Fiber Optic Cables

Fiber optics is long strands made from pure glass or sometime plastic having diameter similar to human hair. Optical cables are the optical fibers arranged in bundles which are used to transmit signals in the form of light over long distances. Optical fibers are made of following parts:

  1. Core – this is the center of optical fiber through which light travels. Its main function is transmission of light signals.
  2. Cladding – this is outer optical material which surrounds the core and its main function is to reflect the light back into the core.
  3. Buffer coating – this is made of plastic and functions to protect the fiber from moisture and damage.

Many (100s) of these optical fibers are bundled into optical cables along with Kevlar reinforcing material. These are protected by jacket, the outer covering of the cable. There are two types of optical fibers:

  1. Single-mode fibers : used for long distance network, have small cores, uses
    laser light, transmits only one light wave at a time.
  2. Multi-mode fibers : used for shorter distance network, have larger cores, uses
    LED.

Advantages of Fiber Optics:

  1. Signal Disturbance - No disturbance from EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference) and RFI.
  2. Data Transmission - Extremely fast data transmission.
  3. Security - Adds to the security of the network because it is difficult to trap signals flowing through them.
  4. Network Stability - Very stable network.
  5. Bandwidth – they provide the highest range of bandwidth available in the world.
  6. Repeater - Possible to connect networks over long distances with fewer repeaters (much less than other cables).
  7. Cost - Cheaper than other cables when used in networks running several miles of cable.

Advantages of Fiber Optics:

  1. Implementation - Difficult to implement in a network.
  2. Cost - Very high installation, maintenance cost and labor cost.
  3. Requires expensive extra media converter device at both ends of the network.
  4. Not suitable to be used in small network or in LAN.

About CMA
We are a website dedicated to providing quality articles.