Fiber Optic Reference Tools

Cable Color Codes

Bare fiber within buffer tubes, as well as 900µm tight buffered fiber, are color coded to differentiate the fibers within the cable. This color coding enables installers to easily identify cables at both ends of the fiber link, and also indicates the appropriate position of each fiber on a patch panel.

Color by Fiber Type

Jacketed optical fibers are color coded according to fiber type. Color coding enables technicians to quickly determine whether a particular cable is multimode or singlemode. The jacket imprint provides additional information, such as fiber size, fire code rating, and so forth.

Decibel Conversion Tool

Decibels are used to express optical loss in fiber optic link, by representing the difference in optical power at the output and input sides of the link.

Link Loss Budget Tool

A fiber optic link budget, also known as a "loss budget," indicates the total acceptable amount of optical power loss (expressed in decibels) that a fiber optic link can have. These losses result from cables, connectors, splices, couplers and equipment in the installed system. Loss budgets are typically determined in the network design stage.

Milliwatts Conversion Tool

A decibel is a measurement that expresses a power ratio, rather than an absolute number. One advantage of using decibels to express power instead of milliwatts is that decibels allow attenuation to be expressed as whole numbers.

Network Specifications

Fiber optic system designers and technicians who install high speed data networks must choose the proper fiber type to ensure that they support the connection speeds required of these networks. The chart below shows specifications for common applications.

Types of Optical Fiber

Today's networks must have the proper fiber optic cabling to ensure optimal performance and to meet network specifications including connection speeds.

Distance Conversion Tool

This tool will help in unit conversion of length and distance.