Fluke CableAnalyzer DSX-5000, Technical Reference Handbook, Page: 534 / 700

Versiv Series Cabling Certification Product Family
Technical Reference Handbook
498
Causes of OTDR Test Failures
Table 20. Causes of OTDR Test Failures
A reflective event fails

The event is a dirty or damaged connector. Clean and inspect the
endfaces, then do the test again.

The event is a connection with a dirty or damaged adapter. Clean the
adapter and the endfaces or replace the adapter.

The event is a poorly-seated connector. Make sure all connections are
tight.

A patch cord, launch/tail cord, or fiber segment has the wrong core
size, backscatter coefficient, or mode field diameter. If the patch cords
and launch/tail cords are the correct type, examine the OTDR trace for
mismatched cable in the link.

The event is a bad fusion or mechanical splice or a sharp bend. Use the
OTDR trace or event table to locate these faults.

The launch cord has PC or UPC connectors, but the link has APC
connectors.
Overall loss is too high

There is one or more dirty or damaged connections in the link. Check
the OTDR trace or event table for high-loss reflective events.

The wrong fiber type is selected on the
TEST SETUP
screen.

A patch cord, launch cord, or fiber segment has the wrong core size,
backscatter coefficient, or mode field diameter. If the patch cords and
launch cord are the correct type, do a bi-directional OTDR test and
look for a gainer on the link.

The link has a bad fusion or mechanical splice or a sharp bend. Use the
OTDR trace or event table to find these faults.

The launch cord has PC or UPC connectors, but the link under test has
APC connectors.