Fiber Optic Cabling for Computer Networking – Part 1
Containing several strands of glass fibers within insulated casing, fiber optic cabling was designed for high-performance data networking and telecommunications. Fiber optic cables can deliver data transmissions of greater bandwidth and longer distances than copper cabling. Numerous cable television, internet, and telephone systems are supported by fiber optic cabling worldwide.
Basics of Fiber Optic Cabling
By transmitting light pulses generated by lasers or LEDs (light-emitting diodes), fiber optic cables carry data and communication signals. Every fiber optic cable contains one or more glass strands that are a little thicker than a human hair. The center of a strand, termed the ‘core’, is where pulses of light travel. The core is surrounded by cladding, a layer of glass that reflects light inward in order to prevent signal loss and allow transmissions around cable bends.
There are two types of optical fiber cable: single-mode and multi-mode. Single-mode optical fiber cables utilize very thin glass strands and lasers to generate pulses of light. In contrast, multi-mode optical fiber cabling use LEDs instead.
Typically, single-mode networks utilize Wave Division Multiplexing, which allows a strand to transmit a greater volume of data traffic. Multiplexing combines a pulse of light of various wavelengths, which are then subsequently separated or de-multiplexed. Thus, several communication streams can be transmitted by a single pulse of light.
Fiber Optic Cabling Advantages
Fiber optical cables provide a number of important advantages over long-distance copper cables. The following will summarize six key advantages.
1) Greater Capacity
Fiber optic cables are capable of supporting a greater capacity than copper cabling of similar thickness. Fiber cables with ratings of 10 Gbps, 40 Gbps, and 100 Gbps are considered standard.
2) Faster Transmissions
The conventional method for measuring rates of data transmission is bandwidth. Nowadays, measurements are made at Gbps (gigabits of data per second) or Tbps (terabits per second). The maximum performance of copper cabling is 40 Gbps, while fiber optic cables can transmit data near light speed, transmitting hundreds of terabits per second.
Part 2 will discuss four more advantages of fiber optic cabling.
Progressive Office Cabling
Founded in 1986, Progressive Office’s success has been a direct result of years of commitment to seeking cost-effective solutions. Working together, Progressive teams are committed to getting your data cables installed and operating while minimizing disruption and downtime. Call our toll free number (800) 614-4560 today.
