Fiber Optic and Networking Terminology

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Absorption

Back

That portion of fiber optic attenuation resulting in conversion of optical power to heat.

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ACR

Back

Attenuation to crosstalk ratio, a measure of how much more signal than noise exists in the link.

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Adapters

Back

A type of balun that physically allows one connector to mate to another.

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ADO

Back

Auxiliary Disconnect Outlet

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Alien Crosstalk

Back

Crosstalk from a pair in one cable to the same pair in another adjacent cable.

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American wire gage (AWG)

Back

An American system of defining the size of copper wire.

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Analog

Back

An electrical signal that carries information in a continuously varying format.

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ATM

Back

Asynchronous Transfer Mode

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Attenuation

Back

The reduction of signal strength over distance.

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Attenuator

Back

A device that reduces signal power in a fiber optic link by inducing loss.