Fiber optic cable are used to transmit data. Fiber optic cables are used in homes, buildings, and even within the rack of laboratory equipment. You may use fiber optic cables if your data speed is more faster than one gigabit per second or if the data needs to travel over distance that copper cables cant reach.
The type of fiber optic cable that is used will determine the maximum speed and distance that the data can travel. There are two main types of fiber optic cables: single mode and multimode. Single-mode fiber optics use a narrow fiber core to allow the light signals to travel in a narrow path.
All About Fiber Optic Cables
Single-mode fiber optics can travel data over many kilometer. Because single-mode fiber optics can travel data over many kilometers, these are the best for connecting buildings or floors that is many kilometers apart. Multimode fiber optics use a wider fiber core to allow many light paths to travel through the fiber.
While multimode fiber optics are less expensive, signal strength often decline quickly with distance or with data speed. For these reasons, multimode fiber optics are only appropriate for data travel over short distance. The connectors connect the fiber optic cables to the other equipment.
The LC connector is a small connector that connects to the dense panel of the equipment. The others that are most common are the SC and ST connectors, which are an older style of connector. The polish of the connector can also affect the signal loss of the fiber optic cables.
An APC polish will lose signal strength if inserted into a UPC connector. Because signal loss is most common at the connectors, every connector should of been cleaned prior to create the connection between the fiber optic cables. Transceivers take the electrical signal from the data equipment and change it to a light signal to travel down the fiber optic cable.
At the other end of the fiber, the transceiver change the light signal to an electrical signal that the receiving data equipment can read. Each transceiver is made for a specific speed and type of fiber optic cable. Using a 10 gigabit transceiver will only create 10 gigabit signals.
The same is true for 100 gigabit. Using a 10 gigabit transceiver will not allow the data to travel at 100 gigabit over the fiber optic cable, even if the fiber optic cables is changed. The transceiver must be matched to the fiber optic cable and the distance that the data must travel to avoid failed connection between equipment.
Copper is used for data transmissions over very short distance. Copper is less expensive, and it can carry electrical power from one end of the cable to the other. However, fiber optic cables are better for distances that is greater than copper cables or in the presence of electrical noise.
Additionally, fiber optic cables is lighter and do not experience electrical interference from other electrical device. There are many error during the installation of fiber optic cables that can cause those links to fail. Many people will choose the cheapest fiber optic cable available for their installation without considering the type of fiber optic cable.
Many people will also bend the fiber optic cable too sharp when installing it. Additionally, many people will fail to clean the end of the fiber optics prior to connecting the cables. Each of these step can cause the link to degrade or to fail entirely.
In order to simplify the installation of fiber optic cables, there is specific tools and cables that are used. Media converters allow a standard switch port to become a fiber optic connection. These are useful for installations that dont have special SFP slot on the switch ports.
Armored fiber optic cables are used for connections between buildings because it is more durable. Pre-terminated fiber optic assemblies are also often used because they do not require polishing of the fiber end when installed. Finally, a power meter is used to test the fiber optic link to ensure that it is working correct.