Test Reference Cord specifications

Fluke Networks offers test cords with reference grade connectors in accordance with standards such as ANSI/TIA-526-14-C and ISO/IEC 14763-3. The requirements of these standards for loss at the connector are 0.10 dB for multimode and  0.20 dB for singlemode.

Our test reference cords are made to the following specifications:

Multimode 50/125 µm

• Cable: OFS, LaserWave 300 (OM3), ±1.0 μm core diameter
• Jacket color: Aqua
• Insertion Loss (reference grade)¹ 0.07 dB maximum against the MTC <0.1 dB random mating
• Return Loss: 40 dB maximum
• Radius of Curvature per GR-326: 7 mm to 25 mm
• Apex Offset per GR-326: 0 to 50 µm
• Fiber Height (spherical fit) per GR-326: -100 nm to + 100 nm
• Angular Offset per GR-326: -0.3 degrees to +0.3 degrees
• Fiber Roughness (Rq) per GR-326: 0 to 50 nm
• Ferrule Roughness (Rq) per GR-326: 0 to 50 nm

 

Multimode 62.5/125 µm

• Cable: OFS, Laser Optimized 62.5 XL ±1.0 μm core diameter
• Jacket color: Orange
• Insertion Loss (reference grade)¹ 0.07 dB maximum against the MTC <0.1 dB random mating
• Return Loss: 40 dB maximum
• Radius of Curvature per GR-326: 7 mm to 25 mm
• Apex Offset per GR-326: 0 to 50 µm
• Fiber Height (spherical fit) per GR-326: -100 nm to + 100 nm
• Angular Offset per GR-326: -0.3 degrees to +0.3 degrees
• Fiber Roughness (Rq) per GR-326: 0 to 50 nm
• Ferrule Roughness (Rq) per GR-326: 0 to 50 nm

 

Singlemode 9/125 µm (UPC)

• Cable: Corning, SMF 28e+
• Jacket color: Yellow
• Insertion Loss (reference grade)² 0.17 dB maximum against the MTC <0.2 dB random mating
• Return Loss: 50 dB maximum
• Radius of Curvature per GR-326: 7 mm to 25 mm
• Apex Offset per GR-326: 0 to 50 µm
• Fiber Height (spherical fit) per GR-326: -100 nm to + 100 nm
• Angular Offset per GR-326: -0.3 degrees to +0.3 degrees
• Fiber Roughness (Rq) per GR-326: 0 to 50 nm
• Ferrule Roughness (Rq) per GR-326: 0 to 50 nm

 

Singlemode 9/125 µm (APC)

• Cable: Corning, SMF 28e+
• Jacket color: Yellow
• Step or conical endface: Step
• Insertion Loss (reference grade) 0.15 dB maximum³
• Return Loss: 65 dB maximum
• Radius of Curvature per GR-326: 5 mm to 12 mm
• Apex Offset per GR-326: 0 to 50 µm
• Fiber Height (spherical fit) per GR-326: -100 nm to + 100 nm
• Angular Offset per GR-326: 7.5 degrees to 8.5 degrees
• Fiber Roughness (Rq) per GR-326: 0 to 50 nm
• Ferrule Roughness (Rq) per GR-326: 0 to 50 nm

 

¹Maximum insertion loss for 2.5 mm ferrules is based on interoperability and 2 standard deviations. For maximum insertion loss, 95% should meet the specification. During testing of the insertion loss using a master test cord (MTC), the maximum allowed test is to be less than 0.07 dB to achieve interoperability

²Maximum insertion loss for 2.5 mm ferrules is based on interoperability and 2 standard deviations. For maximum insertion loss, 95% should meet the specification. During testing of the insertion loss using a master test cord, the maximum allowed test should be less than 0.17 dB to achieve interoperability

³Except for E2000 which is 0.40 dB maximum.