Fiber optic loss testing

Proper loss testing and documentation can offer significant benefits for both users and installers alike. If you are a user or a communication provider who has contracted another organization to install your system, then proper loss testing is mandatory to ensure that you get a quality installation. Losses greater than the expected loss are an indication that the installation was done improperly. Although your communication equipment may still work, the long term reliability may be low.

There are two keys to ensure that you get accurate loss measurements. The first one is to calculate your expected loss. If you do not have any experience doing this, you may want to enlist the help of a consultant or your installation contractor. Once you know your expected loss, the second key to accurate fiber loss measurements is to specify the measurement procedure. You should specify how you want the patch cords to connect to the light source and the power meter to your system being tested. Again you may want to confirm with your installation contractor to find out how they normally do this. Assume that they know what they are doing, they can explain to you how they connected the patch cords, why they did it that way, and the resulting effects on the measurements.

In conclusion, if you are having a fiber system installed for you, here is your money saving tip: Make sure that accurate and useful loss tests are carried out on the completed systems to your specifications.

INSTALLERS, if you have read this far, then you know what your customers will be asking for. An informed customer will ask you how you have hooked up the light source and power meter to carry out the loss testing. And if you are dealing with a novice customer, then you can increase your credibility and provide better customer service by explaining why you test the way you do. So for installers, your "REVENUE GENERATING TIP"is: provide your customers with a diagram and an explanation as to how your light source and power meter were connected for the loss testing.

Next up: "Calculating expected loss"