Splice loss is the reduction of signal power at the splice point. While some loss is unavoidable, excessive loss can compromise network performance. Understanding its causes and solutions is critical for reliable fiber optic installations. The fiber optic link attenuation is tested using an optical loss test set (OLTS) or a light source and power meter (LSPM) Figure 1). As the components like fiber, connectors, splices, LED or laser sources, detectors and receivers are being developed, testing confirms their performance specifications and helps. Results from a National Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (NEMI) project, formed to improve aspects of fiber optic fusion splicing, are reported. Typical applications of these methods include aerial, buried, and underground splices. (2) American National Standard Institute/National Fire Protection Association (ANSI/NFPA) 70, 1993. Fiber splice loss measures how much signal drops when you join two fiber ends.
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