What are the differences between optical fibers and network cables?

Whether it is home decoration or project decoration wiring, are inseparable from the existence of optical fiber or network cable, and we are in between the two, often difficult to choose. In fact, after understanding their differences, also know how to choose, follow Ozawa to understand it!

1. Connection mode

Optical fiber network is the use of light in glass or plastic fiber made of total reflection principle of light conduction tools connected to the company or home or computer room, the use of switches or other terminals into ordinary RJ45 cable connected to the computer.

A network cable is a cable that connects a computer to a computer and a computer to other network devices. Generally made of metal or glass, it can be used to transmit information in the network. The commonly used network cables are twisted-pair cables and coaxial cables.

2. Composition

Fiber structure:

Optical bare fibers are generally divided into three layers:

The first layer: fiber core -- high refractive index glass fiber core in the center (single mode core diameter is generally 9μm; Multi-mode core diameter 62.5/50μm)

What are the differences between optical fibers and network cables?Layer 2: Cladding -- Middle silicon glass cladding with low refractive index (diameter 125μm)

Third layer: coating layer -- the outermost layer is a protective reinforcement coating (to protect the optical fiber from external damage, and increase the flexibility of the optical fiber)

Network cable structure:

Eight signal cables are wrapped inside the plastic insulation. They are twisted in pairs, forming a total of four pairs, hence the name twisted-pair cable. The purpose of such entanglement is to use the electromagnetic fields generated by the current in the copper wire to interact with each other to counteract the interference of adjacent lines and reduce interference from outside.

3. Cable type

Fiber types include single-mode fiber and multi-mode fiber. Single-mode fiber has a thin glass core (core diameter is generally 9μm) and a small core diameter. Only the diameter light of a single propagation path is allowed to incident into the fiber and generally propagates in a straight line. Multi-mode fiber has a thick glass core (50 or 62.5μm) and a large core diameter, which can transmit multiple modes of light, generally cross propagation. Optical fiber jumpers can be LC, SC, ST, FC, MPO/MTP.

The types of network cables include STP and STP. The shielded network cable has a layer of tinned copper braided network, which can greatly reduce the interference of external magnetic field and signal, reduce the attenuation of internal signal, and increase the cable tension. Five types of network cables have been eliminated before, so now there are five types of network cables: five types, super five types (100 mbit/s), six types (gigabit), super six types, seven types of cable, eight types (10 mbit/s) and so on.

4. Propagation distance and application

The theoretical transmission distance of network cables is 100 meters, while the maximum transmission distance of optical fibers is 20-120 kilometers. Optical fibers are commonly used on routers and switches, as well as in ODF fiber distribution frames and high-density integrated fiber line environments. Network cables are mainly used for computers, network adapters, hubs, switches, routers, and other RJ45 connectors to connect devices.

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