Fiber Optic Connector Care For Optical Data Interface (Odi) - Keysight M8121A User Manual

2 Installation and Maintenance

Fiber Optic Connector Care for Optical Data Interface (ODI)

36
The fiber optic connector care is vital to maintain good measurements and
avoid costly repairs caused by damage to fiber optic connectors on optical
test equipment.
Improper connector care, cleaning, or use of mismatched cable
connectors can invalidate the published specifications and damage
connectors. Clean all cables before applying to any connector. Repair of
damaged connectors due to improper use is not covered under warranty.
Treat all fiber-optic connectors like the high-quality lens of an expensive
camera. Damage to the connectors on calibration and verification devices,
test ports, cables, and other devices can:
• Degrade measurement accuracy and repeatability and
• Cause expensive damage to instruments.
Because fiber-optic connectors are susceptible to damage that is not
immediately obvious to the naked eye, it is very easy to make bad
measurements without being aware of a connector problem. Learning
about proper handling and cleaning techniques will help you to avoid any
degradation in connector performance. With glass-to-glass interfaces, any
damage of the ferrule or end of the fiber, any stray particles, or finger oil
can have a significant effect on fiber-optic connectors.
This picture shows the end of a clean, problem-free fiber-optic connector.
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