Measuring the insertion loss of a Single Mode jumper would seem to be a simple matter but there are a few complications to consider. Insertion Loss is a relative measure, it’s the reduction in power when an additional passive element is added to an optical...
I frequently hear customers complain that although nothing has changed in their fiber optic cable assembly production process, the measured Insertion Loss (IL) and Return Loss (RL) values of their product aren’t as good as they once were. Is something wrong with the...
Here is a question several customers have asked me. Have you experienced this issue? “When measured on my properly calibrated IL/RL meter, some of my patch cords show ‘gain.’ How can this be possible? Since a patch cord cannot have gain, is there something wrong with...
In your fiber optic cable assembly facility, when an operator visually inspects one of your connectors – and sees a defect on a fiber – will the operator define it as a defect or call it a scratch? It’s a bit of a judgment call as it depends on the aspect ratio. If...
Is your company entering the fiber optic cable assembly business, and you’re “setting up shop”? In your research, you may be discovering that most equipment is not offered as a one-size-fits-all, universal solution. In fact, a key piece of fiber optic test equipment –...
Why is it important to measure Insertion Loss and Return Loss?It’s quite simple: Your customers demand it. Your customers need to know that you’ve tested every fiber optic jumper and cable and have acquired accurate IL/RL measurements that meet their specs. Why is...
Here at Fiber Optic Center, we are asked questions daily about insertion loss measurement. It might seem like a trivial task to make an insertion loss measurement on a fiber optic connector but it’s not – it is impossible. Only the loss of a connection can be...
Ever tried measuring the insertion loss of a Multi-Mode connector using a single-mode launch fiber? You tend to get really good results! It’s like squirting a 1/2 inch garden hose into a 3 inch fire hose from a foot away. It’s not difficult to catch...
Is Bi-Directional testing the silver bullet to cut all your optical testing time in half? The simple answer is…no. However, there certainly are areas where it will help. It’s fair to say most assembly houses test the optical loss of a single mated pair using a...
