September 11, 2023 - Vista, California - Axiom Test Equipment, an electronic test equipment rental and
sales company has published a new blog post entitled "Optical Spectrum Analyzers Shed Light on Fiber-Optic Cables"
that covers the process of evaluating the performance of fiber-optic cables by picking
the proper optical spectrum analyzer for the job. Numerous test equipment provides
insights into fiber-optic cable quality, but one of the handiest and most versatile
for the task is the optical spectrum analyzer (OSA). For the best results, fiber-optic
cables should be measured before installation and tested as part of a regular maintenance
schedule.
An OSA measures and displays the distribution of light across a single wavelength
or wavelength range. It can be used to explore how environmental effects, such as
temperature, impact fiber-optic cable performance within its range, and how physical
effects, such as bending or looping of cable, can affect performance. Evaluating
the performance of fiber-optic cables requires a unit such as an OSA with the wavelength
range to cover the bands and wavelengths used within any applications of interest.
The quality of the unit's performance can be determined by the accuracy and resolution
of the wavelength readings, wavelength linearity, the dynamic range, or minimum
and maximum power levels which the analyzer can measure.
Communications networks often depend on pulses of light for high-speed links.
Unlike wireless systems sending modulated electromagnetic (EM) signals through the
air or conductive metal cables, fiber-optic systems transfer modulated optical signals
through miles of glass cables. For the best results, these fiber-optic cables should
be measured before installation and tested as part of a regular maintenance schedule.
Numerous test equipment provides insights into fiber-optic cable quality, but one
of the handiest and most versatile for the task is the optical spectrum analyzer
(OSA).
Fiber-optic cables consist of glass or plastic cores surrounded by cladding which
reflects light back into the core to help direct optical energy along the path formed
by the cable. The cladding is usually surrounded by an outer protective coating.
Compared to copper cables for electricity, fiber-optic cables provide much wider
bandwidths, immunity to interference, and work over longer distances with less loss.
Optical signals are well controlled within specific wavelength regions and cables
can transfer light signals one wavelength at a time, in single-mode (SM) or transverse
mode form, or working with optical signals at many simultaneous wavelengths, in
the form of multimode (MM) fiber-optic cables.
As part of a fiber-optic communications network, optical cables work with repeaters
and accessory components, such as amplifiers, switches, and connectors, to transfer
light pulses with minimal loss and distortion. An OSA provides the functions and
capabilities to measure key fiber-optic-cable characteristics quickly, accurately,
and repeatably. An OSA measures and displays the distribution of light across a
single wavelength or wavelength range. It can be used to explore how environmental
effects, such as temperature, impact fiber-optic cable performance within its range,
and how physical effects, such as bending or looping of cable, can affect performance.
Fiber-optic technology supports telecommunications as well as remote sensor monitoring
in critical situations such as in hospitals and military applications. Optical cables
provide high-speed communications over great distances, using SM or MM cables. MM
cables accommodate many simultaneous signals using wavelength division multiplexing
(WDM) to boost the amount of information that can be transferred across a single
cable. Cables are used (and tested) within different wavelength bands, such as O-band
(1260 to 1360 nm), C-band (1530 to 1565 nm), and L-band (1565 to 1625 nm). Shorter
wavelengths, such as 350 to 1200 nm, are also used and often the cables must be
manufactured to maintain the polarization of the light pulses for these applications.
Whatever type of testing your project requires, rent or buy quality test equipment
from Axiom Test Equipment. For over 15 years Axiom Test Equipment has rented, sold,
repaired and accepted trade-in of test equipment to support your test & measurement
needs. If you would like help selecting any type of test equipment for your next
project, contact Axiom Test Equipment's sales department at
sales@transcat.com,
call 760-806-6600, or browse Axiom Test Equipment's inventory online at
www.axiomtest.com.
About Axiom Test Equipment
Get Exactly What You Need. Rent - Buy
- Repair - Trade-In
Established in 2005, Axiom Test Equipment strives to continually improve itself
and offer the best value for its customers. We offer our customers several practical,
efficient and cost effective solutions for their business or projects' test equipment
needs. Whether you need to
rent & buy test equipment,
repair
test equipment, sell or trade equipment, we are committed to providing superior
customer service and high quality electronic test equipment.
At Axiom Test Equipment we provide several services. We
rent electronic test and measurement equipment. We also sell test
equipment. If you have a piece of malfunctioning or broken test equipment we also
have an in-house repair lab. For anyone seeking a way to offload their surplus or
obsolete equipment, we offer a trade-in program or we can buy the equipment from
you.
We stock a comprehensive inventory of equipment and can use our extensive network
to find you those hard to get items. We believe in getting equipment to you quickly
and at a competitive price.
Contacts
Fabian Garcia Marketing Coordinator Axiom Test Equipment 2610 Commerce
Way Vista, CA 92081 Phone: (760) 806-6600
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