EXFO intros handheld test instruments for FTTH installation market

February 12, 2004 Quebec City, Canada -- EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering Inc. has introduced three handheld test instruments for the straightforward installation and maintenance of optical networks. These optimized test instruments, consisting of the FOT-300 Optical Loss Test Set, FPM-300 Power Meter and FLS-300 Light Source, are specifically targeted at the fast-growing demand for fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) installation.

• According to the company, the FOT-300 Optical Loss Test Set is the only tool of its kind to offer all loss-testing features, while delivering first-class cost-effectiveness. Its source packs up to three singlemode wavelengths on a single port. In addition, the FOT-300 provides battery autonomy of over 260 hours, and its power meter port is calibrated at 10 wavelengths.• The FPM-300 Power Meter provides battery autonomy of over 300 hours, allows power measurement up to +26 dBm (GeX option) and is also calibrated at 10 wavelengths. In addition, it does not require offset nulling, thus increasing testing efficiency.• The FLS-300 Light Source covers as many as three singlemode wavelengths on a single port with power output above 0 dBm for an increased insertion-loss (IL) dynamic range. This unit is offered with four wavelengths (two multimode and two singlemode) on two ports. It provides battery autonomy of over 120 hours."The 300 Series are fundamental test tools for keeping optical networks up and running," explains Ã�tienne Gagnon, EXFO's vice president of physical-layer product management. "But once again EXFO has delivered a superior value proposition by working specifically on the cost of ownership of these products and by offering extended warranty periods and calibration intervals. Furthermore, digitally encrypted communication between these instruments decreases potential errors and accelerates testing time. Finally," he adds, "these new handhelds are ideal for testing new FTTH networks, since they offer the 1490-nm wavelength on the source ports, and the power meters are calibrated for this important transmission wavelength."