VIAVI FI-10 Optical Fiber Identifier Handheld Live Fiber Identifier

The VIAVI FI-10 is a handheld optical fiber identifier for installation and maintenance work. It identifies optical fibers by detecting the optical signals transmitted through a single-mode fiber, using local detection technology based on non-destructive macro-bend detection. Because the fiber does not have to be opened at the splice point, fibers can be identified without the risk of interrupting service.

The FI-10 detects continuous wave (CW) signals, live optical transmission and low-frequency modulated tones at 270, 1000 and 2000 Hz. When traffic is present on the fiber under test, LEDs on the probe show the direction of transmission. During maintenance, installation, rerouting or restoration, the unit is clamped onto a fiber and indicates no signal, a 270, 1000 or 2000 Hz tone, or traffic together with signal direction.

The fiber identifier was tested to Bellcore technical reference TR-NWT-000764. In that test the identifier was attached to a bare 1-inch section of fiber 20 times, and no damage to the fiber coating was visible under a microscope on either old or new fibers. According to VIAVI, the identifier's minimum bend radius is almost twice the 3 mm minimum that the Bellcore reference accepts, citing Corning, Inc. white paper WP5053.

Use with VIAVI optical sources

Single-mode fibers can be identified with the FI-10 together with an OLS-35 or OLS-55 FP laser source. Both sources can apply tone modulation at 270 Hz, 1 kHz and 2 kHz. VIAVI recommends 1550 nm for tone identification.