There are two methods that are used to measure loss

There are two methods that are used to measure loss, a "patchcord test" which we call "single-ended loss" (TIA FOTP-171) and an "installed cable plant test" we call "double-ended loss" (TIA OFSTP-14 (MM) and OFSTP-7 (SM).) Single-ended loss uses only the launch cable, while double-ended loss uses a receive cable attached to the meter also.

Single-ended loss is measured by mating the cable you want to test to the reference launch cable and measuring the power out the far end with the meter. When you do this you measure the loss of the connector mated to the launch cable and the loss of any fiber, splices or other connectors in the cable you are testing. Since you are aiming the connector on the far end of the cable mated to the power meter at a large area detector instead of mating it to another connector, it effectively has no loss so it is not included in the measurement. This method is described in FOTP-171 and is shown in the drawing. An advantage to this test is you can troubleshoot cables to find a bad connector since you can reverse the cable to test the connectors on the each end individually.

In a double-ended loss test, you attach the cable to test between two reference cables, one attached to the source and one to the meter. This way, you measure two connectors' loses, one on each end, plus the loss of all the cable or cables, including connectors and splices, in between. This is the method specified in OFSTP-14 (multimode, the singlemode test is OFSTP-7), the standard test for loss in an installed cable plant.

Note there are three methods of setting the reference, using one, two or three reference cables. The method originally called for in TIA-568, is the one cable method, but that method doesn't work with every type of connector and test equipment interfaces. Therefore most standards now allow for using either one, two or three reference cables as long as the test method is documented along with the test data. The use of reference cables is explained here.

December 21, 2011

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