Tonight, I started section "1.5 Fiber-Optic Cabling" in the "Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting" online course over at the Cisco Networking Academy.
Types of Fiber-Optic Media
According to Cisco, fiber-optic cables are broadly classified into two types:
- Single-mode Fiber (SMF)
- Multi-mode Fiber (MMF)
Single-Mode Fiber
Here are some details about single mode fiber-optic cable:
- Consists of a very small core made of glass.
- Uses expensive laser technology to send a single ray of light through the glass core.
- Produces a single straight path for light.
- Popular in long-distance situations that span hundreds of kilometers.
- Long-haul telephony
- Cable TV applications
- Technical specifications include:
- Glass Core diameter: 9 micrometers
- Glass Cladding diameter: 125 micrometers
- Polymeric Coating
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| Single Mode Fiber-Optic Cable |
Multimode Fiber
Here are some details about multi-mode fiber-optic cable:
- Consists of a larger core and uses LED emitters to send light pulses.
- Allows for multiple paths for light to travel through the glass core.
- Light from an LED enters the MMF at different angles.
- Popular in LANs because they can be powered by low-cost LEDs.
- Provides bandwidth up to 10Gbps over link lengths of up to 550 meters.
- Technical specifications include:
- Glass Core diameter: 50-62.5 micrometers
- Glass Cladding diameter: 125 micrometers
- Polymeric Coating
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| Multi-Mode Fiber-Optic Cable |
Fiber-Optic Cabling Usage
Fiber-optic cabling is now being used in four types of industry:
- Enterprise Networks - This is used for backbone cabling applications and interconnecting infrastructure devices.
- Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) - This is used to provide always-on broadband services to homes and small businesses.
- Long-Haul Networks - This is used by service providers to connect countries and cities.
- Submarine Cable Networks - This is used to provide reliable high-speed, high-capacity solutions capable of surviving in harsh undersea environments at up to transoceanic distances.
Fiber-Optic Connectors
A fiber-optic connector terminates the end of an optical fiber.
A variety of fiber-optic connectors are available.
The main differences among the types of connectors are dimensions and methods of coupling.
Businesses decide on the types of connectors that will be used, based on their equipment.
There are four types of fiber-optic connectors.
- Straight-Tip (ST) Connectors
- One of the first connector types used.
- The connector locks securely with a "twist-on/twist-off" bayonet-style mechanism.
- Subscriber Connector (SC) Connectors
- Sometimes referred to as "square connectors" or "standard connectors".
- Widely-adopted LAN and WAN connector that uses a push-pull mechanism to ensure positive insertion.
- Used with MMF and SMF.
- Lucent Connector (LC) Simplex Connectors
- Smaller version of the SC connector.
- Sometimes called "little" or "local" connectors.
- Quickly growing in popularity due to their smaller size.
- Duplex Multimode LC Connectors
- Similar to an LC simplex connector, but uses a duplex connector.
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| Straight-Tip (ST) Connectors |
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| Subscriber Connector (SC) Connectors |
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| Lucent Connector (LC) Simplex Connectors |
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| Duplex Multimode LC Connectors |
Fiber-Optic Patch Cords
Fiber-optic patch cords are required for interconnecting infrastructure devices.
The use of color distinguishes between single-mode and multi-mode patch cords.
A yellow jacket is for single-mode fiber cables and orange (or aqua) for multi-mode fiber cables.
There are four types of fiber-optic patch cords:
- SC-SC Multi-Mode Patch Cord
- LC-LC Single-Mode Patch Cord
- ST-LC Multi-Mode Patch Cord
- SC-ST Single-Mode Patch Cord
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| LC-LC Single-Mode Patch Cord |
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| ST-LC Multi-Mode Patch Cord |
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| SC-ST Single-Mode Patch Cord |
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| SC-SC Multi-mode Patch Cord |
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