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Optical Explorer - Industry's first optical fiber multimeter

Fiber optic tester that performs link verification and automated fault tracking in seconds. Empowering frontline technicians to explore further and do more.

Evaluate the quality of fiber links in seconds.

Empower frontline fiber technicians to do more, faster.

An innovative, fast and simple-to-use fiber optic tester, Optical Explorer verifies optical links in seconds and automatically explores further when potential issues are suspected. It’s the first optical fiber multimeter (OFM)—an essential handheld tool for fiber optic technicians (it can be compared to multimeters used by electrical technicians). OFMs quickly measure multiple key optical parameters such as loss (dB), optical return loss (dB), length (meters) and power (dBm). They help technicians verify fiber optic link health and troubleshoot potential issues.

The right tool for the job

Displays fiber length, loss and optical return loss (ORL) in under 3 seconds
On-the-spot detection and location of common causes of failures
Intelligent: no settings required make it an essential for any frontline technician’s toolkit
Built-in power checker and light source
Patent pending EXFO Advisor 5-star rating scale: qualitative approach to assess fiber links
Click-out optical connectors and “self-diagnosis” let techs perform maintenance in the field
Rechargeable battery for over 10 hours of use on a single charge

Innovation at work

Optical Explorer is more than an improvement of existing fiber optic test equipment—it represents a groundbreaking new approach to fiber installation, turn-up and repair. The kind of innovation that only EXFO—backed by 37+ years of fiber optic testing expertise—can deliver.

Cut hidden costs to reduce total cost of ownership (TCO)

Hidden costs throughout a product’s life make up a massive, yet sometimes overlooked, part of TCO. And it includes more than just the initial purchase price. 

Optical Explorer’s lifetime calibration, patent-pending click-out optical connector and field replaceable battery empower field techs to do more directly from the field, cutting costly downtime and logistics associated with factory-based updates, maintenance and repairs.

 

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Meet Optical Explorer

Keeping up with the accelerated pace of fiber deployment plus meeting 5G deployment challenges mean that frontline technicians need a fundamental shift in their testing approach—enter Optical Explorer.

 

Make it simpler.

Boost your workforce output without increasing headcount

  • Simple-to-use test tool: intuitive design requires minimal training to use—perfect for frontline field techs no matter their experience level or testing background
  • Fix problems on the go: minimize the costs and delays associated with deploying level-2 expert support and additional truck rolls
  • Ultra-lean interface and no complex settings for ease of use and reduction in manual errors 

Do it better.

Upskill frontline techs plus unique 5-star rating scale, to boost work quality

  • EXFO Advisor validates link quality in seconds, assigning a 1-5 star rating according to industry best practices 
  • With power checking and light source capabilities combined in a rugged and compact form factor, Optical Explorer is a familiar, intuitive field companion that instantly upskills any field technician
  • Link Mapper improves pinpointing of faulty elements: locates all faults and detectable elements by reading their relative position instead of interpreting distance

Do it faster.

Speed up installation, service activation, mean time to repair and time to revenue with leaner MOPs for improved ROI and customer satisfaction

  • Get leaner methods of procedure: confirm link quality and/or identify faults in a simple, one-step quick test.
  • Test insertion loss and ORL in a single-ended process, no need for tedious referencing.
  • Reduce mean-time-to-repair (MTTR) by cutting down on troubleshooting and escalation tickets.
  • Don’t lose time on good links. In 5 seconds, Fault Explorer confirms a pass (IL, ORL and length) on good links while tracking only suspicious events.
  • Frontline technicians leave jobs assured of a smoother, faster service activation or recovery time.

Do more for less.

Bring down OPEX and CAPEX by minimizing cost of ownership without compromising quality

  • Lifetime calibration, patent-pending click-out optical connector and replaceable battery enable frontline field techs to perform unit repair/maintenance—no shipping logistics or downtime for factory servicing
  • Empowers large crews of frontline technicians to do more: reduces need for onsite fiber expert.
  • Contractors close more jobs while maximizing ROI due to leaner MOPs and lower cost of ownership

Get stronger networks.

Take control of QoS and gain confidence in your fiber infrastructure ahead of its next evolution

  • Less service disruption and troubleshooting tickets as links are verified and fixed at installation and activation
  • Delivers visibility over the robustness of links in relation to the type of traffic carried

Applications

Any singlemode link up to 40 km (point-to-point)
FTTx last mile installation
FTTx service activation and repair, including in-service testing
Last mile/access network installation and repair
Fiber health check-up
Power level testing
Insertion loss and ORL testing
Fiber-break location
Fault identification and location (splices, connectors, macrobends)

Manage field tests. Streamline workflows. Unlock insights. 

Interconnect all parts of your field test ecosystem through EXFO Exchange, our open collaborative software platform.

 

Key benefits include:

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Connect operations with real-time visibility.

Increase collaboration and build trust with business partners.

Boost efficiency with automated processes.

Reduce maintenance costs.

Unlock insights to see what matters.

Awards and reviews

Innovation and leadership have always been front and center at EXFO. Each year, we strive to develop solutions that will ensure superior customer experience in smarter, modern networks. Being recognized as such is always a great honor. Learn more about our awards:

Tony McLaughlin

Data Center Engineering at LinkedIn
The Optical Explorer is “my new best friend”. I’ve used it extensively to troubleshoot singlemode links up to 1.5 km. The small size means I’m carrying it most of the time and doing a lot more testing. I also like the way it’s easy to switch from Fiber Explorer to Power Checker so I can perform both tests on the connected strand effortlessly (no more using my phone to check for light, identifying rolled fibers is so much easier!). Heck, I used it just this morning. Did I mention I love it!
The Optical Explorer is “my new best friend”

Dennis Leggett

Leggett Fiber Consulting LP / CIRBN of Illinois and other clients
All of this is in a unit that is about the size of your hand which makes it usable no matter if you are up a ladder or in a closet either one making it hard to use a full size OTDR. It has reduced my testing time by at least 50% if not more. The touch screen makes it easy to move around from one app to another. Do not have to worry about training someone to be able to interpret an OTDR trace, just read the screen and you are good to go. It truly is a multimeter for fiber optic...
It has reduced my testing time by at least 50% if not more

Product demo

Resources

All resources
Spec sheet
Optical Explorer – OX1 - English (October 04, 2023)
Spec sheet
Optical Explorer – OX1 - Français (October 04, 2023)
Spec sheet
Optical Explorer – OX1 - 中文 (October 04, 2023)
Spec sheet
Optical Explorer – OX1 - Español (October 04, 2023)
Spec sheet
Optical Explorer – OX1 - Italiano (October 04, 2023)
Spec sheet
Optical Explorer – OX1 - Deutsch (October 04, 2023)
Brochures and catalogs
Quick guide to testing FTTH - English (United States) (August 19, 2022)
Brochures and catalogs
Quick guide to testing FTTH - Français (Canada) (August 19, 2022)
Brochures and catalogs
Quick guide to testing FTTH - Italiano (Italia) (August 19, 2022)
Brochures and catalogs
Quick guide to testing FTTH - Deutsch (Deutschland) (August 19, 2022)
Flyers and pamphlets
Maximizing the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) with the right testing gear - English (United States) (April 01, 2021)
Flyers and pamphlets
Quarterly software updates and new options - October 2020 - English (United States) (December 11, 2020)
Declaration of conformity
OX1 | CE - English (United States) (August 14, 2019)
Flyers and pamphlets
Optical Explorer 5-star fiber testing made simple for frontline techs - English (United States) (June 12, 2020)
Flyers and pamphlets
Optical Explorer 5-star fiber testing made simple for frontline techs - Français (Canada) (June 12, 2020)
Flyers and pamphlets
Optical Explorer 5-star fiber testing made simple for frontline techs - 中文(中国) (June 12, 2020)
Flyers and pamphlets
Optical Explorer 5-star fiber testing made simple for frontline techs - Español (España) (June 12, 2020)
Flyers and pamphlets
Optical Explorer 5-star fiber testing made simple for frontline techs - Italiano (Italia) (June 12, 2020)
Flyers and pamphlets
Optical Explorer 5-star fiber testing made simple for frontline techs - Deutsch (Deutschland) (June 12, 2020)
Flyers and pamphlets
Optical Explorer 5-star fiber testing made simple for frontline techs - Português (Portugal) (June 12, 2020)
Flyers and pamphlets
Optical Explorer 5-star fiber testing made simple for frontline techs - 日本語 (日本) (June 12, 2020)
Flyers and pamphlets
Speed up FTTH distribution fiber tests with Optical Explorer - English (United States) (June 02, 2021)
User manual
Optical Explorer - English (United States) (November 23, 2022)
User manual
Optical Explorer - Français (Canada) (November 23, 2022)
User manual
Optical Explorer - 中文(中国) (November 23, 2022)
User manual
Optical Explorer - Español (España) (November 23, 2022)
User manual
Optical Explorer - Deutsch (Deutschland) (November 23, 2022)
User manual
Optical Explorer - Português (Portugal) (November 23, 2022)
User manual
Optical Explorer - Русский (Россия) (November 23, 2022)
User manual
Optical Explorer - 中文(繁體) (November 23, 2022)
User manual
Optical Explorer - Polski (Polska) (November 23, 2022)
Promotional videos
Optical Explorer: fiber optic tester enabling frontline techs to do more - English (May 18, 2023)
Promotional videos
Optical Explorer: tried and tested - English (May 18, 2023)

Support