How To Choose Fiber Optic Attenuators

Fiber attenuators are used in fiber optic communications to reduce optical fiber power at a certain level. Why do we need fiber attenuators? Bigger is better, right? Or so most people believe. Beginners in fiber optic technology are often confued with why optical attenuators are necessary to reduce light intensity. Aren’t we using amplifiers to increase the signal power level?

The truth is that too much light can overload a fiber optic receiver. Optical fiber attenuators are needed when a transmitter delivers too much light, such as when a transmitter is very close to the receiver.

How Does a Fiber Attenuator Work?

Optical Attenuators usually works by absorbing the light, such as a neutral density thin file filter. Or by scattering the light such as an air gap. They should not reflect the light since that could cause unwanted back reflection in the fiber system.

Another type of attenuator utilizes a length of high-loss optical fiber, that operates upon its input optical signal power level in such a way that its output signal power level is less than the input level. The power reduction are done by such means as absorption, reflection, diffusion, scattering, deflection, diffraction, and dispersion, etc.

What is the Most Important Feature Should a Fiber Attenuator Have?

The most important spec of an attenuator is its attenuation versus wavelength curve. Optical attenuators should have the same effect on all wavelengths used in the fiber system or at least as flat as possible. For example, a 3dB attenuator at 1500nm should also reduce the intensity of light at 1550nm by 3dB or as close as possible, this is especially true in a WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) system.

Different Types of Attenuators

There are two functional types of fiber attenuators: plug style (including bulkhead) and in-line. A plug style attenuator is employed as a male-female connector where attenuation occurs inside the device, that is, on the light path from one ferrule to another. The types of fiber optic attenuators are based on the types of connectors and attenuation level. FiberStore supply a lot of fiber optic attenuators, like FC, SC/APC, ST, PC, LC, UPC, MU, FC/APC, SC, LC/APC, fixed value plug type fiber attenuators with different attenuation level, from 1dB to 30dB. An in-line attenuator is connected to a transmission fiber by splicing its two pigtails.

The principle of operation of attenuators are markedly different because they use various phenomena to decrease the power of the propagating light. The simplest means is to bend a fiber. Coil a patch cable several times around a pencil while measuring the attenuation with a power meter, then tape this coil. Then you got a primitive but working attenuator. Most fiber attenuators have fixed values that are specified in decibels (dB). They are called fiber optic fixed attenuator. For example, a -3dB attenuator should reduce intensity of the output by 3dB.

Manufacturers use various types of light-absorbing material to achieve well-controlled and stable attenuation. For example, a fiber doped with a transition metal that absorbs light in a predictable way and disperses absorbed energy as a heat. Variable fiber optic attenuators also are available, but they usually are precision instruments used in making measurements.

As the very best China fiber optic products supplier, FiberStore Inc. provides lots of this sort of products which are reliable and economical. If you may well not find it on our website, you can call us to customize it to suit your needs. We also supply PLC splitter, fiber transceiver, optical cable, if you would like to know how much does fiber optic cable cost, please visit our website.

3m Single mode MPO MTP Fiber Optic Cable 12 Fibers

The MPO/MTP trunk cable is designed for data center applications. It is divided into round cable and flat cable with an outer diameter of 3.0mm or 4.5mm. The connector where this cable is terminated is the so-called MPO connector. All MPO/MTP fiber optic patch cables are 100% optically tested for maximum performance. We have all lengths and connectors available.

3m MPO/MTP 9/125μm Single-mode Standard Trunk Cable 12 Fibers

MPO/MTP multi-fiber system is designed for reliable and quick operations in data centers, where the obvious benefits are less space requirements and improved scalability, which providing
significant space and cost savings.

FS offers various MTP/MPO products such as MPO/MTP cassettes, MPO/MTP modules, and patch panels. Our MPO fiber patch connectors utilize precision molded MT ferrules, with metal guide pins and precise housing dimensions to ensure fiber alignment when mating and are fully compliant with TIA/EI942, ISO/IEC 24764, and EN 50173-5, which are specific data center standards. The hybrid MPO fiber cables can be mass terminated in combinations of 24~144 fibers ribbon/bunch cables, and the connector includes FC, SC, ST, and LC, the cable polish UPC, and APC. Optional Lengths are available and provide a secure transition between MPO/MTP and LC/SC/FC/ST connections. Available in singlemode (9/125μm), multimode(50 or 62.5/125μm) and 10G fiber.

Features
  • Easy connection and disconnection
  • Factory-finished MPO plugs
  • Low smoke zero halogen (LSZH)jacket
  • Push-on / Pull-off latching connector
  • Each MPO connector is polished according to the polished end-face quality specification standard.
Applications
  • Local Area Networks
  • Data Centers
  • Campus Networks
  • Storage Area Networks
Technical Details
  • Connector 1: MPO Female(No Pins)
  • Connector 2: MPO
  • Fibre types: OS2 9/125um
  • Fiber Polish: UPC
  • Colour: Yellow
  • Fiber Length: 3 meters
  • Cable Standard: 12-Fiber
  • Number of Fibres Per Cable: 12 Fibers(1 MPO/MTP connector on each side)
  • MPO Connector standard: IEC 61754-7 series
  • Fire rating: LSZH
Packaging

The MPO patch cable is supplied protected in a plastic bag and packed in a carton box. Each cable has two identification labels, each containing: a barcode, part number, factory order number, cable lengths, and unique serial number.

Pre-terminated System Installation

To ensure the entire connection is in a unified condition, we need to first install the patch panel, cassette module, and related mounting hardware. Then, say the cables in the designed cable passage position, remove all the protection caps and wraps, connect MPO and to all the related MPO sockets, mount and secure the cables with cable ties, simple as that.

If you would like to purchase our MPO cable or want to know more about our fiber optic products, and how much fiber optic cable costs, please visit our website or contact us.