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Appendix A: How to Test Your Test Reference Cords
Why You Must Do this Test
To get accurate measurements of loss, you must use high-
quality test reference cords that are in good condition and
comply with ISO/IEC 14763-3. Measurements of optical
power loss are very much affected by the condition of the
endfaces on the fiber connectors. Dirty endfaces and
endfaces with damage are the most common causes of
problems in fiber links.
When You Must Do this Test
Test your test reference cords at these times:
•
At the start of each day
•
When you move your equipment to a different area
•
When you change your equipment to test links that
have a different type of connector
After you do the test given in this Appendix, use the
procedure given with the procedures for certifying cabling
to monitor the condition of the cords.
Equipment You Must Have
Figure A-1 shows the equipment you must have to test
your test reference cords.
WCaution
To do this procedure, you must have a fiber
microscope. You cannot be sure that your cords
are good unless you can examine the endfaces
on the connectors. An endface that is dirty or
has damage can give a good loss measurement,
but can cause problems later. See Figure A-2.
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