Extend the Life of Critical Equipment
The term “obsolete” sounds deceptively serious. This designation is assigned by the manufacturer and often has nothing to do with the viability of the equipment itself.
This creates a common challenge for companies: the tools they depend on are still working, but official support is no longer available. That’s where third-party repair and calibration providers like Legacy Fiberoptics come in, helping extend the life of critical equipment that would otherwise be replaced prematurely.
Repair and calibration services make it possible to restore, recalibrate, and return equipment to dependable working condition, often at a fraction of the cost of replacement.
What Makes Fiber Optic Equipment Obsolete?
In many cases, obsolete equipment can still be operable and reliable with professional repairs. Fiber optic equipment may be considered “obsolete” if the manufacturer phases out support by:
- Discontinuing manufacturer repairs
- Stopping manufacturer-provided calibration services
- Ceasing production on equipment-specific parts
While the manufacturer refuses to provide service or support for obsolete models, third-party repair and calibration providers continue to offer maintenance.
Most Common Obsolete Fiber Optic Equipment We Repair
Optical Time Domain Reflectometers (OTDRs) are the most common types of equipment sent for repairs. OTDRs are a diagnostic tool used to identify breaks, bends, signal losses, and other damage in fiber optic networks. They are essential for reducing interruptions and troubleshooting problems. As a critical piece of equipment, OTDRs are expensive to buy new, which is why repair service for obsolete models is so popular.
Other equipment Legacy Fiberoptics frequently services include:
- Fusion Splicers – Repairing fusion splicers allows technicians to continue creating precise, low-loss fiber connections.
- Power Meters – Repairing and recalibrating power meters helps maintain reliable testing accuracy.
- Optical Loss Test Sets (OLTS) – Repairing OLTS units helps teams continue performing certification and attenuation testing needed for fiber installation and maintenance.
4 Benefits of Repairing Obsolete Fiber Optic Equipment
Engaging the work of technicians, like those at Legacy Fiberoptics, is an excellent way to extend the life of equipment, reduce overall costs, and keep existing infrastructure functioning.
Maintaining obsolete equipment is a practical and necessary choice for many businesses.
#1 Familiarity
Staff are familiar with the current system, standard operating procedures are in place, and retraining on new equipment would cause avoidable delays and other challenges.
#2 Productivity
Removing old equipment and installing new equipment causes interruptions. Downtimes can be lengthy and costly, especially if the work falls within project deadlines.
#3 Costs & Budgeting
Replacing fiber optic equipment is expensive. It is challenging to justify the cost when the equipment is still operating efficiently. Manufacturers label products as obsolete to suit their business and evolving technology, not the realities of most users.
Third-party repair services cost a fraction of replacement. For example, new optical test equipment ranges from $10,000 to upwards of $30,000. Comparatively, repairs are usually quoted between $600 and $2,000. Those savings are significant and add meaningful flexibility to an operational budget.
#4 Sustainability
Many companies incorporate sustainability into their business values and operational models. By choosing to repair rather than replace equipment, waste is reduced along with costs.
How Obsolete Fiber Optic Equipment Is Repaired
Component-Level Diagnostics & Repair
Our technicians conduct extensive testing and diagnostics to troubleshoot failures. This approach is cost-effective and accurate. We only replace the damaged component instead of defaulting to an entire circuit board swap. As a result, our team successfully restores equipment that other service providers would suggest replacing at great expense.
Calibration to Manufacturer Standards
Calibration is critical to the function of fiber optic test equipment. Equipment must be calibrated to precise manufacturer standards, and even a small error could lead to interruptions. Our technicians make sure that all equipment performs at factory specifications, including and especially after repairs.
We use NIST-traceable calibration for dependable measurement results. By following national standards, our calibration services on repaired equipment are consistent, reportable, and meet compliance requirements.
Transparent Evaluations & Quotes
At Legacy Fiberoptics, we are committed to providing exceptional, transparent services.
Our process begins with a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether the obsolete equipment is repairable. This evaluation includes an inspection, functional testing, internal diagnostics, and parts replacement/availability assessment.
Then, a technician identifies the point of failure and the repair approach. The repair quote will outline:
- What needs to be repaired or replaced
- Estimated cost of the repair
- Expected turnaround time
Our goal is to help you make informed decisions about repairing fiber optic equipment.
When Obsolete Equipment Is Not Reparable
In some situations, our technicians may assess obsolete equipment and determine it cannot or should not be repaired. Usually, this decision comes down to technical challenges. Common reasons equipment may be deemed not reparable include:
- There is severe internal damage. Common causes are fire damage, flooding, or total circuit board failure.
- Unavailable or non-reproducible components. Our technicians often find suitable replacement parts for components no longer produced by the manufacturer. However, in some instances, proprietary components are required and cannot be substituted.
- Firmware or software limitations. Manufacturer restrictions may prevent restoration or repairs.
Requesting a repair diagnostic is still advised, even if you believe your equipment cannot be repaired. This process prevents the premature replacement of equipment that our advanced and professionally trained technicians could service. Our team is always honest and upfront about the condition of equipment and our capabilities to repair. Even if repairs are possible, we will still advise against service if the costs exceed the price of new equipment.
Extending the Life of Fiber Optic Equipment
Legacy Fiberoptics has provided repair, calibration, characterization, and maintenance of optical equipment since 2008. Our team of certified technicians extends the lifespan of fiber optic equipment for small businesses, commercial, and industrial companies by performing comprehensive diagnostics and repairs. Obsolete equipment can, and likely is, capable of performing reliably. To learn how we can support your goals and fiber optic needs, contact our team for additional information.