Allowable Loss Calculator
Quick loss budget for 1310 / 1550 nm
How to use
Select wavelength, enter span length, splices, and connectors. Defaults follow common design values - change any number to match your standards.
Select wavelength, enter span length, splices, and connectors. Defaults follow common design values - change any number to match your standards.
Editable Values
Total Allowable Loss
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Fiber Contribution
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Splices
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Connectors
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Buffer
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• Defaults follow common single-mode design values.
• Change any number to match your company standards or actual fiber specs.
• A 2 dB buffer is typically included for future repairs and degradation.
Field TipMatch fiber loss (dB/km) to the cable you are designing or testing - defaults are common single-mode values, not a standard for every job.
Common MistakeForgetting mated connectors at both ends of the span, or leaving buffer at zero when the design expects future repairs.
About this calculationTotal allowable loss = (span km × fiber dB/km) + (splices × splice dB) + (connectors × connector dB) + buffer.