Abstract

We report here on a new display format for the accurate measurement of joint loss made possible by two-point processing of a back-scatter signal. This display is clearly superior to the more usual log plot because it presents the results in a form that allows the direct interpretation of joint loss and a comparison of all joint losses within a regenerator span. Furthermore, a threshold level can be displayed as an aid to the acceptance or rejection of joints, a feature which simplifies the field testing of fiber splices.