VIAVI FTH-DTSS Fiber Test Head for Distributed Temperature and Strain Sensing

Rack-mount Brillouin OTDR fiber test head that measures temperature and strain at the same time along fiber optic cables, from one end of the fiber.

Measurement technique: Brillouin OTDR solution (B-OTDR)
Measured parameters: Simultaneous temperature and strain measurement
Fiber access: Single-ended solution requiring only one fiber
Ports: Multi-port measurement

Overview

The VIAVI Fiber Test Head for Distributed Temperature and Strain Sensing (FTH-DTSS) is part of the NITRO Fiber Sensing solution. It continuously monitors fiber cables and fiber-enabled assets, using the optical fiber itself as the sensor. It reports temperature and strain along the cable in real time and detects and locates events.

The unit performs Distributed Temperature and Strain Sensing (DTSS), giving absolute measurements of temperature and strain over long lengths of fiber optic cable. It is based on Brillouin OTDR (B-OTDR). It measures temperature and strain at the same time and separates the two effects (patented). It needs access to only one end of a single fiber.

Typical deployments include power utilities, oil, gas and water pipelines, and telecom networks such as Data Center Interconnects (DCI). Tracking changes in temperature and strain over time supports operational efficiency and lets operators act early to prevent damage or outages.

The FTH-DTSS comes in a compact 2RU rack-mountable chassis and can measure multiple ports. It has low power, rack space and HVAC requirements and a simple GUI. It integrates with third-party systems and works with the VIAVI ONMSi Remote Fiber Test System. For site audits, spot checks and troubleshooting, the same capability is available in a portable unit, the OneAdvisor 1000 DTSS.

Key Features

Simultaneous temperature and strain measurement (patented)
Decorrelation of temperature and strain effects
Brillouin OTDR solution (B-OTDR)
Compact, 2RU rack mountable chassis
Multi-port measurement
Single-ended solution requiring only one fiber
Combined temperature and strain measurement in one unit (patented)
Low power, rack space and HVAC requirements
Simple GUI
Easy integration with third-party systems
Compatible with the VIAVI Remote Fiber Test System (RFTS) ONMSi
Event detection and localization
Simultaneous monitoring across multiple assets, environments and applications

Specifications

General

Measurement technique	Brillouin OTDR solution (B-OTDR)
Measured parameters	Simultaneous temperature and strain measurement Patented
Fiber access	Single-ended solution requiring only one fiber
Ports	Multi-port measurement
Form factor	Compact, 2RU rack mountable chassis