The difference between multimode and single-mode SFP

Some customers want to know about the difference between multimode and single mode SFP , so we summarize some information about multimode and single-mode.The following is some concepts and the differences between multimode and single-mode SFP.

 

According to the wavelength,there are 850nm / 1310nm / 1550nm / 1490nm / 1530nm / 1610nm.850nm wavelength is fit for multimode SFP, transmission distance is below 2KM; 1310/1550nm wavelength is fit for single-mode SFP, transmission distance is over 2KM. Generally, the price of these three wavelengths is lower than the other three.

 

The raw modules are easily confused if there is no identity, the manufacturers will be distinguished in the color of the ring generally. For example: The black ring is multimode and the wavelength is 850nm; The blue, yellow and purple ring is single-mode, the wavelengths are 1310nm, 1550nm, 1490nm.

 

Multimode :

Almost all of the dimensions of multimode fiber core are 50/125um or 62.5/125um, and the bandwidth ( the transinformations of optical fiber ) is usually 200MHz to 2GHz. Light emitting diode or laser as optical source. The ring is black color.

 

Single-mode :

The fiber core size of the single-mode fiber is 9/125 um,and compared with multimode fiber, it is with the features of unlimited bandwidth and lower loss. The single-mode optical transceiver used for the long-distance transmission, and sometimes up to 150-200 km. Using LD or Narrow spectral lines LED as optical source. The ring is blue, yellow or purple color.

 

Differences and relations :

Single-mode fiber is cheap, but single-mode equipment is more expensive than the same kind of multimode equipment. Single-mode devices usually can run on single-mode fiber and can also be run on a multimode fiber, while multimode device only runs on multimode fiber.

 

 

With the closer between single-mode and multimode SFP optical module in recent years, the use of single-mode fiber and single-mode module has become the mainstream. Single mode is obviously better than the multimode type on the use.