When testing a fiber-optic splitter with an OTDR, what would cause all splitter output ports to appear the same on the display?

The scenario where all splitter output ports appear the same on an OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer) display is best explained by the situation in which an equal percentage fiber-optic splitter with all the same drop lengths is being tested.

In an equal percentage splitter, the optical power is evenly distributed among the output ports. If each output port has the same length of fiber and is part of the same splitter configuration, the reflected and transmitted signals reaching the OTDR will have very similar characteristics, leading to identical readings for each port. The OTDR measures the time it takes for light pulses to transmit through the fiber and reflect back. Therefore, with identical lengths and splits, the OTDR will display similar loss profiles for each connected output, making them appear the same on the display.

This situation highlights the importance of understanding how fiber-optic splitters work and the principles of light transmission in optical fibers. It reflects the predictable behavior of a well-designed optical splitter under normal operating conditions.

In contrast, the other scenarios would not result in all ports appearing the same on the display. A faulty OTDR may produce inaccurate or unreliable results, variations in fiber core sizes would lead to discrepancies in light transmission and loss, and a misaligned connector would