6.0 Optical Fiber Patch Cord Preparation
Dirt, dust, and other contaminants severely impact high-speed data transmission in optical fibers and dirty connector end-faces are
often the number one cause of link failures. High insertion loss and/or high back reflection can result in transmission loss or high bit
errors and poor BER.
Most measurement variations and test repeatability conditions in fiber-optic systems can be traced back to the cleanliness of optical
connections. Contamination of fiber end faces not only affects optical power levels but also impacts back reflectance performance
and levels which is harmful to sensitive optical components.
Dirty fiber end faces can cause back reflectance and insertion loss
6.1 Contamination
Optical connectors are susceptible to contamination from air borne particles and human body oils when exposed. Left over liquid
residue from improper cleaning can also leave the fiber end face contaminated. The smaller the fiber core, the more severe the
problem is likely to be, especially when considering that fiber core diameters can range from 62.5 microns all the way down to 8
microns in size.
Types of contamination viewed from a Fiber microscope
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