Fluke DSP
Fiber Test Adapters, Refurbished

• Test, certify and document fiber and copper with one tester
• Automatically calculate loss budgets and report the pass/fail margins against the standards
• Automatically test two fibers and two wavelengths simultaneously
• Store copper and fiber test results in one database
• New models: DSP-FTA440S, DSP-FTA430S, DSP-FTA420S

As high-speed networks increasingly move towards optical fiber in premises and campus environments, Fluke Networks is there to provide solutions to meet your fiber testing and certification needs.

 

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The deployment of singlemode fiber and new multimode fiber designed for Gigabit Ethernet is on the rise. These high-speed networks use a variety of lasers as optical transmission sources which creates new challenges for fiber testing and certification.

Armed with your DSP-4000 or DSP-4100 and the right Fiber Test Adapter, you have the tools to properly test all types of fiber. These compact adapters add automated dual-fiber, dual-wavelength test and certification capability to the DSP-4000 / 4100, quickly transforming it into a full-featured optical fiber tester.

With Fluke Networks' DSP Series cable analyzers and Fiber Test Adapters, you can be sure that the fiber you're testing mirrors the network transmission

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Singlemode Testing

Gigabit Testing

Be gigabit-ready with the DSP-FTA440S

Networks running Gigabit Ethernet over multimode fiber commonly use a new type of light source called a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL). VCSELs are more cost-effective than conventional lasers and it provide greater bandwidth than LED light sources.

The proper way to accurately test a fiber network using a VCSEL is with a tester that uses a VCSEL. Meet the DSP-FTA440S ? the world's first VCSEL-based Fiber Test Adapter.

Combining the DSP-FTA440S with a DSP-4000 or DSP-4100 provides automatic, dual-fiber loss testing and certification by using a VCSEL laser at 850 nm and a Fabry-Perot (FP) laser at 1310 nm wavelengths. It also measures the length of fiber links and certifies the results against the Gigabit Ethernet standard.

In addition, the DSP-FTA440S allows bi-directional testing on both fibers under test and saves results for both directions in the same record. Utilizing Fluke Networks' comprehensive CableManager™ Software, you can easily save all fiber link data electronically for results management and report generation.

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Multimode Testing

Highly automated dual-fiber testing

The DSP-FTA420S and DSP-FTA410S easily attach to the DSP-4100 and DSP-4000 to test two fibers at two wavelengths, simultaneously, reducing the time required for certification. These Fiber Test Adapters easily and accurately measure loss and length on multimode fiber using an LED light source. The DSP-FTA420S with enhanced dynamic range tests both 850 nm and 1300 nm multimode wavelengths to 5 km, while the DSP-FTA410S tests both wavelengths to 2.5 km.

You can also use these FTAs to test both fibers in both directions and automatically save the bi-directional results in one record. You won't have to test one end of the fiber and run to the other end to re-test. Now bad connections, bad splices, broken fibers and power loss are easy to detect.

The timesaving FindFiber feature provided by the FTA410S and the FTA420S enables users at both ends to quickly check for and locate a signal from the other end. Valuable time spent searching for proper end-to-end connections is minimized.

Utilizing Fluke Networks' comprehensive CableManager™ Software, you can easily save all fiber link data electronically for results management and report generation.

Small Form Factor (SFF) Accessory Kits

Fluke Networks' SFF Accessory Kits provide test connectivity solutions for manufacturer-specific SFF connector and cables, allowing you to use your DSP tester to quickly and accurately test fiber links containing SFF connectors (MT-RJ, VF-45, LC) and Fiber Jack connectors.

Working with the DSP-4000 and/or DSP-4100 Digital CableAnalyzer™ and Fiber Test Adapter, the SFF Accessory Kits enable you to perform highly automated, dual-fiber testing and certification, including documenting test results.

Fluke Networks recommended procedure for testing SFF fiber links gives loss results that conform to ANSI/TIA/EIA-526-14A, Method B.

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Fiber Jack Accessory Kit	LC Accessory Kit
MT-RJ Accessory Kit	VF-45 Accessory Kit

Fast and easy testing. Automatic documentation

Testing and certifying all types of optical networks has never been easier with the DSP Series Cable Testers and our family of Fiber Test Adapters

All of Fluke Networks' DSP Fiber Test Adapters:

• Test two fibers and two wavelengths at one time.
• Utilize Fluke Networks' comprehensive CableManager™ Software for results management and report generation.
• Allow bi-directional testing on both fibers under test and save results for both directions in the same record.
• Automatically measure length, propagation delay and loss.
• Include a built-in TALK feature that allows you to communication with a person or the other end of the fiber.
• Have a FindFiber feature that provides a quick check for users at both ends to locate a signal from the other end.
• Keep track of the maximum and minimum power throughput of the test with the Monitor feature.
• Efficiently and accurately test fiber links with any of the four major SFF connectors.
• Are built rugged to withstand the drops and other mishaps that occur in today's network installation environments.

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Frequently Asked Questions

 
Q: Why should I use the DSP-FTA430S Fiber Test Adapter for testing singlemode?

A: The DSP-FTA430S Fiber Test Adapter is specifically designed for use with singlemode fiber and singlemode wavelengths. It contains both 1310 and 1550 nm lasers the standard transmission sources for singlemode optical networks in premise and campus applications.

The FTA430S also uses singlemode fiber as the internal launch fiber, which provides the correct fiber-to-fiber interface between the test equipment and the singlemode patch cables used for testing.

By testing your network with equipment that uses the same type of fiber and light sources as those being used in your network, you eliminate any chance of fiber mismatches and associated losses, as well as prevent inconsistencies in test results.

Q: Why can't I use the 1300 nm LED source that I already own to test singlemode running at 1310 nm?

A: If you use a 1300 nm LED source to test singlemode at 1310 nm, you are launching light from a 62.5 m m core fiber into a 9.0m m core fiber. This results in an incredible amount of loss at the fiber-to-fiber interface (see Figure 1). You may get enough light energy into the singlemode to make a loss measurement, but you are limited to only measuring short links.

        Figure 1

More importantly, if you are measuring singlemode for loss only at 1300 nm, you are missing an important measurement parameter: loss at 1550 nm.

When testing singlemode, you should properly characterize the link under test for any wavelength at which it might operate. If you test singlemode with an LED as discussed above, you will still only have an assessment of the fiber link at 1300 nm. Since singlemode networks may use 1550 nm for optical transmission at some point in their lifetime, it is important to test both wavelengths.

It is especially important to test 1550 nm because the 1550 nm wavelength is much more susceptible to bending losses than is the 1310 nm wavelength. Table 1 contains the results of an experiment to demonstrate the difference in bending loss between the two wavelengths.

Q: Since I shouldn't use my LED source to test singlemode at 1310 nm, can I use my DSP-FTA440S Gigabit Multimode Fiber Test Adapter to test singlemode at 1310 nm?

A: Again, this would result in a mismatch problem because the DSP-FTA440S Gigabit tester is designed for multimode testing and contains 50.0 m m fiber, while singlemode fiber is 9.0 m m. With the concentrated laser beam of the 440S, a slight mismatch could cause the light energy to completely miss the core of the receiving fiber (see Figure 2).

In short, testing singlemode networks with anything but singlemode lasers and fibers can result in FAIL readings when the network is actually okay.

Q: Why do I need the DSP-FTA440S Gigabit Multimode Fiber Test Adapter if I already have an LED multimode tester?

A: Networks running Gigabit Ethernet over multimode fiber, use a light source called a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) for data transmission at 850 nm. More cost-effective than the traditional laser, a VCSEL provides greater bandwidth than possible with LED light sources.

With a VCSEL source, the light energy is concentrated in the center of the fiber, whereas an LED source fills the entire fiber with light energy (see Figure 3). The farther the light energy is away from the center of the fiber, the more likely it is to escape the fiber and show up as power loss.

Therefore, when LED testers are used to test gigabit multimode fibers, they tend to show more power loss than is actually present in a network using a VCSEL transmission source.

With the very tight loss budgets for Gigabit Ethernet, you could actually get a FAIL reading with an LED test, when the link is really working. This could result in time wasted trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist.

When you test with the VCSEL-based DSP-FTA440S, you can be sure that you will see the actual loss that is present in the network.

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Q: Can I test either 62.5 m m or 50.0 m m fiber with the Gigabit Multimode Fiber Test Adapter?

A: Yes. The DSP-FTA440S Fiber Test adapter contains a 50.0 m m internal launch fiber, so it is perfect for testing 50.0 m m fiber. And it works just as well for 62.5 m m fiber because the light is being launched from a smaller fiber (50.0 m m) into a larger fiber (62.5 m m), capturing all of the light energy. This is true for both 850 nm and 1300 nm wavelengths.

Q: Does it matter what core size or type of patch cord I use?

A: Yes. The patch cord should always match the core size and type of the fiber under test. A mismatched patch cord may cause inaccurate loss measurements at the mismatched fiber-to-fiber interface.

FREE Fiber Guide 

Register your Fluke Networks DSP Fiber Test Adapters and receive a free 224-page Fiber Optic Reference Guide. This practical guide to the latest in fiber optic technology covers all the fundamentals of fiber optics including: cables, connectors, network design, installation and testing.

Registering your fiber test adapter gives you immediate Silver Priority Support member status with access to Fluke Networks' technology workshops, user training programs, standards updates and new product information.

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