How to calculate a 10dB optical attenuator
A dB = 10 · log 10 (P in /P out) If you know attenuation in dB, switch to "Output values from known dB attenuation". Of course, you also need to be able to determine the attenuator value in decibels required for your application. In this example let's assume that the maximum optical input power a fiber-optic receiver can operate with is -6dBm. The tool computes resistor values in different configurations: R1 = Zo [10dB/20 + 1] / [10dB/20 – 1] R2 = Zo/2 [10dB/10 – 1] / [10dB/20] where R1 is the shunt resistor (to ground). Determine output power in dBm and milliwatts, power reduction ratio, transmittance percentage, and total system loss including insertion loss.
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