Yokogawa releases multitasking, modular OTDR
September 30, 2014. The new Yokogawa AQ7280 portable OTDR (optical time-domain reflectometer) delivers the combination of measurement automation, user-friendly operation, and reliable performance that enables fast, precise optical-fiber characterization in the field.
The AQ7280 is based on a plug-in modular design that allows it to be configured for a range of network environments and topologies from FTTH to metro and core networks. Measurement speed and ease of use are facilitated by a capacitive multi-touch touch screen, automated measurement software, and a stable operating system that enables rapid start-up, while field use is boosted by a battery pack providing more than ten hours’ continuous operation.
“There is no room for compromise in the high stakes world of today’s high speed and highly critical network infrastructure,” said Tom Quinlan, general manager of Yokogawa’s North American Test and Measurement Division.
“When the speeds of our customers’ networks are reaching 10G, 40G, 100G, and beyond, the extraordinary burden on the carrier’s reliability and ability to quickly recover from a mishap is crucial to their reputation,” he said. “That is why many network operators and contractors are solely reliant on proven test equipment manufacturers like Yokogawa when it comes down to validating their fiber infrastructure’s health. In that regard, we can proudly lay claim to nearly 100 years of test and measurement heritage and 30+ years of expertise in OTDRs alone. Our rich history has helped us become one of the best-selling OTDR brands in the world and we are very excited to share the numerous improvements on the new model to help our current and future partners succeed like never before.”
The AQ7280 hardware is designed to provide robustness and reliability in field use under harsh conditions. It has no cooling fans on its chassis and hence no apertures to allow dust or water ingress. The software also contributes to the reliability, with an operating system that is more stable than those originally designed for PC use and that takes just a few seconds to be ready to measure.
The AQ7280 features dual operating modes with a choice of the multi-touch touch screen or hard-key buttons. Fully automatic measurements and easy-to-read analysis reports are instantly accessible through a range of built-in software applications.
The software also allows multiple functions to run simultaneously, including multi-fiber measurement, a smart event mapper, and the Eagle Eye feature (for high sampling resolution in long-distance measurements). The AQ7280 also incorporates functions for automatic analysis of the fiber connector’s surface and for monitoring intermittent connections.
The AQ7280 supports wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi) for remote control of the instrument and for transferring measurement data.
Nine plug-in OTDR modules include single-mode, multi-mode, low dynamic range, ultra dynamic range, and two- , three-, and four-wavelength options. A range of power sensors, light sources, visible light sources and fiber inspection probes are available for customization based on users’ requirements.
All the single-mode units are optimized for PON network analysis in conjunction with high-port-count (up to 1:128) splitters.