Despite the meter displaying a negative number, convention dictates referring to the loss as a positive value. For example, a meter reading of "-3. 0 dB" signifies a loss of 3. Fiber Optic Measurement Units: "dB" and "dBm" Whenever tests are performed on fiber optic networks, the results are displayed on a power meter, OLTS or OTDR readout in units of “dB. ” Optical loss is measured in “dB” which is a relative measurement, while absolute optical power is measured in “dBm,”. Commonly, a power meter on its own is used to measure absolute optical power, or used with a matched light source to measure loss. Is that right? Well the real problem is that to understand this you need to understand logarithms and that's Algebra II*, way beyond fourth grade addition and subtraction. It's common for both loss and power measurements to yield negative values, causing confusion for many fiber optic technicians. It calculates the optical signal loss between two points by comparing transmitted and received power levels.
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