14
TEST & MEASUREMENT
How much
loss is ok?
By Dan Payerle-Barrera, Global
Product Manager – Data Cable
Testers, IDEAL Networks
www.idealnetworks.net
Fibre optic cable testing allows for an amount of
loss, but just how much is acceptable
We’re frequently asked how much loss you are allowed when
conducting testing on fibre optic cabling. Unfortunately, it’s
not a simple answer and depends on different factors. So
how do you determine acceptable loss?
Firstly, it depends on who is doing the testing and in
what phase of a project the cabling is being tested. For
instance, contractors are often paid to install, terminate
and certify the cabling but have no idea what their client
plans to run on the cabling. So, unless the client’s plans have
specifications for acceptable attenuation (insertion loss), the
installer should determine the correct value based on the
specifics of each link being tested.
www.networkseuropemagazine.com