Looks to me like a fiber ranger combined with an optical test set. A fiber ranger is a paired down OTDR. It may even be an OTDR in all but name, but with simpler software. The price difference between a fiber ranger and an OTDR is just a few hundred bucks, so it's practically a way of segmenting the market.
Looks nifty to me. All the "magic" is likely in the software and user interface, which is basically EXFO's main selling point. Like all things hardware, all that differentiates brand name equipment from commodity hardware is the quality of the software. Jared Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2019 From: "Ken Hohhof" <af...@kwisp.com> To: "'AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group'" <af@af.afmug.com> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] ODTR That looks to me like a power meter, not an OTDR. We have a Fluke optical power meter, it’s a useful piece of equipment, but it’s not an OTDR. Hard to tell for sure, that website has a lot of marketing spin. From: AF <af-boun...@af.afmug.com> On Behalf Of Jason McKemie Sent: Saturday, June 29, 2019 5:16 PM To: AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group <af@af.afmug.com> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] ODTR I'm curious about these: https://www.exfo.com/en/products/field-network-testing/optical-fiber-multimeter/opticalxplorer/ On Saturday, June 29, 2019, Chuck McCown <ch...@wbmfg.com[mailto:ch...@wbmfg.com]> wrote: I really like mine: https://www.techtoolsupply.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=INNO-MINI2&source=googleps&gdffi=a2fd11e1880844dfbe0b89871fd6ef5c&gdfms=3827B7DC69EA4FE793788CCA9872E170&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0NuRp4-P4wIVkLfsCh3EsgrDEAQYAiABEgLLufD_BwE[https://www.techtoolsupply.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=INNO-MINI2&source=googleps&gdffi=a2fd11e1880844dfbe0b89871fd6ef5c&gdfms=3827B7DC69EA4FE793788CCA9872E170&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0NuRp4-P4wIVkLfsCh3EsgrDEAQYAiABEgLLufD_BwE] I got it for much less than that from a local rep. -----Original Message----- From: Paul McCall Sent: Saturday, June 29, 2019 10:28 AM To: AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group Subject: Re: [AFMUG] ODTR Yeah, I was looking at the Chinese ones for $ 1K or so. But, we will need to purchase one at some point as we are lighting some 40mile to 70mile dark fiber leases in a few months so makes sense to spend a little more and get something better In our NOC, we are terminating 110+ fibers (1:1) to LC Corning cassettes. Was looking at the INNO models here. Like the price on the Mini, but want to make sure I can test LC connections properly using an adapter. The spec on the Mini only shows "Compatible connector: FC, SC (APC or UPC)". Whereas the 500 shows Compatible Connector: APC(FC, SC, LC), UPC(FC, SC, LC, ST). Probably a dumb question, but I need to ask. https://www.balticnetworks.com/inno-instrument-view-mini-2-otdr-kit.html[https://www.balticnetworks.com/inno-instrument-view-mini-2-otdr-kit.html] https://www.balticnetworks.com/inno-instrument-view500-otdr-kit.html Are there other factors I should be thinking of or a better brand / model near the same price? Paul -----Original Message----- From: AF <af-boun...@af.afmug.com[mailto:af-boun...@af.afmug.com]> On Behalf Of fiber...@mail.com[mailto:fiber...@mail.com] Sent: Friday, June 28, 2019 2:49 AM To: af@af.afmug.com[mailto:af@af.afmug.com] Subject: Re: [AFMUG] ODTR FYI, the weekly rentals are just about what you'd pay for an el cheapo Chinese OTDR. Mine works fine for short distances (< ~10 miles). On longer spans the sensitivity/noise/dead zones are suboptimal, but it still works. FS has some, but haven't tried their models. In other words, it all depends on what your requirements are. If you are just testing short spans, know what you are doing and can live with the limitations, go Chinese. If you need to characterize, certify or need something like iOLM and/or need it only intermittently, rent. Jared Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2019 From: "Tim Withrow via AF" <af@af.afmug.com[mailto:af@af.afmug.com]> To: af@af.afmug.com[mailto:af@af.afmug.com] Cc: "Tim Withrow" <timwith...@aol.com[mailto:timwith...@aol.com]> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] ODTR rental is best I would think if you're not going to put it the full use. Here's a couple links that can help you out. https://www.fiberinstrumentsales.com/otdr-rentals[https://www.fiberinstrumentsales.com/otdr-rentals] I would say go with the best to rent. https://www.flukenetworks.com/content/authorized-rental-partners[https://www.flukenetworks.com/content/authorized-rental-partners][https://www.flukenetworks.com/content/authorized-rental-partners%5Bhttps:/www.flukenetworks.com/content/authorized-rental-partners%5D] ------------------------------------------------------------ On Thursday, June 27, 2019 Paul McCall <af@af.afmug.com[mailto:af@af.afmug.com]> wrote: We are looking for a cost-effective (cheap) ODTR to test fiber we are putting in a business park. Not looking to have much otherwise. Any budget friendly gear that works well? Or maybe rent /borrow one for a week? Paul McCall, President Florida Broadband / PDMNet 658 Old Dixie Highway Vero Beach, FL 32962 772-564-6800 -- AF mailing list AF@af.afmug.com[mailto:AF@af.afmug.com][mailto:AF@af.afmug.com[mailto:AF@af.afmug.com]] http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com[http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com] -- AF mailing list AF@af.afmug.com[mailto:AF@af.afmug.com] http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com[http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com][http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com%5Bhttp:/af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com%5D] -- AF mailing list AF@af.afmug.com[mailto:AF@af.afmug.com] http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com -- AF mailing list AF@af.afmug.com[mailto:AF@af.afmug.com] http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com -- AF mailing list AF@af.afmug.com[mailto:AF@af.afmug.com] http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com -- AF mailing list AF@af.afmug.com http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com[http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com] -- AF mailing list AF@af.afmug.com http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com
