7 Accessories Required for Optical Fiber Erection

FTTH refers to the installation of an optical network unit (ONU) for home users or corporate users. It is the type of optical access network application that is closest to the user in the optical access series except for FTTD (Fiber to the Desktop). Let’s take a closer look to learn more about the related accessories required for optical fiber erection.

Optical fiber cable (main cost of accessories)

Indoor optical cable

Indoor optical cables are classified according to the use environment of optical cables, as opposed to outdoor optical cables. The indoor optical cable is a cable formed by the optical fiber (optical transmission carrier) through a certain process. It is mainly composed of optical fiber (glass filament as thin as hair), plastic protective sleeve, and plastic outer skin. There is no metal such as gold, silver, copper, and aluminum in the optical cable, and generally has no recycling value. The indoor optical cable is a communication line in which a certain number of optical fibers form a cable core in a certain way, and are covered with a sheath, and some are also covered with an outer sheath to realize optical signal transmission. Indoor optical cable has low tensile strength and poor protection, but it is also lighter and more economical. Indoor optical cables are mainly suitable for wiring in buildings and connections between network devices.

Outdoor optical cable

Outdoor optical cables, optical cables used outdoors. The opposite is indoor optical cables. The outdoor optical cable is a communication line that realizes optical signal transmission. The cable core is composed of a certain number of optical fibers in a certain manner and is covered with a sheath, and some are also covered with an outer sheath. Outdoor optical cables are mainly composed of optical fibers (thin glass filaments such as hair), plastic protective sleeves, and plastic sheaths. There are no metals such as gold, silver, copper, and aluminum in the optical cables, and generally have no recycling value. Outdoor fiber optic cables have higher tensile strength, a thicker protective layer, and are usually armored (that is, wrapped in metal skin). Outdoor optical cables are mainly suitable for interconnection between buildings and between remote networks.

 

Optical cable splice box

The fiber optic cable splice box is a box that protects the fiber optic cable and pigtail splicing at the end of the fiber optic cable. One end of it is an optical cable, and the other end is a pigtail, which is equivalent to a device that splits an optical cable into a single optical fiber and is installed on the wall of the user optical cable terminal box. The function of the optical cable fusion splice box is to provide optical fiber and optical fiber fusion, optical fiber, pigtail fusion, and optical connector handover. It is mainly used for the straight-through connection and branch connection of indoor optical cables and the fixing of optical cable terminals and plays the role of pigtail storage and protection of joints. The optical fiber splice box provides mechanical protection and environmental protection for the optical fiber and its components and allows proper inspection to maintain the highest standard of optical fiber management.

 

Optical fiber coupler

An optical fiber coupler is also called a splitter, connector, adapter, optical fiber flange. It is a device for the detachable (movable) connection between the optical fiber and optical fiber. An optical fiber coupler precisely connects the two end faces of the optical fiber so that the light energy output by the transmitting optical fiber can be coupled to the receiving optical fiber to the maximum extent, and it is intervened in the optical link to minimize the impact on the system. Optical fiber couplers belong to the field of optical passive components and are used in telecommunication networks, cable television networks, user loop systems, and local area networks.

 

Fiber optic jumper

Optical fiber jumpers (also known as optical fiber connectors) are used to make jumpers from equipment to optical fiber wiring links. Optical fiber jumpers have a thicker protective layer and are generally used for the connection between optical transceivers and terminal boxes. Commonly used fiber optic jumpers include ST type, LC type, FC type, SC type.

 

Main categories:

Single-mode fiber jumper (Single-mode fiber): Generally single-mode fiber jumper is indicated by yellow, and the connector and protective cover are blue; the transmission distance is longer.

Multi-mode fiber jumpers (Multi-mode fiber): Generally, multi-mode fiber jumpers are indicated in orange, and some are indicated in gray. The connectors and protective covers are in beige or black; the transmission distance is short.

 

Optical fiber jumper connector explanation:

SC: square fiber optic connector

FC: round with thread

ST: Similar to BNC

LC: separate transceiver structure

MT-RJ: square, dual fiber at one end, integrated transceiver

pc: direct contact

APC: 8 degrees inclined angle contact surface

UPC: Curved contact surface

 

Optical distribution frame (ODF frame)

The ODF frame is an optical fiber distribution equipment specially designed for optical fiber communication equipment rooms. It has optical cable fixing and protection functions, optical cable termination functions, line adjustment functions, optical cable core, and pigtail protection functions. The optical fiber distribution frame can be assembled separately into an optical fiber distribution frame, or it can be installed in a cabinet/frame together with the digital distribution unit and audio distribution unit to form a comprehensive distribution frame. The equipment is flexible in configuration, simple in installation and use, easy to maintain, and easy to manage. It is an indispensable piece of equipment for fiber optic communication and fiber optic cable network terminals or relay points to realize fiber arranging, jumper fiber optic cable fusion, and access. The optical fiber distribution frame is important for supporting equipment in the optical transmission system. It is mainly used for optical fiber fusion splicing of optical cable terminals, optical connector installation, optical path switching, storage of excess pigtails and protection of optical cables, etc. The ODF frame is important for the safe operation of optical fiber communication networks and flexible use.

 

Optical cable terminal box

The optical cable terminal box is the auxiliary equipment for terminal wiring in the optical fiber transmission communication network. It is suitable for the direct and branch connection of indoor optical cables and protects the optical fiber joints. Many engineering companies also call a fiber optic cable reel box, which is a box that protects the fiber optic cable and pigtail fusion at the end of the fiber optic cable. It is mainly used for the fixing of the optical cable terminal, the fusion splicing of the optical cable and the pigtail, and the storage and protection of the remaining fiber. Optical cable terminal boxes are widely used in local telephone, rural telephone network systems, data and image transmission systems, and CATV cable television series. It is made of a cold-rolled steel plate and electrostatic spray, with a reasonable design structure and beautiful appearance. It can fix the fiber optic cable reinforcing core at the terminal.

 

Optical transceiver

The optical fiber transceiver is an Ethernet transmission media conversion unit that exchanges short-distance twisted-pair electrical signals and long-distance optical signals. It is also called a fiber converter in many places. Optical fiber transceivers are generally used in actual network environments where Ethernet cables cannot be covered and optical fibers must be used to extend the transmission distance, and are usually positioned in the access layer application of broadband metropolitan area networks. Fiber optic transceivers also play a huge role in helping to connect the last mile of fiber-optic lines to the metropolitan area network and the outer network. The following figure shows the network solution of optical fiber transceiver:

 

The optical transceiver is an optical fiber communication device that extends data transmission. It is mainly through signal modulation, photoelectric conversion, and other technologies, using optical transmission characteristics to achieve the purpose of remote transmission. Optical transceivers are generally used in pairs, divided into optical transmitters and optical receivers. The optical transmitter completes the electrical/optical conversion, and transmits the optical signal for optical fiber transmission; the optical receiver mainly restores the optical signal received from the optical fiber to an electrical signal to complete the optical/electrical conversion. The function of the optical transceiver is to transmit data remotely. Working principle diagram of optical transceiver:

 

The above is a detailed explanation of the related accessories required for optical fiber erection. Dowell has been focusing on the R&D and sales of optical communication products for 20 years. In addition to fiber optic adapters and fiber optic jumpers, other fiber optic tools are also well received at home and abroad with high-cost performance. Contact us to learn more.