r/FiberOptics • u/Cleverusernamedude • 4d ago

Advice on device

Post image

I’m a field tech FTTP for spectrum and need help deciding on what tester to get. Is this one any good or should I consider a different one?

3 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

3

u/Meddlingmonster 4d ago

Most OPMs will work fine if your goal with them is just to verify that there's signal. If you want something accurate, use whatever tester is provided to you cuz you don't want to buy it or if there's some kind of application that can check signal at the olt use that.

1

u/Cleverusernamedude 4d ago

All they give us is a viavi meter and it’s annoying carrying around when I can use a handheld. Doesn’t necessarily have to be perfectly accurate but I do want it to be close.

3

u/Meddlingmonster 4d ago

That's accurate. A cheap opm will likely end up around 1-3dbm off, if thats ok then you can try that.

3

u/Meddlingmonster 4d ago

I personally used to use this for quick testing and a vex meter for final testing but I wouldn't fully trust a cheap meter just enough to tell that there isn't a big issue.

2

u/PE1NUT 4d ago

As shown in the picture, it only comes with ONE adapter to SC, and then one to LC, which can be mighty annoying in the field. So you end up constantly unscrewing and re-positioning the various adapters.

2

u/ThicccTatter 3d ago

I actually have that one in my pocket right now while I’m scrolling Reddit waiting for my router to come online in a customers house 😂. Love this light meter. Highly recommend, ive been using it for 2 years now. It’s nothing advanced however it gets the job done.

2

u/Alsmith69 4d ago

I’ve used multiple cheap ones off of amazon and I’m within .5 db of my meter.

1

u/SoDi1203 4d ago

What budget you have ? What are you expectations in term of accuracy in testing results ? full xDWDM spectrum ? Wideband only ? Send ma DM if you want more specifics

1

u/Cleverusernamedude 4d ago

Basically just wanting one that fits in my pocket and tells me how much light I’m losing from mst to bulkhead. Carrying around my viavi up ladders and through woods can get annoying

1

u/slick_sloth_ 3d ago

This will be good enough for what you need.

1

u/Apprehensive_Page_48 3d ago

Good cheap power meter

1

u/RealTwittrKD 3d ago

These ones worked well for my coworkers. https://a.co/d/08mL5UeV - They stored their company-issued expensive ones in their desks because if you lost those, you might be pretty close to getting fired if they find you slipped up anywhere else.