Fiber Optic Glossary

Return loss describes how much light is reflected back toward the source in a fiber optic system. This article explains why reflection occurs at connectors and interfaces, how return loss is measured in practice, why it matters in real networks, and how engineers reduce reflection to improve system stability.

Insertion loss is one of the most important performance indicators in fiber optic communication, yet it’s often misunderstood by beginners. This article explains what insertion loss really means, why it occurs in real-world fiber installations, how it is measured in practice, and what counts as a “good” value for different fiber types and connectors — all in clear, practical language.

Fiber optic attenuation refers to the gradual loss of signal strength as light travels through optical fiber. This beginner-friendly guide explains what attenuation is, what causes it, how it is measured, and how it affects real fiber networks, using simple language and practical examples.

PC (Physical Contact) is one of the earliest fiber-optic polishing styles, but today it rarely appears as a product label. Modern connectors are almost always marked as UPC or APC instead. This article explains what PC originally meant, how it relates to UPC and APC, and why PC was gradually replaced in the market—even though it still exists inside factory polishing processes.

UPC (Ultra Physical Contact) connectors feature a flat, ultra-polished endface and a blue housing, offering low insertion loss for general-purpose fiber links. This guide explains UPC characteristics, color coding, performance, and where it is commonly used in Ethernet, data centers, and testing environments.

APC (Angled Physical Contact) connectors use an 8° angled endface and a green housing to reduce back reflection and improve optical stability. This beginner-friendly explanation covers APC features, color identification, typical performance, and common applications in FTTx, PON, CATV, and other reflection-sensitive fiber networks.

GR-326 is the industry’s key performance and reliability standard for single-mode fiber optic connectors. This article explains what GR-326 means, what tests it includes, and why YingFeng’s connectors fully meet GR-326 requirements for stable and long-term network performance.

RoHS is an important environmental standard that limits hazardous substances in electronic and fiber optic products. This article explains what RoHS means, how it affects fiber optic manufacturing, and why all YingFeng products meet RoHS compliance to guarantee safety and sustainability.

A Passive Optical Network (PON) is the backbone of fiber internet, combining OLT, ODN, and ONU/ONT to deliver high-speed services. This article explains PON in simple terms, compares EPON, GPON, and 10G PON, and highlights why PON is the future of telecom networks.

A Passive Optical Network (PON) is the backbone of fiber internet, combining OLT, ODN, and ONU/ONT to deliver high-speed services. This article explains PON in simple terms, compares EPON, GPON, and 10G PON, and highlights why PON is the future of telecom networks.