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DOCUMENT
OFSTP-7
Measurement of Optical Power Loss of
Installed Single-mode Fiber Cable Plant
TIA-526-7
ANSI APPROVAL WITHDRAWN JUNE 2003
FEBRUARY 2002
NOTICE
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(From Project No. 3-2974 formulated under the cognizance of the TIA FO-4.1 subcommittee on Single Mode
Systems.)
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TMIA-526-7
OFSTP-7
MEASUREMENT OF OPTICAL POWER LOSSOF INSTALLED
SINGLE-MODE FIBER CABLE PLANT
CONTENTS
.
Title
Section
Pane
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10
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11
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I1
I.
Introduction
2.
Applicable
Documents
3.
Apparatus
4.
Sampling
and
Specimens
5.
Procedure
6.
7.
Documentation
8.
Specification
Information
FIGURES
Figure 1.
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Figure 2 .
ReferencePowerMeasurement
Figure 3.
CablePlantMeasurementfor
Figure 4 .
ReferencePowerMeasurement
Figure 5.
CablePlantMeasurementforMethodA.2
Figure 6 .
Figure 7 .
Cable
Plant
Measurement
Figure 8.
CablePlantMeasuredValue
Figure 9 .
CablePlantAttachment
FigureO
I.
CablePlantMeasurement
ANNEX
for Method B
for Method 3
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TIAJEIA-526-7
..
11
TIMEM-526-7
OFSTP-7
MEASUREMENT OF OPTICAL POWER LOSS OF INSTALLED
SINGLE-MODE FIBER CABLE PLANT
(From TIA Standards ProposalNo. 2974-A, formulated under the cognizance the
of TIA
FO-2.1, Subcommittee on Optical Fiber Telecommunications Systems.)
This OFSTP is a part of the series of test procedures included within Recommended Standard
TINEIA-526.
This OFSTP was originally publishedin TINEIA-526-7 as OFSTP-7.
1.
INTRODUCTfON
1.1
Intent
Scope
This procedure can be used to measure the optical loss between any two passively-connected
points, including end terminations, of a single-mode optical fiber cable plant. The optical fiber
cable plant, as the term is used here, may consistof optical fiber cables, connectors, mounting
panels, jumper cables, and other passive components, but may not include active components.
Two methods for measuring the installed cableplant loss are described, Method A uses optical
power measurementequipment.Method
B uses an OpticalTimeDomainReflectometer
(OTDR). Method B provides an indirect estimate of the loss of the cable plant, and
although
calibration is possible, generally, more accurate or reliable values may be obtained by using
Method A. If the values obtainedby Method A and Method B differ from each other, the results
B isnotrecommended for cable plants
of Method A shall be acceptedascorrect.Method
containing branching devices andlor isolators,
I.3
Hazards
All tests performed on optical fiber communication systems that use a laser
or LED in a test set
shall be carried out in accordance with the safety precautionsof ANSI Z136.2.
TINEIA-526-7
2.
APPLICABLE
DOCUMENTS
E IA-440-A
EIA/TlA-455-A
Standardtestprocedures
for fiberopticfibers,cables,
transducers,sensors,connectingand
t ~ ~ ~ ndevices,
a ~ i n ~
and other fiber optic components
FOTP-8 (TINEIA-455-8)I
Measurement of splice
using an OTDR
FOTP-61 (TIA/EIA-455-61A)2
FOTP-77 (E IA/TlA-455-77)
Procedures
to
gualiv higher-order
a
mode
fiiter
for
measurements on single-modefibers
FOTP-78 (EIA/TIA-455-7&A)
FOTP-95 (ElA-455-95)
FOTP-I'71(EIA-455-171)
Attenuationbysubstitutionmeasurement
for s ~ o ~ - l e n ~ t ~
multimode graded-index and single-mode optical fiber cable
assemblies
TINEIA-526
3.
APPARATUS
1 In preparation.
Use TlNEIA-455-61 pending publication ofTlAlEIA-455-61A.
TMIA-526-7
03.1.1 Light Source
Use an optical source at the wavefength(s) of light used in the system being tested, or at the
wavelength(s)specifiedin theDetailSpecification,Usethelaunchconditionsdescribed
in
FOTP-78 and employ a method to remove high-order propagating modes, A method to select
a mode filter is described in FOTP-77. Use a light source that
is sufficiently stable over the
period of the measurement to meet the measurement precision requirement stated
in the Detail
Specification.
3.1.2
Use an optical power meter capable of measuring optical power over an adequate dynamic
range at the wavelength(s) of light used in the test.The linearity of the meter over its dynamic
range, and stability over variationsin environmental conditions, shall be sufficientto provide the
required accuracy and precision. Calibrate the optical power meter per FOTP-95.
3.1.3
TestJumpers
Unless otherwise specified, the test jumpers fiber shall have a mode field diameter nominally
equal to that of the cable plant being measured. Test jumpers shall be 1
to 5 meters (3.3 to
16.4 Ut) long,andshallcontainfiberswithcoatingsthatremovecladdinglight.Testjumper
connectorsshouldbeofsufficientquality
so as tohaveanegligibleeffectuponthe
measurement result (e.g., reference quality). FOTP-171 provides an example of requirements
for reference quality cablesand components.
3.2
Use an OTDR possessing an optical transmitter and other features as described in FOTP-61.
The central wavelength(s) and spectral width@) shall be periodically verified using a suitable
measuring instrument, suchas an optical spectrumanalyzer. Dead zone fiber connectors shall
be perFOTP-61.Calibrationshallbeper
IEC 1746. For additionalinformationonOTDRs,
refer to the Annex of FOTP-8 or FOTP-61.
The launch conditions shouldbe in accordance with FOTP-78 and employ a methodto remove
high-order propagating modes. The mode filter to remove high-order modesin the wavelength
range above the cutoff wavelength is typically a mandrel wrap, although a somewhat tighter
wrap than that used in FOTP-78 may be necessary. One method for selecting a mode filter is
described in FOTP-77.
4.
SAMPLING
AND
SPECIMENS
TIAEIA-526-7
5.
PROCEDURE
Toachieveconsistentresults,clean
all connections(ferrulesandcouplingsleeves)atthe
optical test points prior to measurement. Measure the optical loss of the cable plant according
to one of the following methods. For U.S. military applications, use methodA I or A2.
5.1
Method A refers to the conduct of this test procedure usingan Optical Power Meter. Method A
includesthreespecificmethods.Thethreemethodsaredefinedaccording
to hawthe
reference power measurementis performed, and are named as follows:
Method A.1
Method A.2
Method A.3
-- Two
One Jumper-Cable Measurement
Jumper-Cable Measurement
- Three Jumper-Cable Measurement
Jumpeh,,
losses
plant
Method A.3
cable (includes
Figure I.Cable Plant Measured Vaiuesfor Methods A.4, A.2 and A.3
As described in 3.1.3, the test jumper connectors shall be of sufficient quality so as to have a
negligible effect upon the measurement result. Due to their short length, jumper fiber losses
areignored.Selection
of amethod is baseduponease of access,need for adapters,or
requirements stated in the Detail Specification.
Method A.1 shall be considered the standard option.
TINEIA-526-7
5.1.1 .I Method A.1 Reference Power Measurement
Connect test jumper 1 betweenthe light source and the optical power meter, as shown in
Figure 2. Record the optical power,P7, which is the reference power.
Tst
Jumper
-l
Optical
Light
Source
Meter
1
n\
Test Jumper
Test Jumper2
Optical
Power
Meter
Light
Source
TIA/EW-526-7
5.1 -2.1 Method A.2 Reference Power Measurement
Connect test jumpers 1 and 2 between the light source and the optical power meter,as shown
in Figure 4. Record the optical power,PI,which is the reference power.
TIA/EIA-526-7
5.1.3.1 Methad A.3 Reference Power Measurement
Connect test jumpers 1 and 2, and the reference jumper between the light source and the
optical power meter,as shown in Figure 6. Record the optical power, P f , which is the reference
power.
- Optical
Light
Source
PI
Power
Meter
Reference Jumper
Figure 6. Reference Power Measurementfor Method A.3
5.1.3.2 Method A.3 Cable Plant Insertion Measurement
Test Jumper
-f
Cable Plant
r Test JumDer 2
I n I I A
Reference Jump
Record the displayed power, P2, which is the test power. Perform the calculations described in
Section 6, Calculations or Interpretation of Resutts.
TINEIA-526-7
5.2
Method 6 includes one connection loss in the measurement of the cable plant in addition to all
losses contained withinthe cable plant, as is shownin Figure 8.
DeadZoneFir
r---r
Cable Plant
- 1
(includes cable plant losses
plus one connection loss)
Figure 8, Cable Plant Measured Value for Method B
5.2.1
CalibrationVerification
5.2.2
Cable Plant
~
TXNEXA-526-7
5.2.3 OTDR Setup
Enter OTDR parameters such as source wavelength, pulse duration, length range, and signal
averaging into theinstrument,alongwiththe
effective groupdelay index (if required). The
values of some of these parameters may be preset the
in instrument.
5.2.4
initial Adjustment
Place a cursor near the end of the linear portion of the dead zone fiber, but just before the
reflection pulse associated with theinitial connector in the cable ptant.
If the connector pulse is not apparent due to minimal discontinuity, apply a tight bend at this
location and vary the radius to assist in cursor placement. Remove the tight bend prior to the
measurement.
Obtain
the
power
level,
P7, and the distance
coordinate,
Z$, via the
alphanumeric display.
bli
P,
0.
Far-End
Reflection
First Cursor,
**:",.
>.7<7
it
%.$*;....2
Distance (km)
Figure O
I .Cable Plant Measurement for Method3
5.2.6
Place the same or another cursor near the end of the linear portion of the cable plant under
test, but before thelastconnector in the cable plant. The end
should be apparent and not
buried in the noise floor. Obtain the power level, P2, and the distance coordinate, 22 , via the
alphanumeric display.
TINEIA-526-7
5.2.7
Bi-directionalMeasurement
Repeat the test for a~signallaunched in the opposite direction at the same wavelength. The
two
bi-directionaltraces of the fiber are averaged to eliminatethe effects of length-varying
backsca1:terproperties (such as apparent gain). More accurate loss estimates will result. Refer
to FOTP-8 or to FOTP-61 for additional details. PerForm the calculations described in Section
6, Calculations orInterpretation of Results.
6.CALCULATIONS
6.1
OR INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS
Method
A
Calculate theloss for each measurement specified in the reference document as follows (for P#
and P2 in the same units of power):
Note:Foropticalpowermeasurementequipmentsupplyingunits
equation:
6.2
Method 6
Some OTDRs can automatically perform the 2-point subtraction. Some OTDRs can also utilize
a least-squares averaging (LSA) fit.The least-squares fit to a line should not be used whenever
discrete :slope changes are evident on the OTDR display.
6.3
6.3.1 No round-robin testing has been conducted to determine the level of precision of this
test. Precision can be improved by using test jumpers which meet the criteria for "reference"
jumpers per EIA/TlA-455-'17lv
6.3.2 Due to the lack of standard reference materials and readings, no definitive statement
can be made. The value determined by this test may differ from the loss actually encountered
in use due to the variability in components encountered in the field.
TIAfEIA-526-7
6.3.3 The use of light sources with significantly difTering center wavelengths allowed in
Section 3.4 .Imay yield variations in the measured loss the same span. This
is due to the
change in measured fiber attenuation at different source wavelengths.
6.4
Judgments
If several successive tests exceed the permissible loss specification, substitute another jumper
to determine whether the jumper has become defective.
If a defective jumper is found, discard it
and retest the failed sections.
7.
DOCUMENTATION
7.1
7.1.1
Date of test.
7.1.2 Test procedure (OFSTP-7) and method (A.1, A.2, A.3 or 6)used.
7.1.3
7.2
United States military applications require that the following information also be reported
for each test. For other (nonmilitary) applications, this information need not be reported but
shall be availablefor review upon request:
7.2.1
7.2.2
8.
SPECIFICATION
INFORMATION
The following information shall be specifiedin the documentthat invokes this test method.
or B) used.
8.1
8.2
8.3
Test wavelength(s),spectralwidth(s).
8.4
8.5
Failure of acceptancecriteria.
11
TIAEiIA-526-7
APPENDIX
IEC
There are no references to any test equivalent to this OFSTP known to exist in IEC documents.
2.
There are no references to any test equivalent to this OFSTP known to exist in ITUTTS
documents.