Product Description
The HP 8156A (also marketed as the Keysight/Agilent 8156A) is a programmable optical attenuator designed for fast‑telecommunication system R&D and production testing. It operates over a wavelength range of 1200 nm–1650 nm (some sources list 1250 nm–1650 nm), provides up to 60 dB attenuation with a resolution of 0.001 dB, and can handle a maximum input power of +23 dBm. The unit is suitable for single‑mode and 50 m multimode fiber applications and offers selectable return‑loss performance and built‑in monitoring paths to meet diverse measurement requirements.
Key Features
Attenuation range: 60 dB, resolution 0.001 dB
Wavelength coverage: 1200 nm–1650 nm (or 1250 nm–1650 nm)
Maximum input power: +23 dBm
Return‑loss options: up to 60 dB (options for 45 dB, 60 dB, etc.)
Built‑in monitor output: optional 13 dB tap for real‑time output power monitoring
Performance variants: standard, high‑performance, high‑return‑loss versions to suit different accuracy needs
Automatic sweep capability: programmable up/down attenuation sweeps
High accuracy: typical ±0.05 dB accuracy, insertion loss ≈ 3.3 dB
