Quick question: after last night’s -8°F, I’m seeing about a 3 dB bump at 1550 on a 48‑count ADSS span between poles 42–47, but 1310 is clean on the OTDR — anyone else chase this? Feels like microbends at the dead‑ends/armor rods; I can crack the closure at pole 45 and roll a splice, but if slack or hardware tweaks usually settle it when temps come back up, I’d rather not open it in the bucket today.
Leaning microbends at the dead‑ends — “3 dB at 1550” with clean 1310 at -8°F is textbook. Before cracking at pole 45, re-seat the armor rods/dead-end and give the 42–47 span a hair more belly, then re-shoot as it warms. If 1625 nm spikes too, it’s hardware, not the splice.
Quick field check: slap a hand warmer on the pole 45 dead‑end/armor rods and reshoot 1550 — if it clears, it’s just rod tension and you can rewrap/retension when it warms. > it warms. If 1625 nm spikes too, it’s hardware, not the splice. Agree — @jroberts92; if only a couple fibers show it, I’ve found a tray pinch in the closure instead — do you have 1625 on your set?