Fiber Optic Cable for Buying Guide

As a signal transmission technology, optical fiber technology is one of the fastest-growing technical fields today. As the backbone of optical fiber networks, fiber cables are now everywhere. With fiber to the home (FTTH) and fiber to the premises, fiber broadband cable is becoming more and more common. Fiber optic cables can provide fast data transmission, thinner, lighter cables, and longer signal ranges. Therefore, it has long been used in network infrastructure and is suitable for home and business use.

Before buying an FTTP fiber cable, you need to understand it in detail so that you can buy a fiber optic cable that is more suitable for your use. As a well-known fiber optic cable manufacturer, Dowell provides you with professional fiber broadband cable knowledge and detailed buying guides.

What is an FTTP fiber cable？

Fiber optic cables are also called fiber optic cables. It is made by wrapping a large number of glass filaments in a cladding and a protective cover. Optical fiber cables transmit data in the form of light pulses through these flexible, optically pure glass or plastic fibers.

The optical cable is composed of core, cladding, coating, reinforcing fiber, sheath, and other components. The core is a glass filament that transmits light pulses and is divided into a single-mode fiber core and a multi-mode fiber core. The cladding, coating, reinforcing fiber, and sheath are all used to protect the core of the fiber optic cable. In addition, the color of the sheath is also used to identify the type of fiber in the cable, for example, yellow means single-mode, orange means multi-mode, etc.

Working principle of fiber broadband cable

The light pulse is reflected from the side of the fiber optic cable and travels down the fiber core. The core size of the optical cable determines the propagation distance of the optical signal. The smaller the core, the less data it carries, and the longer the distance it allows for transmission. Single-mode fiber cable (SMF) is suitable for long-distance data transmission due to its slim core. Multimode fiber cable (MMF) is more suitable for short-distance networks and indoor wiring due to its larger core and is affected by signal quality issues.

Advantages and characteristics of fiber optic cable

• The data transmission speed is fast. The speed of OM5 fiber can reach 100 Gbps.

• The signal loss is small. Over 100 meters, the fiber will only lose 3% of the signal strength.

• Not susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI).

• There is no risk of electric shock, and there is no fire.

• Compared with copper cables, they are lighter in weight and easier to install.

Types of FTTH fiber cable

1. Single-mode fiber (SMF)

   Single-mode fiber has a small core size and uses a single optical path. It can transmit data over long distances and is suitable for campus data networks, cable television transmission, and telecommunications networks.

   
   

2. Multimode fiber (MMF)

   Multimode fiber has a large core size and is usually used to transmit large amounts of data over short distances.

   
   

3. Simplex optical cable

   The simplex optical cable uses a single strand of optical fiber to realize direct data transmission from device to device. It is usually used for monitoring applications.

   
   

4. Duplex cable

   Duplex cables use two optical fibers to transmit and receive data at the same time. It is usually used to connect switches, servers, and storage systems.

   
   

5. Zipcord fiber

   There are two or more buffered optical cables in the protective sheath of Zipcord optical fiber. Each optical cable is covered by its own jacket and finally fixed together by an outer protective jacket.

   
   

6. Active optical cable (AOC)

   The two ends of the active optical cable transceiver are permanently glued together without the need for connectors. It is usually used for top-of-rack applications with short distances.

   
   

7. Mode adjustment cable

   
   

8. Loopback cable

Optical cable connector

The fiber optic cable is terminated by various connectors, so it must also be compatible with fiber optic connectors. The choice of connector depends on the equipment and application requirements, including the expected number of mating cycles and the amount of vibration.

• LC

  LC is a square connector with a small cross-section. It is fixed in place through a push/pull mechanism and is widely used in data centers and telecommunication switching centers.

  
  

• SC

  SC is a square connector with a cross-section twice larger than LC. It uses a snap-in locking mechanism, which requires a simple push and pulls. They are inexpensive and durable.

  
  

• ST

  ST is a circular connector. Bayonet twist-lock connectors are inexpensive and easy to install.

  
  

• FC

  FC is an optical fiber connector that connects ceramic ferrules. It uses a screw-on chuck, which is the first choice for high-vibration environments.

  
  

• MTRJ

  MTRJ is used with multimode fiber. Its small size makes it ideal for fiber to desktop (FTTD) applications.

How to choose fiber optic cable

After understanding the basic knowledge of fiber optic cables, we need to choose suitable fiber broadband cables according to our actual needs.

• Network speed and distance

  
  

  If it is used for the campus network of the school or the cable TV of the family, please choose single-mode fiber. If it is used for enterprises to transmit large amounts of data, choose multimode fiber. For details of conveying speed and distance, please refer to the table below.

  
  

  
  

• Cable sheath

  
  

  If it is used indoors, you can choose a low-cost, fire-resistant polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheath. If it is used in a confined space, you can choose a low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) sheath. Polyethylene (PE) is the first choice for outdoor applications because it is resistant to moisture and ultraviolet light, has high abrasion resistance and has good flexibility. The color of the sheath is used to identify the function of the cable. Single-mode fiber optic cables are yellow, and multi-mode fiber optic cables are orange.

  
  

  
  

• Connector

  According to the network equipment that needs to be connected, select the corresponding fiber optic cable terminal. Data centers and telecommunications switching centers use LC connectors. Enterprise networks can choose SC connector, which is cheaper and longer in use. If the port density is high, MTRJ connectors can be used.

  
  

• The way of buying

  You can choose from a well-known local fiber optic cable supplier, or you can collect information on where to obtain high-quality and cheap fiber optic cables on the Internet. The Internet can provide you with some of the best fiber optic cable deals ever. After you spend time searching for fiber optic cables online, you will be able to get what you want without spending too much money.

  
  

• Supplier

  When choosing your fiber optic cable supplier, you need to comprehensively consider its strength, including operating hours, patent certificates, after-sales protection, etc. Be sure to check the reviews of certain companies that sell fiber optic cables so that you can find the company that gets the most positive reviews. It is worth mentioning that Dowell is one of the top 10 famous cable manufacturers in China. It has decades of history and a perfect after-sales guarantee. Click to learn more or send an email to contact us immediately.