Selecting the Right Type of Fiber Optic Cable
Selecting the right type of fiber optic cable is necessary for the proper operation of your network. Without fiber optic cables, the system may be slow and may not operate at optimal conditions. If you’re seeking to expand your business, you should select products that will ensure that your business operates optimally. Bandwidth requirements, transmission distances, applications, and network architecture influence fiber selection just as much as current needs. Here are some tips on how to select the proper fiber optic cables.
When a company is investigating an upgrade to a fiber-optic network, one of the most basic questions to answer is "which kind of fiber do I need to use?" There are two major kinds of fiber-optic cabling: multimode and single-mode.
Multimode is typically recommended for applications involving shorter distances. Connections within the data center, for example, are ideal for this type of fiber, because the distance between devices is relativity short. Multimode fiber transmits Gigabit Ethernet up to 550 m. Although it can't go as far as its single-mode cabling, its lower-cost interface makes it an economical solution.
Multimode cabling is available in several performance levels to support a variety of distances: OM1 applies to a large portion of the installed legacy systems; OM2 supports Gigabit Ethernet up to 550 m; and OM3 is laser-optimized to support 40G Ethernet up to 300 m. For example, Cisco QSFP-40G-CSR4 compatible 40GBASE-CSR4 QSFP+ transceiver provided by Fiberstore can achieve transmission distance of 300m over OM3 and 400m over OM3.
Although multimode distance capability is growing, it can't compete with the distances single-mode fiber can accommodate. In addition to its far reach, single-mode fiber offers virtually unlimited bandwidth, making it an excellent solution for campus and metropolitan networks. The power of single-mode fiber comes from the high-powered lasers that transmit data at greater distances than the light used with multimode fiber. While single-mode fiber costs about the same as multimode, it's often reserved for backbone connections that don't have the higher-cost network interfaces associated with single-mode fiber.
Every designer should make an assessment of how they will use fiber optic cables in their applications. These assessments can improve your existing design significantly. Once you evaluate the needs of a network, you can establish what’s needed. If you will be connecting a fiber optic cable to a surveillance camera, the type of cable will be different than connecting it to an existing foundation. The number of connections to multiple service applications will affect the fiber strand count. That’s why you need to know your applications clearly before you choose the appropriate type of fiber cables.
Environmental conditions are other factors that must be evaluated when selecting protective fiber jackets. For example, PVC cable jackets are suitable for indoor environments; however, cabling that runs through a plenum space will need to conform to fire codes. In these cases, plenum cable jackets are required. Similarly, OSP jackets are used for outdoor applications, but when the cable needs to enter a building beyond 50 ft, installers must transition to an indoor-rated cable in conformance with fire codes. One way to eliminate this transition point is to use a cable jacket with an indoor/outdoor rating. These indoor/outdoor cables are available with either a PVC or plenum rating.
Knowing the applications and desired capabilities is the first step to determine which type pf fiber optic cables you should choose to build that perfect network. After you make the right selection, where can you purchase the optimal and cost-effective cables? Fiberstore offer various types of fiber optic cables including single-mode, multimode as well as plenum cable, PVC/LSZ cable, Push-Pull cable to meet your specific applications and needs. With the higher bandwidths, flexibility, and security, all these fiber optic cables offer a promising solution to current networking challenges.
