Quick answer
Buy fiber tools in the order the job uses them: clean, inspect, find faults, terminate, then measure. In our catalog that is the Fiber Optic Cleaners pen (FC125) for 1.25 mm ferrules (the tip of the connector that holds the fiber), the Wireless Fiber Inspection Scope (PT-SCOPE-200), the Visual Fault Locator (TVFL100, a VFL), the ECO Fiber Termination Kit (ECO-TERMK-01), and the PT-OTDR-100 Mini OTDR and Copper Tester with a 150 m launch cable. An OTDR (optical time domain reflectometer) maps a fiber link and shows where loss and faults sit along it. Mechanical connectors are not included in the ECO kit, and we do not sell a connector for it, so plan to buy connectors that match your fiber and your connector type.
The starter set at a glance
| Step | Product | Price | Part | What it does | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Clean | Fiber Optic Cleaners | $109.43 | FC125 | Pen cleaner for 1.25 mm ferrules | Anyone mating LC connectors |
| 2. Inspect | Wireless Fiber Inspection Scope | $1,886.70 | PT-SCOPE-200 | 200X end-face inspection on a phone or tablet, pass/fail zones in the app | Crews who must document clean end faces |
| 3. Find faults | Visual Fault Locator | $140.94 | TVFL100 | 10 mW visible laser to light up breaks and bad connectors | Anyone not buying the ECO kit, or wanting a second VFL |
| 4. Terminate | ECO Fiber Termination Kit | $625.29 | ECO-TERMK-01 | Cleaver, strippers, scissors, VFL and prep supplies | Installers terminating with mechanical connectors |
| 4. Terminate | 5-in-1 Fiber Optic Stripper | $25.33 | 15061C | Fiber stripper sold on its own | A spare stripper, or a stripper without the kit |
| 5. Measure | PT-OTDR-100 Mini OTDR and Copper Tester | $931.78 | PT-OTDR-100 | 1310/1550 nm OTDR, power meter, VFL and laser source, copper TDR | Single-mode links you need to document |
| 5. Measure | Fiber Optic Launch Rings or Launch Box | $226.67 or $425.00 | LCR / SLB 150 m | 150 m single-mode launch cable for the OTDR | Anyone using the OTDR |
Step 1: Clean every connector, every time
A dirty end face (the polished glass at the tip of the connector) can fail a link that was otherwise built correctly, so clean every connector before you mate it. The Fiber Optic Cleaners pen (FC125) is made for 1.25 mm ferrules, the size used on LC connectors. If your job uses SC, ST or FC connectors, those use 2.5 mm ferrules; our sister shop, ShopFiberOptic, carries the 2.5 mm pen (FC250).
What it does not do: a cleaner does not tell you the end face is clean. That is the scope's job.
Step 2: Inspect before you connect
The Wireless Fiber Inspection Scope (PT-SCOPE-200) magnifies the end face at 200X and shows it on an iOS or Android phone or tablet, wired or over Wi-Fi. The app marks pass/fail zones on the image. SC and LC tips are included, and it runs on a USB-C rechargeable battery.
Who it is for: crews whose customer or general contractor wants proof the end faces were clean, and anyone who has chased a dirty connector for an afternoon.
What it does not do: it does not test the link. It shows the end face only.
Step 3: Find breaks and bad connectors
The Visual Fault Locator (TVFL100) sends a 10 mW visible laser into the fiber. Where the fiber is broken or badly terminated, the light escapes and you can see it at that point, most easily on jumpers and at connectors.
If you buy the ECO kit in step 4, it already includes a 650 nm visual fault locator. Buy the TVFL100 on its own if you are not buying the kit, or if you want a second VFL on the truck.
What it does not do: a VFL is not an OTDR. It shows you where light escapes. It does not measure loss or show distance to an event.
Step 4: Terminate
The ECO Fiber Termination Kit (ECO-TERMK-01) holds the prep tools for mechanical termination:
- a wheel cleaver rated to 36,000 cleaves
- tri-hole fiber strippers
- aramid (Kevlar) scissors
- a 650 nm visual fault locator, with batteries
- a ruler and a marker
- an alcohol container and wipes
- a carrying bag
Mechanical connectors are not included. We do not sell a connector for this kit, so buy connectors that match your fiber type and connector style before the job. The kit is the tool set, not the whole job.
If you are building your own set instead of buying the kit, the 5-in-1 Fiber Optic Stripper (15061C) is sold on its own. It is a fiber stripper, not a copper stripper.
Step 5: Measure and document the link
The PT-OTDR-100 Mini OTDR and Copper Tester is a handheld OTDR that also tests copper. What Platinum and its distributors publish for it:
- OTDR at 1310 and 1550 nm, with 26 dB dynamic range at 1310 nm and 28 dB at 1550 nm
- OTDR test range from 3 m to 105 km
- built-in power meter, visual fault locator and laser source
- auto test with an event map, and export to SOR (the standard OTDR trace file) or PDF
- copper TDR for twisted pair (it shows the distance to a fault on the cable)
- 5.5 in OLED touchscreen, 1 lb, 1-year manufacturer warranty
1310 and 1550 nm are the wavelengths used on single-mode fiber, so check the fiber type on your job before you buy.
What it does not do: it does not certify a link, and its copper TDR is for twisted pair, not coax.
You also need a launch cable
An OTDR cannot see the first connector clearly because of the dead zone right after its own port. A launch cable goes between the OTDR and the link so the first connector appears after the dead zone, where it can be evaluated. Our Fiber Optic Launch Rings and Fiber Optic Launch Box are both 150 m of single-mode 9/125 fiber, SC/APC (angled end face) to SC/UPC (straight end face), in a 3 mm micro-armored jacket. Choose the ring or the box by how you want to carry it.
Tools we do not sell
Fluke Networks, EXFO and VIAVI make the OTDRs and inspection scopes most fiber contractors know. Corning and AFL sell fiber termination kits. We do not sell any of them. If your project specification names a connector system, buy the kit for that system.
How to choose
- Know the fiber. Single-mode or multimode, and which connector (LC, SC, ST, FC). That decides the cleaner, the connectors and whether the OTDR fits the job.
- Buy cleaning first. Every other step depends on clean end faces.
- Decide if you need proof. If the customer wants documented end faces or traces, add the scope and the OTDR. If not, a VFL is often enough to find faults on short runs.
- Plan for connectors. The ECO kit does not include them.
- Add the OTDR when the job calls for a trace. Buy the launch cable with it.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What fiber tools does a beginner need?
A cleaner for your ferrule size, a way to find faults (a VFL), the prep tools to terminate (cleaver, strippers, scissors), and connectors. Add an inspection scope when you need to prove the end faces are clean, and an OTDR when you need to document the link.
Is the ECO Fiber Termination Kit everything I need?
No. Mechanical connectors are not included, and we do not sell a connector for it. It also does not include an inspection scope or an OTDR.
Do I need an OTDR for my first fiber job?
Not always. Many first jobs are short building runs where cleaning, a VFL and careful termination are enough. Buy an OTDR when you need to locate events along a link or hand the customer a trace.
What is a launch cable for?
It puts a known length of fiber between the OTDR and the link, so the first connector of the link appears after the OTDR's dead zone and can be evaluated.
Which cleaner do I need for LC and for SC connectors?
LC connectors use 1.25 mm ferrules: our FC125 pen. SC, ST and FC connectors use 2.5 mm ferrules: the FC250 pen on ShopFiberOptic.
Does the PT-OTDR-100 certify fiber?
No. It is an OTDR with a power meter, VFL, laser source and copper TDR. It does not certify a link.
Shop fiber tools
See every fiber tool on our fiber page. For a deeper fiber catalog, including cleaners by connector size, visit our sister shop ShopFiberOptic.
