OPTOKON PM-212 User manual

is the registered trademark of OPTOKON, a.s. Other names and trademarks mentioned herein may be
the trademarks of their respective owners.
OPTOKON, a.s., Cerveny Kriz 250, 586 01 Jihlava, Czech Republic
tel. [phone], fax [phone], WWW.OPTOKON.COM, [e-mail]
22/03/2013
PM-212
Pocket Optical Power
Meter
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Revision 2.5

PM-212 INSTRUCTION MANUAL
2
is the registered trademark of OPTOKON, a.s. Other names and trademarks mentioned
herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners
All rights reserved. No parts of this work may be reproduced in any form or by any means - graphic, electronic,
or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems - without
the written permission of the publisher.
Products that are referred to in this document may be either trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the
respective owners. The publisher and the author make no claim to these trademarks.
While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document, the publisher and the author
assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of information
contained in this document or from the use of programs and source code that may accompany it. In no event
shall the publisher and the author be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage caused or
alleged to have been caused directly or indirectly by this document.
OPTOKON, a.s.
Cerveny Kriz 250
586 01 Jihlava
Czech Republic
tel. [phone]
fax [phone]
WWW.OPTOKON.COM
[email protected]OM

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Contents
1Introduction .................................................................................................. 4
2Features........................................................................................................ 4
3Application .................................................................................................... 4
4Accessories ................................................................................................... 5
4.1 Standard......................................................................................................................5
4.2 Optional......................................................................................................................5
5Specifications ................................................................................................ 6
6Safety information ......................................................................................... 6
7Maintenance.................................................................................................. 6
7.1 Battery care ................................................................................................................6
7.2 Instrument care...........................................................................................................7
7.3 Optical connector care................................................................................................7
8Instrument and button function description..................................................... 8
8.1 Menu #1 –Absolute power measurement mode........................................................9
8.2 Menu #2 –Relative power measurement mode.........................................................9
9Working with the internal memory................................................................ 10
9.1 SAVE RESULT .......................................................................................................11
9.2 BROWSE RESULT.................................................................................................11
9.3 UPLOAD DATA......................................................................................................12
9.4 ERASE MEMORY ..................................................................................................12
9.5 EXIT MEMORY......................................................................................................13
10 Insertion Loss Measurement ..................................................................... 13
10.1 Basic theory ............................................................................................................13
10.2 Method 6 .................................................................................................................14
10.2.1 Setting the reference.........................................................................................14
10.2.2 Measurement Loss............................................................................................14
10.3 Method 7 .................................................................................................................15
10.3.1 Setting the reference.........................................................................................15
10.3.2 Measurement Loss............................................................................................16
11 Setting up data transfer............................................................................ 16
12 Power loss and decibels............................................................................ 19
13 Calibration, service center......................................................................... 21

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1Introduction
The PM 212 optical power meter is a small, pocket size low cost item. The
small size does not prevent the optical meter fulfilling all the technical
requirements for field equipment. The unit can be easily carried in the pocket or
on a belt. It can be placed within rack mount ODF’s with the display on the top
or on the side. The NiMH rechargeable battery ensures a long term working time
with a minimum life time of 5 years. The unit is able to store 100 measurements
which can be uploaded to a PC and managed with SmartProtocol software.
The instrument can be used separately to measure absolute or relative
optical power in optical networks or with the LS-800 Optical Light Source or
OFT 820 Loss Test Set for optical loss measurement on singlemode and
multimode fiber cable at six working wavelengths.
2Features
Small size, light weight
Six working wavelengths
Absolute and Relative optical power measurement
Internal two level memory structure
Capacity up to 100 measurements
SmartProtocol SW –generation of test reports
USB port for:
Charging the battery
Data upload to PC
Firmware upgrade
Built-in NiMH rechargeable battery pack
Auto Off
Battery status indicator
3Application
Absolute or relative optical power measurement.
Optical network testing.
Measurement output power of optical transmitters.
Measurement input power at optical receivers.
Measurement attenuation in fiber cabling, in conjunction with the LS-800
Optical light source or the OFT 820 Loss Test Set.
Measurement loss of connectors, splices, adaptors, switches and other fiber
optic components.
Easy and quick identification of failure points in fiber optic networks
Suitable for SM and MM applications.

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4Accessories
4.1 Standard
Power meter
Universal 2.5 mm adaptor (TE-ADP-250)
Power charging adaptor
Traceable calibration certificate
Soft carrying case
USB cable
SmartProtocol SW
4.2 Optional
Master patchcords
Master adaptors
Universal SFF 1.25 mm adaptor (TE-ADP-125)
Hard carry case (TE-HC-01)
TE-ADP-250
TE-ADP-125
TE-HC-01
Power charging adaptor

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5Specifications
Specifications:
Note:
Photodetector
1 mm InGaAs
Working wavelengths
850, 1300, 1310, 1490,
1550, 1625 nm
can be customized
Uncertainty
± 5%
1310, 1550 nm @ -20 dBm
Resolution
0.01
Dynamic range
-60 dBm to +10 dBm
-53 dBm to +17 dBm
1300, 1310, 1490, 1550, 1625 nm
850 nm
Dimensions
24 x 47 x 71 mm
including 2.5 mm universal adaptor
Weight
Less than 90 g
battery loaded
Temperature operating
storage
Humidity (non cond.)
-10 to +50 °C
-40 to +70 °C
0 –95%
Operating temperature
-10 to +50 °C
Battery working time
> 100 hrs
between battery pack charging
Battery life time
> 5 years
6Safety information
The PM 212 instrument emits no optical power itself and does not create any hazards
to the user.
Never use magnifying devices to inspect optical fiber ends unless you are sure
that no optical power is being emitted.
Use only magnifying devices with a built-in infra-red filter to ensure safety.
During operation, testing or maintenance of a fiber optic system, never look into
an active fiber optic cable. Infrared radiation may be present and permanent eye
damage can result.
Avoid direct exposure to the beam.
Do not activate the laser when there is no fiber attached to the optical output
connector
Under no circumstances should you look into the end of an optical cable attached to
the optical output when the device is operational. Laser radiation can seriously
damage your eyesight.
7Maintenance
7.1 Battery care
The PM 212 comes equipped with a built-in charger and internal battery pack.
Before using the PM 212 for first time, charge fully battery pack.
Use the USB charger, cable and USB port for charging.
Charging is not recommended until battery status is 30% or less.
Recommended charging time of battery pack is 10 to 12 hrs.

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Charge the battery pack fully before storing PM 212 for a long period. The
batteries will lose its charge during storage.
If you are not going to use the PM 212 for long period, charge the battery
pack once every six months.
The battery pack is a consumable. Repeated charging and discharging
degreases battery pack life. Please contact OPTOKON for battery pack
replacement.
To extend battery pack life it is recommended that batteries be completely
drained before re-charging –battery refresh. Otherwise the batteries lose its
ability to fully recharge
7.2 Instrument care
During storage and transport keep the instrument in its carry case to protect
against crushing, vibration, dust and moisture.
Where possible keep the instrument away from strong sunlight.
Clean the instrument housing using alcohol or other cleaning agents. Acetone or
other active solvents may damage the case.
The instrument is resistant to normal dust and moisture, however it is not
waterproof. If moisture does get into instrument, dry it out carefully before
using it again.
7.3 Optical connector care
Cleanliness will affect the performance of an optical fiber system.
All connectors and fiber end faces need to be clean prior to testing.
Clean all connectors, adapters, and attenuators before making any connections.
Use appropriate optical cleaning supplies to keep connectors and adaptors free
from contamination.
The following cleaning materials are recommended and can form part of your
cleaning kit:
- Lint-free laboratory wipes.
- Isopropyl alcohol in pressurised dispenser
- Lint free pipe cleaners
- Clean, dry, oil-free compressed air
Battery status

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8Instrument and button function description
[ON/OFF]
Press ON/OFF key to turn the unit on.
Press ON/OFF key to turn the unit off.
After switching on, the type of device, serial number and firmware version will be
displayed.
The unit always starts up with displaying the settings when it was switched off. For
example, if absolute mode measurement, wavelength 1550 nm and Auto Off is
selected and the unit is switched off, after pressing the ON button, the unit will start
up with the same settings.
[AUTO OFF]
Press and hold the ON/OFF key to Enable/Disable the AUTO OFF feature.
The unit will display "AUTOOFF CHANGED" and the symbol " " will be displayed.
(Auto OFF is enabled)
If Auto Off is enabled, the unit will switch off after 10 minutes of no activity.
Power meter port
with 2.5 mm
universal adaptor
Operating keys
ON/OFF key
LCD display
USB port

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8.1 Menu #1 –Absolute power measurement mode
In the absolute power measurement mode the absolute value of the optical signal in
dBm units is shown on the display.
This screen will appear after the instrument is switched on and information regarding
the type of device, serial number and firmware version will appear
(if the unit was switched off in the “absolute power measurement mode”).
[]
Selects 850, 1300, 1310, 1490, 1550, 1625 nm wavelengths.
[REL]
Activates the relative power measurement mode (unit dB).
Recalls the last set reference for a selected wavelength.
Goes to menu #2.
8.2 Menu #2 –Relative power measurement mode
If the relative power measurement mode is on, the value of the optical insertion loss
in dB units which corresponds to the performed reference is shown on the display.
This screen is displayed after the instrument is switched on and information
regarding the type of device, serial number and firmware version is described
(if the unit was switched off in the “relative power measurement mode”).
[ABS]
Returns unit to the absolute power measurement mode (unit dBm).
Goes to menu #1.
[REF]
Sets and stores the new reference for the selected wavelength.
Note: The new reference must be confirmed by the following screen:

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9Working with the internal memory
The PM 212 memory has a structured, two-level organization. The results are stored
in memory positions (MEM) in folders called Cable (CAB). See the table below:
A maximum of 256 results can be stored in the memory, although the maximum
number of CAB and MEM is 128. This means, if 128 CAB folders are used, each CAB
folder can contain a maximum of two memory positions (MEM), and vice versa; if
only two CAB folders are used, each folder can contain up to 128 memory positions
(MEM).
[MEM]
To access the memory, press the MEM key.
Use [ ]or [] keys for selecting the appropriate function.

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9.1 SAVE RESULT
1. Press [MEM].
2. Use [+] or [-] keys for selecting “SAVE RESULT” and press [MEM].
3. Use [+] or [-] keys for selecting the appropriate CAB and press [OK].
4. Use [+] or [-] keys for selecting the appropriate MEM and press [OK].
5. The measurement value will be saved into the selected memory position.
9.2 BROWSE RESULT
1. Press [MEM].
2. Use [+] or [-] keys for selecting “ BROWSE RES.” and press [MEM].
3. Use [+] or [-] keys for selecting the appropriate CAB and press [OK].

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4. Use [+] or [-] keys for selecting the appropriate MEM.
5. Measurement value (reference) will be displayed.
6. Press [OK] to return to Menu#1 or #2.
9.3 UPLOAD DATA
1. Press [MEM].
2. Use [+] or [-] keys for selecting “ UPLOAD DATA” and press [MEM].
3. Saved data will be uploaded through the USB port into a PC.
4. For creating measurement protocol use “SmartProtocol“ PC software.
9.4 ERASE MEMORY
1. Press [MEM].
2. Use [+] or [-] keys for selecting “ ERASE MEMORY” and press [MEM].
3. Press [CONFIRM] or [NO].

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4. After confirmation all memory contents will be erased.
9.5 EXIT MEMORY
1. Use [+] or [-] keys for selecting “ EXIT MEMORY” and press [MEM].
2. Press [MEM].
3. Display will return to Menu#1 or #2.
10 Insertion Loss Measurement
10.1 Basic theory
Loss measures the signal degradation in a fiber optic cable. A light source injects an
optical signal of the appropriate wavelength into the fiber and a power meter
measures the received signal at the same wavelength.
There are two different measurement methods:
Method 6
Method 7
according to IEC 874-1 4.4.7.4.
Power measurement is the basis of optical testing and determines the power budget
of the fiber optic link by comparing the power of the transmitter and the sensitivity of
the receiver. This difference is the maximum acceptable loss. Power loss is caused by
different phenomena such as attenuation of the fiber, dirty connector mating faces,
connector misalignment, loss of splices and other issues such as sharp fiber bends.
The "end to end" loss test is the most commonly used acceptance test for power loss
in fiber optic links. The test is based on measurement the power difference at the
input and output of the link.
The PM 212 and LS-800 are used for this test, where the light source (LS-800) acts
as a transmitter and the optical power meter (PM 212) as a receiver.
The "end to end" test includes two steps:
1. Setting the reference
2. Measurement the loss

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10.2 Method 6
For method 6 two master cords are used to set the reference. Method 6 cancels the
effects of the master cords and one adaptor for all subsequent measurements.
10.2.1 Setting the reference
1. Connect the first master cord to the power meter (PM-212).
2. Connect the second master cord to the light source (LS-800).
3. Use the master adaptor to connect the two fiber ends (fig.1).
4. Power on the light source and by pushing [].select the appropriate wavelength.
5. Power on the power meter and by pushing [] select the appropriate wavelength
range.
6. On the power meter activate the relative power measurement mode - by pushing
[REL].
7. Set and store the new reference for the selected wavelength - push [REF],
[CONFIRM].
(fig.1)
10.2.2 Measurement Loss
1. Do not disconnect the master cords from the light source and the power meter.
2. Disconnect one master cord from the adaptor.
3. Connect the trace to be measured between the master cords. An extra master
adaptor is required (fig.2).
4. The power meter display will report the loss in dB.

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(fig.2)
10.3 Method 7
For method 7, one master cord is used to set the reference. The master cord will be
cancelled for all subsequent measurements.
10.3.1 Setting the reference
1. Connect the master cord to the power meter (PM 212).
2. Connect the second end of the master cord to the light source (LS-800, fig.3).
3. Power on the light source and select the appropriate wavelength - by pushing
[].
4. Power on the power meter and select the appropriate wavelength range - by
pushing [].
5. On the power meter activate the relative power measurement mode - by pushing
[REL].
6. Set and store the new reference for the selected wavelength - push [REF],
[CONFIRM].
(fig.3)

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10.3.2 Measurement Loss
1. Do not disconnect the master cord from the light source.
2. Disconnect the master cord from the power meter port.
3. Connect the trace to be measured between the power meter port and the master
cord that is attached to the light source. An extra master adaptor is required
(fig.4).
4. The power meter display will report the loss in dB.
(fig.4)
11 Setting up data transfer
1. Connect the PM 212 to a PC using the USB cable provided and turn the PM 212
on. The PC will prompt you to install the drivers for new hardware. Use the
drivers on the CD provided by OPTOKON. These drivers will create a virtual serial
com port.
2. Start the Hyper Terminal.
Start >> Programs >> Accessories >> Communication >> Hyper Terminal.

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3. Enter the name of a connection, then click on OK.
4. Choose the virtual serial port that the PM 212 is connected to, then click on OK.
5. Set “Bits per second” to 19200, then click on OK.
PM 212
PM 212

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6. Go to the menu in PM 212 and push [MEM], use [ ] or [ ] keys for selecting
“UPLOAD DATA“, push [MEM].
The stored data will be transferred to the PC in this format:
The data from this window can be easily copied to any other application.
For creating measurement protocol use “SmartProtocol“PC software.
7. Control via Hyperterminal
Control is performed by entering commands that are written to the window of HyperTerminal.
Note: Commands for PM-212 are the same as for OFT-820
Command
Significance
Notes
v
Actual value of display
This commands are shown in
the window of
HyperTerminal
r
Reference
l
Actual wavelength
n
Type and serial number
1
Simulation of pushing first button
This commands are shown
on the display of device
2
Simulation of pushing second button
3
Simulation of pushing third button
0
Reset device
Basic commands for HyperTerminal.
cable folder
memory
position
wavelength
stored values

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Window of HyperTerminal with basic command.
12 Power loss and decibels
Loss (dB)
% Loss
dBm
Power (mW)
0
0,0
-50
0,00001
0,1
2,3
-40
0,0001
0,2
4,5
-30
0,001
0,3
6,7
-20
0,01
0,4
8,8
-10
0,10
0,5
10,9
-9
0,13
0,6
12,9
-8
0,16
0,7
14,9
-7
0,20
0,8
16,8
-6
0,25
0,9
18,7
-5
0,32
1
20,6
-4
0,40
2
36,9
-3
0,50
3
49,9
-2
0,63
4
60,2
-1
0,79
5
68,4
0
1,00
Actual value
Reference
Wavelength
Type and serial number

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6
74,9
1
1,26
7
80,0
3
2,00
8
84,2
5
3,16
9
87,7
7
5,01
10
90,0
10
10,00
12
93,7
12
15,84
15
96,8
15
31,62
20
99,0
17
50,12
30
99,9
20
100,00