What distinguishes a reflectance measurement from an optical return loss (ORL) measurement?

Reflectance measurement focuses on how much light or signal is reflected back from individual components within a system, such as connectors or splices. This measurement is critical for determining the quality and integrity of those components, as it allows technicians to pinpoint specific areas where signal loss may be occurring due to poor connections or damage.

By focusing on individual components, reflectance provides valuable insights about each part's performance, helping to identify issues that could impact overall system effectiveness.

In contrast, optical return loss (ORL) is a broader metric that looks at the overall reflectance across a particular length of fiber or within an optical system, often measuring how much of the total signal is reflected back, regardless of which component caused that reflection. While ORL results can provide helpful information, they do not allow the technician to diagnose problems at the level of individual components as reflectance does.