelengths – 1310, 1490 and 1550 nm – yet requires only a single port. The AQ7282G provides a cost-effective alternative to the existing AQ7283K module, which is a four-wavelength model, also suitable for maintenance testing. In addition, Yokogawa has also released an upgrade for the existing AQ7282M module, which can now be equipped with a multi-mode stabilized light source emitting at 850 and 1300 nm for an extended range of tests.
