I used a cheap fiber optic tester on a G650 comms line and it gave me a perfect reading, but the system still failed.

Turns out it was passing light but the signal was too weak, which the basic tester didn't catch. Anyone know a good budget tool that actually checks signal strength?

2 comments

2 Comments

lee_barnes701mo agoMost Upvoted

Wait you were testing a G650 with a basic light pen? That's like checking if a car engine works by listening for a bang. Those things just see if the fiber is broken, not if the signal is any good. You need a basic power meter at the very least, even a used one. Heard too many stories of guys passing light but the signal is garbage, just like your post says.

dylan1241mo ago

Exactly, it's the same mindset as someone who just checks for a picture on a TV without caring if the colors are all wrong. People want the quick yes or no answer, not the actual quality. You see it everywhere now, just hitting the basic mark instead of doing the job right. That light pen tells you there's light, but not if it's the right amount of light to actually work well. Skipping the real tools just sets you up for a callback when the customer complains.