What’s the Difference Between Fiber Optic Cabling and Others?

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If you’re looking at high-speed internet options and find that fiber optic cable is available in your area, you may not understand the differences. fiber optic cablingAfter all, the cables look similar, and they install similarly from the lay-person’s perspective. Generally, that is where the similarities end.
Inside the Cable
Standard cable is known as coaxial cable. If you looked inside, you will find a central, copper core surrounded by insulation wrapped in twisted copper or metal wires before being covered in a plastic jacket. This is the same cable that comes into your house if you have cable television. It’s easy to run and shorten and connect to outlets and televisions. The cable is available in many different lengths and is nearly ubiquitous…plenty of homes have at least one coaxial cable sitting around.
Fiber optic cable, on the other hand, is built a bit differently, and high density fiber optic cables are very complex inside and can transmit a lot of data. High density fiber optic cables won’t come into your home, but if you have fiber optic internet, your home will connect to one of these cables. Fortunately, they work on the same principle…high density just has more protected cables inside, like lanes in a freeway.
The central core of a fiber optic cable is made of tiny strands of glass or plastic known as optical fibers. A single cable can have a few strands or as many as several hundred. Directly coating the strands is something known as cladding…which directs the signal down the strand to increase the distance of cabling that can be used before a repeater (a device that receives the signal on one end and retransmits it on the other to prevent data loss) is required. Then, just like coaxial cable, it contains insulation and a protective jacket.
The difference between these two cables is that one transmits an electromagnetic signal (coaxial) and one transmits light (generally LEDs or lasers).
What Does This Mean for the Consumer?
While standard, coaxial cable internet is available in nearly every urban and suburban area, fiber optics are just rolling out. It can be difficult to find a fiber optic internet provider if your city’s infrastructure or local cable provider hasn’t invested to have fiber optic cabling run to near your house.
Because fiber optics requires less repeaters and other equipment, and cost less to maintain, fiber optic cabling tends to cost less to the consumer than traditional cable internet does. Fiber optics are also much faster than traditional high speed internet because the optical threads have the capacity for greater bandwidth, and fiber optic cable weighs less because it requires less insulation and jacketing.
You can also feel good that fiber optics are more eco-friendly than traditional coaxial cables. Not only does it generate less heat at data centers to use fiber optic cable, but fiber optic cables require less insulation and jacketing, which often involve heavy metals, which can leach into the environment.
Fiber optics are also more secure than traditional coaxial cables. It’s more difficult to tap fiber optic cables because it requires special tools and receivers. Attempting to tap into the system is more likely to just disrupt the system, providing no benefit. Also important to note that information transmitted via pulses of light do not transmit electricity, which makes it harder to “listen” and intercept data from fiber optic cabling systems.

The importance of fiber cabling testing for high-speed optical applications

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Twenty years ago, when I began working on communications infrastructure projects, testing equipment was simple and had limited functionality. Screens were monochromatic, the battery did not last long, and there was no software to manage reports. Performing tests was really a challenge: not only the test itself, but interpreting the results to detect and solve network problems. Today the story is quite different.
Modern testing equipment is not only able to provide professional reports to deliver them directly to the client, but they can also have specific functionalities for troubleshooting, including reflectometry in the time domain, to display a very clear map of the NEXT and RL behavior along the link. Additional functionalities include a sophisticated interchangeable copper and fiber optic modules, full color touch screen and detailed graphics of each parameter to be measured.
However, there are still many technicians who do not know much about testing theory or best network certification practices, added to the inconvenience that the end customer trusts a “pass” in the delivered reports as the ultimate proof, deems it as sufficient evidence of network’s performance and that mission critical applications will work.
Following a partial list of possible causes for a “fail” test:
The testing equipment is not calibrated
The field reference has not been made
The battery is at a very low level
The optical modules have not reached their operating temperature
The equipment configuration is incorrect
The testing methodology is incorrect
The chosen standard is incorrect
Cables and connecting modules are worn out
There is dirt in the connectors
The connectors are damaged, scratched
There is excessive bending or compression in the cable plant
The fiber optic is broken (eg., patch cord)
The patch cord fiber is different to the type of fiber plant installed
The Restricted Flow (EF) modules are not being used
Modules are multimode but singlemode fiber is being tested or vice versa
And clearly, poor quality or low performing components …
Of course,  products acquired through authorized distributors assure you peace of mind. In addition, our high-performance solutions are installed by our PartnerPro Network, partners who are required to pass a strict training program in our Infrastructure Academy.
However, will everything be alright if there is a “pass” in the report? We have found that a false “pass” when measuring an optical link is much more frequent, since fiber testing requires the knowledge of additional equipment configurations, detailing the characteristics of the link and the network technologies the client needs to run.
So, what would you rather have for the operation of your network? Knowing the link fails, or being certain that the link report reads “pass”, but the truth is the test was inappropriately executed? What would happen if the optical link is deployed in a data center, where applications assurance is required: not only a test with a “pass” of TIA or ISO standards, but also the certainty that the application can run without errors through the communications channel?
If you want to learn more about this fascinating topic, we invite you to attend our next webinar in Spanish (May 10th) where we will deal with the key aspects of fiber optics cabling testing, the correct use of the fiber performance calculator, and the configuration of the most sophisticated equipment in the market, with the co-participation of our partner Fluke Networks.

Knowledge about fiber media converter that you should know

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Fiber media converters is an indispensable network data transmission equipment, then what is optical media converter, it has what composition, what role does it play in the data dissemination process?
Fiber media converters include three basic functional modules: optical media conversion chip, optical signal interface (optical media converter module) and electrical interface (RJ45), if equipped with network management functions, including network management information processing unit. It is an Ethernet transmission Media conversion module that converts short distance twisted-pair signals and long distance optical signals to each other and is also called a fiber converter or Ethernet media converter. It generally applies to Ethernet cables that cannot be covered, it is necessary to use optical fiber to extend the actual network environment of transmission distance, and it is usually positioned in the access layer of broadband Metropolitan Area Network, and it also plays an important role in helping to connect the last kilometre of fiber line to the metropolitan area Network.
In some large-scale enterprises, the network construction directly using fiber for the transmission medium to establish the backbone network, and the internal LAN transmission medium is generally copper, how to achieve LAN connected with the fiber backbone network? This requires different ports, different Linear, different fiber between the conversion and to ensure the quality of the link.  The emergence of fiber-optic media converter, allows the twisted pair of electrical signals and optical signals to each other to ensure the smooth transmission of packets between the two networks while extending the network transmission distance from the copper wire from 100 meters to more than 160 kilometers (Single-mode fiber).
What are the basic features of a fiber media converter?
Fully transparent to the network protocol.
Provide ultra low delay data transmission.
Supports Ultra wide working temperature range.
Using ASIC chip to achieve data line speed forwarding. The programmable ASIC centralizes many functions on a chip, which has the advantages of simple design, high reliability, and low power consumption so that the equipment can get higher performance and lower cost.
Provide network management equipment to diagnose, upgrade, status report, abnormal Situation Report, and control function, can provide complete operation log and alarm log.
Rack-type equipment can provide hot-swappable functions for easy maintenance and uninterrupted upgrades.
Supports a variety of transmission distances (0~160 km).
The Media Converter Rack adopts the dual power supply design, supports the ultra wide power supply voltage, realizes the power protection.
What kinds of fiber media converters are available?
There is a wide range of fiber optic media converters that can be categorized in different ways.
According to the properties of an optical fiber can be divided into Multimode fiber media converter and Single-mode fiber media converter. Because of the use of different fiber, media converter can transmit the distance is not the same, Multimode fiber media converter general transmit distance between 0.5 km to 2 kilometers, and the single mode fiber media converter coverage can range from 20 km to 120 kilometers;
According to the number of optical fiber required can be divided into Single fiber (WDM) optic media converter, receiving data sent in a single strand fiber transmission; Dual Fiber optic media converter, receiving sent data on a pair of optical fiber transmission.
According to the work level/rate, can be divided into single 10M, 100M fiber media converter, 10/100M adaptive Fiber media converter, and 1000M fiber media converter.
According to the structure, can be divided into desktop (stand-alone) fiber media converter and card-type optical media converter. Stand-alone fiber media converter Suitable for a single user, such as a single switch in the corridor to meet the upper allied. Card-type (modular) optical media converter suitable for multi-user convergence, such as the central room of the community must meet all the switches in the upper allied.
According to network management can be divided into management type optical media converter and non-network management type Optical media converter.
According to the power type can be divided into: internal power optical media converter, the built-in switching power supply for the telecommunications application; external power supply Optical media converter, External transformer power is used in civilian equipment. The former advantage lies in the ability to support the ultra wide power supply voltage, to better achieve voltage regulator, filter, and equipment power protection, reduce the mechanical contact caused by external fault points; the latter has the advantage that the equipment is small and inexpensive.
Divided by the way of work: Full-duplex refers to when data is sent and received streaming, by two different transmission lines, respectively, the communication between the two sides can be sent and received at the same time operation, such a transmission is full duplex system, Full-duplex mode without the direction of the switch, therefore, there is no switching operation caused by the time delay; Half-duplex refers to the use of the same transmission line both as a receiving and sending, although the data can be transmitted in two directions, the communication between the two sides can not send and receive data, such a transmission is half duplex system. In a Half-duplex mode, the transmitter and receiver of each end of the communication system are transferred to the communication line by the receiving/sending switch, and the direction is switched, thus the time delay is generated.
These are some of the basic knowledge of optical media converter, we should have a basic understanding of fiber media converter in the application before fiber cabling to avoid any trouble.

What is XENPAK Transceiver ?

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XENPAK is a multi-source agreement (MSA) for a 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) transceiver package. It’s the oldest 10G fiber optic transceiver. XENPAK transceivers are designed with XAUI interface and Digital Diagnostic Monitor Interface, which comply with the XENPAK MSA protocol and satisfy the application of 802.3ae Ethernet protocol 10GB. XENPAK transceivers are supplied for physical layer interfaces supporting multi-mode and single mode fiber optic cables and InfiniBand copper cables with connectors like as CX4. Transmission distances vary from 100 meters (330 ft) to 80 kilometers (50 mi) on fiber and up to 15 meters (49 ft) on CX4 cable. Newer XENPAKs using the 10GBase-LX4 standard operated using multiple wavelengths on legacy multimode fibers at distances of up to 300 meters (980 ft), eliminating the need to reinstall cable in a building when upgrading certain 1 Gbit/s circuits to 10 Gbit/s.
The XENPAK form factor was initially supported by numerous network equipment manufacturers and transceiver optics vendors. However, advances in technology led to more compact form factors for 10 Gigabit Ethernet applications. Soon after the standard was introduced in 2001, two related standards emerged: XPAK and X2. These two standards have the same electrical interface as XENPAK (known as XAUI) but smaller mechanical properties. XENPAK was replaced by X2 or SFP+ transceiver that providing higher port density and most of the transceiver vendors stop to provide to the market. Nowadays, however, there is quite few Ethernet switch or routers with Xenpak port worked, a Xenpak to SFP+ converters was produced to meet the needs.
Types of XENPAK
Classified by Applications: XENPAK CWDM, XENPAK DWDM, Dual fiber XENPAK, XENPAK BIDI
Classified by Distance: CX4 for 15m on copper, SR for 300m, LRM for 220m, LR for 10km or 20km, ER for 40km, ZR for 80km.

What is industrial fiber optic transceiver

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Definition of Industrial Fiber Optic Transceiver
Industrial fiber optic transceiver also called as hardened fiber optic transceiver or hardened industrial grade fiber optic transceiver, it refers to the optic transceiver with rugged connectors and extended operation temperature of -40°C to 85°C in an harsh industrial environment, such as industrial fiber media converter or Ethernet Switches for the application of industrial and factory automation,outdoor applications,rail and intelligent transportation systems (ITSs),marine,oil and gas,mining etc. Unlike commercial grade fiber optic transceiver, this one must be designed with field-hardened components including two optical subassemblies, an electrical subassembly, and the housing, and tested to handle operating temperatures between -40°C and 85°C to avoid causing any premature failure of the product.
Types of Industrial Fiber Optic TransceiverRAD SFP-3H Compatible 100BASE-EX SMF 1310nm 40km Industrial SFP Transceiver
Industrial 1×9 SC/FC/ST Optic Transceiver
Industrial SFP Optic Transceiver
Industrial GBIC Optic Transceiver
Industrial XFP Optic Transceiver
Industrial SFP+ Optic Transceiver
Industrial SFF Optic Transceiver
Industrial XENAPK Optic Transceiver
Industrial X2 Optic Transceiver
Industrial CWDM/DWDM Optic Transceiver
Applications of Industrial Fiber Optic Transceiver
The industrial fiber optic transceiver is specified used for Industrial Ethernet networks such as Industrial fiber media converter, Industrial Ethernet Switches. The application environments include industrial and factory automation, outdoor applications, rail and intelligent transportation systems (ITS), power utility substations, marine, oil and gas, mining and health care delivery etc. This industrial fiber optic transceiver ensures the highest level of durability and adaptability of industrial Ethernet equipment under harsh environmental conditions.

Passive Optical Network (PON) Knowledge Introduction

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A Passive Optical Network (PON) is a system that transmits all or most of the fiber cabling and signals to end-users. Depending on where the PON terminal is located, the system can be described as fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC), fiber-to-the-building (FTTB), or fiber-to-the-home (FTTH).
The optical distribution network does not contain any electronic devices and electronic power supply, ODN splitter consist of the passive components, and other components do not require expensive active electronic devices. A passive optical network includes an optical line terminal (OLT) installed at a central control station and a set of optical network units (ONUs) installed at customer side. The Optical Distribution Network (ODN) between the OLT and the ONU contains optical fibers as well as passive optical splitters or couplers.
The structure of the PON system is mainly composed of an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) at the ca0rrier’s office, an Optical Distribution Network (ODN) including passive optical components, an ONU (Optical Network Unit / ONT (Optical Network Terminal). The difference is that the ONT is directly located at the user end, and there are other networks between the ONU and the user, such as Ethernet) and the network element management system (EMS), and usually adopts point-to-multipoint Tree topology.
Introduction
Fiber is so cheap and easy to use, so FTTx (Fiber To The X, fiber access) as a new generation of broadband solutions are widely used to provide users with high-bandwidth, full-service access platform. The FTTH (Fiber To The Home, FTTH, the fiber is directly connected to the user’s home) is also known as the best business transparent network, is the ultimate way of access network development.
The FTTx is how to work? In many kinds of schemes, P2MP optical access mode PON (Passive Optical Network, passive optical network) is the best choice. PON is an optical distribution network (ODN) which is applied to an access network, an OLT and a plurality of client devices (ONU / ONT) through passive optical cables, optical splitters/combiners, etc., Connected network. As shown on the right.
• OLT (Optical Line Terminal, optical line terminal)
• ONU (Optical Network Unit, optical network unit)
• ONT (Optical Network Terminal, optical network terminal)
• ODN (Optical Distribution Network, optical distribution network)
Both the ONU and the ONT belong to the user equipment. The difference between them lies in that the ONT is located directly on the user end, and there are other networks between the ONU and the user, such as Ethernet.
The key point of “passive” is that the ODN between the OLT and the ONU is an optical access network without any active electronic equipment. Because of this “passive” feature, the purely PON network can avoid electromagnetic Interference and lightning effects reduce line and external device failure rates, improve system reliability, and reduce maintenance costs.
PON technology began to develop in the 1990s, ITU (International Telecommunication Union) started from APON (155 M), developed BPON (622 M), and to GPON (2.5 G); meanwhile, in this century, due to Ethernet technology widespread application, IEEE also developed EPON technology in Ethernet technology. At present, PON technologies for broadband access mainly include EPON and GPON, and the two adopt different standards. The future development is higher bandwidth, such as EPON / GPON technology has developed 10G EPON / 10G GPON, the bandwidth has been a higher upgrade.
Click here to learn more about the difference and comparison between GPON and EPON
PON Features
The complexity of PON lies in the signal processing technology. In the downlink direction, the switch sends the signal is broadcast to all users. In the uplink direction, each ONU must use some kinds of multiple access protocols such as TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) protocols to complete the shared transmission channel information access. Currently used for broadband access PON technologies are: EPON and GPON.
PON Standards
• ITU-T G.983
APON (Passive Optical Network), This is the first passive optical network standard, which is based on ATM and is mainly used in commercial applications. BPON (Broadband Passive Optical Network),  This is an APON-based standard that adds support for WDM, dynamic and high-speed uplink bandwidth allocation, and endurance. BPON also created a management interface standard OMCI, authorized between the OLT and ONU / ONT hybrid supplier network.
• IEEE 802.3ah
EPON or GEPON (Ethernet Passive Optical Network), This is an IEEE / EFM standard for data using Ethernet packets. The 802.3ah standard is now part of the IEEE 802.3 standard and there are now about 15 million EPON ports in use. In 2008, China vigorously developed EPON technology. It is estimated that as of the end of 2008, China had a total of 2 million EPON installation users.
• ITU-T G.984
GPON (Gigabit PON, Gigabit Passive Optical Network), This is a BPON standard development. GPON supports higher rates, enhanced security and optional Layer 2 protocols (ATM, GEM, Ethernet). In mid-2008, 900,000 lines had been installed by the company, and British Telecom And AT & T are conducting advanced trials.
• IEEE P802.3av
10G-EPON (10 Gigabit Ethernet PON) is an IEEE dedicated project that is backward compatible with 802.3ah standard EPON in order to achieve 10 Gbit/s. 10Gig EPON will use separate wavelengths for 10G and 1G downstream. 802.3av will continue to be isolated using separate wavelength TDMA for uplink between 10G and 1G. 10G-EPON will also be WDM-PON compatible (as defined by WDM-PON).This allows multiple wavelengths to be used in both directions It is possible.
• SCTE IPS910
RFoG (RFoverGlass) is an SCTE interface practice subcommittee standard for point-to-multipoint (P2MP) operation with wavelength planning compatible data PON solutions such as EPON, GEPON or 10Gig EPON.
PON technology status
The traditional downlink data flow of PON system adopts a broadcasting technology, and the uplink data flow uses TDMA technology to solve the problem of multiplexing signals in each direction of multi-user. The traditional PON technology uses WDM technology to implement single-fiber bidirectional transmission on optical fibers and solve the multiplexing transmission of signals in two directions. PON generally by the optical line terminal (OLT), optical splitter (ODU), the user terminal (ONU) 3 parts. Currently, PON technologies widely used in the current network include two mainstream technologies, EPON and GPON. The bandwidth for EPON uplink and downlink is 1.25 Gbit / s, the downlink bandwidth for GPON is 2.5 Gbit / s, and the uplink bandwidth is 1.25 Gbit / s.
Currently, in the actual FTTx application scenario, most EPON / GPONs only have an Ethernet interface, and POTS and 2M interfaces are optional. However, from the technical standards, EPON / GPON can achieve multi-service access such as IP service and TDM service and realize QoS classification.
EPON / GPON can transmit the clock synchronization signal. The frequency synchronization signal can be extracted from the external line through the STM-1 interface or the GE interface of the OLT. In this case, the OLT needs to support synchronous Ethernet, and can also be input from the external BITS on the OLT device The clock signal, as a common clock source of the PON, is kept in frequency synchronization with the clock source.
PON Standards Development
Although 10G EPON and PON have not yet been commercialized on a large scale, the PON technology at a rate of more than 10 Gbit / s is the focus and hot point of the research of ITU-T and FSAN in the past two years. The relevant technical standards of XG-PON1 have become mature, NG-PON2 standard after XG-PON1 ITU-T related standards for GPON, XG-PON1, and NGPON2 The framework has basically been completed. The emphasis on recent multi-wavelength extensions is the focus of recent technical studies where FSAN has identified TWDM-PON as the technology of choice for NG-PON2 in the future, but the G. multi-standard that standardizes multiple technologies in ITU-T SG15 has also been largely completed.
PON Advantages
• Energy consumption
Imagine the ongoing costs of energy-inefficient equipment and equipment needed to operate in traditional Ethernet LANs and the additional energy costs to cool or heat the closet space. Achieving More Than 50% Savings by Eliminating Active Switches, Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) Devices, and Additional Power Demand is a year-by-year cost-effective annuity.
• Save space
The PON architecture requires a separate data center room, with splitters on each floor, usually hidden in a maintenance or electrical cabinet. Traditional Ethernet closets require more than 100 to 200 square feet of floor space per floor, and these spaces are returned to customers for functional or even potential revenue-generating space. Just reducing the weight of the ceiling wiring is amazing. BICSI announced that the traditional 114-port copper Ethernet design required 890 pounds of copper and fiber optic backbone; in contrast, the 114-port PON design required only 180 pounds of fiber optic cable, about one-fifth the size of a traditional design.
• Installation Savings
Which sounds easier? Installing and Terminating (5) Category 6A UTP cable to each hotel room, or (1) Fiber optic cable in each room … Each floor without cable tray, rack, and traditional cabinet. Few components require grounding and coding, and fire through holes are much smaller and less expensive.
• Safety
Passive optical networks LANs are naturally more secure than Ethernet LANs for the simple reason that optical fibers are not as conductive as copper. Unfortunately, electronic-based services are known as security risk points because copper emits electromagnetic radiation (EMR) signals. These signals contain all the information copper carries at the time and can be intercepted and reconstructed on nearby devices.
• Speed and bandwidth
We have already mentioned the potential of speed and bandwidth, which is why in the 90s we wanted to achieve the “fiber to the desktop” dream. The reality now is that, for example, new hotels that have moved to PON are now gaining the benefits of improved high-speed Internet access (HSIA) performance from their guests, improving customer satisfaction surveys and increasing occupancy rates.