Even with good prep, you can see strange readings on your optical power meter, but most are easy to fix: a sudden drop usually means dirty or misaligned connectors, so clean and reseat them and check for sharp bends or kinks near the cable; unstable or fluctuating numbers often. Even with good prep, you can see strange readings on your optical power meter, but most are easy to fix: a sudden drop usually means dirty or misaligned connectors, so clean and reseat them and check for sharp bends or kinks near the cable; unstable or fluctuating numbers often. Stable optical power is the foundation of every high-capacity optical transport system. Even minor deviations—whether too high, too low, or unstable—can impact signal integrity, trigger service alarms, or interrupt traffic on DWDM, OTN, or long-haul optical line systems. Because optical networks. Below are general answers on how to operate, maintain, and calibrate an optical fiber ranger from the list of GAO Tek's optical power meters. Power On: Ensure the device is charged or properly connected to a power source. Turn on the optical power meter (OPM) using the power button. Select. This guide walks through the full procedure -- from cleaning the connector to interpreting the result -- so your measurements are trustworthy on the first try.