Fiber Optic Transceiver Is More Preferable Than Copper Transceiver

by Fiber-MART.COM

For transceivers, an optical interoperation with the associated circuitry is the key to success of application. Copper transceiver and fiber optic transceiver, as the two leading transceiver modules for data transmission, have their own unique benefits and drawbacks. This article has a brief comparison between copper transceiver and fiber optic transceiver, then explain why fiber optic transceiver is more preferable than copper transceiver.

 

Copper Transceiver vs Fiber Optic Transceiver

 

Copper is the de-facto standard for transmitting data between devices due to its low cost, easy installation and flexibility. Certainly, it possesses distinct defects too. Copper transceiver is best when applied in short length. Typically copper transceiver supports transmission distances of up to 100 meters or less. For example, Cisco copper SFP transceiver can support 100m reach over Cat 5 UTP cable as shown below. When employed over long distances, the electromagnetic signal characteristics will hinder performance.

 

Cisco copper SFP module

On the other hand, fiber optic transceiver is often used for remote campus connectivity, crowded wiring closets, long-distance communications and environments that need protection from interference, such as manufacturing areas. It is extremely reliable and less susceptible to attenuation. Fiber optic transceiver supports multimode and single mode fiber optic cable types with transmission distances up to 120 kilometers. For instance, Cisco SFP GLC-LH-SMD transceiver can support 10km with 9/125 µm SMF as shown below. So fiber optic transceiver has a longer transmission distance than copper transceiver.

 

Cisco SFP GLC-LH-SMD

Fiber Optic Transceiver: A More Preferable Solution

 

Nowadays, more and more organizations choose to utilize fiber optic transceiver as it offers greater advantages than the conventional copper transceiver.

 

Firstly, fiber optic is made of glass, so it does not conduct electricity. And it is immune to electromagnetic interruption and lightning. Copper cable will produce electromagnetic currents that can interfere network if not properly installed. So fiber optic transceiver has more interference resistance than copper transceiver.

 

Secondly, fiber optic is generally free from corrosion as it is made of glass and not water or chemically sensitive. Thus it has no risk of being destroyed by any harsh elements. Also it can bear the living conditions that conventional copper cable fail to do, such as direct contact with the soil. Moreover, fiber optic is of small size and weight, for the same transmission capacity, copper cable requires more lines than fiber optic. The reduced number of lines allows for maximum space utilization. Thus for fiber optic transceiver, the maintenance and service expenses are much lower than the copper transceiver.

 

Thirdly, fiber optic can make the transmission of data with greater flexibility due to its unlimited bandwidth. It can support the increased information carrying capacity. The practical bandwidth far exceeds that of copper cable. Using fiber optic transceiver helps to minimize attenuation in your system. As a result, fiber optic transceiver provides greater data safety and efficiency.

 

As stated above, fiber optic transceiver is more preferable than copper transceiver. And it has been lauded as an innovation that would push broadband speeds forward. Hence, it is widely employed by more and more organizations. fiber-mart.com offers large kinds of high quality fiber optic transceiver at very low price. It’s a primary option for you.