Optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR)-based fiber monitoring optimization

An apparatus comprising:

• a tunable dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) to tune a test wavelength of the DWDM OTDR to an effective wavelength of DWDM channels;
• a non-temperature compensated multiplexer/demultiplexer (Mux/DeMux) collocated with the tunable DWDM OTDR to selectively connect, based on the test wavelength, the DWDM OTDR to a fiber optic link of a plurality of fiber optic links, wherein the Mux/DeMux includes an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG), and wherein each AWG input and AWG output is connected to an optical fiber;
• and
• a reflective optical connector connected to an output of the Mux/DeMux to provide a reference for setting the test wavelength of the tunable DWDM OTDR on a selected channel of the Mux/DeMux, wherein a fiber optic link analyzer is to;
• identify, based on comparison of a real-time trace to traces acquired at different wavelengths associated with the fiber optic link, a central wavelength of a reference channel of the Mux/DeMux;
• scan a range of wavelengths around a presumed central wavelength;
• and
• utilize the central wavelength of the reference channel to recalculate central wavelengths of other channels of the Mux/DeMux.

An apparatus comprising:

• an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) comprising a fiber optic link analyzer, executed by at least one hardware processor, to control an optical MEMS switch and optimize transmission properties of the optical MEMS switch, wherein the optical MEMS switch is collocated with or distant to the OTDR;
• a non-temperature compensated multiplexer/demultiplexer (Mux/DeMux) located at a distant location, collocated with, or embedded within the OTDR, including an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG), and wherein each AWG input and AWG output is connected to an optical fiber;
• and
• a fiber optic link including a reflective optical connector connected to an output of the optical MEMS switch, wherein the fiber optic link analyzer is executed by the at least one hardware processor to:
• identify, based on comparison of a real-time trace to traces acquired at different wavelengths associated with the fiber optic link, a central wavelength of a reference channel of the Mux/DeMux;
• scan a range of wavelengths around a presumed central wavelength;
• and
• utilize the central wavelength of the reference channel to recalculate central wavelengths of other channels of the Mux/DeMux.