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The Yamasaki Y44 Quad Wavelength OTDR combines singlemode and multimode fibre testing in one instrument. With 850/1300 nm and 1310/1550 nm wavelengths, it suits teams working across both fibre types. Integrated functions include event mapping, an optical power meter, light source, visual fault locator and fibre inspection probe.
The Yamasaki Y44 Quad Wavelength OTDR provides four-wavelength testing for teams working across singlemode and multimode fibre installations. It supports 850/1300 nm multimode testing and 1310/1550 nm singlemode testing within one instrument. Consequently, technicians can cover both fibre types without selecting separate OTDR instruments for each.
Many organisations maintain networks containing different generations of fibre infrastructure. For example, a building may use multimode links internally while connecting to other buildings through singlemode cable. Similarly, contractors may move between customers whose installations require different fibre testing capabilities.
Therefore, equipment selection should reflect the complete workload. The right instrument must suit the fibre types, connection arrangements and measurements your team needs.
The Y44’s role is clear: combined singlemode and multimode OTDR testing. This authority hub explains its specifications, practical selection considerations and the workflow required to manage both fibre types effectively.
To request a quote for the Yamasaki Y44 Quad OTDR click on our Rapid Quote.
A Quad Wavelength OTDR is an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer with four testing wavelengths.
An OTDR sends light pulses along a fibre and measures returning backscatter and reflections. It then uses those measurements to produce a trace showing events along the optical path.
As a result, technicians can investigate fibre length, connections, splices and potential faults. In addition, a stored commissioning trace provides a reference for later maintenance and troubleshooting.
For the Yamasaki Y44, the four-wavelength arrangement supports two fibre-testing groups:
| Fibre type | Y44 OTDR wavelengths |
|---|---|
| Multimode | 850 nm and 1300 nm |
| Singlemode | 1310 nm and 1550 nm |
Both groups are available within the Y44. Therefore, its main selection advantage concerns teams that regularly need both singlemode and multimode testing.
However, the technician must still choose the correct settings and accessories for each link. Combined instrument capability does not make the two fibre types interchangeable.
A mixed-fibre workload involves testing singlemode and multimode installations across the same site, customer portfolio or maintenance program.
For example, a facilities team may manage older multimode building links alongside newer singlemode campus connections. Alternatively, an installation contractor may encounter different fibre types on successive jobs.
In these situations, one instrument covering both groups can simplify equipment allocation. Furthermore, technicians can develop a consistent approach to operating the instrument and organising results.
Nevertheless, preparation remains specific to the link under test. The correct wavelength, reference cables and connector arrangement still matter.
Before choosing equipment, list the actual fibre types your team encounters. Then identify how frequently each requires testing.
This creates a practical basis for deciding whether a Quad OTDR suits your workload.
Buildings and campuses can contain several fibre generations. Consequently, the network records may identify different fibre types across individual routes.
Before testing, confirm each route rather than assuming every cable follows the same specification. Also, check whether the work includes building links, interbuilding connections or both.
A route-by-route schedule helps technicians prepare the required accessories before arriving at each termination point.
Contractors often need to accommodate the infrastructure already installed at a customer’s premises. Therefore, equipment planning should account for the range of jobs in the business.
Review recent projects and upcoming contracts. In addition, record which fibre types and connector arrangements appear most frequently.
This information helps determine the appropriate instrument and accessory package.
Maintenance teams may inherit installations with incomplete records. As a result, identifying the fibre becomes an essential first step.
Reconcile cable markings, asset records and termination information before selecting the test setup. Then preserve the confirmed details for future maintenance.
Over time, this improves both equipment preparation and the quality of the network documentation.
The following details come from the Yamasaki Y44 Quad OTDR datasheet.
| Parameter | Published specification |
|---|---|
| OTDR wavelengths | 850/1300/1310/1550 nm |
| Dynamic range | 26/28/37/35 dB respectively |
| Event dead zone | 0.5 m |
| Attenuation dead zone | 3.5 m |
| Display | 7-inch colour touchscreen, 800 × 480 |
| Optical interfaces | FC/UPC, LC/UPC and SC/UPC; ST/UPC optional |
| Battery | 3.7 V, 10,400 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Typical battery duration | Approximately 12 hours under stated conditions |
| Optical power meter range | −50 to +26 dBm |
| Visual fault locator | 650 nm, 10 mW |
| Inspection probe | 200× magnification, USB output, manual focus |
| External interfaces | USB-A, Type-C and RJ45 LAN |
| Weight | Approximately 1.2 kg |
| Dimensions | 162 mm × 220 mm × 52 mm |
| Operating temperature | −10°C to +50°C |
The battery duration assumes real-time OTDR testing with the backlight at 50%. Specifications are subject to change.
The Y44 product page lists OTDR testing, event mapping, an optical power meter, a light source, a visual fault locator, fibre-end inspection and insertion-loss testing.
In addition, it describes automatic and manual operation, touchscreen and keypad controls, pass/fail results and PC trace analysis. These functions support several stages of fibre testing and investigation.
When selecting the instrument, consider how your technicians will use those functions together. For example, connection preparation, trace acquisition and result review should form a planned sequence.
Also, confirm the supplied accessories and reporting arrangements before ordering. This helps ensure the package supports your intended workflow.
The Yamasaki Y44 Quad Wavelength OTDR comes standard with the Yamasaki USB Handheld Video Microscope, allowing technicians to inspect fibre connector end faces before testing. This helps identify contamination or visible damage that could affect the connection and test results. Therefore, include inspection in your preparation workflow: inspect the end face, clean when necessary, then inspect again before connecting.
A Quad Wavelength OTDR provides combined instrument capability. However, your accessory kit must also support the singlemode and multimode links you intend to test.
Prepare an accessory schedule alongside the instrument selection. Then check each item against the fibre type and connection arrangement.
Identify the singlemode connector formats and polish types used in the installation. Next, confirm the matching reference cable arrangement for the instrument and the link.
Also, record the reference cable’s fibre specification and length. Clear identification helps prevent confusion when several assemblies share similar connector housings.
For multimode work, identify the installed fibre specification before selecting reference cables.
The FOA advises matching launch and receive cables to the fibre type and size under test. Their connectors must also suit the installation and remain in good condition.
Therefore, confirm compatibility from the cable specification and product identification. Jacket colour can assist organisation, but technicians should also check the recorded details.
Check both ends of every reference assembly. One end must suit the instrument interface, while the other must suit the installation.
In addition, verify connector polish compatibility. A familiar connector housing does not establish that two optical interfaces can mate correctly.
When the arrangement is uncertain, provide photographs and part numbers with your enquiry. This gives the supplier useful information for reviewing the setup.
Keep singlemode and multimode reference cables in clearly identified compartments. Also, label adapters and store cleaning equipment where technicians can find it easily.
For shared equipment, include a simple inventory. Then check the kit before dispatch and after return.
This makes it easier to identify missing components before the next job.
A launch cable provides fibre between the instrument and the installation. This allows the OTDR to recover from the initial pulse and supports assessment of the installation’s first connection.
Similarly, a receive cable provides fibre beyond the far-end connection so that the final connection can be assessed.
Reference cable length must suit the test conditions. Therefore, choose the launch and receive arrangement around the required measurements rather than assuming one cable length covers every job.
For a mixed-fibre kit, document the intended use of each reference assembly. Also, keep a record of its condition.
If a reference cable produces unexpected results, investigate it before continuing across multiple installation fibres. This helps avoid repeating a setup problem throughout the test package.
A Quad Wavelength OTDR’s wavelength coverage describes which fibre-testing groups it supports. It does not establish that every connection arrangement will be equally easy to measure.
In particular, closely spaced reflective events can challenge an OTDR’s ability to distinguish events and measure their losses.
Event and attenuation dead zones describe different aspects of this limitation. Furthermore, actual performance depends on pulse width, reflectance and measurement conditions. Published dead-zone values generally represent favourable conditions.
Therefore, describe your shortest links and closest connection spacing when reviewing equipment.
Where practical, use a representative installation for a demonstration. Then assess whether the resulting trace provides the evidence your project requires.
Before testing, create a schedule that identifies each link and its required measurements.
For larger jobs, group the work by fibre type where the site arrangement permits. This can reduce repeated changes to accessories and settings.
However, keep every result tied to the individual link. Grouping the work should improve organisation without weakening identification.
A useful planning schedule includes:
| Planning item | Information to record |
|---|---|
| Link identity | Site, cable and termination locations |
| Fibre identity | Fibre number and fibre specification |
| Test requirements | Wavelengths, directions and acceptance criteria |
| Connection arrangement | Connector families and polish types |
| Reference setup | Launch and receive cable identification |
| Result organisation | File names, folders and handover requirements |
Also, confirm the service condition before connecting test equipment. Follow the site’s approved procedure and the instrument’s operating instructions.
The following sequence supports planning across both fibre types. Always follow the supplied operating instructions and the project specification.
First, check the cable and fibre identifiers against the records.
Then confirm whether the link requires singlemode or multimode testing. Resolve uncertainty before selecting the wavelength or reference cables.
Also, identify both termination locations so the testing direction remains clear.
Inspect connector end faces before mating. If cleaning is necessary, clean using an appropriate method and inspect again.
Include the reference connections in the preparation. The FOA’s OTDR procedure identifies suitable reference cables, compatible adapters and connector cleaning as essential parts of the setup.
Choose the reference cables intended for the fibre under test. Next, confirm the connector arrangement at the instrument and installation.
Record which assemblies you use. Also, note any replacement or setup change during the job.
Select the required wavelength and review the distance range, pulse width and averaging time.
Longer pulses help measurements reach farther along a fibre, while shorter pulses improve the ability to distinguish nearby events. Consequently, the settings must balance reach and detail.
When moving to a different fibre type, review the complete configuration again. Do not carry settings forward without checking their suitability.
Examine the trace alongside the event summary. Then compare the measurement with the expected route and connection layout.
If something appears unexpected, investigate before accepting the result. Also, preserve the original measurement and record any follow-up work.
This helps later reviewers understand how the final conclusion developed.
Complete the wavelengths and directions required by the test plan.
Where bidirectional splice analysis is necessary, preserve both directions. Differences in fibre backscatter can cause apparent splice loss or gain, so direction matters when interpreting those measurements.
Finally, save results using the agreed naming convention.
Then check the package against the fibre schedule. Confirm that every required fibre, wavelength and direction has a corresponding result.
Also, identify unresolved observations before handover. A complete record should allow another technician to understand the work without relying on a verbal explanation.
Mixed-fibre projects may require both OTDR characterisation and end-to-end insertion-loss testing.
An OTDR provides information about individual events and their locations. By comparison, a light source and power meter measure insertion loss across the complete optical path.
Therefore, select the methods required by the project. Where extended OTDR testing is specified, retain the required insertion-loss measurements as well.
For singlemode and multimode work, agree on the applicable reference procedure and acceptance criteria before testing. Then preserve those details with the results.
The Y44’s combined capability makes setup discipline particularly useful. Technicians may change fibre types during the same day or within one project.
If the fibre records conflict with the physical installation, pause and reconcile the information.
Next, update the test schedule with the confirmed specification. This prevents the same uncertainty from affecting subsequent measurements.
Before each setup, check the reference cable labels and specification.
Also, verify the connector arrangement. Similar-looking assemblies may serve different purposes, so keep their identities visible throughout the job.
Use a short setup review whenever the fibre type or route changes.
For example, confirm the wavelength, range, pulse width, reference assemblies and file destination. Then begin the next measurement.
Identify the link before collecting the trace. Also, use a consistent file naming convention.
At the end of each group, compare the saved results with the schedule. This makes omissions and naming errors easier to correct while the equipment remains on site.
Follow the supplied instructions for cleaning, charging, handling and storage.
Before each job, inspect the instrument and accessories for visible damage. In addition, check reference cable condition and equipment records.
After testing, organise both accessory groups and protect exposed interfaces. Then return the complete kit to suitable storage.
For shared equipment, record reported problems clearly. Include the setup, symptoms and any repeat measurements.
Also, review servicing and calibration requirements before allocating the instrument to a customer project. This keeps equipment preparation aligned with the contract.
For customer cabling work covered by Australian regulations, consult the ACMA Cabling Provider Rules. ACMA identifies requirements concerning appropriate registration, competencies and compliance with the applicable Wiring Rules.
In addition, review the customer’s test specification. It should establish the required methods, acceptance criteria and documentation.
Before work begins, make those requirements available to the testing team. Then use the agreed scope to review the final handover package.
Its main selection advantage is combined singlemode and multimode testing capability. Therefore, consider it when your workload regularly includes both fibre types.
Select reference cables that match the fibre under test. Consequently, a mixed-fibre workload requires appropriately identified singlemode and multimode reference arrangements.
Review the configuration whenever the fibre type or link changes. Check the wavelength, measurement settings and accessories against the next test.
“Quad” refers to the instrument’s four testing wavelengths. It should not be interpreted as a claim of simultaneous four-fibre testing.
Use the methods required by the project. OTDR characterisation and end-to-end insertion-loss testing provide different measurement information.
Provide the fibre specifications, connector arrangements and typical link lengths. Also, include the required measurements, reporting format and accessories already available to your team.
Use a consistent naming convention and identify the fibre type within the records. Then check the completed package against the test schedule before handover.
Choosing a Quad Wavelength OTDR involves more than selecting four wavelengths. You also need to understand how combined singlemode and multimode capability fits your workload, reference cables and reporting requirements.
That is why Anderson Corporation is developing a practical Knowledge Centre dedicated to Quad OTDR selection and mixed-fibre testing workflows.
Whether you manage a campus, maintain building infrastructure or test installations across multiple customer sites, these resources will support more informed equipment and testing decisions.
Future articles will explain four-wavelength OTDR coverage and the requirements of mixed singlemode and multimode workloads. In addition, they will explore when combined instrument capability suits a testing program.
Articles coming soon.
This section will examine how to select a Quad OTDR and its supporting accessory package. Furthermore, future guidance will cover fibre compatibility, connector arrangements and representative testing requirements.
Articles coming soon.
Future articles will explain how to prepare separate singlemode and multimode setups using one instrument. They will also cover configuration changes, reference cable identification and mixed-fibre result organisation.
Articles coming soon.
This section will explore fibre identification errors, mismatched reference cables and settings carried between different links. In particular, future guidance will explain how to investigate inconsistencies when changing test setups.
Articles coming soon.
Future articles will cover instrument care and the management of separate singlemode and multimode accessory groups. In addition, they will examine reference cable records, kit checks and preparation for servicing.
Articles coming soon.
This section will examine Quad OTDR use across mixed-fibre buildings, campuses and contractor workloads. Furthermore, future articles will explore how the range of installed fibre influences equipment planning.
Articles coming soon.
For more fibre optic product guidance, visit the Anderson Corporation YouTube channel.
Choose the Yamasaki Y44 Quad Wavelength OTDR when your testing workload requires singlemode and multimode capability within one instrument.
Contact Anderson Corporation with your fibre specifications, connector arrangements, typical link lengths and reporting requirements. Also, identify the reference cables and accessories your team already owns.
This information will help us review the instrument and accessory package for your application.
Contact Anderson Corporation to request a quote, email sales@andcorp.com.au, or call (03) 9761 7600.
