15 Tips to Ensure the Optical Transceiver Works Perfectly (original) (raw)

Keeping your optical transceiver working perfectly is essential for maintaining a high-quality network. By following a few simple tips, like preventing ESD damage, using quality fiber patch cables, ensuring compatibility, and keeping the fiber end face clean, you can keep your transceiver functioning at its best. By taking care of your optical transceiver, you can ensure its longevity and continued performance.

Tip #1. Prevent ESD damage

Electrostatic discharge can damage the sensitive components of your optical transceiver, so it’s essential to take measures to prevent it. Use anti-static gloves when working with the transceiver, and wear an anti-static wrist strap if possible.

Tip #2. Use quality fiber patch cord and fiber cable

It is essential to use quality optical fiber patch cables and fiber cables with your transceivers to ensure optimum optical network performance. You can minimize attenuation and optical signal loss by using high-quality components and keep your network running smoothly.

Tip #3. Do not forcibly plug and unplug the optical transceiver

When connecting or disconnecting the optical transceiver, be careful not to damage the optical port. Forcing the optical transceiver into place can cause damage to the optical coupling mechanism and result in poor performance of your optical network. Always use caution when plugging in or unplugging your optical transceiver.

Tip #4. Cover the dust cover when the transceiver is not in use

Keep the dust cover in place when not in use to stop dust and other debris from getting inside the optical transceiver. A dirty optical transceiver can cause an optical signal loss and eventually lead to network problems.

Tip #5. Keep the fiber end-face clean

It is crucial to keep the end-face of the optical transceiver clean to maintain a high-quality optical connection. The optical end face can become clogged with grit, dust, and other debris, which will reduce the optical signal. Keep the fiber end-face clean at all times.

You may inspect the end-face with a fiber microscope or fiber end-face inspector. These optical inspection tools will allow you to check for dirt, dust, or debris on the optical coupling mechanism.

Then if the end-face is dirty or damaged, use a fiber optic cleaner or fiber cleaning cotton stick to clean the optical connector mechanism, or just replace a new optical transceiver.

Dirty Fiber End-face vs. Clean Fiber End-face

Tip #6. BiDi optical transceivers must be used as pairs

If you are using BiDi optical transceivers, it is essential to use them in pairs. Unlike the regular duplex transceiver, the BiDi transceiver features different wavelengths on the transmitter and optical receiver ports. As a result, they cannot be used with other optical transceivers unless they are of the same type.

For example, if you use a 10G BiDi SFP+ 1270nm-TX/1330nm-RX transceiver on one side, you should use a 10G BiDi SFP+ 1330nm-RX/1270nm-TX optical transceiver on the other side. Otherwise, they will be unable to communicate, and the optical link will be lost.

Tip #7. Ensure transceiver compatibility

Some mainstream switch platforms lock the transceiver and prevent the standard transceiver from being used. In other words, the optical transceiver has been “lock-coded” and can only be used with that specific switch. As a result, it is important to check the optical transceiver compatibility before purchasing it.

Suppose you want to use a third-party optical transceiver with your switch. In that case, you need to check with the optical module vendor or the switch platform provider to see if they offer an optical compatibility list for the optical transceiver.

Tip #8. Make sure the fiber cable type fits your transceiver

You must ensure that the optical fiber cable type fits your optical transceiver optical port. The multimode transceiver only supports the transmission on a multimode fiber cable, while a single-mode optical transceiver only works with a single-mode optical fiber cable. Therefore, making the optical fiber cable fits your optical transceiver is very important.

Tip #9: Use an optical attenuator to avoid receiver overload and damaged

Some long-distance transceivers feature optical power that is too strong for the connected equipment. As a result, for short-distance links, you may use an optical attenuator to lower the optical power and protect your optical receiver from being damaged.

An optical attenuator is placed in the optical path between a transmitter and an optical receiver. The optical attenuator reduces the optical power level of the optical signal and protects the Optical Receiver from overloading.

Tip #10: Do not look into directly the fiber port

While the optical transceiver is working, When the optical transceiver is operating, there is a very bright light coming out from the optical port. Do not look into the optical port directly with your eyes, as this may hurt your eyes.

Tip #11: Choose the transceiver support DDM function

DDM or DOM function allows you to monitor optical transceiver parameters, such as optical power, optical wavelength, optical receiving power, temperature, etc. This will enable you to monitor your optical link and detect any possible optical transceiver problems.

Make sure the optical transceiver you choose supports the DDM function. It will help you avoid optical link failures and ensure the optical transceiver operates optimally.

Link budget refers to the optical power available at the optical receiver after considering all optical loss in the optical link. A low link budget will fail in transmission, while high optical power also comes with higher costs. You should carefully calculate the request link budget for your optical link to ensure optimal performance.

When optical transceivers are used in an optical link, it is crucial to ensure that the link budget is sufficient. The link budget is the optical power available to the optical receiver. If the optical power is too low, it can cause problems with the optical link. optical transceivers that are used in optical links must have a sufficient link budget to ensure that the optical link will work properly.

In short, the link budget directly determines the longest transmission distance. The optical link can work over a longer distance if the link budget is higher.

Therefore, when using optical transceivers, you should ensure that the link budget is sufficient.

Read the article to learn more about How to calculate the Fiber Link budget?

Tip #13: Avoid frequent plugging and unplugging of the transceiver

When optical transceivers are used, it is crucial to avoid frequent plugging and to unplug of the transceiver. If optical transceivers are frequently plugged and unplugged, it can cause damage to the optical transceiver. Optical transceivers should only be plugged and unplugged when it is necessary.

Tip #14: Try Industrial Transceiver when the switch port automatic shutdown

In individual cases, some fanless switches may suffer from poor heat dissipation, which can cause the optical transceiver to operate for a while, triggering the switch’s operating temperature threshold and shutting down the over-tempered port.

One solution to solve this problem is to replace the commercial transceiver with industrial Industrial optical transceivers that have a heat sink that helps to dissipate heat, preventing the optical transceiver from overheating and shutting down the switch port.

Tip #15: Use the transceiver in recommend environment

Be sure to use your optical transceiver in the recommended environmental conditions specified by the manufacturer. Extreme temperatures can damage the sensitive components of your optical transceiver and cause optical transceivers to fail.

Conclusion

By following these 15 tips, you can ensure that your optical transceiver works perfectly. Optical transceivers are delicate devices and should be handled with care. By following these tips, you can avoid damage to your optical transceiver and ensure its longevity. optical transceivers are an essential part of optical links; by taking care of them, you can ensure that your optical link works perfectly.

If you have any questions or tips of your own, feel free to leave a comment below.