What should a technician do if the optical power into an optical receiver is too high but the loss budget is acceptable?

When the optical power entering an optical receiver is too high, it can lead to saturation or damage to the receiver, despite the loss budget being acceptable. In such cases, the most appropriate action is to install an optical attenuator.

An optical attenuator is a device specifically designed to reduce the power of an optical signal without significantly distorting it. By doing so, it allows the signal to fall within the optimal operating range of the receiver, ensuring that the receiver can handle the signal appropriately and function correctly without being overwhelmed by excessive power.

Using an optical filter is not suitable in this scenario, as filters are primarily used to narrow bandwidth or block certain wavelengths rather than reduce power levels. Replacing the optical interface could lead to unnecessary changes and might not address the immediate need to manage power levels. Increasing the power budget is not feasible either, as it doesn't solve the problem of high power entering the receiver; rather, it could exacerbate the situation.

Therefore, the option of installing an optical attenuator is the correct and most effective method to address high optical power levels at the receiver while keeping the system within its operational specifications.