prSSH IEC 61300-3-14:2025 ED4:2026

Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components - Basic test and measurement procedures - Part 3-14: Examinations and measurements - Error and repeatability of the attenuation settings of a variable optical attenuator

Scope

IEC 61300-3-14:2025 provides a method to measure the error and repeatability of the attenuation value settings of a variable optical attenuator (VOA). There are two control technologies for VOAs: manually controlled and electrically controlled. This document covers both VOA control technologies and also both single-mode fibres and multimode fibres VOAs. For electrically controlled VOAs, the hysteresis characteristics of attenuation are sometimes important. The hysteresis characteristics can be measured as stated in Annex B. This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition published in 2014.
This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) addition of IEC 61315, Calibration of fibre-optic power meters as normative reference;
b) addition of Clause 3 containing terms, definitions and abbreviated terms;
c) addition of notes for permission of repeatability definition with 2σ;
d) correction of error in Figure 1 a) and Figure 1 b);
e) addition of a clear statement on EF launch condition requirement for MM source;
f) change of “Detector” to “Power meter”;
g) combination of Clause 7 and Clause 8 into a new Clause 8 titled “Details to be specified and reported”;
h) addition of uncertainty considerations in Clause 7;
i) correction of error in Formula (B.3).