Fiber Performance Calculator

Calculate optical link budget and fiber performance.

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Features

Link Budget Analysis

Calculate total link loss and verify if it fits within the power budget.

Multi-Wavelength Support

Supports standard wavelengths: 850nm, 1300nm, 1310nm, and 1550nm.

Component Loss

Account for splice losses and connector losses in the calculation.

Pass/Fail Indication

Instantly see if the link passes based on Transmit Power and Receive Sensitivity.

About Fiber Performance Calculator

The Fiber Performance Calculator helps network engineers and technicians calculate the Optical Link Budget for fiber optic cables. It determines if a fiber link is within acceptable loss limits based on length, splices, connectors, and safety margins.

How to Use Fiber Performance Calculator

  • 1
    Select Wavelength

    Choose the operating wavelength for the fiber link.

  • 2
    Enter Fiber Details

    Input the fiber length and loss per km.

  • 3
    Add Components

    Enter the number of splices and connector pairs along with their losses.

  • 4
    Analyze Results

    Review the Total Link Loss. Optionally enter Tx Power and Rx Sensitivity for a Pass/Fail margin analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

A margin of 3dB is widely recommended to account for aging, repairs, and unforeseen losses.
Fiber has different attenuation rates at different wavelengths. 1550nm typically has lower loss than 1310nm.
A good fusion splice is typically < 0.1 dB, while mechanical splices effectively range from 0.2 to 0.5 dB.
A standard mated connector pair typically has a loss of 0.3 dB to 0.75 dB, depending on quality and polish (UPC vs APC).
For Single Mode fiber: ~0.35 dB/km at 1310nm and ~0.22 dB/km at 1550nm. Multimode varies more.
It is the calculation of all losses (cable, splices, connectors) between the transmitter and receiver to ensure the signal is strong enough.