opm -17.11 fiber pressure is ok?
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What is is best fiber signal for connectivity?
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said in opm -17.11 fiber pressure is ok?:
Would you like me to help you troubleshoot a specific speed issue, or are you just running a routine check on a new installation?
Yes please
@Nemo-Malik said in opm -17.11 fiber pressure is ok?:
said in opm -17.11 fiber pressure is ok?:
Would you like me to help you troubleshoot a specific speed issue, or are you just running a routine check on a new installation?
Yes please
Since your light levels are healthy (-17.11 dBm), the problem likely isn’t the fiber cable itself, but rather the hardware or the network configuration.
Let’s find the bottleneck. Follow these steps in order to pinpoint the issue:
1. The “Bypass” Test (Most Important)
If you are using Wi-Fi, you aren’t testing the fiber; you’re testing the air.
- What to do: Plug a laptop or PC directly into the LAN port of your router (or the ONU/ONT) using a Cat5e or Cat6 Ethernet cable.
- The Goal: If the speed is perfect on a cable but slow on Wi-Fi, your fiber is fine—your router or Wi-Fi environment is the problem.
2. Check for “Packet Loss”
Sometimes light levels are good, but “noise” on the line causes data to drop.
- On Windows: Open Command Prompt (type
cmdin the search bar). - Type this command:
ping -n 50 8.8.8.8 - The Result: Look at the bottom summary. If it says 0% loss, your connection is stable. If you see 2% loss or higher, there is a “quality” issue on the line that your OPM won’t show, and you should call your ISP.
3. Identify the Bottleneck
Check this table to see where the “choke point” might be:
Symptom Likely Culprit Fix Fast on Ethernet, Slow on Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Interference Change Wi-Fi channel (use 5GHz instead of 2.4GHz). Slow on both Ethernet and Wi-Fi ISP Config / Port Issue Contact ISP to “re-provision” or reset your port. Slow only at night/peak hours Network Congestion Common in shared fiber areas; unfortunately an ISP-side issue. High Ping/Lag in games Routing Issues Use a wired connection; check for background downloads (Steam, Windows Updates). 4. Hardware “Power Cycle”
It sounds cliché, but fiber ONT/ONUs can get “stuck” in a low-power state or experience memory leaks.
- Unplug the power from both the fiber box and your router.
- Wait 60 seconds (let the capacitors drain).
- Plug in the fiber box first, wait for the “PON” or “Data” light to turn solid green, then plug in the router.
Are you seeing slow download speeds specifically, or is it more about high “lag” while gaming or on video calls?
-
What is is best fiber signal for connectivity?
@Nemo-Malik said in opm -17.11 fiber pressure is ok?:
What is is best fiber signal for connectivity?
In the world of fiber optics, an Optical Power Meter (OPM) reading of -17.11 dBm is generally considered a very good signal, but its “health” depends entirely on what part of the network you are measuring.
Here is the breakdown of what that number actually means for your connection:
1. Is it “OK”?
- For GPON/FTTH (Home Internet): Yes, it’s excellent. Most home fiber ONT/Modems operate perfectly between -8 dBm and -27 dBm. At -17.11 dBm, you are right in the “sweet spot”—well above the failure threshold but not so hot that it saturates the receiver.
- For Point-to-Point (Data Centers): It’s usually fine. Most SFP transceivers (like 10G or 40G) look for a range between -3 dBm and -19 dBm.
2. The “Goldilocks” Scale
Fiber signal is measured in decibels relative to a milliwatt (dBm). Because it’s a measure of loss, a “lower” negative number (closer to zero) is a stronger signal.
Reading (dBm) Status What it means -3 to -10 Strong Very close to the source; potentially too hot for some sensitive gear. -12 to -20 Optimal Your reading (-17.11) sits here. Perfect balance. -22 to -27 Acceptable Getting weak; may see “framerate” drops or slow speeds if it dips further. -30 and below Critical Signal “Loss of Service” (LOS). The red light usually comes on.
3. A Quick Note on “Pressure”
While you mentioned “fiber pressure,” in technical terms, we call this Optical Power or Light Intensity. If you actually suspect physical pressure (like a pinched cable or a tight zip-tie), that would cause the number to drop (e.g., jumping from -17 to -30).
If your internet is currently stable, -17.11 dBm is nothing to worry about.
Would you like me to help you troubleshoot a specific speed issue, or are you just running a routine check on a new installation?
-
Z zaasmi has marked this topic as solved
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@Nemo-Malik said in opm -17.11 fiber pressure is ok?:
What is is best fiber signal for connectivity?
In the world of fiber optics, an Optical Power Meter (OPM) reading of -17.11 dBm is generally considered a very good signal, but its “health” depends entirely on what part of the network you are measuring.
Here is the breakdown of what that number actually means for your connection:
1. Is it “OK”?
- For GPON/FTTH (Home Internet): Yes, it’s excellent. Most home fiber ONT/Modems operate perfectly between -8 dBm and -27 dBm. At -17.11 dBm, you are right in the “sweet spot”—well above the failure threshold but not so hot that it saturates the receiver.
- For Point-to-Point (Data Centers): It’s usually fine. Most SFP transceivers (like 10G or 40G) look for a range between -3 dBm and -19 dBm.
2. The “Goldilocks” Scale
Fiber signal is measured in decibels relative to a milliwatt (dBm). Because it’s a measure of loss, a “lower” negative number (closer to zero) is a stronger signal.
Reading (dBm) Status What it means -3 to -10 Strong Very close to the source; potentially too hot for some sensitive gear. -12 to -20 Optimal Your reading (-17.11) sits here. Perfect balance. -22 to -27 Acceptable Getting weak; may see “framerate” drops or slow speeds if it dips further. -30 and below Critical Signal “Loss of Service” (LOS). The red light usually comes on.
3. A Quick Note on “Pressure”
While you mentioned “fiber pressure,” in technical terms, we call this Optical Power or Light Intensity. If you actually suspect physical pressure (like a pinched cable or a tight zip-tie), that would cause the number to drop (e.g., jumping from -17 to -30).
If your internet is currently stable, -17.11 dBm is nothing to worry about.
Would you like me to help you troubleshoot a specific speed issue, or are you just running a routine check on a new installation?
said in opm -17.11 fiber pressure is ok?:
Would you like me to help you troubleshoot a specific speed issue, or are you just running a routine check on a new installation?
Yes please
-
said in opm -17.11 fiber pressure is ok?:
Would you like me to help you troubleshoot a specific speed issue, or are you just running a routine check on a new installation?
Yes please
@Nemo-Malik said in opm -17.11 fiber pressure is ok?:
said in opm -17.11 fiber pressure is ok?:
Would you like me to help you troubleshoot a specific speed issue, or are you just running a routine check on a new installation?
Yes please
Since your light levels are healthy (-17.11 dBm), the problem likely isn’t the fiber cable itself, but rather the hardware or the network configuration.
Let’s find the bottleneck. Follow these steps in order to pinpoint the issue:
1. The “Bypass” Test (Most Important)
If you are using Wi-Fi, you aren’t testing the fiber; you’re testing the air.
- What to do: Plug a laptop or PC directly into the LAN port of your router (or the ONU/ONT) using a Cat5e or Cat6 Ethernet cable.
- The Goal: If the speed is perfect on a cable but slow on Wi-Fi, your fiber is fine—your router or Wi-Fi environment is the problem.
2. Check for “Packet Loss”
Sometimes light levels are good, but “noise” on the line causes data to drop.
- On Windows: Open Command Prompt (type
cmdin the search bar). - Type this command:
ping -n 50 8.8.8.8 - The Result: Look at the bottom summary. If it says 0% loss, your connection is stable. If you see 2% loss or higher, there is a “quality” issue on the line that your OPM won’t show, and you should call your ISP.
3. Identify the Bottleneck
Check this table to see where the “choke point” might be:
Symptom Likely Culprit Fix Fast on Ethernet, Slow on Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Interference Change Wi-Fi channel (use 5GHz instead of 2.4GHz). Slow on both Ethernet and Wi-Fi ISP Config / Port Issue Contact ISP to “re-provision” or reset your port. Slow only at night/peak hours Network Congestion Common in shared fiber areas; unfortunately an ISP-side issue. High Ping/Lag in games Routing Issues Use a wired connection; check for background downloads (Steam, Windows Updates). 4. Hardware “Power Cycle”
It sounds cliché, but fiber ONT/ONUs can get “stuck” in a low-power state or experience memory leaks.
- Unplug the power from both the fiber box and your router.
- Wait 60 seconds (let the capacitors drain).
- Plug in the fiber box first, wait for the “PON” or “Data” light to turn solid green, then plug in the router.
Are you seeing slow download speeds specifically, or is it more about high “lag” while gaming or on video calls?
-
Z zaasmi has marked this topic as solved