The PLC splitter is based on planar optical wave circuit technology. It consists of three layers: a substrate, a waveguide and a cover. The waveguide plays a key role in the splitting process that allows a specific percentage of light to pass through. So the signal can be divided equally.
In addition, PLC splitters are available in a variety of splitting ratios, including 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, 1:32, 1:64, etc. They are also available in various types, and the following table shows the advantages and disadvantages of PLC splitters.
The FBT splitter is based on a conventional technique where multiple fibers are welded together from the side of the fiber. The fibers are aligned by heating to a specific position and length. Since the fused fibers are very fragile, they are protected by a glass tube made of epoxy resin and silica powder. The inner glass tube is then covered with a stainless steel tube and sealed with silicon. As technology continues to evolve, FBT splitters are of very good quality and can be applied in a cost effective manner. The table below shows the advantages and disadvantages of FBT splitters.
Advantage
- Applicable to the full waveband 1260-150nm, a wider range of applications
- All output channels are equally divided
- Compact configuration, smaller size, smaller footprint
- All channel splitting ratio has good stability because it is pre-distributed by the chip
- Maximum 1:128 splitting ratio can be achieved
- High quality, low failure rate
- Temperature range:-40~+85℃
Disadvantage
- Complex production process
- 1:2 is more expensive than FBT splitter
Advantage
- Easily available and cheaper materials
- The splitting ratio can be customized and not fixed.
Disadvantage
- Limited by operating wavelength, only 850nm, 1310nm, 1490nm, 1550nm
- Maximum insertion loss varies by splitting and increases significantly for splitters over 1:8.
- The transmission distance will be limited as the exact ratio cannot be guaranteed.
- The temperature range is narrower than PLC, and the loss with high and low temperatures is relatively large
- Prone to failure due to extreme temperatures or improper handling
- 1:4 and above is more expensive than PLC
- Maximum can only do 1:32
1. Working wavelength
The FBT spectrometer only support 4 wavelengths: 850nm, 1310nm, 1490nm and 1550nm, which makes it impossible to work at other wavelengths. the PLC spectrometer can support wavelengths from 1260 nm to 1650 nm. The adjustable wavelength range makes the PLC spectrometer suitable for more applications.
2. Splitting Ratio
The split ratio is determined by the input and output of the fiber optic splitter. fbt splitters have a maximum split ratio of up to 1:32, which means that one or two inputs can be split into a maximum of 32 fibers for the output. However, PLC splitters have split ratios of up to 1:64 – one or two inputs with a maximum output of 64 fibers. In addition FBT splitters are customizable, with special models such as 1:3, 1:7, 1:11, etc. But PLC splitters can not customize, only standard versions such as 1×2, 1×4, 1×8, 1×16, 1×32, etc.
3. Asymmetric attenuation of each branch
The signal processed by the FBT splitter cannot be evenly split due to the lack of management of the signal, which affects the transmission distance. But PLC splitter can support equal splitting ratio of all branches, which can ensure more stable optical transmission.
4. Failure Rate
FBT splitters are typically used in networks that require a tap configuration with fewer than 4 taps. The larger the split, the greater the failure rate. When its split ratio is greater than 1:8, more errors occur, resulting in a higher failure rate. Therefore, FBT splitters are more limited by the number of splits in a coupling. However, PLC splitters have a much smaller failure rate.
5. Temperature Related Losses
In some regions, temperature can be a critical factor affecting the insertion loss of optical components. FBT splitters are stable at temperatures from -5 to 75°C. PLC splitters can operate over a wider temperature range of -40 to 85°C, providing relatively good performance in extreme climatic regions.
6. Fiber Optic Splitter Price
PLC taps generally cost more than FBT taps due to their complex manufacturing process. If you have a simple application and are short on funds, FBT splitters can provide a cost effective solution.
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