Exfo Electro-Optical Engineering has introduced a four-slot version of its FTB-500 portable tester. The previous version was an eight-slot model. Because of its smaller size and greater portability, the new version of the FTB-500 is expected to be of greater utility for field work.

It is configurable with test modules that cover an array of applications, notable among them ROADM and packet transport network (PTN) turn-up, CWDM turn-up and multi-service testing.

For ROADM and PTN network turn-up, the four-slot FTB-500 simultaneously runs an optical spectrum analyzer (FTB-5240S-P-InB) and a SONET/SDH, OTN, Ethernet and Fibre Channel analyzer (FTB-8130NGE Power Blazer), a combination that delivers multiple software-based test capabilities, including in-band OSNR measurement for qualifying newly commissioned OTN links; standard and over-clocked OTN functionalities for commissioning the transport layer; and SONET/SDH, Ethernet and Fibre Channel functionalities for qualifying all ROADM-supported interfaces.

In addition, the FTB-500 offers battery operation, remote management and integrated optical tools, the company said.

CWDM turn-up and multi-service testing configurations feature a mix of modules, ranging from CWDM-dedicated OTDRs and high-power optical spectrum analyzers to 1 gigabit/10 gigabit Ethernet test modules and 10 gigabit next-generation SONET/SDH analyzers.

Etienne Gagnon, Exfo’s vice president of product management and marketing, said, “The four-slot FTB-500 provides technicians with an extremely powerful, yet highly portable solution to their everyday ROADM/PTN/CWDM turn-up and multi-service test challenges.”