DWDM channel analyzer (1527.99 nm - 1567.95 nm) EXFO MaxTester MAX-5205

SHORT DESCRIPTION

Analyzer EXFO Max Tester MAX-5205 expands the line of inexpensive DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) channel power meters. Functionally, it is very similar to another model in this series (device EXFO FOT-5205), but is made in the well-proven MaxTester case with a high-quality touch screen and a fast microprocessor. Very popular reflectometers are produced in the same case. EXFO MAX-7x0C and certifiers of optical fibers EXFO MAX-94x.

The EXFO MAX-5205 analyzer is specially designed to launch and maintain networks based on DWDM with a channel spacing of 100 GHz. The spectral range of this device, the range of the measured power of DWDM channels and the channel grid fully comply with the ITU-T G.692 recommendation (C-BAND, channels from 12 to 62).

As options, the EXFO MAX-5205 analyzer can contain wireless Wi-Fi and Bluetooth interfaces, built-in VFL illumination and a power meter with a range of -50 to +27 dBm, calibrated at wavelengths of 850, 1300, 1310, 1490, 1550, 1625 and 1650 nm. You can download a full description of all the characteristics of EXFO FOT-5205 on this page in the section Documentation.

Main characteristics:
Wavelength range: 1527.99 nm - 1567.95 nm.
Channel power range: -40 dBm to +10 dBm.
Total safe power: +20 dBm. Power measurement error: 1 dB.
DWDM support with 100 GHz channel spacing. Measurement time: up to 3 sec.
Measurement results in graphical and tabular form. Remote PHY support.
Ability to connect video microscopes of the series EXFO FIP-400B.
17.8 cm widescreen touchscreen (800 x 480 resolution).
Interfaces: USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi (RF option), Bluetooth (RF option).
Battery life: up to 8 hours. Rugged and comfortable case design.
Weight: 1.5 kg. Dimensions: 166 x 200 x 68 mm. Working temperature: from -10°С to +50°С.
Compact and functional DWDM channel power meter

Need a channel power meter DWDM at 50 GHz? see model EXFO FOT-5205.
Need complete optical spectrum analyzer? see model EXFO FTB-5235.
Need an analyzer maximum performance? Watch the series EXFO FTBx-52x5.
Want to see the full list? Go to the main page by optical spectrum analyzers.

Testing networks with mixed architecture

Every year, DWDM technology, which was previously used mainly in the core network (Core Network), is getting closer and closer to the end user access network (Access Network). This advancement of DWDM technology increases the number of network points at which it is necessary to measure its parameters.

For this, expensive optical spectrum analyzers have traditionally been and are used, for example EXFO FTBx-5255, but given the increased number of measurements, it becomes economically justified to use an inexpensive device with simplified functionality for primary diagnostics, such as an analyzer EXFO MAX-5205, with which you can quickly measure the power of individual DWDM channels and check the quality of optical connectors.

This figure shows a typical diagram of a modern network. Traffic 400G from the core network using DWDM technology is divided into 40 channels of 10 GigE (10 Gigabit Ethernet), then using optical demultiplexers, individual wavelengths with 10 GigE traffic are brought via fiber to access networks, where using DOCSIS 3.1 technology they are converted into radio signals arriving via coaxial cable to subscribers at GigE (gigabit Ethernet) speed.

In the diagram, colored circles mark the main testing points and types of measurements performed. Green color - checking the quality of optical connectors using video microscope. Yellow color - measurement of DWDM characteristics. Blue color - check by ITU-T Y.1564 methodology quality of services transmitted over Ethernet. Red color - dispersion analysis.

Built-in power meter

The EXFO MAX-5205 can be equipped with the VPM2X option, which adds a built-in VFL illumination and a -50 to +27 dBm power meter calibrated at 850, 1300, 1310, 1490, 1550, 1625, and 1650 nm. The VPM2X option is a removable module that the analyzer is supplied with when ordering, or you can buy it in addition and install it yourself during the operation of the device.

The appearance of the VPM2X option module is shown in this photo. The power meter connector is located on the left under the square protective cover and is marked PM. The translucent connector (visible red light) is located on the right under the protective cover and is marked as VFL. This module is located on the top of the EXFO MAX-5205 meter, next to the Ethernet and USB connectors.

In this figure, the blue vertical lines represent the seven wavelengths of the optical power meter of the VPM2X option. Also shown is the main MAX-5205 wavelength range (1528nm to 1568nm), which corresponds to DWDM channels 12 to 62 on the ITU grid.

Checking the purity and quality of optical connectors

Before carrying out any measurements, it is necessary to check the cleanliness and integrity of the optical connector to which you are going to connect. To do this, you can use any video microscope of the series EXFO FIP-400B, which connects to the EXFO MAX-5205 analyzer via USB. The appearance of the microscope is shown below.

Also in this series of microscopes there are two models with a wireless Wi-Fi interface (FIP-425B and FIP-435B), which can be connected to your smartphone or directly to the MAX-5205 analyzer if it has the RF option installed, which adds Wi-Fi interfaces and bluetooth.