Testing of a PON type network is requiring measurement equipment that can check the operational status of point-to-point links and also evaluate the efficiency of the passive optical splitter. These instruments must be able to measure the performance of a single bidirectional fiber link with multiple wavelengths.
Instruments for measurement include optical power meters, light source emitting at three different wavelengths, visual fault indicators, optical time-domain reflectometers, and special optical-loss test sets. All these are used for measuring:

• the optical power level at different network points
• loss of power of the light
• optical return loss

Optical fibers, that are installed outside the plant links, require high attention and have particular importance for testing. Having an optical splitter in the network will require different techniques for upstream and downstream measurement. 1310, 1490 and 1550 nm wavelengths will require additional measurements.

Figure 1. Points in an FTTP network where some of the relevant test parameters are of importance.

Optical return loss must be measured during tests, that is percent of total reverse power in relation to total forward power due to Rayleigh scattering. Maintenance personnel could have multifunction test equipment that will do many measurements for different scenarios.

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