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Technical Note

Why Use a Launch Box?


What is a pulse Suppresor or Launch Box? A pulse suppressor or launch box is a length of either of SM fiber or MM fiber coiled up in a case that is about 300m to 2.2Km in length.The whole length of the fiber is secured in a case and two patch cords usually extend from the case which are connected to the input and the output of the fiber. You may also hear the launch box being called a deadzone eliminator which is really a myth and it does not eliminate deadzones. If the Launch Box does not elminate the deadzone then why is it used? Adding a length of fiber before the initial connection will not eliminate that connection or deadzone it simply moves it out the length of the fiber added. The pulse of light will still have to transit this connection and it will scatter high levels of light and the result will be a Fresnel Refection with its associated deadzone. The deadzone will not be eliminated or effectually shortened in anyway. If the pulse of light remains the same length, the deadzone will remain the same length with or without a pulse suppressor. The only effective way to shorten a deadzone is to shorten the light pulse. A launch box is used to really identify the quality of the first connector within a fiber span. Without the use of a launch cord there is no linear backscatter before the first connector and there is no way to accurately measure loss or reflectance values of that first connector. With the use of a launch box the technician can now place a cursor (A) in front of the first connector and place the (B) cursor just after the reflection in order to accurately measure the initial connector loss. The analysis software in the OTDR can now also identify the true reflectance and loss value because of the linear backscatter before the initial connector due to the addition of the launch box.

Technical Note
What about the far end Connector? Also, a launch box is sometimes used at the end of the fiber. A launch box is needed at the end of the fiber to verify the quality of the end connection. With a launch and receive cable the OTDR can now characterize both the front end and far end connections due to the addition of the fiber spools within the launch box. The backscattered signal can now be measured on both sides of the connectors allowing for loss and reflectance measurements of the near and far end.

The use of an OTDR is used to help identify all the characteristics of the fiber including splices, connectors and the quality of the fiber itself; however test fiber boxes are required to really test the quality of the front end and far end connectors. Advantages: Identifies quality of front end and far end connectors for loss and reflectance Improves EMD in Mutimode fibers for more precise measurements Helps identify good launch levels from an OTDR using a good known lead in fiber.

Note: For the most accurate results the test fiber being used should match the fiber being tested such as type, core size and connector type. The length of the test boxes should be longer than the pulse width and needs to be long enough to show linear backscatter before the connectors. (See Above)

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