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Fiber optic connector grades
Good fiber optic connectors have low attenuation and high return loss. But what exactly is “good“? IEC 61753-1 specifies performance grades for fiber optic connectors.
IEC 61753-1 and the European issue EN IEC 61753-1 specify performance grades for attenuation and return loss. For attenuation grades letters from A to D are used and for return loss grades numbers ranging from 1 to 4. Not all grades are finalized yet, some are still for further studies.
Attenuation | Connectors for singlemode fibers |
Grade A | for further studies |
Grade B | max. 0.12 dB average value max. 0.25 dB limit for min. 97% of all connectio |
Grade C | > max. 0.25 dB average value max. 0.5 dB limit for min. 97% of all connections |
Grade D | max. 0.5 dB average value max. 1.0 dB limit for min. 97% of all connections |
| Return loss | Connectors for singlemode fibers Return loss at 1310 nm, 1550 nm and 1625 nm |
| Grade 1 | min. 60 dB plugged-in and min. 55 dB unplugged |
| Grade 2 | min. 45 dB |
| Grade 3 | min. 35 dB |
| Grade 4 | min. 26 dB |
| Attenuation | Connectors for multimode fibers Attenuation at 850 nm |
| Grade Am | for further studies |
| Grade Bm | max. 0.3 dB average value max. 0.6 dB limit for min. 97% of all connection |
| Grade Cm | max. 0.5 dB average value max. 1.0 dB limit for min. 97% of all connections |
| Grade Dm | for further studies |
| Return loss | Connectors for multimode fibers |
| Grade 1m | for further studies |
| Grade 2m | min. 20 dB |
Caption: Performance grades of randomly mated fiber optic connectors as specified by IEC 61753-1:2018. Testing singlemode connectors at 1625 nm are optional for enterprise applications but mandatory for carrier applications. Performance grades of field-installable singlemode connectors are still under discussion.
Quality classes according to DIN EN IEC 61753-1:2019-10 for randomly assembled fibre optic connectors. Tests of single-mode connectors at 1625 nm are optional for enterprise applications, but required for carrier applications; however, the standard does not define these applications. Attenuation classes for field-mountable single-mode connectors are under consultation according to DIN EN IEC 61753-1:2019-10.
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Dirk Traeger
