Inspect Before You Connect SM

Contamination — The #1 Reason for Fiber

Network Failures Fiber Connector

Dirty connectors cause 80% of field test failures

Microscopic debris significantly degrades signal performance and can CLOSE UP:
PASS/FAIL
cause permanent damage to connectors and the equipment they are ANALYSIS

plugged into

Mating dirty connectors can break apart debris, spreading it across the
fiber endface

Typical debris on a fiber connector endface can be 2 - 20µm and can

only be seen with a fiber optic probe microscope

Following the Inspect Before You Connect process ensures fiber end Ferrule Fiber Fiber Optic
faces are clean prior to mating connectors Probe Microscope

Inspecting BOTH sides of the fiber connection is the ONLY WAY to OTDR Trace Showing the Effect of Fiber 1 CLEAN Connectors
ensure that it will be free of contamination and defects. Contamination
Fiber Adapter Fiber
Connector Connector 1310 nm
1–0
8126VLR 30 ns 4 cm 60 s IOR: 1.46600 OTDR_trace1
0 E
Patch cords are easy to access and view Back reflection = -67.5 dB
A: 0.00 m -7.004 dB B: 220.00 m -17.175 dB A-B: 220.00 m -8.171 dB -25.807 dB/m
compared to the fiber inside the bulkhead, dB
Total loss = 0.250 dB

which is frequently overlooked. The bulkhead 0

3 DIRTY CONNECTORS
Back reflection = –32.5 dB
side may only be half of the connection, but 1
Back reflection = –67.5 dB Back reflection = –65.3 dB
2
Total loss = 3.2 dB 2 CLEAN Connectors
Total loss = 0.250 dB Total loss = 0.243 dB
it is far more likely to be dirty. -5

-10

A single particle mated into the core of a

-15
fiber can cause significant back reflection, Back reflection = -65.3 dB
insertion loss and even equipment damage. -20 Total loss = 0.243 dB

Light Back Reflection Dirt Insertion Loss Fiber Core -25

Inspecting and cleaning connectors, test

3 DIRTY Connectors
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 m

ports and reference cords before testing

network connectors prevents
cross-contamination. This OTDR trace shows how a dirty fiber connection affects overall signal
performance. Inspect Before You Connect! Proactively inspecting each Back reflection = –32.5 dB
Total loss = 3.2 dB
fiber connection significantly reduces network downtime and troubleshooting.
CLOSE UP: INTERNAL VIEW

To learn more, visit viavisolutions.com/inspect

© 2017 VIAVI Solutions Inc. Product specifications and descriptions in this document are subject to change without notice. ibycotdr-po-fit-tm-ae 30162588 904 1117