notizie sull'azienda Five Common Mistakes When Using MPO Hybrid Trunk Cables in Testing Setups

Mistake One: Ignoring Polarity Issues

Polarity problems occur when transmit and receive fibers are mismatched. MPO connectors have different pin arrangements. Using wrong polarity type can lead to signal failure or reversed channels. Always verify the correct MPO polarity method before installation.

Mistake Two: Mismatched Fiber Modes

Using multimode fiber where single mode is required or vice versa causes high loss or limited distance. Testing setups often mix modes; avoid mixing unless equipment supports both. For high speed or long distance tests single mode is often preferred.

Mistake Three: Insufficient Cleaning of Connectors

Dirty or scratched connector end faces degrade performance. Especially in MPO blocks with many fibers, dust or debris on any fiber can degrade the whole link. Clean before every connection during testing and ensure visual inspection tools are available.

Mistake Four: Overlooking Insertion Loss Budget

Every connector adds some insertion loss. FC and MPO connectors each contribute. Hybrid trunk cables have two connector types plus the fiber itself. If loss budget margin is not sufficient, results may not meet specification. Plan for margin in test setups.

Mistake Five: Using Wrong Fiber Counts

Using an MPO trunk cable with too many cores or too few can cause wasted capacity or inability to use certain transceivers. For example testing a 40G module that expects 8 fibers should use an 8 core MPO or disable unused ones rather than using mismatched 12 core without adaptation.

Tips to Avoid These Mistakes

• Always label connectors and fiber counts clearly.

• Maintain consistent documentation of which equipment uses which polarity.

• Use fiber test sets to measure actual loss.

• Train technicians on cleaning procedures and connector inspection.

• Choose proper hybrid cable keying and matching equipment interfaces.

Impact on Test Accuracy and Productivity

Mistakes lead to false test failures, rework, delays, and waste. In competitive environments where time matters or specifications are tight, using properly selected and maintained hybrid trunk cables helps reduce troubleshooting time and improves reliability of test results.