[c-nsp] [OT] Driving 1310nm optics through 1550nm circulators

[W. Kevin Hunt]

We have used circulators to save thousands / month, I began building them
using oem fiber parts about 18 months ago.
I never put 1310 in production, but it worked in the lab.
At 1550 they just work, we keep a spare tested set on the shelf for
emergencies.
You can also now purchase bi-direction gbics/sfp btw...


-----Original Message-----
From: cisco-nsp-bounces at puck.nether.net
[mailto:cisco-nsp-bounces at puck.nether.net] On Behalf Of Dale Shaw
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 5:04 PM
To: cisco-nsp at puck.nether.net
Subject: [c-nsp] [OT] Driving 1310nm optics through 1550nm circulators

Hi,

Apologies for the off-topic post, but I figured there'd be a few fibre optic
guru nerd types out there.

I need to connect some equipment (a router to a switch) via a dark fibre
service. At each end, the service is presented as TX and RX on an optical
circulator -- the fibre run itself is a single strand.

My media converters are 100BASE-TX to 100BASE-FX, single-mode, 1310nm
models, but the circulators are 1550nm models. I have been advised that my
1310nm optics should operate correctly, end-to-end, through the 1550nm
circulators (albeit with 2-3dB extra loss -- still within our tolerances).

Without knowing the underlying theory, or having the time to learn it, it's
hard to approach the install with much confidence.

Has anyone done this? Can anyone provide a concise explanation as to why it
will or will not work?