TIA Publishes TSB-142 on Optical Return Loss

December 12, 2005

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) published a telecommunications systems bulletin (TSB), Optical Return Loss Meters - Measurement and Application Issues, TSB-142.

This document addresses the performance and application of instruments used to measure optical return loss and reflectance on both the component and the system level. Different instruments are used to measure optical return loss and reflectance of system components such as connectors, filters, isolators, diodes, subsystems, cable assemblies and an entire fiber span. Under certain circumstances, these instruments might measure the reflection of a point defect or the cumulative reflected power of a whole system.

To compare the performance criteria of optical return loss instruments and to understand their measurement uncertainty, some terminology and common application issues are compiled. TSB-142 combines criteria, parameters and issues to help users of these test instruments understand common phenomena associated with them.

TSB-142 was formulated by the TIA FO-4.5 Subcommittee on Fiber Optic Metrology and released September 2005. A TSB is not a standard, but contains technical material that may be valuable to industry and users.

Source: Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA).