Yokogawa Launches High-Performance AQ7275 Optical Time Domain Reflectometer
Tokyo, Japan - Yokogawa Electric Corporation recently announced that it has developed the AQ7275 Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) for use in a wide variety of optical fiber installation and maintenance applications.
The AQ7275, a new model in the AQ7270 series, measures optical fiber lengths and losses and identifies failure locations. This instrument features greatly improved battery life and reduces the time required to perform on-site measurements when installing or maintaining optical fiber.
Development Background
Optical fiber networks are being installed worldwide to meet the growing demand for transmitting large amounts of video and other types of data. The companies that construct telecommunications networks do not have sufficient numbers of personnel who are familiar with optical fiber measurements and are hard pressed to keep up with demand. These companies have a need for high-performance, easy-to-use OTDRs that can enhance efficiency at the worksite.
The AQ7275 is designed to greatly reduce the measurement time for medium and short optical fiber installation tasks including the construction of access networks (communications links between telephone termination points and the telephone exchanges) and user networks (communications links between user sites and the telephone termination points).
Product Features
- Reduced Measurement Time for Fault Location
The signal processing circuits and arithmetic algorithms have been improved in the AQ7275, reducing its measurement time in averaged measurement mode(*1) to one-third that of the previous model. By reducing the AQ7275's waveform noise in real-time measurement mode(*2), it now has the capability to perform clear waveform measurements, thereby improving the efficiency of optical fiber installation. - Longer Battery Life
By greatly reducing the AQ7275's power consumption, it now has twice the battery life of the previous model. With an optional external large capacity battery (release scheduled for February 2008), an even longer operating time can be achieved. This will make it possible to carry out time-consuming optical fiber installation tasks without AC power. - New Options / Includes All Features of Previous Model
To make possible a wider range of applications, new light source options, including stabilized and visible light sources (release scheduled for February 2008), are available for the AQ7275. This product also has all the features that made the previous model so easy to use in the field, including the industry's shortest dead zone(*3) (80 cm), a one-button measurement function, a power-up time of less than 10 seconds, and an 8.4 inch color LCD.
Main Target Markets
Telecommunications carriers, CATV service providers, telecommunications network construction companies
Main Applications
Quality assessment of optical fiber installation work
- Measurement of optical fiber losses, identification of failure locations
*1 Averaged measurement mode: In this mode, a waveform is displayed that represents an average of successive waveform data measurements. This smoothes out the noise waveform, making it easier to analyze its characteristics; however, instantaneous changes are not captured.
*2 Real-time measurement mode: This mode always displays the latest waveform data. Instantaneous changes can be captured in real-time, but, for instance, noise waveforms are displayed without being processed.
*3 Dead zone: In an optical fiber network with multiple connection points (connectors, etc.), the fiber between two points cannot be measured if its length is less than a specified value. This is a dead zone.
SOURCE: Yokogawa