SC Tunable Attenuator
SC Tunable Attenuator is part of the fiber optic attenuator range built by Ever Expresslink Limited in Ningbo, China. It is built on the SC (Subscriber Connector) interface.
Controlled loss, for when a receiver is being overdriven
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Product Overview
SC Tunable Attenuator is part of the fiber optic attenuator range built by Ever Expresslink Limited in Ningbo, China. It is built on the SC (Subscriber Connector) interface.
SC pairs a 2.5 mm ferrule with a square push-pull housing that clicks into the adapter and releases by pulling the body straight back. SC bodies clip together into duplex pairs. Check polarity before you clip, because a reversed duplex clip is easy to build and hard to spot in a cabinet.
It is one of 10 items in this range. A typical application is bringing a short DWDM or long-reach link into receiver range. What the range is built to give you there: available across the main connector types and both polish styles.
The problem it addresses is ad-hoc attenuation methods that drift with temperature. A practical note that applies across this range: re-measure after installation to confirm the link is inside its window. Specifications for a particular configuration are confirmed on the quotation rather than assumed from the designation.
Key Benefits
- Supplied as SC Tunable Attenuator, so the part you receive matches the designation you ordered against
- 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
- Known, stable loss instead of improvised fiber coils
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
- FTTH terminal boxes and splice closures
- 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
Who It Is For
- 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
Technical Features
- SC (Subscriber Connector) interface
- SC bodies clip together into duplex pairs. Check polarity before you clip, because a reversed duplex clip is easy to build and hard to spot in a cabinet.
- UPC and APC polish options
- Fixed attenuation values across the common dB steps
- Tunable versions with a continuously adjustable range
- MEMS variable versions for programmable bench work
Materials
- Doped fiber or coated-ferrule attenuating element
- Zirconia ceramic ferrule
- Metal or thermoplastic housing
- Precision adjustment mechanism on tunable versions
Specifications
| Product Designation | SC tunable attenuator |
|---|---|
| Product Family | Fiber Optic Attenuator |
| Connector Interface | SC (Subscriber Connector) |
| 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 | LC is half the footprint and doubles port density; SC is easier to handle in a crowded closure |
|---|---|
| FC | FC's threaded nut resists vibration; SC is faster to patch and re-patch |
Handling SC Tunable 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 SC Tunable Attenuator
What do you need from us to quote SC Tunable 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 SC Tunable Attenuator be supplied with a different connector interface?
Yes. SC (Subscriber Connector) 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.
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.
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
MU 4.5mm Attenuator
Multimode. Used for characterizing receiver sensitivity on a test bench.
View Details
FC 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
IndustryData Center and Enterprise LAN
High-density patching, structured cabling and building-to-building links
IndustryCATV and Broadcast Networks
Optical and coaxial distribution where return loss and level balance decide picture quality
Request Pricing For SC Tunable 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.