M2 Optics Fiber Lab 1600 User manual

M2 Optics, Inc., 100 Parksouth Lane, Holly Springs, NC 27540
T: 866-269-2902 Fax: [phone]
Fiber Lab 1600, Rev. 2 - 1 -
Fiber Lab 1600
Operating Manual
SN:

M2 Optics, Inc., 100 Parksouth Lane, Holly Springs, NC 27540
T: 866-269-2902 Fax: [phone]
Fiber Lab 1600, Rev. 2 - 2 -
Table of Contents
1.0) Safety Page 3
2.0) Technical Data page 3
3.0) Design page 4
4.0) Set Up and Operation page 5
5.0) Maintenance page 6
6.0) Warranty page 6
7.0) Data Sheet Page 8
8.0) Loss Data Page 10

M2 Optics, Inc., 100 Parksouth Lane, Holly Springs, NC 27540
T: 866-269-2902 Fax: [phone]
Fiber Lab 1600, Rev. 2 - 3 -
1.) Safety
The Fiber Lab 1600, although used with optical sources and optical
detectors, contains no active components that emit or detect optical signals.
By itself, it is an inherently safe device.
When used for its intended purpose, the Fiber Lab 1600 product is connected
through optical fiber to an optical source such as an infrared laser
transmitter. Since the output of an infrared optical source is not visible with
the naked eye, it is extremely important that the user never look directly
into the output connector or fiber connected to the optical source. It is also
extremely important that the connectors on the front of the Fiber Lab 1600
remain covered when not in use to avoid direct viewing. Several important
safety steps should be taken whenever the Fiber Lab 1600 is used with an
optical source.
• Disable the optical source by removing power to ensure that the
optical source is not emitting any optical power from the connector or
pigtail.
• Remove the Fiber Lab 1600 dust caps (when using single or multiple
Fiber Lab 1600 units) for the attenuators/lengths that will be used in
the system.
• Use patch cords to serially connect (if required) the various
attenuations/lengths required for the system.
• Connect the optical source to the Fiber Lab 1600.
• Connect the optical receiver to the Fiber Lab 1600
• Enable the optical source by turning on the power.
• When the system evaluation is complete, disable the optical source
before disconnecting any of the patch cord connections.
2.) Technical Data
The Fiber Lab 1600 is designed to provide a single value of fiber attenuation
or fiber length in a compact, portable, bench-top package. The
attenuation/length is selectable at the time the purchase order is placed for
the product. The standard available fiber (SMF-28) attenuations are 1 ±20%

M2 Optics, Inc., 100 Parksouth Lane, Holly Springs, NC 27540
T: 866-269-2902 Fax: [phone]
Fiber Lab 1600, Rev. 2 - 4 -
dB, 2 ±15% dB, 4 ±10% dB and 8 ±10% dB measured at 1310 nm. Other
more unique fiber attenuations can be provided as requested. Any fiber
length (to 25km) can be specified. The maximum fiber attenuation contained
in the Fiber Lab 1600 is approximately 8 dB at 1310 nm. The standard
connector is the SC-APC connector with typical insertion loss at 0.2 db and
return loss maximum at –60 dB. Other connectors can be accommodated on
the front panel or via hybrid patch cords.
The Fiber Lab 1600 is available only in a bench mount version with carrying
handle and a rack mounting tray option and is (6 in. W) X (10 in. H) X (10
in. D) in size. The weight of the Fiber Lab 1600 will vary depending on the
fiber attenuations/lengths specified. However the maximum weight with one
8 dB attenuations/25 km length will not exceed 7 pounds or 3 kilograms.
3.) Design
All companies that are engaged in the development and/or manufacture of
fiber systems or components know that they can not use fixed or variable
attenuators to set up or evaluate their products. Fixed or variable attenuators
simply do not duplicate the performance characteristics of real fiber.
Many Companies use spools of fiber to test their systems and components
but the spools are scattered around on benches, sometimes hard to find and
are subject to contamination, breakage, and crimping. Fiber Lab brings all of
this under your control and gives you the added versatility of the different
attenuations or lengths to meets specific demands.
The Fiber Lab 1600 was designed to make it easy for anyone to conduct
fiber optic system and component evaluations with real fiber. It is ideal for
system and component development labs, testing labs, manufacturing test
labs, central offices, head ends, hub sites, and in general anyone that needs
to evaluate or demonstrate their products with real fiber. This product is
ideal for trade shows and exhibits because it is an efficient package and
helps prevent connector contamination and fiber breakage due to its
compact, rugged and secure construction.
The box contains spools of fiber with the ordered attenuation or length. Each
spool is terminated on the front panel. The spools have been designed to
ensure acceptable fiber bend radius that in turn ensures long product life.

M2 Optics, Inc., 100 Parksouth Lane, Holly Springs, NC 27540
T: 866-269-2902 Fax: [phone]
Fiber Lab 1600, Rev. 2 - 5 -
4.) Set Up and Operation
The unit is very easy to use and the best way to demonstrate its use is by
example. If you purchased 2 each P/N (FL8-06D-S-10-28E-SCA), you
would have two each 6dB terminated Fiber Lab 1600 canisters.
If you decided to set up your system to use both canisters, you would
connect your source to one end of the first Fiber Lab 1600 canister, patch
the other end of the first canister to one end of the second canister and
patch your receiver to the other end of the second canister as shown.
The length of the connecting patch cords is not important but the
cleanliness and repeatability of the connectors are very important in order
to obtain consistent results.
It is highly recommended as a standard practice to assign patch cords to
the front panel connectors and, if possible, leave them plugged in at all
times. This way the patch cords become sacrificial, low cost parts that
will wear out before the front panel adapters. The patch cords are easily
replaceable when they become unreliable. And the front panel adapters
will remain consistent for a much longer time.
Receive
r
6 dB
6 db
Source

M2 Optics, Inc., 100 Parksouth Lane, Holly Springs, NC 27540
T: 866-269-2902 Fax: [phone]
Fiber Lab 1600, Rev. 2 - 6 -
5.) Maintenance
There are no hard and fast maintenance procedures specifically for the
Fiber Lab 1600. However, there are several precautionary procedures that
should be adopted as habit with the connectors and patch cords used with
the product.
• Whenever possible leave patch cords plugged into all
connectors on the front panel. Otherwise keep connector covers
on all front panel connectors when not in use.
• Always clean patch cord connectors just prior to attaching them
to Fiber Lab 1600. A dirty connector may permanently degrade
the surface of the Fiber Lab connector.
• Use in a dust free environment to minimize any buildup on
connectors and adapters.
If the Fiber Lab 1600 needs repair and it is within the warranty period,
contact M2 Optics, Inc. for a return material authorization (RMA) prior
to shipping the unit. Products returned for repair un-accompanied by an
RMA number will not be accepted.
6.) Warranty
The Fiber Lab 1600 product is warranted against defects in material and
workmanship for a period of (1) one year from the date of shipment to
the end user from the factory, or 15 months from the date of shipment
from the factory to a distributor. Since optical connectors and adapters
are intolerant to misuse, dust, dirt, contaminated mating connectors, etc.,
they are warranted to meet the product specification upon leaving the
factory but are not warranted after delivery of the product to the
customer. The factory will be the sole determinant of whether the product
failure was due to defects in material and/or workmanship (covered) or
misuse and physical abuse (not covered). The warranty is void if it is
determined that the product has been tampered with, opened or modified.
All warranty returns must have a factory issued RMA number and the
box containing the product must be boldly marked with the RMA

M2 Optics, Inc., 100 Parksouth Lane, Holly Springs, NC 27540
T: 866-269-2902 Fax: [phone]
Fiber Lab 1600, Rev. 2 - 7 -
number. Returned material will not be accepted without a factory issued
RMA number.
The customer is responsible for freight and insurance costs to return the
in-warranty product to the factory for repair. M2 Optics, Inc. is
responsible for freight and insurance to return the in-warranty repaired
product to the customer.
All transportation and insurance costs, as well as material and labor for
the repair, will be the responsibility of the customer for out-of-warranty
repairs. Out-of-warranty repairs will be accompanied with a valid
purchase order to cover the cost of the repair. Advanced out-of-warranty
repair estimates can be obtained by calling the factory and requesting a
quotation prior to returning the product to the factory for repair.
The Fiber Lab 1600 product will provide years of trouble free service.
We hope you enjoy it and recommend the product to others.