OTDR Launch Cables

Platinum Tools recently introduced Fiber Optic Launch Cables for OTDR (optical time domain reflectometer) testing, which are now shipping. According to Sean Rothermel, product manager with Platinum Tools, the launch cables “eliminate dead zones in OTDR testing by providing a buffer length of fiber before the event under test, ensuring accurate measurement of insertion loss and reflectance. They are ideal for technicians and installers working on fiber-optic cable tests in field work, data centers, and telecom applications.”

The launch cables are compatible with Platinum’s mini OTDR, and are available in 150-meter, 500-meter, and 1-kilometer lengths. Each launch cable comes with SC and LC, UPC and APC adapters “to ensure they can run a test on nearly any singlemode fiber-optic cable,” the company explains. They are designed with micro armored fiber and rugged exterior cases. The MSRP is between $266.67 and $650 depending on length and configuration.