Fiber optic cables are made of a thin strand of glass or plastic and carry data signals in the form of light waves. This allows them to carry much higher bandwidth applications than conventional cables. Optical fiber cables can easily transfer data, audio, and other data because they have up to 100 Gbps bandwidth.
As fiber optic cables transmit data in the form of light, they transmit and carry much more data than copper cables, which transmit data in the form of electricity.
Light can travel in a fiber optic cable at approximately 214,000,000 meters per second. However, the speed of the data being carried by fiber optic cabling depends on the device, so when we say light, we don't mean as fast as light itself.
In 1966, scientists were trying to find a way to transmit information by light waves for the first time, Charles K. Kao and George A. Hockham proposed the use of glass as a medium for emitting light.
Following the introduction of the design in 1970, Corning Glass researchers, Robert Maurer, Donald Keck, and Peter Schultz, announced the construction of the first single-mode fiber optic cable. Since then, the world of communication has been changing because data has been transmitted in the form of optical pulses through fiber-optic technologies.
This guide discusses all parts of the fiber optic cables: the layers, connectors, adapters, and types. Stay with us to learn how to use these fiber optic cables in LAN and WAN applications.
Optical fiber cables consists of a glass core and plastic cladding and have the capability to carry thousands of voice calls. Fiber optic cables provide a capacity of 1Mpbs to 100Gbps.
Optical fiber is made of several layers. The core is the innermost layer that usually consists of a fully reflective filament of pure glass, but some cables are fully reflective plastic, which reduces manufacturing costs. However, a plastic core doesn't have same quality as glass and is mostly used to carry data over short distances. The cladding is made of glass or plastic, which is located around the core. The diameter of the core and the cladding together is about 125 microns, the size of human hair.
Depending on the manufacturer, the buffer layer is made of plastic, which wraps around the cladding. This layer holds the entire cable, which can hold hundreds of different optical fibers. For measurement, the cladding does not count. The decimal number 130/60 microns for fiber represents that the diameter of the core is 60 and the buffer is 130.
Optical fibers are divided into multi-mode and single-mode.
The primary and essential difference between multi-mode and single-mode is that multi-mode optical fibers has a larger core and will not carry data as far as single-mode fiber. The multi-mode optical fibers are used in internal networks where single-mode is used in outdoor applications
Single-mode fiber optic cables have a 9 micron core which allows data to be transmitted farther then multimode. Single-mode fiber can carry multiple wavelengths providing more devices to be connected to the same fiber optic cableing. They use laser transceivers , which is more expensive, but can transmit a longer distance (40 kilometers or more).
Multi-mode fiber optic cables have a 50 or 62.5 micron core which restricts the distance of the data application. They use LED transceivers which are less expensive than laser optic but they limit the distance the data can travel. . Multi-mode fiber is used for short distances to connect devices in one building. The maximum distance for multi-mode fiber depends on the speed of the application (5km @ 100M, 500m @ 1G and 300m @ 10G).
| Fiber Optic Cable Types | Type | Core Size | 1Gb Distance | 10 Gb Distance | Wavelength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-mode | OM1 | 62.5µm | 300m/1000 ft. | 36m/118 ft. | 850/1300 |
| Multi-mode | OM2 | 50µm | 550m/1800 ft. | 86m/282 ft. | 850/1300 |
| Multi-mode | OM3 | 50µm | 1000m/3280 ft. | 300m/1000 ft. | 850/1300 |
| Multi-mode | OM4 | 50µm | 1000m/3280 ft. | 550m/1800 ft. | 850/1300 |
| Single-mode | OS1/OS2 | 9µm | 2000m/6560 ft. | 2000m/6560 ft. | 1300/1550 |
| Single-mode | OS1/OS2 | 9µm | 10km/6.2 miles | 10km/6.2 miles | 1300/1550 |
Fiber optic connectors are located at both ends of a fiber optic cable to connect to the network switches, telecommunications equipment, or even a light source. Companies have designed many types of connectors, but some of them have been more practical than others.
Adapters are usually placed inside the fiber optic patch panel and are selected based on the type of fiber and connectors used in the network.
SC fiber optic connectors are cheap, simple, and durable. They provide accurate alignment due to their ceramic ferrules.
The SC fiber optic adapter is made of metal and plastic with rectangular body covers. The SC fiber optic adapters are divided into simplex and duplex.
The LC fiber optic connectors are suitable for high-density environments and reduce the space required for the patch panel.
The LC fiber optic adapters have smaller pins and sheaths, which help increase the density and capacity of fiber optic connectors. The LC fiber optic adapter is divided into simplex, duplex, and quad.
The first optical fiber connector was the FC, and unlike the plastic-bodied SC and LC, it uses a ceramic ferrule.
FC fiber optic adapters have both single-mode and multi-mode versions, but they are mostly used in single-mode applications, high-speed fiber-optic telecommunication networks, and high vibration environments.
The ST connector is used in short-distance projects, such as corporate network environments and military, as well as industrial applications. ST connectors are still the most widely used in industrial networks and the construction of multi-mode fiber applications.
The ST fiber optic adapter has a metal and plastic body with a rectangular body cover. The ST fiber optic adapter is divided into simplex and duplex.
| Connectors type | Mating cycles | Ferrule size | Typical insertion loss | IEC specification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SC |
1000 |
2.5mm ceramic |
0.25-0.5 |
61754-4 |
|
LC |
500 |
1.25mm ceramic |
0.25-0.5 |
61754-20 |
|
FC |
500 |
2.5mm ceramic |
0.25-0.5 |
61754-13 |
|
ST |
500 |
2.5mm ceramic |
0.25-0.5 |
61754-2 |
Optical fiber cables are made from a set of fibers with a thin glass or plastic strand to provide a speed of 1Mbps to 100 Gbps and carry plenty of data. When you use optical fiber cables in LAN for distance extension, multiple factors are at play. For example, which type of optical fiber cable connector is practical for your network device or which type of connector your devices support. If you would like more information, Omnitron Systems’ technicians are always available to help and answer your questions. Contact us today
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