FiberChek Sidewinder (Discontinued)

Automated multifiber connector inspection and analysis

"All-in-one" handheld inspection and analysis solution for multifiber connectors such as MPO.

The FiberChek Sidewinder is the industry’s first "all-in-one" handheld inspection and analysis solution for multifiber connectors such as MPO. The latest addition to the award-winning VIAVI FiberChek family delivers a completely automated solution to inspect and analyze every fiber of an MPO or other multifiber connectors with industry-leading reliability and speed.

Learn more about fiber inspection, fiber testing, passive optical networks (PON), XGS-PON.


Benefits

  • Fully autonomous multifiber inspection
  • Automate the inspection workflow
  • Certify end face quality to customer requirements
  • Ensure accurate and fast test performance with automatic test results at the press of a button.
  • Easily access connections in any location
  • Connect with anything and test anywhere!

Key Features

  • Integrated touchscreen
  • Live fiber viewing
  • Auto-center
  • Auto-focus
  • Auto-pan/scroll
  • Built-in fiber end-face analysis
  • Audible sounds for Pass/Fail results
  • User-selectable acceptance profiles
  • Stores results on device or export
  • WiFi, and USB connection to a PC and mobile devices
  • All-day battery life
  • Built in acceptance criteria to industry standards (IEC-61300-3-35)
  • Configure Your Microscope

    Use this tool to setup your microscope for the connectors you are inspecting

  • VIAVI Care Support

    * 5-year plans only; if applicable

    View Support Plans On New Equipment

    Factory Repair

    VIAVI Solutions is a single-source supplier for all of your factory and on-site test equipment repair, maintenance, and calibration service needs.

    We offer return-to-factory, fixed-rate repair services for all VIAVI test equipment. Fixed-rate repair provides the best turnaround time, streamlining the overall repair process and creating a very predictable and reliable repair experience at the best pricing.

    Our technicians ensure that your equipment is functioning properly by completing any maintenance and install enhancements,  including engineering change notice updates.

    Find out more about our Factory Repair Services

    Factory Calibration

    Keeping your equipment in top-running shape with factory or onsite calibration services helps ensure your network will continue to operate at peak performance. A variety of options allow you to manage the logistics of calibrating your equipment, while maximizing your maintenance investment. Performing regular calibration of equipment ensures the accuracy of its measurements. Improper calibration, however can compromise a network and impact services.  

    Keep your equipment in top-running shape with VIAVI On-site Services that help to ensure your network continues to operate at peak performance. It's the most cost-efficient and effective way to maintain equipment on a timetable that meets your requirements.

    Find out more about our Calibration Services

    Self-Paced Training

    VIAVI offers self-paced technical and product training as a flexible, efficient, and cost-effective training delivery option. Self-paced training offers a flexible training option for small groups of employees or those located remotely or in multiple locations. It’s an ideal training solution for instructing technicians who work in the field and cannot attend on-site classes.

    Find out more about our Training Services

    Priority Service

    VIAVI Care Plan Priority Services and Technical Expert Application Center (TAC) Service Levels for Field Portable Instruments used to test fiber, cable TV, xDSL, metro and wireless networks

    All customers enjoy Standard Plus support during the product warranty period and can upgrade to Premium TAC by purchasing a VIAVI Care Support Plan.

    The hallmark of our test platforms is evolving, modular test features to allow customers to keep pace with advancing communications technologies. The learning process is not just “one and done,” and field teams often have high rates of turnover.

    Find out more about our Priority Services

    Battery / Bag Replacement Coverage
    Batteries and bags wear out with daily use and charge cycles. To ensure these items don't slow you down, our 5 year plans include a replacement over the life of your 5 year plan.

    VIAVI will provide a one-time replacement of bad battery and worn soft bag/glove within the duration of a 5-year SilverCare or MaxCare Support Plan. Replacement will only be replaced when the instrument is returned to VIAVI for repair or calibration service. Hard cases are excluded, and coverage is not applicable for instruments sold without bag/battery.

    This coverage is Included in 5 year Silver and MaxCare Plans

    Technical Assistance
    The VIAVI Technical Support team can assist you in using/configuring products or address issues regarding product performance.

    Visit our Technical Assistance section for more information.

    MaxCare Accessory Replacement Coverage
    Instrument products come with accessory cables and connector tips. To ensure reliable, accurate testing we will cover the replacement of one accessory annually, to ensure good test results.

    When an accessory has been determined to be defective or faulty, VIAVI will, at no charge to customer, either repair the accessory or exchange at VIAVI’s discretion. Exchanged accessories may be new or refurbished. All returned accessories become property of VIAVI. The following limitations apply: no more than one accessory may be exchanged per 12 month period; applicable accessories include only those accessories that are considered essential to the operation of the instrument and were shipped with the original purchased product. The Customer is responsible for shipping faulty accessory back to VIAVI when there is a concern or during a calibration or repair service event.

    Express Loaner
    Now you can schedule calibrations or repairs with no downtime. The Express Loaner Service provides you with a similarly configured piece of equipment before sending yours in for calibration or for that unexpected repair that you need immediately.

  • VIAVI Care Support for Existing Equipment

    FleetCare plans can be customized to include any service entitlements on your fleet of existing equipment. Please fill out a Service Contracts form for a quote.

    • Any collection instruments with a single coterminous renewal date
    • Each contract is customized with any number of annual terms required by the customer
    • Onsite Calibration, Training, Field Application Engineer days can be added

    View Brochure

Training Courses

Course Number
TT-DWDM-VC

This course presents a detailed overview of the technology fundamentals including the topology, network problems and fault isolation, and real-world issues that impact quality of service as well as fiber inspection techniques and connectivity/continuity tests. Learn the recommended approach for how to test and evaluate the performance of DWDM networks using OTDR and PMD tests. Understand how to confidently troubleshoot network faults and locate problems in DWDM networks.

Course Highlights
  • Understand light propagation, DWDM network components and architecture, connectors and cable types, fiber losses and attenuation process, and the recommended fiber inspection and cleaning techniques
  • Describe the multiplexing process
  • Define PMD and why it needs to be measured
  • Understand the operation of an OTDR test and what conditions impact the accuracy of it
  • Describe the recommended approach to DWDM and PMD testing and for troubleshooting  
Course Duration
1 day
Course Location
  • Global
Course Language
  • English
  • Other languages available upon request

Course Number
TT-ETHERNET-IP-VC

This course presents a detailed overview of technology fundamentals including the topology, protocol-oriented network problems, fault isolation, and real-world issues that impact quality of service.  Learn the recommended layered/structured approach for testing and troubleshooting techniques to test and certify Ethernet circuits, including proper fiber inspection techniques. 

Course Highlights
  • Understand the fundamental operation of Ethernet/IP networks including the network components and architecture, connectors and cable types, errors and alarms
  • Comprehend the purpose and need for auto-negotiation, Ethernet switching, flow control, and prioritization functions
  • Detail the structured approach to test and troubleshoot Ethernet/IP networks including VLANs
  • Describe the the characteristics of the TCP/IP protocol suite and how to perform protocol analysis on an IP network
  • Become familiar with how to employ the RFC 2544 and Y.1564 automated testing scripts
Course Duration
1 day
Course Location
  • Global
Course Language
  • English
  • Other languages available upon request

Course Number
TT-FIBER-VC

This course presents a detailed overview of the basic technology fundamentals including the topology, network problems and fault isolation, and real-world issues that impact quality of service as well as fiber inspection techniques and connectivity/continuity tests.   Learn the recommended approach for how to characterize and certify fiber using three key fiber tests, fiber inspection, connectivity/continuity and OTDR for FTTx, FTTP, and FTTA. Understand how to confidently troubleshoot network faults and locate problems in xWDM and PON networks. 

Course Highlights
  • Understand light propagation, network components and architecture, connectors and cable types, fiber losses and attenuation process
  • Describe the causes of loss in fiber networks
  • Understand the recommended fiber inspection and cleaning techniques and describe the proper process to perform fiber optic connectivity/continuity and OTDR tests
Course Duration
1 day
Course Location
  • Global
Course Language
  • English
  • Other languages available upon request

Course Number
TT-FTTX-VC

This course presents a detailed overview of the technology fundamentals and Passive Optical Networks (PONs) including the topology, network problems and fault isolation, and real-world issues that impact quality of service as well as fiber inspection techniques and connectivity/continuity tests.   Learn the recommended approach for how to characterize and certify fiber using three key fiber tests, fiber inspection, connectivity/continuity and OTDR for FTTx, FTTP, and FTTA. Understand how to confidently troubleshoot network faults and locate problems in FTTx and PON networks.  

Course Highlights
  • Understand light propagation, network components and architecture, connectors and cable types, fiber losses and attenuation process
  • Describe the causes of loss in fiber networks
  • Understand the recommended fiber inspection and cleaning techniques
  • Describe the proper process to perform fiber optic connectivity/continuity tests
  • Understand the fundamental operation of an OTDR test
  • Describe what conditions impact the accuracy of the OTDR test
  • Detail the steps involved in the process to perform an OTDR test including event analysis
Course Duration
2 days
Course Location
  • United States
Course Language
  • English
  • Other languages available upon request

Self-Paced Online Training

Course Number
TT-ETHERNET-SP

This course presents an overview of performing an OTDR test using the FTTH-SLM mode on the SmartOTDR tester. Learn how to set up an OTDR test for a 1x8 configuration, run the test, and locate, review and save test results.

Course Duration
1 hour
Course Location
  • Global
Course Language
  • English
  • Other languages available upon request
Course Type (Delivery Method)
  • Self-Paced Online Training

Course Number
TT-FITBAS-SP

This course presents an overview of the recommended Inspect Before You Connect (IBYC) process. Learn how to properly inspect, clean, and test fiber end-faces before making connections.

Course Duration
15 minutes
Course Location
  • Global
Course Language
  • English
  • Other languages available upon request
Course Type (Delivery Method)
  • Self-Paced Online Training

Course Number
TT-FIBBAS-SP

This course presents a solid foundation of understanding for Fiber Optic technology and concepts. Learn about fiber safety and standards,  light propagation, network components and architecture, connectors and cable types, and fiber losses and attenuation process. 

Course Duration
15 minutes
Course Location
  • Global
Course Language
  • English
  • Other languages available upon request
Course Type (Delivery Method)
  • Self-Paced Online Training

Course Number
TT-FIBTESTBAS-SP

This course presents a solid foundation of understanding for Fiber Optic testing concepts. Learn about the importance of embracing the proper fiber inspection, cleaning, and basic fiber testing process and techniques, and the basic fiber tests and the tools needed to perform.  

Course Duration
30 minutes
Course Location
  • Global
Course Language
  • English
  • Other languages available upon request
Course Type (Delivery Method)
  • Self-Paced Online Training

Course Number
TT-FTTx-PON-BAS-SP

This course presents an overview of the key concepts for performing testing operations in Fiber-to-the-X (FTTX) networks and Passive Optical Networks (PONs). Learn about testing methods for FTTX and PON circuits, and how to test the Optical Signal-to-Noise Ratio (OSNR) in Reconfigurable Optical Add Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) networks. 

Course Duration
30 minutes
Course Location
  • Global
Course Language
  • English
  • Other languages available upon request
Course Type (Delivery Method)
  • Self-Paced Online Training

Course Number
TT-IP-RTG-MPLS-SP

This course presents an overview of IP Routing concepts and the operation of Multi Protocol Label Switching networks. Learn about the routing equipment and protocols, and how data flows through the network.

Course Duration
30 minutes
Course Location
  • Global
Course Language
  • English
  • Other languages available upon request
Course Type (Delivery Method)
  • Self-Paced Online Training

Support at Every Step

We provide support, services, comprehensive training and the resources you need. It’s all part of what we do to maximize the value of your VIAVI investment.

Ask an Expert

Contact us for more information or to receive a price quote. We have the experts to give you the right answer on any of your questions.