To measure optical loss, you can use two units, namely, dBm and dB. While dBm is the actual power level represented in milliwatts, dB (decibel) is the difference between the powers. If the optical input power is P1 (dBm) and the optical output power is P2 (dBm), the power loss is. It focuses on decibels (dB), decibels per milliwatt (dBm), attenuation and measurements, and provides an introduction to optical fibers. There are no specific requirements for this document. When the power emitted by a light source is transmitted through a fiber optic line and the power at the. Whenever tests are performed on fiber optic networks, the results are displayed on a power meter, OLTS or OTDR readout in units of “dB. ” Optical loss is measured in “dB” which is a relative measurement, while absolute optical power is measured in “dBm,” which is dB relative to 1mw optical power. The decibel (dB) is often used for quantifying the gain of an amplifier or the loss of some optical element, such as an optical fiber or an optical attenuator. The number of decibels is 10 times the logarithm (to base 10) of the power amplification factor or loss factor, or alternatively 20 times.
[PDF Version]