Transceiver Compatibility Calculator
Check a transceiver against link distance and optical loss budget to confirm the run will actually come up.
Inputs
Result
Supported with 0.96 dB margin
Total Channel Loss
0.940dB
Loss Margin
0.960dB
Loss in the Fibre
0.240dB
Link Supported
Yes
Step by step
Values used
Link distance = 80 m; Transceiver = 100GBASE-SR4 on OM4 — 100 m; Fibre attenuation = 3 dB/km; Mated connector pairs = 2 pairs; Loss per connector pair = 0.3500 dB; Channel insertion loss budget = 1.90 dB
Transceiver Compatibility
total loss = distance km × attenuation + connector pairs × loss per pair; the link works when distance ≤ rated reach and total loss ≤ budget.
Result
= Supported with 0.96 dB margin
Total Channel Loss
= 0.940 dB
Loss Margin
= 0.960 dB
Loss in the Fibre
= 0.240 dB
Link Supported
= Yes
How it works
Two independent tests must pass: the distance must be inside the optic's rated reach, and the accumulated fibre and connector loss must stay inside the standard's channel insertion loss budget. Patch panels are usually the dominant loss on short multimode runs. An optic that is 'rated for 100 m' will still fail at 80 m through four patch panels, and this is the arithmetic that predicts it before the link is built.
Formula
Transceiver Compatibility
total loss = distance km × attenuation + connector pairs × loss per pair; the link works when distance ≤ rated reach and total loss ≤ budget.
- attenuation
- About 3 dB/km for OM4 at 850 nm and 0.35 dB/km for single mode at 1310 nm
- budget
- Channel insertion loss allowance from the IEEE clause, 1.9 dB for 100GBASE-SR4 on OM4
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Transceiver Compatibility calculated?
total loss = distance km × attenuation + connector pairs × loss per pair; the link works when distance ≤ rated reach and total loss ≤ budget. Two independent tests must pass: the distance must be inside the optic's rated reach, and the accumulated fibre and connector loss must stay inside the standard's channel insertion loss budget. Patch panels are usually the dominant loss on short multimode runs.
Why does Transceiver Compatibility matter?
An optic that is 'rated for 100 m' will still fail at 80 m through four patch panels, and this is the arithmetic that predicts it before the link is built.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 6 inputs: Link distance, Transceiver, Fibre attenuation, Mated connector pairs, Loss per connector pair, Channel insertion loss budget. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.