Optical Fiber Cables
(27)What is a fibre-optic cable?
Fibre-optic cables are thin conductors made of glass fibre or plastic that are used to transmit light signals over long distances. They are more frequently made of glass fibre, as this material is resistant to high temperatures, which facilitates transmission of high-power signals. On the other hand, plastic fibres are more flexible. It is a cutting-edge technology used in telecommunications and data transmission applications to facilitate high-speed data transmission over long distances.
What does a fibre-optic cable look like?
A fibre-optic cable consists of one or more thin fibres (only a few micrometres in diameter), called cores, surrounded by a protective plastic sheath. This sheath protects fibres from mechanical damage, such as bending or over-stretching, and from external impacts.
The entire fibre is usually covered with a protective plastic coat protecting the core and sheath from damage. The fibres are bundled into larger lines to transmit hundreds or thousands of light signals simultaneously.
What is the principle of operation of fibre-optic cables?
Fibre-optic cables transmit light signals between two points. Light signals are generated by, for example, a laser diode or a light-emitting diode, and then transmitted through a fibre-optic cable core.
They are generated by rapidly switching the light source on and off, resulting in the emission of short light pulses. These pulses are transmitted through the fibre-optic cable core made of a highly transparent material. Long fibre-optic cables are equipped with signal amplifiers facilitating signal transmission over longer distances, even hundreds or thousands of kilometres, without any signal loss.
At the end, a light signal is received by a detector which converts it into an electric signal. The electric signal is then processed by a target device, i.e. a router or computer, to process or display data.
Fibre-optic cables – applications
As mentioned above, a fibre-optic cable is a cable that transmits data in the form of light pulses through glass or plastic fibres. Their range of applications is diverse, both in the communications systems and other fields. See below for an overview of main fibre-optic cable applications:
- Telecommunications: Fibre-optic transmission networks constitute the basis for providing broadband services, such as cable TV, phone lines, Internet access and large-scale data transmission services. They are a perfect solution for long-distance communication, as they provide high bandwidth and low signal loss.
- Internet: Fibre-optic cables are used to design broadband networks providing high-speed Internet access. They are used by an increasing number of home and office users, due to their speed and reliability.
- LANs (Local Area Networks): Fibre-optic cables are often used in LANs, as they facilitate transmitting large amounts of data over short distances, with slight signal losses and delays.
- Illumination and decor: Fibre-optic cables are used for decorative and illumination purposes, for example in ceiling lighting systems, swimming pools, fountains or interior design elements.
- Sensors: Fibre-optic sensors are used in various fields, such as industry, healthcare or science. They measure temperature, pressure, acceleration, tension or chemical changes.
- Healthcare: Fibre-optic cables are used in endoscopy, i.e. during a diagnostic examination of the inside of a person’s body conducted using thin, flexible instruments. They enable images to be transmitted from inside the body to the outside equipment, helping specialists to diagnose and treat various conditions.
Fibre-optic cable classification
Different fibre-optic cable classification standards used around the world may result in coining different terms referring to the same cables. In the TME product catalogue, each fibre-optic cable comes with a precise specification in a PDF document containing all parameters and fields of application.
Fibre-optic cable design – classification in terms of fibre type
Optical fibres can be divided into quartz fibres and all-plastic fibres, depending on the material. Quartz fibres have a doped silica core. Their characteristic features include low signal loss and moderate dispersion. Nowadays, most communication fibre-optic cables are made of quartz fibres.
All-plastic fibres are a novelty currently in the development and testing stage. They are characterised by high losses, a thick core (diameter of 100–600 µm), a large numerical aperture (NA) (typically 0.3–0.5, which makes it possible to combine it with larger light sources) and low production costs. Currently, all-plastic fibre-optic cables are suitable for short-distance applications such as computer networks or ship on-board communications.
Classification in terms of transmission classes
SMF – Single-Mode Fibre cables – with a single core facilitating high-speed transmission of signals over long distances. They are used in long-distance networks as well as in telecommunications and healthcare applications.
MMF – Multi-Mode Fibre cables – with numerous cores facilitating high-throughput transmissions over shorter distances. They are used in local networks, buildings, data centres and other applications.
How to connect a fibre-optic cable at home
Fibre-optic cable installation is a complicated process requiring expertise and specialist tools, so we recommend that a professional installation contractor should be engaged. An installer usually installs a fibre-optic cable outside a building and then distributes it within its interior. The installation process involves routing fibre-optic cables in special ducting, connecting necessary connectors, testing the signal and much more.
If you want to undertake a fibre-optic system installation on your own, you need to have the necessary know-how and experience in the field of computer networks and fibre-optic technology. Moreover, correct tools, such as professional crimpers, testers and other equipment, are necessary. Note that fibre-optic cables are vulnerable to bending.
How to connect a fibre-optic cable to a router/TV
Connecting a fibre-optic cable to a router and TV may require slightly different operations, depending on the device model and type. Note that a specific way to connect equipment depends on the service provider and devices, so it is worth consulting your service provider’s technician or manual.
Audio fibre-optic cables
An audio fibre-optic is used to transmit audio signals in a digital format between different audio devices. Audio signals are transmitted in the form of light pulses rather than in an electric form, ensuring high sound quality and low noise.
In recording studios and home cinemas, fibre-optic cables are used to transmit audio between different audio devices such as audio mixers, amplifiers, CD/DVD/Blu-ray players, etc.
How to handle fibre-optic cables installed in home environments
To ensure long-term and trouble-free performance of fibre-optic cables in home applications, it is important to follow correct maintenance and care practices. See below for a few tips related to handling fibre-optic cables installed in a home environment:
- Avoid bends and curves: Try not to bend or twist the cables, as this can damage their fibres and increase signal losses. Observe the minimum bend radius specified by the manufacturer.
- Protect the cabling against moisture: Avoid exposing fibre-optic cables to moisture, which can result in material degradation and damage. Route the cables in dry and well-ventilated areas.
- Protect cabling against mechanical damage: Be careful when working with fibre optic cables. Avoid pulling, tugging or putting excessive pressure on the cables, which can result in mechanical damage.
- Ensure connector cleanliness: Dirty connectors can increase signal loss and impair transmission quality. Therefore, they must be cleaned regularly with special cleaners and dust-free wipes.
- Ensure correct storage conditions: Any spare or currently unused fibre-optic cable must be stored in a dry and clean place. Wrap the cables in a manner avoiding the formation of any kinks and twists.
- Labels and signs: Fibre-optic cables must be labelled in a manner facilitating identification of their intended use and further maintenance. Cables and connectors must be labelled according to their purpose and location.
50/125 or LSOH fibre-optic cable labelling
The 50/125 and LSOH fibre-optic cable labelling refers to their various features and properties.
A 50/125 fibre-optic cable comes with a core with a diameter of 50 micrometres and a 125 micrometre thick sheath. It is commonly used in local and indoor networks where the signal transmission distance is not too long.
LSOH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) means that a cable is made of materials that contain a minimal amount of halogens and emit low levels of smoke and toxic gases during a fire. LSOH cables are commonly used in areas where such factors as safety and health risk exposure minimisation are important, i.e. in hospitals, at airports, railway stations or in public utility buildings.
Note that there are many other fibre optic designations that refer to different features and properties, such as bandwidth, number of cores, degree of protection against moisture or UV radiation, as well as different types of sheaths and terminal configurations. Therefore, before selecting a fibre-optic cable, careful consideration should be given to its purpose and technical specifications, in order to choose a correct one for a given application.
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