Everything You Need to Know About Fiber Optics Cable

by Fiber-MART.COM

In the recent years, fiber optics is steadily replacing copper wires. It is a better and apt means of transmitting communication signals. Today, fiber optics cable span across long distances between local phone systems. In addition, it also serves as the backbone for many networking systems including:

 

Cable TV services

University campus

Office buildings

Industrial plants

Electric utility companies

Internet connectivity

Stereo systems

Telephone systems

 

Fiber Optics Cable use pulses of light to transfer data using the event of total internal reflection. The cable has a coating of plastic. This protects the cable from exposure to heat, cold, and other weather atrocities. It also protects the cable from electromagnetic interference and ultraviolet rays of sun. These cables are the most reliable and fastest data transfer cables on the planet.

 

A fiber optics cable system is very similar to the metal wire system. The fiber optics is replacing the metal and copper wire system. The basic difference is that fiber optics uses light to transmit data; whereas metal wires do not. It sends the data down the fiber lines instead of using electronic pulses for transmitting data like in the metal wires.

 

Fiber Optics Cables serve the purpose of connecting and transferring data across continents. They are fast and they can carry large capacity. The signals have higher strength and need least maintenance.

 

Types Of Fiber Optics Cables

There are three types of fiber optic cable commonly in use. They are single mode, multimode, and plastic optical fiber or photonic fiber. Transparent glass or plastic fiber allows the guiding of light from one end to the other with minimal loss is the most efficient.

 

Single Mode

In a single mode fiber, the core diameter reduces to few wavelengths of the incoming light. For a beam with 0.55 μm of wavelength, the core diameter must be of the order of 4.5 μm.

 

Under this situation, the core is so small that only the primary mode can travel inside the fiber. Given the wave broadcast of the light inside the cavity, there is no other way for the light to take longer optical paths.

 

Multimode

In this fiber, the core diameter is much greater than the wavelength of the transmitted light. The transmission of number of modes is simultaneous. The possible ways in which, light travels inside the fiber is relative to the fiber modes. The primary mode travels parallel to the axis of the fiber. Therefore, it takes the minimum time to reach the end of the fiber.

 

When an incoming beam enters with an angle relative to the fiber axis, the light follows a longer path. Thus, it takes a little longer to reach the end. When you increase the core diameter, you can increase the transmission of number of modes.

 

Photonic Fibers

In photonic fibers, the number of cavities around the core guides the transmission of light. The core may be present in a glass or even an air cavity! These are new fiber optic cables available in the market. For the moment, their performances are still under the observation for astronomical applications.

 

Fiber Optics Cable Connectors

Fiber optics cable connectors make flexible connections possible. Fiber optics cable connectors are generally in use where flexibility is in need. Fiber optics cable connectors are also a necessity at termination points when an optical signal routes.

 

Polish And Epoxy Connectors

Polish and Epoxy style connectors were originally in use for termination. These are still under very high rate of extensive installation. These connectors offer a wide range of choices including SC, ST, LC, FC, SMA, D4, MT-RJ, and MU. Some of their advantages are present in the list below:

 

Sturdiness - skill to bear higher levels of environmental and mechanical stress

 

Cable size - Usability with cables of varying diameters, from big to small

 

Multiple Connectors - Can handle single and multiple cables (up to 24) in a single connector

 

Polish And No-Epoxy Or Pre-Loaded Epoxy Connectors

The main advantage of these connectors is that they are easy to install. This translates to lower skill levels in need to handle them. These connectors can have further division as follows:

 

Connectors without epoxy

Connectors with preloaded epoxy

The fiber has stabilization by an internal crimp mechanism and these connectors are available in SC, ST, and FC styles.

 

No Polish And No-Epoxy

Simple design and low cost are the hallmarks of these connectors. The result of training and installation is a higher cost reduction. Moreover, this also enables fast restorations. They are available in SC, ST, LC, FC, and MT-RJ connector styles.

 

Numerous connectors, both standard and proprietary, are in use in the field of telecommunication equipment, data lines, television, cable, and other industrial fields. The connectors described in this text are the ones that are under extensive use in the past. Many are still under use this very day.

Do you really know 1000BASE-LX / LH SFP?

1000BASE-LX/LH SFP1000BASE-LX LH SFP, one of the commonly used fiber optic transceivers, is now widely used in optical transmission systems. With the development of 40/100G Ethernet, even 400G Ethernet, this kind of transceiver module is nothing new to the module users. However, few people can deliver a clear answer to the question of what “1000BASE-LX / LH” infers. Well, if you know what it means, congratulations! you are the one of the few. You can skip today’s contents or share your experience to us in the comment. Actually, this post is a simple reference source for the beginners in this field or those who are lack of knowledge with fiber optic transceiver but have a strong interest in it.

To begin with, I’d like to make a brief introduction of 1000BASE-LX / LH SFP. This kind of SFP is similar with the other SFPs in basic working principle and size. But it is compatible with the IEEE 802.3z 1000BASE-LX standard, operating on standard single-mode fiber-optic link spans of up to 10 km and up to 550 m on any multimode fibers. In addition, when used over legacy multimode fiber type, the transmitter should be coupled through a mode conditioning patch cable (see Earlier article: Why Mode Conditioning Patch Cable Necessary for 1000Base-LX / LH Application).

As we know, an optical transceiver module is generally either made for single mode (long distance) or multimode (short distance). But 1000BASE-LX / LH SFP can be used for both singlemode and multimode. In fact, the Ethernet standard defines this optical interface specification as 1000BASE-LX10. However, many vendors as a proprietary extension called either 1000BASE-LX / LH or 1000BASE-LH before it was standardized. Thus, we often see 1000BASE-LX / LH rather than 1000BASE-LX10.

In a word, 1000BASE-LX / LH SFP has two identities. It is single mode by design, but when it gets together with its friend “mode conditioning patch cable“, it can also be used for multimode application. This patch cable inserts a single to multi splice on the transmit path, to “fill” the multimode fiber with light. It is more expensive than normal patch cables, but is necessary if using these on multimode fiber. At present, 1000BASE-LX / LH SFP is the only one kind of fiber optic transceivers which can be used for both singlemode and multimode applications. And these applications are depending on what fiber you use.

BASIC CABLE DESIGN

1 - Two basic cable designs are:

 

Loose-tube cable, used in the majority of outside-plant installations in North America, and tight-buffered cable, primarily used inside buildings.

 

The modular design of loose-tube cables typically holds up to 12 fibers per buffer tube with a maximum per cable fiber count of more than 200 fibers. Loose-tube cables can be all-dielectric or optionally armored. The modular buffer-tube design permits easy drop-off of groups of fibers at intermediate points, without interfering with other protected buffer tubes being routed to other locations. The loose-tube design also helps in the identification and administration of fibers in the system.

Single-fiber tight-buffered cables are used as pigtails, patch cords and jumpers to terminate loose-tube cables directly into opto-electronic transmitters, receivers and other active and passive components.

 

Multi-fiber tight-buffered cables also are available and are used primarily for alternative routing and handling flexibility and ease within buildings.

 

2 - Loose-Tube Cable

 

In a loose-tube cable design, color-coded plastic buffer tubes house and protect optical fibers. A gel filling compound impedes water penetration. Excess fiber length (relative to buffer tube length) insulates fibers from stresses of installation and environmental loading. Buffer tubes are stranded around a dielectric or steel central member, which serves as an anti-buckling element.

 

The cable core, typically uses aramid yarn, as the primary tensile strength member. The outer polyethylene jacket is extruded over the core. If armoring is required, a corrugated steel tape is formed around a single jacketed cable with an additional jacket extruded over the armor.

 

Loose-tube cables typically are used for outside-plant installation in aerial, duct and direct-buried applications.

 

 

 

3 - Tight-Buffered Cable

 

With tight-buffered cable designs, the buffering material is in direct contact with the fiber. This design is suited for "jumper cables" which connect outside plant cables to terminal equipment, and also for linking various devices in a premises network.

 

Multi-fiber, tight-buffered cables often are used for intra-building, risers, general building and plenum applications.

The tight-buffered design provides a rugged cable structure to protect individual fibers during handling, routing and connectorization. Yarn strength members keep the tensile load away from the fiber.

 

As with loose-tube cables, optical specifications for tight-buffered cables also should include the maximum performance of all fibers over the operating temperature range and life of the cable. Averages should not be acceptable.

Compact Booster EDFA Module for CATV System

23dBm Output Compact Booster EDFA Module for CATV System

This Compact Booster EDFA Module for CATV System provides high quality performance in reliability, noise level and output power. It is an ideal building block for photonic subsystems and OEM system integration. Four different control modes (APC, AGC, ATC and ACC) offer maximum flexibility in meeting different system requirements. Pump laser protection and alarms are equipped to ensure the reliabilty and safety of the device.

The module is designed for optical communication and CATV systems. Compact footprint makes it easy to be installed where it is needed, adding to flexibility in network design. To achieve high performance, world brand pump lasers and erbium-doped fibers are used; optical isolators are added at both input and output. It requires only a single 5V DC power supplyfor operation.

The optical circuit design especially for Analog CATV system as follows:

(1) Low noise ensure better CNR for Analog system is sensitive for noise.

(2) Good Spectral flatness in the operating signal to ensure better CSO.

(3) Good Spectral flatness in whole C- bands to fit the upgrade in future NGB.

Features

• OEM is optional
• Single 5V DC operation
• Output Power: 23dBm
• Input Power: -3~10dBm
• Extremely low CSO: <-70dBc
• Dimension: 150mm*125mm*19mm
• Wide range of working temperature
• APC, AGC, ATC and ACC control modes
• Low noise figure: less than 4.5 dB at 0dBm input
• High stability and reliability: MTBF＞100000 hours
• Perfect status monitoring interface: RS-232 or RS-485

Application

• Laboratory
• CATV Networks
• Booster amplifier
• Fiber Optic Sensors
• Optical communications
• Optical distributed system
• Video optical transmission system
• Rack mount optical amplify system

Mechanical Dimension

150×125×19mm

Order Information

Category	Structure	Application	Input Power	Output Power	Output port	Voltage	Interface
M: Module	10: Mechanical Dimension: 150×125×19mm	2: Fiber Amplifier	1: -3~10dBm 9: other	13: 13dBm … 24: 24dBm	1: 1port 2: 2ports	7: 5V DC 8: 3.3V DC	1: SC/UPC 2: SC/APC 3: FC/UPC 4: FC/APC 5: LC/UPC 6: LC/APC