Total Attenuation (dB) = (Attenuation Coefficient * Cable Length) + (Number of Connectors * Connector Loss) + (Number of Splices * Splice Loss) By entering the relevant values, you can estimate the total signal loss in your fiber optic link and assess if it meets your. Total Attenuation (dB) = (Attenuation Coefficient * Cable Length) + (Number of Connectors * Connector Loss) + (Number of Splices * Splice Loss) By entering the relevant values, you can estimate the total signal loss in your fiber optic link and assess if it meets your. To be able to judge whether a fiber optic cable plant is good, one does a insertion loss test with a light source and power meter and compares that to an estimate of what is a reasonable loss for that cable plant. The estimate, called a "loss budget" is calculated using typical component losses for. By Dan Barrera, Director of Product Innovation, TREND Networks At TREND Networks, we are frequently asked how much loss is allowed when conducting testing on fibre optic cabling. Unfortunately, it is not a simple answer and depends on several factors. While some loss is expected, excessive or unexpected loss can lead to poor performance, network downtime, and signal failure. Other than for short-reach single-mode applications that are more susceptible to reflections. Use this worksheet to input values for all variables that will impact your system's performance. After entering your values, please ensure you click the 'Calculate Link Loss' button at the bottom of the page to generate your total link loss.