Chirped pulses from gain-switched, distributed feedback laser diodes at a wavelength of 1. 3 mu m are compressed to 8. 7 ps FWHM by the linear dispersion properties of single-mode fiber. These pulses are used to optically sample fast waveforms from other 1. 3 mu m laser diodes. The high time resolution sampling system uses a fiber coupler to combine beams; this eliminates critical alignment and results in a practical design.