INTRODUCTION
APPLICATIONS
Below is a list of test and measurement applications that can be performed using the Fiber OWL 4 optical power meter. The
procedure for each one of these applications is covered in detail in this manual.
Active Equipment Optical Power Measurements.
Active equipment should be measured periodically for correct power levels.
The transmitters in this equipment have a known power value. The Fiber OWL 4 can be directly attached to this equipment via a patch
cord to check whether the transmitter is within the manufacturer’s specified power range.
Fiber Continuity Testing.
Continuity can be measured with the Fiber OWL 4 by placing a calibrated light source on one end of the
fiber and the Fiber OWL 4 on the other end. This is also a simple way to measure the attenuation of the fiber.
Patch Cord Testing.
Fiber links that are producing incorrect results may have bad patch cords. The Fiber OWL 4 can be used to test
the attenuation of a patch cord to see if it is usable, or should be replaced.
Attenuation (Optical Loss) Measurements.
After a fiber cable has been installed and terminated, it should be tested to determine if
the fiber is installed according to standards and specifications. A comparison of the actual power measurement and the reference
value determines if the installation will pass or fail. Up to 1000 fiber measurements may be stored for later download into OWL
Reporter software.
Fiber Optic Link Certification.
The Link Wizard in the Fiber OWL 4 uses attenuation parameters from popular cabling standards to
certify fiber links, and shows a link’s PASS/FAIL status right in the field. Stored data can be downloaded into our FREE OWL Reporter
software, where certification reports can be printed out with details or summaries of the fibers being certified.
Optical Fiber Cable Length Measurement.
Certain models of the Fiber OWL 4 have the ability to perform a “round-robin” optical
fiber length measurement.
The Fiber OWL 4 is a high-accuracy, high-resolution, microprocessor-controlled optical power meter. Its wide 75dB dynamic range
and NIST-traceable wavelengths make it ideal for both singlemode and multimode fiber testing.
It is enclosed in an attractive hand-held case made from high impact plastic, has a backlit graphic LCD, as well as an 18-key keypad
for easy data entry. The 2.5mm universal detector port accepts ST, SC, and FC, as well as many other 2.5mm ferrule connectors. A
1.25mm universal adapter is also included for connection to LC or other SFF connectors.
Each Fiber OWL 4 includes a standard non-rechargeable 9-volt battery, which typically allows 100 hours of continuous operation. A
built-in auto-shutdown feature also conserves battery life. The USB port doubles as a battery charger port in case the user wishes to
use re-chargeable 9-volt batteries. Re-chargeable batteries are NOT included.
The Fiber OWL 4 includes a built-in link wizard that helps you easily calculate optical references (link budgets) used for fiber optic
certification testing. It will store up to 1000
The stored information can be selectively viewed, edited (measured again), printed, or deleted. The data can also be downloaded to
our FREE OWL Reporter software to produce professional-looking formatted certification reports, or can be downloaded as a
comma-delimited file (requires a COM port terminal program such as Hyperterminal) Comma-delimited files can be imported into
computer spreadsheets.
For an additional charge, the length testing port in the Fiber OWL 4 can be replaced by a precision-coupled visual fault locator (VFL)
optimized for fiber optics. An optical ball lens placed near the laser output focuses the red laser light for optimum coupling into optical
fibers (something pen-style laser pointers do not have), and special electronics prevent the red laser from burnout (a common
problem with pen-style red laser pointers), increasing the life of the VFL.
CHARGING NON-RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE HARM TO THE UNIT AND/OR THE
USER.
measured data points with descriptive link and fiber run labels.
DESCRIPTION
