With fiber-optic attenuators, defined attenuation values can be introduced in fiber-optic transmission paths or systems; specific attenuations can also be applied to the system.

The inexpensive model SVA1 allows fast attenuation insertion in fiber optic cables (SM). This device has a high return loss and can be operated without a battery. The attenuation is inserted via mechanical dials; the value must be readout externally (no display). Through the variable setting, this version has significant advantages over the use of fixed value attenuators.

Attenuators of the FOD 5400 series are used to simulate optical attenuation when checking the optical margins of newly installed telecommunications equipment. The devices offer settings between 0 and 80 dB with a resolution of 0.05 dB.

The series includes:

• FOD5418 for single mode applications at 1310 and 1550 nm
• FOD 5419 for multimode applications at 850 and 1300 nm
• FOD 5420 for singlemode and multimode applications at 850, 1300, 1310 and 1550 nm

For the professional activation of telecom fiber optic cables including power budget tests, we put together a kit for your immediate use. This professional set consists of:

• The OPM4 4-D power meter
• The OLS2 dual
• Cleaning materials

A product kit is also available to activate broadband fiber-optic systems (e.g., in the FTTx area) including power budget tests. The units in this set have automated wavelength recognition to prevent measurement errors. This set consists of

• The OPM4 4-D power meter
• The triple-wavelength laser source OLS7-FTTH
• Cleaning materials

VIAVI‘s handheld SmartClass OLA-54 optical level attenuator is designed for multimode systems with 50/125 μm fibers, while the SmartClass OLA-55 is a future-proof solution for production, system testing, installation, and maintenance of single-mode fibers. Thanks to its minimum differential group delay (DGD), the OLA-55 may also be used in 40 Gbps systems.

The SmartClass OLA-55M offers an automatic level controller mode that allows setting a precise and defined optical power level. Thus, the attenuator also serves as a power meter and it is no longer necessary to adjust the power level with a separate device. Set in automatic level controller mode, the OLA-55M automatically counterbalances the changes of varying input power levels and provides a stable output level.