Their speed is considerable: generally, several tens of Mbps. For this reason, the deployment of fiber optic and coaxial cable networks carried out in recent years (for example, by the network system Vodafone) brings companies closer to the possibility of having the advantages of these high-speed connections.

The fact that the 100 Mbps threshold is exceeded considerably widens the range of options. This means that we can have other types of services through our connected devices and the usual internet access. But what are the differences between fiber and cable? Which is better of the two? What possibilities do one and the other offer us?

Fiber Optics – Without a Doubt, The System To Highlight

There is no doubt that fiber optic connections are a transmission medium with excellent characteristics. The high capacity to transmit data and the low attenuation stand out among them. The latter allows linking many kilometers of fiber optic cables with hardly any signal loss.

The fact that they transport photons of light and not an electric current favors that they do not suffer any alteration due to possible electromagnetic interference.

We must know that these interferences seriously affect the usual systems based on copper cable.

Let’s Know What Fiber Optics Is

It is a thread made of a transparent material, usually plastic, through which light pulses are sent. These light pulses represent and contain the binary data to be transmitted. This fact is based on a theoretical principle known as Snell’s Law. Said law regarding the propagation of light along the optical fiber explains the refraction phenomena that light produces in different ways.

Whether it is one type of medium or another, and with its different physical properties, the value and behavior of this refraction of light will be different in each case.

Optical Fiber Transmission Speed

The possibilities of fiber optic transmission speed are very high since it works with frequencies of the THz order. This means values ​​higher than 100, 200 or 300 Mbps. 

Bandwidth is extensive, and this is one of the main differences between fiber and cable. In this way, channels are offered symmetric speeds for uploading and downloading.

Security In Communications Is One Of The Critical Differences Between Fiber And Cable.

In the case of fiber, transmissions cannot be intercepted by an illegitimate user without being detected. However, in systems based on copper cable, there is the possibility of making splices; these types of actions may not be detected by either the receiver or the transmitter.

Characteristics of Coaxial Cable

Coaxial cables carry data using electrical signals, one of the fundamental differences between fiber and cable. These coaxial cables are susceptible to electromagnetic interference.

These cables are much more prone to signal attenuation caused by cable losses when the cable is of considerable length. To ensure that this signal does not weaken, it is necessary to place signal amplifiers distributed in each section.

Coaxial Cable is Often the Final Part of The Network Installation.

This means that this coaxial cable is installed in the last section of the network. These networks are called HFC (Hybrid Fiber Coaxial) type, and sometimes they are sold as a pure fiber optic installation, but they are not.

In a pure fiber-optic network, this reaches entirely within the company. The fiber is connected to an ONT (Optical Network Terminal), and then it is responsible for transforming the photons into electricity.

Another difference between fiber and cable is that the fiber only reaches a certain point in a typical HFC scheme. Later, it is deployed to each company through coaxial cable. For this reason, the total speed of the network would be distributed among all the companies that share that part of the network.

Summary And Conclusions of The Differences Between Fiber and Cable

Transmission speed is also a determining factor in the differences between fiber and cable, with fiber optics being a clear winner.

Also Read: What Is Fiber Optic And What Are Its Types?

The post Differences Between Fiber And Cable For Connectivity appeared first on TechReviewsCorner.

Today when it comes time to contract the Internet for companies, the great unknown that still raises many headaches arises the differences between ADSL and Fiber Optic.

In this article, we will solve all your doubts about it so that you can make the best decision according to your needs: Fiber Optic or ADSL?

Differences Between ADSL And Fiber Optics

What advantages does Fiber Optics offer over ADSL? What are the differences and what advantages do they offer us? We’ll tell you then.

The Big Difference Between ADSL And Fiber Optic – Speed

Before starting to detail and list the differences between these two types of connectivity, it should be noted that the main difference has to do with speed.

ADSL is slower, it covers lower speeds than Fiber, but it has more network coverage. That is, it reaches more homes.

Fiber can reach 600 symmetric megabytes, while ADSL barely exceeds 20 Mb.

In addition, if you contract Fiber Optic, you will be able to connect several devices simultaneously and not notice a drop in speed. On the other hand, with ADSL, you can have a lower speed than the one contracted.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Fiber Optic

In short, fiber optics has become the best Internet solution for companies.

This is the latest and fastest solution, but it is still under development. Its only handicap has to do with coverage since there are still many corners it does not reach.

Although it will not be a problem for a long time, since companies are investing to increase the deployment of Fiber Optic and today, there are many other ways to get a good connection in isolated areas.

On the other hand, with Fiber Optic, the speed you contract is the one you receive, and the price depends on the speed you want to contract.

In addition, it guarantees more excellent stability, avoids annoying network drops for users, is immune to magnetic interference and has a higher level of security than ADSL, thanks to its FTTH ( Fiber To The Home ) installation.

Also Read: The Technologies Behind The Rise Of Robots

The post Differences Between ADSL And Fiber Optic appeared first on TechReviewsCorner.

Fiber Optics And Its Origins

The transmission media used to communicate signals from one point to another are copper cables, coaxial cables, waveguides, and radio links. All these means have their advantages and disadvantages.

Since the 1980s, an alternative medium to all of them called fiber optics has been developed, constituting the new frontier in telecommunications transmission. The ability to take advantage of all the capacity that light possesses to transmit information over long distances has been possible thanks to the improvement of the laser and the manufacture of very thin glass threads (less than the thickness of a human hair). Called “optic fiber.” Inside these fiber-optic threads, a modulated light beam is used to transport information based on the principle of total internal reflection and Snell’s law.

Parts That Make Up The Optical Fiber

The optical fiber is composed of the following parts:

• The core or central part, made of fused silica glass (SiO2) and optically transparent, is where the light beam is guided. Its maximum diameter is 62.5 µm (according to the ANSI standard)

• The cladding covers the core and prevents light from leaving the body. It is also made of glass but with a lower refractive index. Its diameter is 125 µm for all types of fiber.

• Primary coating (primary buffer). It consists of plastic with a width of 250 µm that surrounds the previous fiber components to protect them since they are too fragile to be handled directly and increase their mechanical resistance.

• Other common additional elements include secondary cladding, structural and reinforcing elements, outer sheath, and protection against water.

Once this brief introduction has been made, we can understand the different types of an optical fiber according to a certain characteristic.

What Types of Fiber Optics Are There?

Depending on the characteristic we focus on, we can have different types of Fiber Optic, which makes them more suitable for use.

Types of Fiber Optic According To The Cable Termination

• FTTH. It comes from the acronym for Fiber-to-the-home. The fiber optic par excellence connects the operator’s switchboard with our home or office. It is the most direct, fastest (sometimes above the contracted speed), reliable and secure way to connect to the Internet. They can reach speeds between 300 Mbps and 1 Gbps. This fiber is also known as shared fiber and is the most common and most used.
• FTTN. Fiber-to-the-node, the fiber optic cable connection runs from the carrier’s main hub to an intermediate node. It is linked to the point where the service has been contracted employing copper or coaxial cable from that intermediate node.
• FTTA. Fiber-to-the-antenna takes the fiber optic connection to the telephone antennas to provide high speed. It covers the need for higher mobile bandwidth for smartphones and tablets.
• FTTB. Fiber to the Building, the fiber optic connection reaches the Building. From there, it is distributed through copper or coaxial cable to each house or room, depending on the type of Building (hospital, offices, urbanizations, etc.).

In short, there is a clear difference between FTTH and the rest since it takes the network to the final point within our home. In contrast, the rest use coaxial cable terminations ( HFC ) from an issue (more or less far from the Building) to the connection point, therefore using electrical signals and thus being more susceptible to interference.

This is the best known and used classification, although there are other classifications:

Also Read: The Technologies Behind The Rise Of Robots

Types of Fiber Optic According To Cable Mode

• SMF. Single-mode fiber or Single-Mode-Fiber has a diameter between 8 µm and 10 µm. It only allows one mode of transmission (parallel to the axis of the thread), so it can transport signals over a very long distance, at high speed, and without suffering just attenuation. They are yellow (OS1 and OS2).
• MMF. Multimode fiber or Multimode-Fiber has a diameter between 50 µm and 62.5 µm, and it can transmit multiple rays of light simultaneously since, having a larger diameter, the light can bounce at different angles. It is generally used for short distances from fiber cable or patch panel connection to equipment. They are orange (OM1, OM2) and blue (OM3, OM4).

They are not used to connecting long distances, about 2 km.

Types of Fiber Optic Depending on The Transmission Mode

• Simplex. Composed of fiber and a connector at each end
• Duplex. They are composed of 2 fibers and two connectors at each end. Each thread is marked “A” or “B” or uses different colored protective covers to differentiate itself.

As we can see, there are many classifications and types of an optical fiber according to the cable, transmission, material, etc. Still, the most used sort is according to the termination of the wiring, and in this sense, we have shared fiber and dedicated fiber.

Shared Fiber

Shared fiber is the one that offers the highest speed and is, therefore, the one most used by most Internet Providers. 

As we have already pointed out before, we refer to FTTH (Fiber To The Home). We find different structures since various infrastructures or Internet Links are based on Fiber Optic in the shared fiber optic models.

Links Based On Shared Fiber

The most common links in Shared Fiber are FTTH and HFC, as we have already mentioned before.

ENLACE FTTH (FIBER TO THE HOME)

This type of link allows the most direct, fast, reliable, and secure way to connect to the Internet since it connects each of the points or nodes between the central office of the Internet Provider or distributor with the home or office. This link allows a direct connection to the client or user.

With this type of connection, we can ensure a good download speed download velocity but not upload speed.

ENLACE HFC (HYBRID FIBER-COAXIAL)

As we have already pointed out before, in this type of link, the connection is not direct but rather connects through an intermediate node that reaches its destination (home or office) through a coaxial cable.

They connect the zone nodes with the central, but a coaxial cable starts from the zone node, combining two connection sections: optical and coaxial. These connections that use two lines are usually more affordable, but they are more susceptible to electromagnetic interference.

SYMMETRIC FIBER OPTICS

Symmetric Fiber has been an advance for Internet browsing. This kind of connection is now a trend and is increasingly used.

Symmetrical optical fiber allows the user to have the same upload speed as the download speed in the Internet connection.

It was given greater importance when contracting the Internet at the download speed (download). With the standardization and use of different applications, social networks, etc., the same matter is beginning to be given to the rate of uploading files, photographs, videos, etc.

Dedicated Fiber

Dedicated fiber is a type of fiber optic for an Internet connection so that it arrives directly from the Provider to the client without divisions or intermediate cables. This allows the client or user to be assured that the relationship will not be interfered with by third parties, nor will it be reduced.

This type of fiber allows interconnection solutions with high demand that require higher bandwidth.

HOW DEDICATED FIBER WORKS

The dedicated fiber will be simple or not its implementation depending on the geographical situation. For this reason, it is especially recommended for special privacy needs.

It is a type of fiber optic indicated above all for Companies, Offices, and administrations. Above all, they wish to interconnect their different delegations and equipment with a fluid connection and high transfer capacity, privacy, and storage.

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