2
INTRODUCTION
APPLICATIONS
Below is a list of test and measurement applications that can be performed using the ZOOM 2 optical power meter. The procedure for
each one of these applications is covered in detail in this manual.
Active Equipment Optical Power Measurements.
Active equipment should be measured periodically for correct power levels.
The transmitters in this equipment have a known power value. The ZOOM 2 can be directly attached to this equipment via a patch
cord to check whether the transmitter is within the manufacturer’s specified power range.
Fiber Continuity Testing.
Continuity can be measured with the ZOOM 2 by placing a calibrated light source on one end of the fiber
and the ZOOM 2 on the other end. This is also a simple way to measure the attenuation of the fiber.
Patch Cord Testing.
Fiber links that are producing incorrect results may have bad patch cords. The ZOOM 2 can be used to test the
attenuation of a patch cord to see if it is usable, or should be replaced.
Attenuation (Optical Loss) Measurements.
After a fiber cable has been installed and terminated, it must be tested to determine if
the fiber is installed according to standards and specifications. A comparison of the actual power measurement and the reference
value determines if the installation will pass or fail.
This manual describes the operation of the ZOOM 2 optical power meter. ZOOM stands for Zeroed Output Optical Meter.
The ZOOM 2 is a very economical option for measuring the optical power of both multimode and singlemode fibers. The ZOOM 2 is
NIST traceable, and is calibrated 850, 1300, 1310, and 1550nm, as well as 1490nm, one of the key wavelengths used in FTTx PON
networks. Reference values used for optical loss readings are stored for each of these wavelengths.
Its user-friendly interface includes two push-buttons: one for power and wavelength selection, and one for setting references and
toggling between dBm (optical power) and dB (optical loss).
The ZOOM 2 includes a 2.5mm universal connector, which is compatible with many popular fiber connectors, such as ST, SC, and FC.
A 1.25mm universal connector port can be purchased for an additional charge that allows for connection to LC, MU, and other SFF
connectors.
The ZOOM 2 is ideal for fiber optic professionals who need to quickly measure the loss in their fiber optic links and do not require data
point storage.
For an additional charge, the charger port in the ZOOM 2 can be replaced by a precision-coupled visual fault locator optimized for fiber
optics. An optical ball lens placed near the laser output focuses the light for optimum input into fiber optic cables, and special current-
limiting electronics prevents laser burnout (a common problem with pen-style laser pointers), increasing the life of the VFL.
DESCRIPTION
