With the replacement of copper cables with fiber optic cables, the speed of mobile phone and computer networks continues to improve. 3G, 4G, 5G, 6G are constantly being updated and replaced, and the application upgrades of WiFi 5 and WiFi 6, as well as the continuous promotion of short videos, the Internet of Things, and AI intelligence, all benefit from the extensive application and popularization of fiber optic cables. So, what are the advantages of fiber optic cables compared to other transmission media?
Transmission bandwidth refers to the range of data transmission rates that a transmission medium can support. A larger transmission bandwidth means that the system has a higher transmission capacity.
High bandwidth (bandwidth), high capacity
The bandwidth of traditional cables typically ranges from several hundred MHz to several thousand MHz，the transmission bandwidth of fiber optic communication systems can support a range from hundreds of MHz to tens of TH. Compared to others, optical fiber has the characteristics of high bandwidth and high transmission capacity.
Low loss, long relay distance
The losses of traditional coaxial cables and twisted pair cables typically range from a few decibels (dB) to several tens of decibels per kilometer.
Optical communication has three low loss windows. 850nm window: approximately 3-6 dB/km; 1310nm window: approximately 0.5-1dB/km; 1550nm window: approximately 0.2~0.5dB/km.
A repeater is a device used to enhance or retransmit signals to maintain signal quality during long-distance transmission. The repeater receives signals from the transmitting end, amplifies them, and retransmits them to the receiving end to overcome attenuation and distortion during signal transmission. Helps to extend the signal transmission distance and ensure that the signal remains clear and reliable during transmission.
Relay distance refers to the maximum distance that can be transmitted between the transmitter and receiver without a relay.
Through the above comparison, it can be found that the loss of optical fibers is significantly lower than that of cables. In the 1550nm low loss window, the loss of optical fibers is several orders of magnitude lower than that of cables. When optical signals are transmitted in optical fibers, the loss is low, the relay distance is long, and the number of relay stations required for long-distance transmission is reduced. The fewer relay stations, the lower the system cost, and the relatively higher the reliability.
Good anti electromagnetic interference performance
Fiber optic cables are usually made of insulating materials such as silicon dioxide (quartz, SiO2) or plastic, which are non-conductive and can avoid electrical problems such as electromagnetic interference and lightning strikes. They have better stability and reliability in environments with severe electromagnetic interference.
Fiber optic cables without metal reinforcement cores are suitable for communication in the following special environments:
Near high-voltage power lines, areas prone to lightning strikes, and flammable and explosive environments such as oil fields, coal mines, and chemical industries
High security and good confidentiality
Fiber optic communication does not generate electromagnetic radiation, and optical signals are almost never leaked during transmission. Under normal circumstances, even if there is a leaked signal, it is very weak and difficult to eavesdrop or intercept.
Fiber optic transmission has strong resistance to electromagnetic interference and is almost immune to interference.
Low latency
Delay refers to the time interval required for data to be transmitted from the sender to the receiver.
The characteristics of the transmission medium can affect the transmission speed of electromagnetic wave signals in the medium. The propagation speed of electromagnetic waves in vacuum is about 300000 kilometers per second. The propagation speed of electromagnetic waves in conventional cables is about 70% to 90% of the speed of light, while the speed of optical signals transmitted in optical fibers is approximately equal to the speed of light.
Optical signals have fast transmission speed in optical fibers and can achieve low latency data transmission, making them suitable for applications that require high real-time performance.
Light weight and small size
Fiber optic cables are lighter and occupy less space compared to traditional cables, making them suitable for applications with weight and space limitations.
Environmental protection and conservation of metal resources
Communication cables usually use metal materials such as copper and aluminum, and the reserves of metal materials on Earth are limited. Fiber optic cables are usually made of silicon dioxide, and the reserves of silicon dioxide on Earth are almost infinite. Fiber optic communication does not require a large amount of metal resources, reducing the consumption of natural resources and complying with environmental protection principles.
FAQ
What is the advantages of fiber optics over coaxial cable?
The data density per optical fiber is much greater than traditional conductor transmission and has more data packets. Fiber optic is high-speed data transmission, data security, and data reliability and cost effective. Fiber optic cables have higher bandwidth than copper conductor cables.
Some communication products have components called “golden fingers”. What does “golden finger” refer to here? Is it gold?
Firstly, ‘golden finger’ definitely does not mean to hang up.
In communication products, “golden fingers” usually refer to the metal contacts of connectors or interface components, rather than real gold materials. These gold fingers are usually made of gold-plated or metal alloy containing materials, with the aim of providing better conductivity and corrosion resistance to ensure the stability and reliability of the connection.
Why does optical fiber have significant advantages over other transmission media, but there are still many different transmission media widely available in the market?
There are many factors to consider when choosing a transmission medium.
Cost effectiveness: Although fiber optic communication has many advantages, in some cases, using other transmission media may be more cost-effective, especially for shorter distances or lower bandwidth requirements. For example, in some home or small business networks, using copper cables or wireless technology may be more suitable and economical.
Environmental adaptability: some transmission media may perform better in specific environments, such as high temperature or high humidity environments, and some transmission media may be more suitable than optical fibers.
History and market trends: In certain regions or industries, infrastructure based on other transmission media may have already been established, and people are accustomed to using specific technologies. In this situation, even though fiber optic communication has many advantages, it may take time and resources to achieve transformation.
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The main goal of technology and products is to meet specific application requirements. When choosing a transmission medium or any other technological solution, the key is to determine the most suitable solution for a specific application scenario. This may involve considering multiple factors such as cost, performance, reliability, security, and environmental adaptability, and requires balancing and evaluating various optional solutions.
New products and technologies may have advantages in many aspects, but they may not necessarily be the optimal solution.
Why are optical fibers important for communication?
Optical fibers is less signal loss over long distances than copper cable, for example, single mode fiber can transmit distances of 40 kilometers or even longer without affecting the signal at loss 0.5dB/km @1310nm, which means they can transmit signals over much longer distances without the need for signal boosters.
But for copper cable, the loss is big. For example, when the distance is 100 meters, the fiber optic signal loss is only about 3% of the original signal strength, while the signal loss of a 6A copper cable at the same distance is about 94% of its original signal strength.
