This part of IEC 60793 establishes uniform requirements for measuring the cut-off wavelength of single-mode optical fibre, thereby assisting in the inspection of fibres and cables for commercial purposes.

This standard gives the methods for measuring the cut-off wavelength of fibre and cable

There are two methods for measuring cable cut-off wavelength,λ_cc:

• Method A: using uncabled fibre;

• Method B: using cabled fibre.

There is only one method (Method C) for measuring fibre cut-off wavelength, λ_c.

The test method in this standard describes procedures for determining the cut-off wavelength of a sample fibre in either an uncabled condition (λ_c) or in a cable (λ_cc). Three default configurations are given here: any different configuration will be given in a detail specification. These procedures apply to all category B and C fibre types (see Normative references).

All methods require a reference measurement. There are two reference-scan techniques, either or both of which may be used with all methods:

• bend-reference technique;

• multimode-reference technique using category A1 multimode fibre.