Cable Plant Link Loss Budget Analysis Loss budget analysis is the calculation and verification of a fiber optic system's operating characteristics. This encompasses items such as routing, electronics, wavelengths, fiber type, and circuit length. Attenuation and bandwidth are the key parameters for budget loss analysis. Prior to implementing or designing a fiber optic circuit, a loss budget analysis is reccommended to make certain the system will work over the proposed link. Both the passive and active components of the circuit have to be included in the budget loss calculation.
Passive loss is made up of fiber loss, connector loss, and splice loss.
Don't forget any couplers or splitters in the link. Active components are system gain, wavelength, transmitter power, receiver sensitivity, and dynamic range. Prior to system turn up, test the circuit with a source and FO power meter to ensure that it is within the loss budget. The idea of a loss budget is to insure the network equipment will work over the installed fiber optic link. Cable Plant Passive Component Loss Step 1.