• Graphical representations of link power budget

• Horizontal axis : transmission distance

• Vertical axis : optical power loss between transmitter and receiver

• Suppose We have
• LED :
• output power : -13 dBm coupled into a fiber flylead
• P-I-N DIODE :
• Sensitivity : -42 dBm ( at 20 Mbps)
• Connector loss: 1 dB
• Safety margin : 6 dB
• Cable and splice loss: 3.5 dB/km

• Subtract 1 dB connector loss at each end which leaves a total margin of 27 dB

• After subtracting 6 dB system safety margin , leaves us with a tolerable loss of 21
dB that can be allocated to cable and splice loss.
• Slope of the line : 3.5 dB / km (the cable loss ) which starts at -14 dBm point and
ends at -35 dBm point. (receiver sensitivity minus a 1 dB connector loss and 6 dB
margin)

• The intersection point determines the maximum possible transmission length