ST Attenuator
ST Attenuator is part of the fiber optic attenuator range built by Ever Expresslink Limited in Ningbo, China. It is built on the ST (Straight Tip) interface.
Controlled loss, for when a receiver is being overdriven
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Product Overview
ST Attenuator is part of the fiber optic attenuator range built by Ever Expresslink Limited in Ningbo, China. It is built on the ST (Straight Tip) interface.
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 wavelength, including the 1310nm and 1550nm typical single mode wavelength. These ST fiber attenuators are equipped with ceramic sleeves and features high quality and long lifetime. Attenuation range is from 1dB to 30dB. The ST fiber attenuators are used inline to reduce the fiber optic power by a certain fixed value. They are high attenuation accuracy and working temperature from -40 C to +75 C. Our ST fiber optic attenuators are made according to industrial standards; they are with fast delivery and competitive prices.
ST mounts a 2.5 mm ferrule in a bayonet coupling that locks with a quarter turn against a spring. The bayonet pin has to clear the slot fully. A partially rotated ST looks seated but sits off the reference plane and reads high loss.
Key Benefits
- Supplied as ST Attenuator, so the part you receive matches the designation you ordered against
- Low back-reflection versions for return-loss-sensitive paths
- 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
Problems It Solves
- 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
- Receiver saturation on short links built with high-power transmitters
Application Scenarios
- Legacy multimode building backbones
- Correcting an over-powered PON path at the splitter output
- 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
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
- ST (Straight Tip) interface
- The bayonet pin has to clear the slot fully. A partially rotated ST looks seated but sits off the reference plane and reads high loss.
- MEMS variable versions for programmable bench work
- Male-to-female plug style for direct insertion into a port
- UPC and APC polish options
- Fixed attenuation values across the common dB steps
Materials
- Doped fiber or coated-ferrule attenuating element
- Zirconia ceramic ferrule
- Metal or thermoplastic housing
- Precision adjustment mechanism on tunable versions
Specifications
| Product Designation | ST attenuator |
|---|---|
| Product Family | Fiber Optic Attenuator |
| Connector Interface | ST (Straight Tip) |
| 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
| SC | SC pushes straight in; ST needs a twist but is quick once the technique is habitual |
|---|---|
| FC | Both use a 2.5 mm ferrule; FC screws down for vibration, ST trades that for speed |
Handling ST 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 ST Attenuator
What do you need from us to quote ST 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 ST Attenuator be supplied with a different connector interface?
Yes. ST (Straight Tip) 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.
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.
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.
More Fiber Optic Attenuator
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 Details
MU Attenuator
We supply both UPC MU fiber optic attenuator and APC MU fiber optic attenuators for single mode applications.
View Details
LC Attenuator
We supply single mode LC fiber optic attenuators including the bulkhead LC attenuator and female to male LC fiber attenuator.
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 ST 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.