Fiber Optic Cable

Fiber optic cable consists of a bundle of glass threads, each of which is capable of transmitting
messages modulated onto light waves.
Fiber Optic cable has a complicated design and structure. This type of cable has an outer optical
casing that surrounds the light and traps it within a central core. The inside of the cable (the core)
must configured in two different ways – Single-mode and multi-mode; although the difference may
seem small, it makes a tremendous difference to the performance and the usage of fiber optic
cables.

Fiber Optics Cable, is a high-speed data transmission medium, it contains tiny glass or plastic
threads that carry light beams. Because fiber optic cables transmit data via light waves, they can
transfer information at the speed of light. Not surprisingly, fiber optic cables provide the fastest data
transfer rates of any data transmission medium.
The optical fiber elements are typically individually coated with plastic layers and contained in a
protective tube suitable for the environment where the cable will be deployed. All optical fibers use
a core of hair-like transparent silicon covered with less refractive indexed cladding to avoid light
leakage to the surroundings. Due to the extreme sensitivity of the optical fiber, it is normally
covered with a lightweight and high-strength protective material such as Kevlar.
What makes up a fiber-optic cable?
Fiber optic cables are made up of anywhere from two to several thousand strands of pure glass,
thinner than a human hair. These long glass threads are bundled into an optical fiber cable with
several distinct parts:

The core is the main part of the cable, it houses the glass fibers and is the pathway light signals
travel along.
The cladding is made of a different type of optical glass than the glass fibers, and it reflects light
pulses back inside the core. This material allows the single mode signals to travel long distances
without losing strength or quality.
A protective plastic coating wraps around the glass cladding.
Strengthening fibers (made of the same material used to create Kevlar vests) and a final
polyethylene layer protect the optical fibers from moisture or physical damage.
 Multimode vs. single-mode fibers
There are two types of fiber-optic cables: single-mode fiber and multi-mode optical fiber. Both rely
on a light source to convert electrical information into pulses.
Single-mode fiber uses lasers to create the light pulses that travel long distances along a narrow core
measuring nine microns in diameter.
While multi-mode optical fiber uses LEDs as its light source and has a core with an average
diameter of fifty microns to accommodate larger glass fibers. The amount of light signals passing
through a multi-mode core is greater than in single-mode, allowing more information to be
transmitted at one time.  Multi-mode fiber optics are best suited to shorter distances and connect
networks within one building. As a result the multi-mode fiber is more commonly used than single-
mode fiber options.

 
Twisted Pair Cable
Twisted pair cable is a type of ordinary wiring which connects home and many business computers
to the telephone company. It is made by putting two separate insulated wires together in a twisted
pattern and running them parallel to each other, which helps to reduce crosstalk or electromagnetic
induction between pairs of wires. Twisted pair cable is suitable for transferring balanced differential
signals. The method of transmitting signals dates back to the early days of the telegraph and radio. 
The advantages of improved signal-to-noise ratio, crosstalk, and ground bounce that balanced signal
transmission brings are particularly valuable in wide bandwidth and high fidelity systems.
According to whether the cable has a shielding layer, there are two common types of twisted pair
cables—shielded twisted pair (STP) cable and unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable. STP cable is
available for Token Ring networks, while the UTP cable is more suitable for Ethernet networks. The
most common UTP cable types applied in Ethernet network are cat5e, cat6a, and cat7 cables, etc.
The following image shows the different structures of UTP and STP cables.
Twisted pair cables are widely used in the transferring information, especially over long a
distances. The twist in the cable cancels out any magnetic interference that may develop in the
wiring. There are two common types of twisted pair cabling, STP and UTP. The S represents
Shielded, the U represents Unshielded, and the TP represents the twisted pair for both.
Shielded vs. Unshielded twisted pair cables
The unshielded in UTP refers to the lack of metallic shielding around the copper wires. By its very
nature, the twisted-pair design helps minimize electronic interference by providing balanced signal
transmission, making a physical shield unnecessary.
The Unshielded twisted pair is the most commonly used in telephone cables, computer networks,
and even in video applications such as security cameras. UTP cables are generally used in short
lengths such as inside a building, or within a server room.
Unshield Twisted Pairs cable is susceptible to radio and electrical frequency interference. Though
more expensive, Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) cables are a better option. Shielded Twisted pair
cables can also be useful in extending maximum distance of cables. Shielded cable is available in
three configurations:
• – Every pair of wire is separately shielded with foil
• – All wires having a braid shield inside the wire jacket
• – Each individual pair having a shield, besides having another around the whole group of
wires
In a shielded twisted pair (STP), the wires are enclosed in a shield that functions as a grounding
mechanism. This is done so it can provide a greater protection from electromagnetic interference
and radio Infrequency interference, allowing it to carry data at a faster rate of speed.
Therefore, STP cable is often used in high end applications that require high bandwidth and outdoor
environments. UTP cable is often used in home, office and large scale businesses.
Coaxial Cable
Coaxial cable, or coax cable, is another type of copper cable which has an inner conductor
surrounded by foam insulation, symmetrically wrapped by a woven braided metal shield, then
covered by in a plastic jacket (as shown in the following image). This unique design allows coaxial
cable runs to installed next to metal objQects such as gutters without the power losses that occur in
other types of transmission lines. The coaxial cable acts as a high-frequency transmission cable
made up of a single solid copper core and compared to twisted pair cable. It has 80 times or more
transmission capability. This kind of cable is mainly adopted in feedlines connecting radio
transmitters and receivers with their antennas, computer network connections, and distributing cable
television signals.

Conclusion
Choosing among coaxial cable, twisted pair cable, and fiber optic cable mainly depends on your
needs and network topology. You can balance the cost and the requirements of bandwidth to make a
choice. No matter coaxial cable, twisted pair cable, or fiber cable, suiting your network
requirements is the best.