Attenuators provide a simple, reliable solution to maintain the right optical power level. Optimize Power Budget – Helps maintain consistent link performance over long distances. An optical attenuator, or fiber optic attenuator, is a device used to reduce the power level of an optical signal, either in free space or in an optical fiber. The basic types of optical attenuators are fixed, step-wise variable, and continuously variable. Too little. Transmitter power (TP) = 3dBm Receiver maximum optical input power (MP) = -6dBm Total losses (TL) = 5dB Minimum attenuation required = MP + TL – TP = -6dBm + 5dB – 3dBm = – 4 dB At a minimum, a 4 dB attenuator is required. As a leading fiber optic manufacturer, Fiber-Life has observed a variety of issues encountered by users when dealing with these devices.
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