ABSTRACT: Issue 1 of GR-2947, Generic Requirements for Portable Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) Test Sets, represents the Telcordia view of generic requirements and characteristics for portable PMD test sets used to measure optical fibers in the outside plant portions of a typical client company's optical network. The information in this document applies to PMD test sets designed for field measurements over single-mode optical fiber cable links.

This document includes requirements and objectives, and performance tests to compare PMD test sets against those stated requirements and objectives. In the Telcordia view, these requirements should be met in order to provide for satisfactory operation in a typical client company environment. This GR provides criteria against which a PMD test set can be analyzed. The document includes generic operation, mechanical and performance criteria, and a general description of performance tests to compare PMD test sets against the stated criteria.

The document discusses the fundamentals of PMD and three current measurement techniques:

• The fixed analyzer method
• Jones matrix method
• The interferometric method.