OTDR

Updated: 04/26/2017 by Computer Hope

An optical time-domain reflectometer, or OTDR, is a device used to test optical fiber. It can test for attenuation and overall fiber length, and accounting for splice and mated connector losses. OTDR helps locate faults in the optical fiber and determine loss from optical return, which is light that is scattered or reflected back from various points in the fiber line.

Note

Using an OTDR, optical fiber can be characterized from the time it is manufactured to the time it is installed and spliced.

Electronics terms