Test method for characterizing an optical fiber link

A method for characterizing an optical fiber link, the method comprising:

• performing at least one OTDR acquisition toward the optical fiber link, wherein the OTDR acquisition comprises propagating in the optical fiber link under test, a pulsed test signal and detecting corresponding return light from the optical fiber link representing backscattered and reflected light as a function of distance in the optical fiber link;
• and
• from the OTDR acquisition, deriving a rating value associated with the optical fiber link, related to a value of an excess insertion loss associated with the optical fiber link under test, in excess of a nominal value of insertion loss associated with a hypothetical optical fiber link having a length corresponding to the total length of the optical fiber link under test.

A method for characterizing an optical fiber link, the method comprising:

• propagating a test signal test in the optical fiber link under test from one end thereof and detecting a power level of said test signal at the other end of the optical fiber link to derive therefrom a total insertion loss of the optical fiber link;
• calculating a time of flight of said test signal between the one end and the other end and deriving therefrom a total length of the optical fiber link;
• deriving a value of an excess insertion loss associated with the optical fiber link under test, in excess of a nominal value of insertion loss associated with a hypothetical optical fiber link having a length corresponding to the measured total length of the optical fiber link under test.

The method as claimed in 19, further comprising:

• deriving a rating value associated with the optical fiber link, at least from the derived value of excess insertion loss;
• and
• outputting said rating value.