Accuracy and reliability in every fiber optic measurement

At Creativeit Group, we understand the importance of accurate, professional OTDR testing. That is why we developed our launch cable reels, designed to eliminate dead zones, protect your measurements, and improve the quality of your reports.

What is an OTDR Launch Cable Reel?

An OTDR launch cable reel is a controlled length of optical fiber wound inside a housing or case, used at the start or end of a measurement with an optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR). It acts as an optical buffer zone, allowing the OTDR to establish stable test conditions before measuring the actual link.

Why is it necessary?

The OTDR needs a few meters of initial fiber to stabilize the laser signal and compensate for the “dead zone”.
It allows the first connector, first splice, or nearby event to be measured correctly.
It can also be used as a receive reel to analyze the connector or splice at the far end of the link.

How Does It Work?

The reel is connected to the OTDR test port.
The test signal travels through the reel (fiber with no events).
The measurement begins only after this fiber, eliminating the initial dead zone.
The OTDR detects all events on the actual link with greater accuracy.

When a reel is used at both ends (launch and receive), a certified bidirectional measurement can be performed.

Common Applications

FTTH (Fiber to the Home)

Certification of spans from the OLT to the customer’s home.

Enterprise Links

Point-to-point testing between buildings or industrial areas.

Backbones and Metro Rings

Certification of 10 to 80 km links between network nodes.

Predictive Maintenance

Identification of faulty splices, attenuation, or damaged connectors.

Laboratories and Manufacturing

Calibration and quality testing of equipment and fiber spans.

We work with recognized brands

We stock or import leading brands:

Brand	Model	Key features
VIAVI	FiberLaunch Reel	High quality, sealed housing, OM1–OM4
EXFO	OTDR Launch Box	Compact, compatible with MaxTester and FTB
AFL	Launch Fiber Reel	Custom connectors, industrial use
Fluke	Fiber Launch Fiber	Designed for the OptiFiber Pro OTDR