Encircled Flux Mode Controller Cables

Encircled Flux is a recent evolution in standards-based multimode fiber testing developed as an attempt to further decrease uncertainty between optical loss measurements taken with different manufacturer’s test equipment, or with the same test equipment but at a different time.

Encircled Flux-compliant testing requires a special multimode reference cable called a Mode Controller that ensures light exiting any EF-compliant Mode Controller reference cable always has a consistent modal pattern, no matter which manufacturer’s multimode light source was used.

The use of EF-compliant test cables is typically focused on testing OM3/OM4 multimode fiber networks running at 10-gigabit or greater, and usually only when a cabling standard specifies it.  Technicians should consult customer documents or applicable cabling standards to verify if EF-compliant testing is required.

However, EF-compliant testing can be performed on any multimode network provided the correct mode controller cable is used.