1. Optical networks to be characterized

1.1 Network characterization – Definition and purpose

The tools and parameters for measuring cables and optical fibers may depend on the type of network. From a reflectometry point of view, networks can be classified firstly according to their length (long-distance, medium-distance such as metropolitan networks and short-distance such as access networks, local networks, corporate networks). The type of fiber, single-mode or multi-mode, is another possible differentiation criterion, as is the type of architecture: point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, ring or other topologies.

Since OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer) requires only one network access point, measurements can always be reduced to point-to-point measurements, with the exception of passive...