When the RX sensitivity of an optical transceiver is found to be around -12 dBm or lower, it generally signals a problem with the cable infrastructure. The issue could be a result of a bad splice, dirty connector, poorly seated jumper, etc., all of which cause higher signal loss. This article provides an in-depth analysis of two key performance indicators of optical modules: transmitter power and receiver sensitivity. Transmitter power characterizes the average optical power output from the laser under rated conditions, while receiver sensitivity indicates the minimum. When working with optical modules, two key receiver parameters frequently appear in technical specifications: Minimum Receiver Power and Receiver Sensitivity. Understanding what each parameter represents is fundamental before applying them in optical link design. For example, SONET specifies that the BER must be 10 -10 or better.
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