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Introduction
The correct detector for loss and power measurements on fiber systems will generally be as follows:
General & Precision measurements over 1000 - 1650 nm (other InGaAs detectors) up to up to the maximum meter range.
Work on WDM systems above 1550 nm, despite attempts by some competitors to say otherwise. If in any doubt, just look at the graph
below. Calibration constants vary by about 2 dB between 1550 and 1625 nm, and are also very temperature sensitive.
Precision or laboratory grade accuracy. Ge is inherently non-linear by about 0.04 dB, has some temperature sensitivity, and responsivity
High power Measurements. These detectors are more expensive and have slightly lower accuracy than normal InGaAs detectors, so
only specify them if actually required. Kingfisher power meters can be used up to the maximum display range.
High power meters have less Autotest sensitivity, which is a consideration for loss testing.
The KI2600-H5 offers the best balance for most high power users, with up to +24 dBm range & reasonable Autotest senstivity
Specialist systems, typically rf / analogue, without an optical amplifier, have maximum power levels below +15 dBm.
Long distance systems with an optical power amplifier have maximum power levels below +23 dBm.
On installed single mode systems with standard polished-fiber connectors (SC / LC / FC etc), total system power per fiber cannot go above +23
In fact for routine operations, +18 dBm is regarded as a maximum, above which special operational precautions are needed to avoid catastrophic
Anything above +23 dBm is highly specialised, and will be either an r&d system, or will have expanded beam connectors to handle the extreme
Use of a fiber amplifier pre-amp can extend recover sensitivity down to between -40 to -45 dBm.
Use of a power meter on a cabling system below about -45 dBm is problematic, due to the possibility of stray sunlight leaking into exposed
cabling.
Wavelength Dependence
The above graph shows the room temperature response of power meters with Ge & InGaAs detectors as the wavelength is changed beyond 1500
nm.
The Ge meter is unsuitable for work on CWDM and DWDM systems above 1550 nm, the InGaAs meter is obviously a much better choice, since it
The above graph shows how the 1580 nm thermal response of a power meter with a Ge detector changes with temperature.
This instability makes Ge power meters basically unsuitable for field work on CWDM and DWDM systems above 1550 nm.
The thermal stability below 1550 nm is much better, around 0.2 dB, however it's never as good as InGaAs. This graph uses real measurement data