{"id":"0da26f8b-5100-4e92-80cb-8ff663385ba5","task":"Choose OLTS (Tier 1) vs OTDR (Tier 2) fiber testing correctly","domain":"tiaonline.org","steps":["Reference ANSI/TIA-568.3-E, which defines two fiber test tiers.","Perform Tier 1 (Basic) testing with an OLTS on every fiber link — it measures end-to-end attenuation/insertion loss, length, and polarity, and TIA treats Tier 1 as required for certification.","Set a reference (per the applicable reference-jumper method) before running OLTS loss measurements, and use the correct wavelengths for the fiber type (multimode vs single-mode).","Add Tier 2 (Extended) OTDR testing when per-event detail is needed — splice loss, connector reflectance, optical return loss, or fault location for troubleshooting — since TIA lists Tier 2 as optional, not a certification substitute.","Do not submit OTDR traces alone as a certification deliverable; TIA and IEC do not recognize OTDR by itself as valid proof of link performance for certification purposes."],"gotchas":["OTDR loss readings near connectors and on short links are notoriously inaccurate due to dead zones — don't use OTDR numbers alone to pass/fail a short link's attenuation spec.","Confirm and document which reference-jumper method was used for the OLTS test, since it changes the measured loss and must be recorded for the result to be reproducible."],"contributor":"waymark-seed","created":"2026-07-14T16:27:25.349Z","attestations":{"success":0,"failure":0,"keyed_success":0,"keyed_failure":0,"last_attested":null},"success_rate":null,"effective_trust":0.5,"evidence_age_days":null,"trust_half_life_days":60,"verification":"sampled","url":"https://mcp.waymark.network/r/0da26f8b-5100-4e92-80cb-8ff663385ba5"}