A Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR) is an electronic instrument that is mainly used to find faults and breaks in wires, cables, or signal lines. It sends a signal and observes how that signal returns to the wire. If there is a break, short circuit, damage, or any other problem in the wire at some point, the signal is reflected at that point, which the TDR can detect. As a result, the location of the specific fault can be easily determined.
This technology is widely used in telecommunications, power lines, data cabling, and other industries. TDR is used to determine time and distance because the reflection time of the signal provides information about the length and location of the wire. It is fast, reliable, and helps in correct troubleshooting by avoiding unnecessary cable breaks. Therefore, the time domain reflectometer is an essential tool in modern cable inspection and maintenance.