Test and Measurement

OptoTest has introduced the OP740, its most advanced multichannel high-speed optical power meter, at ECOC 2017 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The OP740 retains many of the existing specifications of the current OP710 optical power meter, while introducing features such as variable sampling rate, simultaneous multichannel display, and a more robust user interface.

Ribbon fibre with MPO connectivity enables higher capacities throughout enterprises and data centres, but also introduces new challenges for both installation technicians and network operators. Viavi Solutions has introduced two new tools that allow technicians to test MPO connectors with unprecedented speed and precision.

Network test specialist EXFO has released the FTBx-5255 Optical Spectrum Analyzer (OSA) for field applications to meet the live network testing needs of telecom service providers, internet content providers and network equipment manufacturers all under pressure to deliver flawless services to a high-speed, data-hungry market.

The M8040A from Keysight Technologies is a highly integrated 64Gbaud bit error ratio tester (BERT) that makes it easier for engineers in validation labs and R&D to perform physical layer characterisation of receivers for emerging 400G data centre interfaces.

R&D and validation labs that need to characterise high-speed receivers are facing new test challenges, such as tighter timing margins, channel loss, non-linearity, level interference and crosstalk effects. Test efficiency and accuracy are essential, and that’s where the M8040A shines, according to Keysight.

Optical fibre manufacturers can quickly assess the geometry of any optical fibre with a new high-speed automated measuring system from Arden Photonics.

Designed for production and R&D environments, the FGC-G range delivers repeatable, operator-independent results in less than 10 seconds. The comprehensive measurement capability for end-face geometries includes core diameter, core non-circularity, cladding diameter, cladding non-circularity and core-to-cladding concentricity.

EXFO has added baseband unit (BBU) emulation technology recently acquired from Absolute Analysis to the FTB-1 Pro portable test platform. This BBU emulation technology has already been approved and adopted by a North American Tier 1 mobile network operator, the company says.

Test and measurement specialist OptoTest wants to make sure its customers are aware of a pending update to the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) FOTP-171 standard for testing short-length multimode graded-index and singlemode fibre cable assemblies.

Anritsu has introduced the MP1900A signal quality analyser, a next-generation bit-error rate test (BERT) platform designed to meet the test and measurement requirements driven by cloud and data centre operators.

The new instrument is the successor to the MP1800A, which has been on the market since 2007. Back then telecom operators and carriers called the shots. Now the data centre and storage vendors are moving the market in new directions and influencing test requirements at all levels in the value chain, from operators through to the chip and module manufacturers.

The OFC 35SF from Nextrom is an axial tension proof testing system designed to test the strength of speciality optical fibres in accordance with international standards.

Developed from the test system for standard diameter fibres, the specialty fibre test system incorporates extended tension ranges for tensile testing and large diameter integrated bending wheels to test fibre strength in eight directions. This provides a highly accurate test system where the resolution is maintained by using multiple tension gauges for different test ranges.

Test and measurement vendor Viavi Solutions has announced availability of the SmartClass Fiber MPOLx optical loss test set, which is tailored for contractors inspecting enterprise and data centre cabling systems using ribbon fibre with multi-fibre push on (MPO) connectors.

The company says the MPOLx is the industry’s first dedicated optical loss test set that can perform all MPO Tier 1 (basic) test and certification requirements, including tests for length, optical loss, polarity and inspect fibre end-face condition.