PON Planning



Optical Network PON Planning

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Good planning of your optical network deployment is essential. By planning with real, in the field tested attenuation values you avoid signal budget related risks. Also, this is the first step to successful implementations of PON projects with potential cost reductions.


The 3 most common mistakes that can be avoided in PON implementations
1. Use spliceable, blockless/connector-less splitters in the street enclosures and ODB boxes.
This rule alone will save you A LOT of headaches and time wasted starting from installation. Many customers we work with were tempted to think that by using splitters and ODB with connectors they would shorten the time required to perform an installation. Only to find that after 1 year, the majority were splicing the splitters to the fibers. Reflections, dust, signal degradation are a few reasons worth to mention.
Learn from others' mistakes and keep your business safe. This will pay off in the medium-term in less interventions and more satisfied customers.

2. Match the color of the end connector with the colour of the inside connector of the ONT, OLT or EDFA.
If the inside connector of the ONT has a blue color margin, use a blue patch/connector. Whenever you pass the signal from a blue color (SC-PC) to green(SC-APC) or vice-versa you lose between 3dBm up to 6 dBm, depending on the circumstances. Also, your chances to induce a pon-wide back reflection, rise.

Blue goes with blue. Green goes with green. No exceptions.

3. Turn Laser OFF when connecting a patch to an EDFA port.
The reason is that, if you don't take this precaution, 3 out of 10 couplings will result in silently damaged patches. Stay on the safe side, turn the laser OFF, or turn the EDFA OFF while you connect the fiber patch.

Use the below calculator for a quick estimate on optical losses.

PON Optical Budget Calculator


2*0.5dB for connectors, 2dB for splicing and other losses

Typical ONU Tx power level at 1310nm: 2.5dBm



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