Optical power meters connect four channels at once

Manufacturers of fiber-optic components are always under pressure to slice test time. The N7744A (four-channel) and N7745A (eight-channel) optical multiport power meters can help by providing multiple measurements on one meter. These displayless meters feature a mechanical interface that lets you connect four inputs at a time through a connector that holds four optical fibers. (The N7745A has two four-port connectors.) The four-port connector (photo) can travel with four fibers through production, reducing connect time.

The power meters use InGaAs optical sensors and operate at 1250-nm to 1625-nm wavelengths. They cover a power range of –80 dBm to +10 dBm, and they can log 1 million measurements per port. Dynamic range covers 55 dB to 65 dB, depending on measurement averaging time, with better than 55-dB return loss. The meters connect to a host computer through USB and Ethernet ports.

Prices: N7744A—$9500; N7745A—$14,500. Agilent Technologies, www.tm.agilent.com.