Calculating and Understanding Optical Power Budgets

Media conversion is a popular networking tool. It helps companies integrate their fiber
optical and copper-based Ethernet architectures. This allows organizations to cost-effectively
optimize performance within the network and keep up with emerging technology. However,
effectively deploying media converters is dependent on accurately calculating the networks
optical power budget.
The optical power budget is the amount of light required to transmit signals
successfully over distance through a fiber-optic connection. The amount of light energy
available within the setup will dictate how long organizations can extend fiber-optic
cable links between media converters within the network. Optical power budgets are
critical to help businesses understand how long they can extend optical networks without
experiencing signal distortion because of a lack of energy to generate into light.
When calculating optical power budgets, organizations are dependent on two statistics
from manufacturers: minimum transmit power and minimum receive sensitivity.
Companies calculating their optical power budget simply subtract the minimum receive
sensitivity from the minimum transit power. Minimum receive sensitivity is usually a
negative number, making the calculation the same as adding the absolute value of the
minimum receive sensitivity to the minimum transit power.

Min Transmit
(dBm)

Min Receive
(dBm)

Calculation

Power Budget
(dBm)

Device 1

-2

-23

-2-(-)23 = 21

21

Device 2

-3

-23

-3-(-)23 = 20

20

However, there are a few nuances in this relatively simple equation. One is that many device
manufacturers provide the average minimum receive sensitivity or average minimum transit
power. As a result, the calculation will not accurately show the least amount of optical power
you will need because the actual minimum value will, at times, fall below the average value
provided. It is imperative that the true minimum value, not the average, is used in
the calculation.

There are also a few complications that can arise from the actual configuration of the
network setup. When equipment from multiple vendors is used, or different models from the
same vendor, the power required to carry light between media converters can vary
depending on the direction of traffic. Therefore, the minimum transit power and receive
sensitivity has to be calculated as if light was flowing in both directions, as the different
transit power and receive sensitivity will lead to different results. Whichever results end up
being smaller should be used as the minimum optical power budget. In the case below, we
would use a Power Budget of 20dBm.

Min Transmit
(dBm) Device 1

Min Receive
(dBm) Device 2

Calculation

Available Power
(dBm)

-2

-23

-2-(-)23 = 21

21

Min Transmit
(dBm) Device 2

Min Receive
(dBm) Device 1

Calculation

Available Power
(dBm)

-3

-23

-3-(-)23 = 20

20

This initial optical power budget, however, is only the first step. Cable attenuation,
splices and connectors also contribute to power loss while light travels through the fiber
optic line. To identify the true minimum optical power budget, organizations also have to
evaluate the amount of light energy that could be lost due to these factors.
Cable attenuation tends to be the largest contributor to power loss, creating between .
22dB and .5dB in loss per kilometer. Cable attenuation can be determined by getting the
exact number off of the cable you are installing. If you dont have the cable yet, the
manufacturer should be able to provide you with a worst case number of the type of fiber
you plan to install. Multiply this factor by the number of kilometers in the installation. A fiber
with .3db per kilometer of loss will lose 6dB over a 20km distance.
Because fiber does not come in 20km spools, the installation will contain several splices.
Splices commonly generate .1dB of loss, though companies can find the true worst-caseloss scenario from the installers. If a typical distance between splices is 6km then a 20km
installation would have 4 splices and .4dB (.1x4) of loss.
Connector loss also impacts the network, with statistics typically available from
manufacturers or installers. Multiply the number of connectors in the installation by the loss
for each connector to get total connector loss. The TIA standard for connector loss is .75dB.
In a typical installation with 6 connectors you could expect to a 4.5dB connector loss.
Subtract all of the above from your available power. If this number is negative, there is no
need to continue, as there is not enough power to drive the network. If this number is
positive, there are two more things to consider before declaring the network to be fit.

Available Power

Cable attenuation loss

Splice loss

Connector loss

Remaining Available Power

20

.4

4.5

9.1dB

The first is what happens if the fiber gets cut and I have to splice it back together?
In a proper installation, an estimation of the number of anticipated repairs over the
life of the fiber needs to be made and accounted for in the power budget. These
repairs will add splice loss, so we must multiply the number of anticipated splices by the loss
of each splice (same number we used above), and subtract this from the remaining power.
The number should still be positive.

Available Power

Repair splice loss

Remaining Available Power

9.1

.4

8.7dB

A final source of power loss stems from extreme temperatures and other unforeseen
factors. Excess heat or cold can create optical power loss that varies within each
deployment. Organizations often have to work with manufacturers and installers to identify
how much loss they can expect under certain environmental circumstances and use those
statistics to create a "safety factor" estimate. To guarantee error free operation, a value
between 1.7dB and 3dB, is generally used.

Available Power

Safety factor loss

Remaining Available Power

8.7

1.7 to 3

5.7 to 7 dB

When the absolute minimum values are calculated with the network complications taken
into account, businesses can determine an accurate Optical Power Budget for their fiber
network. This allows them to accurately identify how long they can extend a fiber-optic cable
between media converters. If too much power is lost during transmission, the light signal will be
disrupted, creating major performance complications. If, after following the steps
described in this paper, the remaining available power budget number is positive,
you can be assured that your fiber network will deliver the required performance
over the life of the installation.