User`s guide

Performance Tests Performance Test Instructions
46 Agilent 81560A, 81561A, 81566A, & 81567A Optical Attenuator Modules, First Edition
Repeatability Test
Use the same equipment and test setup as used in Figure 11.
The performance test can be performed at other wavelengths than
1550 nm.
1 Turn the instruments on and allow the devices to warm up
(20..30min).
2 Make sure that all your connectors are clean and undamaged.
3 Set the attenuator and the power meter to the actual wavelength of
the laser source.
4 Disable the laser source, zero the power meter and select
Autorange. Display [dB].
5 Enable the laser source and open the shutter.
6 Set attenuation [α] to 1 dB, wait until it settles and set Display to
Reference on the power meter.
7 Set the attenuation [α] to any other value (e.g. 21 dB) and wait until
it settles at this value.
8 Change the attenuation [α] back to the previous value and note the
deviation in the Test Record.
9 Repeat the steps 6 to 8 for the following attenuation settings:
Power Setting Repeatability Test
Use the same equipment and test setup as used in Figure 11 without
the Agilent 81634B power meter. The performance test can be
performed at wavelengths other than 1550 nm.
This test applies only to the Agilent 81566A and 81567A Attenuators
with power control.
1 Turn the instruments on and allow the devices to warm up
(20..30min).
2 Make sure that all your connectors are clean and undamaged.
3 Set the attenuator to the actual wavelength of the laser source and
set the averaging time to 1s.
4 Zero the attenuator power meter, disable the power control and
display [dBm].
5 Enable the laser source and open the shutter.
7 dB 15 dB 24 dB 32 dB
40 dB 48 dB 54 dB 60 dB