Agilent 8163A Mainframe Multimeter + Agilent 81654A Light Source

The Agilent 8163A is a single-slot lightwave multimeter mainframe from Agilent's 816x modular optical test platform. It accepts one plug-in module and provides the display, power, and control interface for whatever module is installed. Paired here with the Agilent 81654A dual-port multimode LED light source, it forms a complete optical loss test set for multimode fiber characterization and insertion loss measurement. Key Specs - 8163A Mainframe Slots: 1 module slot Display: Built-in LCD with keypad control Interface: GPIB and RS-232 Power: AC mains Compatibility: Accepts all Agilent 8163x series single-slot modules Form Factor: Benchtop Key Specs - 81654A Light Source Module Source Type: LED (multimode) Ports: 2 independent output ports Wavelengths: 850nm and 1300nm (one per port) Output Power: Approximately -20dBm typical per port Fiber Compatibility: 50/125µm and 62.5/125µm multimode Connector Interface: Universal adapter interface (connector adapter required) Modulation: CW and tone modulation (270Hz, 1kHz, 2kHz) Stability: Better than 0.05dB over 15 minutes The 81654A puts out 850nm on one port and 1300nm on the other simultaneously. Both multimode windows in one module, no reconfiguration needed between wavelengths. That makes it practical for two-wavelength insertion loss testing on multimode links without swapping sources or juggling adapters between measurements. Tone modulation at 270Hz, 1kHz, and 2kHz lets the source pair with a selective power meter for fiber identification and loss testing on live or dark fiber without taking down the link. If you are doing field certification or troubleshooting in a populated multimode plant, that matters. The 8163A mainframe talks GPIB and RS-232, so it drops into automated test setups without additional hardware. Agilent's VEE and LabVIEW driver support for the 816x platform is well documented and still in use in active ATE environments. Connector adapters for the 81654A are field-replaceable. The module uses Agilent's universal adapter interface, so you can swap between FC, SC, ST, and LC adapters without tools. Confirm which adapter you need for your fiber plant before ordering. Both units were tested together at our Downingtown, PA facility. Source output was verified at both wavelengths on both ports, GPIB communication was confirmed, and module seating and recognition in the mainframe was checked. Can the 8163A accept other modules besides the 81654A? Yes. The 8163A accepts any single-slot 8163x series module including optical power meters, tunable laser sources, and return loss modules. If you want to reconfigure the mainframe with a different module later, the platform supports it without any mainframe modification.