The Micro OWL 2 VFL is a high accuracy, high resolution, microprocessor controlled, optical power meter. The meter has a 75dB dynamic range making it ideal for both single-mode and multimode fiber testing.
It has an attractive handheld case with a backlit, graphic, liquid crystal display, and 18-key keypad for easy data entry. It is offered with a 2.5mm universal fiber connector, with a 1.25mm universal cap for LC, MU, and other 1.25mm SFF connectors. It will operate for over 100 hours on a standard 9v battery and has built in auto shutdown.
The Micro OWL 2 VFL includes OWL’s user-friendly Link Wizard that helps you easily calculate the allowable loss for the fiber runs that you will be measuring. The meter stores physical fiber information for up to four link configurations which includes link name, date, fiber type, fiber length, connectors, splices, temperature, and calculated or entered reference power values for three wavelengths. In addition the meter will store up to 1000 measured data points with labels.
The auto-wavelength switching feature of the Micro OWL 2 VFL allows for convenient dual-wavelength data storage, which helps eliminate human error and cuts down testing time nearly in half. This convenient feature is available when used with OWL WaveSource series fiber optic light sources.
The stored information can be selectively viewed, edited (measured again), printed, or deleted. The meter will print formatted reports of selected stored data directly using the built in serial port, or all of the stored data can be downloaded to a computer spreadsheet or our free OWL Reporter software to produce formatted certification reports.
The Micro OWL 2 VFL also contains a precision-coupled visual fault locator for visual fiber identification or troubleshooting faults in the near-end of a fiber link.
Visual Fault Locator (VFL) Option
Visual Fault Locators (VFL) play an important part when working on a fiber optic network, especially installation, testing, and troubleshooting. The bright red laser in a VFL allows for quick and easy near-end visual fault location and visual fiber identification (click examples below for larger images).
As an option, the charger port in Micro OWL 2 optical power meters can be replaced by a precision-coupled Visual Fault Locator (VFL). By integrating a VFL into the power meter, troubleshooting for near-end faults can be done on the spot during testing.
OWL precision-coupled VFLs offer two distinct technological advantages over traditional laser pen-style visual fault locators.
First, a multi-million dollar micro-alignment machine is used to place a tiny ball lens between the laser diode and the output port, allowing for optimum precision-coupling of optical power into both multimode and singlemode fibers.
Second, red lasers are susceptible to burnout, which is typically caused by power surging from the battery when the unit is powered on, especially from new batteries. Over time, these battery surges can weaken the laser, significantly limiting the laser's effectiveness. OWL optical power meters contain special circuitry that protects the red laser diode from battery power surges, ensuring a stable and consistent source of red light as well as maximizing the life-span of the laser.
General Features - LCD DISPLAY
The screen below shows information when power readings are being taken. We will refer to this screen throughout this manual as IMMEDIATE MODE.
- POWER READING - shows the amount of optical power being received by the photodetector based upon the type of power units currently being displayed. “UNDER” means there is no measurable optical power and “OVER” means the detector is “blinded” by too much optical power
- POWER UNITS - shows the power units which are currently being displayed
- dBm - optical power in decibels relative to a milliwatt of optical energy
- dB - optical power in decibels relative to a previously set optical reference, also known as optical loss
- uW - optical power in micro- (uW) or milli-watts (mW)
- TONE DETECTION - shows ‘Hz’ if a modulated signal is being detected by the meter
- TEMPERATURE - shows current temperature in degrees (selectable Fahrenheit or Celcius)
- BATTERY LIFE - shows the percentage amount of remaining battery life; will flash when battery is low
- LINK NAME - shows the name of the currently loaded fiber link (CERTIFICATION METER mode only)
- FIBER RUN - shows the current fiber information (CERTIFICATION METER mode only)
- FBR: - user-configurable descriptive fiber name
- 123 - auto-incrementing fiber number (from 1 to 999)
- FUNCTION OPTIONS MENU - functions corresponding to the function keys on the keypad; the options on this menu will change according to the current function
- POWER METER WAVELENGTH - shows the currently selected wavelength (see the specifications in the appendix at the end of this manual for a list of wavelengths); will also alternate between wavelength and ‘AUTO’ when set to automatic wavelength detection