MU 4.5mm Attenuator
MU 4.5mm Attenuator is part of the fiber optic attenuator range built by Ever Expresslink Limited in Ningbo, China. It is built on the MU (Miniature Unit) interface.
Controlled loss, for when a receiver is being overdriven
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Product Overview
MU 4.5mm Attenuator is part of the fiber optic attenuator range built by Ever Expresslink Limited in Ningbo, China. It is built on the MU (Miniature Unit) interface.
MU is a 1.25 mm ferrule connector with a push-pull body, effectively a miniaturised SC. It appears in high-density telecom shelves and in optical device packaging where a full-size SC footprint will not fit.
Multimode fiber carries many modes in a 50 or 62.5 µm core, which makes alignment and coupling far more forgiving over short distances. Use it inside buildings, data halls and campus backbones where reach is short and low-cost VCSEL transceivers do the work.
Key Benefits
- Supplied as MU 4.5mm Attenuator, so the part you receive matches the designation you ordered against
- Multimode at 50/125 µm or 62.5/125 µm: Use it inside buildings, data halls and campus backbones where reach is short and low-cost VCSEL transceivers do the work.
- 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
Problems It 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
Application Scenarios
- Space-constrained patch fields
- Characterising receiver sensitivity on a test bench
- Simulating span loss during equipment qualification
- Correcting an over-powered PON path at the splitter output
- Bringing a short DWDM or long-reach link into receiver range
Who It Is For
- Maintenance teams diagnosing overload symptoms
- Commissioning engineers bringing links into their power window
- Data-center teams running long-haul optics over short distances
- Test laboratories characterizing receivers
Technical Features
- MU (Miniature Unit) interface
- MU parts are not interchangeable with LC despite the shared 1.25 mm ferrule size. Confirm the housing standard, not just the ferrule diameter.
- Multimode fiber at 50/125 µm or 62.5/125 µm
- 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
Specifications
| Product Designation | MU 4.5mm attenuator |
|---|---|
| Product Family | Fiber Optic Attenuator |
| Connector Interface | MU (Miniature Unit) |
| Fiber Mode | Multimode (50/125 µm or 62.5/125 µm) |
| Manufactured In | Ningbo, China |
| Warranty | One year against defects in materials and workmanship |
Values shown are those carried by the product designation. Dimensional and optical values for a specific order are confirmed on the quotation.
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
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
Compared With Other Options
| LC | Both use a 1.25 mm ferrule; LC has far wider transceiver support, MU appears mainly in telecom equipment |
|---|---|
| SC | MU is the compact equivalent of SC where panel space is the binding constraint |
| Single mode version | Single mode costs more at the transceiver but carries reach and upgrade headroom that multimode cannot. |
Handling MU 4.5mm 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
In Service
- 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
Questions About MU 4.5mm Attenuator
What do you need from us to quote MU 4.5mm Attenuator?
The quantity, the destination and anything that has to match on your side: connector and polish at each end, fiber mode and core size, and length where the item is an assembly. If you are matching a part you already buy, send the sample and we will quote against it.
Can MU 4.5mm Attenuator be supplied with a different connector interface?
Yes. MU (Miniature Unit) is what this designation carries, and the same family is stocked across the other mainstream connector standards. Tell us the port you have to mate with and we will confirm the equivalent part.
Is MU 4.5mm Attenuator available in the other fiber mode?
This item is multimode. Core size has to match end to end. Mixing 62.5/125 and 50/125 in one channel costs several dB at the junction. The corresponding version in the other fiber mode is available; confirm the installed plant at both ends before ordering.
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.
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.
More Fiber Optic Attenuator
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 Details
FC Tunable Attenuator
Used for bringing a short DWDM or long-reach link into receiver range.
View Details
SC Tunable Attenuator
Used for bringing a short DWDM or long-reach link into receiver range.
View Details
MEMS Variable Optical Attenuator
Used for bringing a short DWDM or long-reach link into receiver range.
View DetailsGuides Cases and Industries
How 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.
Process GuideUPC 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.
Deployment ProfileCATV Optical Level Balancing
Bringing an optical distribution tree into level, and keeping reflections out of the picture
IndustryTest Measurement and OEM Integration
Component-level supply for instrument builders and cable assembly houses
IndustryTelecom and Carrier Networks
Passive components for access, metro and transmission plant that has to stay up for decades
Request Pricing For MU 4.5mm Attenuator
Tell us the quantity and destination. If you are matching a part you already buy, send the sample and we will quote against it.