Fiber Optic Attenuator
Controlled loss, for when a receiver is being overdriven
All 10 Fiber Optic Attenuator Products
MU Attenuator
We supply both UPC MU fiber optic attenuator and APC MU fiber optic attenuators for single mode applications.
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LC Attenuator
We supply single mode LC fiber optic attenuators including the bulkhead LC attenuator and female to male LC fiber attenuator.
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Attenuator
Sometimes in the fiber optic network, people may need to reduce or balance the power of the light transmitted from one device to another device, fiber optic.
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FC Attenuator
We supply FC APC single mode fiber optic attenuator and FC UPC single mode fiber optic attenuator, both of them are with ceramic sleeves and accurate FC connection.
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SC Attenuator
We supply female to male SC fiber optic attenuator and bulkhead SC fiber optic attenuator.
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ST Attenuator
We supply both UPC ST fiber optic attenuator and APC ST fiber optic attenuator for single mode applications; they are with 1240nm to 1620nm compatible working.
View DetailsMU 4.5mm Attenuator
Multimode. Used for characterizing receiver sensitivity on a test bench.
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FC Tunable Attenuator
Used for bringing a short DWDM or long-reach link into receiver range.
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SC Tunable Attenuator
Used for bringing a short DWDM or long-reach link into receiver range.
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MEMS Variable Optical Attenuator
Used for bringing a short DWDM or long-reach link into receiver range.
View DetailsFiber Optic Attenuator In Practice
On a short link built with long-haul optics, the receiver can see more power than it is specified to handle, and the symptom is errors that look exactly like a dirty connector. An attenuator puts a known, stable loss into the path so the received power lands inside the receiver's window.
Problems This Range Solves
- Receiver saturation on short links built with high-power transmitters
- Bit errors that look like contamination but are actually overload
- Test benches that need a repeatable, known loss rather than a coil of fiber
- Commissioning delays while power levels are brought into range
- Ad-hoc attenuation methods that drift with temperature
Who It Is For
- Commissioning engineers bringing links into their power window
- Data-center teams running long-haul optics over short distances
- Test laboratories characterizing receivers
- CATV and RF-over-glass operators balancing distribution levels
- Maintenance teams diagnosing overload symptoms
Where It Is Used
- Bringing a short DWDM or long-reach link into receiver range
- Balancing levels across a CATV optical distribution network
- Characterising receiver sensitivity on a test bench
- Simulating span loss during equipment qualification
- Correcting an over-powered PON path at the splitter output
What You Get From Our Fiber Optic Attenuator
Advantages
- Known, stable loss instead of improvised fiber coils
- Fixed values for production use and tunable versions for the bench
- Male-to-female plug styles that drop straight into an existing port
- Available across the main connector types and both polish styles
- Low back-reflection versions for return-loss-sensitive paths
Technical Features
- Fixed attenuation values across the common dB steps
- Tunable versions with a continuously adjustable range
- MEMS variable versions for programmable bench work
- Male-to-female plug style for direct insertion into a port
- UPC and APC polish options
Materials
- Doped fiber or coated-ferrule attenuating element
- Zirconia ceramic ferrule
- Metal or thermoplastic housing
- Precision adjustment mechanism on tunable versions
Customization Options
- Attenuation value to your specification
- Fixed, tunable or MEMS variable format
- Connector type and polish
- Low back-reflection versions
- Matched sets for multi-channel balancing
Manufacturing Process
- Attenuating element preparation to the target value
- Connector assembly and polish
- Attenuation calibration against a reference
- Return loss verification
- Marking, capping and packing
Quality Control
- Attenuation value verified per unit against a calibrated reference
- Return loss measured on every unit
- Wavelength response checked on sample units
- Temperature stability sampled per production lot
- Marking accuracy checked against the measured value
Where This Range Is Specified
Telecom and Carrier Networks
Passive components for access, metro and transmission plant that has to stay up for decades
Data Center and Enterprise LAN
High-density patching, structured cabling and building-to-building links
CATV and Broadcast Networks
Optical and coaxial distribution where return loss and level balance decide picture quality
Test Measurement and OEM Integration
Component-level supply for instrument builders and cable assembly houses
How It Is Used In The Field
Specifying and Handling Fiber Optic Attenuator
Before You Order
- Measure the actual received power before choosing a value
- Choose the value that lands mid-window, not at the edge of the receiver range
- Install on the receive side rather than the transmit side
On Site
- Use APC versions on paths where return loss is critical
- Re-measure after installation to confirm the link is inside its window
- Record the installed value in the link documentation
Fiber Optic Attenuator Questions
How do I choose the right attenuation value?
Measure the received power with a power meter, compare it against the receiver's specified input range, and pick the value that puts you near the middle of that range rather than at its edge.
Where should the attenuator go, transmit or receive side?
The receive side. Attenuating at the transmitter reduces the margin available for the span itself, whereas attenuating at the receiver directly addresses the overload.
What is the difference between fixed and tunable attenuators?
Fixed units hold one calibrated value and are what you install in production. Tunable units let you sweep a range, which is what a test bench or a commissioning engineer wants while finding the right value.
Do you supply APC attenuators?
Yes. Use APC on PON, CATV and RF-over-glass paths where back reflection has to stay low. The polish is specified per order.
Can an attenuator fix errors caused by a dirty connector?
No, and the two are easy to confuse. Clean and inspect first. Only when power is genuinely above the receiver's maximum input is an attenuator the right answer.
Guides Related To This Range
UPC and APC End Face Polish Explained
Why an eight degree angle changes where reflected light goes, when that matters enough to pay for it, and what happens if the two are mated.
Comparison ArticlePLC and FBT Optical Splitters Compared
Two ways to divide light, why PON standardized on one of them, and how to check whether your budget can carry the split you want.
Buying GuideHow to Select a Fiber Optic Attenuator
Measure first, attenuate on the receive side, and record what you installed. The three rules that prevent most attenuator mistakes.
Process GuideInsertion Loss and Return Loss Explained
Two numbers on every test report, what each one is telling you, and how to build a link budget that survives being maintained.
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18 productsGet Pricing On Fiber Optic Attenuator
Email the model and quantity and we will reply with pricing, lead time and a datasheet for any item in the fiber optic attenuator range.