With the power meter on, press and hold to toggle the backlight on or off. Fiber Optic Measurement Units: "dB" and "dBm" 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,”. An optical power meter measures the strength of light traveling through a fiber optic cable, giving you a reading in dBm (decibels relative to one milliwatt). The basic process is straightforward: turn the meter on, set it to the correct wavelength, clean your connectors, plug in, and read the. You measure optical power in dBm or insertion loss in dB. Consistent procedures ensure accuracy. Verify light travels from transmitter to receiver. Ensure the unit is in dBm and you are reading the correct output power for the laser/LED you are using (Lasers are calibrated at -5 (or -8 with tone on) and LEDs are calibrate at -22 (or 25 with tone on)).
[PDF Version]