Fiber Cabling Tutorial

Fiber Cabling Tutorial

July 10, 2007 Until around 1970 all cables used in telecommunications, cable television and data communications were copper. However, improvements in the clarity of the glass used in fiber optic cables allowed light to travel distances very similar to copper cables. Over time the speeds, capacity and distances associated with fiber surpassed those of copper, and this led to a great increase in fiber's popularity. In short, the growing popularity of fiber optic cable is primarily due to the following benefits: y y y y y Faster transmission speeds Increased bandwidth capacity Increased transmission distance Immunity from electro-magnetic and radio-frequency interference Decreased costs per cable capacity

How Fiber Optic Cable Works

Fiber optic cable transmits data in the form of light through the core of an extremely small strand of optical glass which is surrounded by a light-reflective layer (the cladding), a layer of protective plastic coating (the buffer), and other materials and jackets which protect the fiber strand from the environment in which they will be installed. The source of light at one end of a fiber optic transmission line usually consists of a light-emitting diode (LED) or a laser diode which shoots light into the cable. As the light travels toward a light-sensitive receiver at the other end of the cable the light strength decreases as the distance increases. This power loss is known as attenuation and is measured in decibels (dB) as in 3dB per kilometer (or 3dB/km). Below is a diagram of a typical fiber optical cable's construction:

Multimode vs Singlemode Fiber Optic Transmission

There are two basic modes of light dispersion into a fiber optic cable: multimode and singlemode. Multimode transmission uses a light-emitting diode (LED) as a light source. Because LEDs send light in several directions when entering a glass core, the light travels along multiple paths. Singlemode transmission uses a laser diode as a light source from which a single path of light travels. Typically the light sent through a fiber is transmitted at different wavelengths for multimode (850nm and 1300nm) and singlemode (1310nm and 1550nm). See the diagram below for details about LED and laser light sources. Light is transmitted over fiber optic cable in various wavelengths (or colors) which are measured in nanometers (nm) as in 850nm. The wavelengths associated with fiber optic cable transmission are typically 850nm and 1300nm over multimode fiber and 1310nm and 1550nm over singlemode fiber. These transmission wavelengths fall into the infrared zone of color and are invisible to the human eye (which can only see colors ranging between violet at 400nm to deep red at 700nm).

Typically, the short distances and lower costs involved with LEDs and multimode fiber have led to its popularity in short distance trasmission at the local area network (LAN) level. The long distances and higher costs associated with lasers and singlemode fiber have made them more common at the metropolitan area network (MAN) level or wide area network (WAN) level. The size of the fibers involved are expressed in the following way: inner core diameter / outer cladding diameter. The most common multimode fiber sizes are 62.5/125 micron and 50/125 micron, and the most common singlemode fiber size is 9/125 micron. Below is a diagram of the distances associated with multimode fiber and singlemode fiber. For more details and loss calculation formulas, please see our Maximum Fiber Cable Distance article.

Until recently LEDs were usually associated with multimode fiber transmission and lasers were associated with singlemode fiber transmission. However, the introduction of the VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) allowed a laser light source to be transmitted through a multimode cable, and this has greatly increased the distance, speed and capacity over multimode fiber at the LAN level while greatly decreasing the associated costs. Although both types of multimode fiber (62.5/125 and 50/125) can transmit the light emitted by a VCSEL light source, 50/125 micron multimode fiber is able to carry VCSEL light signals over much longer distances. Another reason for the growing popularity of 50-micron fiber is the fact that most important standards organizations for fiber optics (IEEE, INCITS, InfiniBand, OIF, TIA, IEC and ITU-T) have specified high bandwidth laser-optimized 50-micron multimode fiber for new high-speed installations. 50-micron fiber has three times the bandwidth capacity of 62.5-micron fiber, and some of the new laser-based 50-micron fibers have 10 to 20 times the bandwidth of 62.5 micron fiber. For more detailed information about the benefits of 50/125 micron fiber compared to 62.5/125 micron fiber, please see our 50 Micron vs 62.5 Micron fiber article.

Trends and Fiber Optic Cable Migration

Fiber optic cable is the most popular form of cable used in telecommunications, cable television and data communications. It appears that over time both telecommunications and cable television may roll into data communications as phones, video and Internet connections merge. In data communications, fiber optic cable is often used to transmit data using the following network standards: Ethernet (including Fast Ethernet, Gigabit and 10-Gigabit Ethernet), ATM, FDDI, Fiber Channel, SONET, and ISDN. Ethernet is the most common transmission standard used at the local area network (LAN) level, and the other standards are often used in wide area networks (WANs). However, technological advances and cost reductions in Ethernet (known as Gigabit Ethernet at 1,000Mbps and 10-Gigabit Ethernet at 10,000Mbps) components have allowed LANs to expand their distances, speeds and banwidth capacity at an affordable price. To achieve longer distances using Gigabit and 10-Gigabit Ethernet usually requires 50/125-micron multimode fiber. Before installing new fiber optic cable in the LAN it is vitally important to research the latest trends in Ethernet (which include Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet and 10-Gigabit Ethernet) and in 50-micron multimode cable. For more detailed information about Ethernet or 50-micron fiber cable, please see our related articles.

Maximum Fiber Cable Distance Tutorial

Maximum Fiber Cable Distance Tutorial
July 5, 2007

The first thing to understand about calculating your maximum fiber cable transmision distance is that it is easy, but it also depends on a variety of factors described below. To calculate the maximum transmission distance possible, before any losses are factored in, we start out using the IEEE's table of recommended distances for networking Ethernet, the most common transmission standard in use today. This table assumes a continuous cable length without any devices, splices, connector matings or other loss factors that effect signal transmission. In order to use the table you may need to refer to the specifications of your transmitting and receiving ports and those of the fiber optic cable used in your network and match them up with the first three columns in the table. You will then be able to determine your maximum potential transmission distance. Maximum Cable Distance For Ethernet:* Ethernet Standards (IEEE) Ethernet (10Base-FL) Fast Ethernet (100Base-FX) Data Rate 10 Mbps 100 Mbps Cable Fiber Type 50m or 62.5m Multimode @ 850nm 50m or 62.5m Multimode @ 1300nm Maximum Distance (IEEE) 2km 2km

Fast Ethernet (100Base-SX) Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-SX) Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-SX) Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-LX) Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-LX) Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-LH)

100 Mbps 1000 Mbps 1000 Mbps 1000 Mbps 1000 Mbps 1000 Mbps

50m or 62.5m Multimode @ 850nm 50m Multimode @ 850nm 62.5m Multimode @ 850nm 50m or 62.5m Multimode @ 1300nm 9m Singlemode @1310nm 9m Singlemode @1550nm

300m 550m 220m 550m 5km 70km

* 1m = 1 micron, 1nm = 1 nanometer wavelength

After we know the type of ethernet standard we are using above we can then calculate or estimate the amount of loss that occurs in different fiber optic cable types (62.5/125m, 50/125m or 9/125m) at various transmission wavelengths (Multimode at 850nm or 1300nm, or Singlemode at 1310nm or 1550nm). Generally, higher wavelengths can support longer distances. However, to calculate the amount of cable loss more accurately you can use the TIA/EIA Cable Loss Estimates table below or you can refer to the specifications of your particular cable's fiber optic core. EIA/TIA Cable Loss Estimates:** Fiber Type Multimode 62.5/125m fiber @ 850nm Multimode 62.5/125m fiber @ 1300nm Multimode 50/125m fiber @ 850nm Multimode 50/125m fiber @ 1300nm Singlemode 9/125m fiber @ 1310nm Singlemode 9/125m fiber @ 1550nm Loss Amount per 1 km 3.5dB / km 1.5dB / km 3.5dB / km 1.5dB / km 0.4dB / km 0.3dB / km

** Loss amounts are given in decibels (dB) per kilometer (km). Larger numbers mean higher loss amounts. The table assumes a continuous cable run without any devices, splices, connector matings or other factors involved in signal loss. Also note that this table assumes that the core/cladding diameter of your cable is the same throughout your transmission line. Mixing cable types is the subject of a different tutorial. Calculating Total Link Loss

To calculate total link loss in a given transmission line we add the total cable loss (distance x loss amount from table above) to connector loss (at 0.75dB per connector), splice loss (at 0.1dB per splice) and a margin of error of 3dB as demonstrated below. Example 1: Calculate the total link loss when cable distance and the number of connections and splices are known. Assuming we have a cable distance of 23km over a singlemode 1310nm transmission line which has 3 connectors and 2 splices, our calculation looks like this: (23km x 0.4dB) + (3 x 0.75db) + (2 x 0.1dB) + 3dB 9.2dB + 2.25dB + 0.2dB + 3dB = 14.65dB The total of 14.65dB represents the amount of power required to transmit across this transmission line. Calculating Maximum Cable Distance We can also calculate the maximum cable distance possible when the number of connectors, number of splices and the optical loss budget (calculated below) of your transmitting and receiving devices/ports are known. Again, we use 0.75dB loss per connector, 0.1dB loss per splice and add a 3dB loss as a margin of error. Example 2: Calculate the maximum cable distance when the allowable loss budget of your devices and the number of connections and splices are known. First we calculate our optical loss budget by subtracting our receiving port's minimum sensitivity (in dBs) from our transmitter's power output (in dBs) as follows: From the product specifications of our devices we learn that our transmitting device has a -13.3dB power output and our receiving device has a -25.4dB minimum sensitivity, then our optical loss budget is calculated as follows: (Remember that subtracting a negative number is the same as adding the number.) -13.3dB - -25.4dB = -13dB + 25.4dB = 12.1dB (This is our example's optical loss budget as derived from the specifications of our products.) Assuming we are transmitting over a 62.5/125m multimode fiber transmission line at 850nm and we have 2 connectors and 4 splices, our calculation looks like this: 12.1dB - (2 x 0.75db) - (4 x 0.1dB) - 3dB 12.1dB 1.5dB 0.4dB - 3dB = 7.2 We then take this total and divide it by 3.5dB (taken from our TIA/EIA Loss Estimates table above), so

7.2dB / 3.5dB = 2.057 kilometers (the maximum total cable distance in our example) Below are our two formulas summarized:

Product Specifications The specifications of your transmitting, repeating, and receiving devices should be found in the product documentation that came with the device. Alternatively, these documents can often be found by "googling" the manufacturer and part number of your product(s). It is also important to note that maximum transmission distances are sometimes pre-calculated and provided in the specifications of your product literature, but these calculations often assume a continuous cable run without connector matings, splices or other loss factors such as temperature, aging, etc. OTDRs Optical time domain reflectometers (OTDRs) are the most accurate way to measure power requirements in a given transmission line. OTDRs can measure loss throughout your line as well as measure loss across each event: cable runs, connector matings, splices, etc.

62.5 Micron vs 50 Micron Fiber Tutorial

62.5 Micron vs 50 Micron Fiber Tutorial

July 4, 2007

Until recently the fiber optic cable used in most local area networks has a core diameter of 62.5 microns. However, improvements in fiber optic technology and a reduction in their associated expenses have led to increased popularity of 50-micron fiber. Compared to the expensive lasers and fibers associated with singlemode fiber optic networking, the less expensive light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and 62.5-micron or 50-micron fibers associated with multimode fiber networking have become the standard of local area networking. However, recent technological improvements and cost reductions have changed this situation. In the past, fiber core diameter and its numerical aperture (light receptivity of a fiber) were extremely important details in reliable fiber optic transmission, but improvements in fiber geometry, connector polishing, core alignment and LED power output have reduced their importance. In addition, new low-cost 850nm VCSELs (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers) offer increased transmission rates and smaller spot size requirements in the fiber's core. These new VCSELs and the low cost and high-bandwidth capacity of 50-micron fiber in particular allowed both gigabit and 10-gigabit data transfer rates at an affordable price for the first time in history. Although 62.5-micron fiber is also capable of achieving gigabit and 10-gigabit data transfer rates, 50-micron fiber offers better reliability, lower attenuation rates and increased distances. (See diagram below.) Another reason for the growing popularity of 50-micron fiber is the fact that most important standards organizations for fiber optics (IEEE, INCITS, InfiniBand, OIF, TIA, IEC and ITU-T) have specified high bandwidth laser-optimized 50-micron multimode fiber for new high-speed installations. 50-micron fiber has three times the bandwidth capacity of 62.5-micron fiber and this enables it to achieve longer distances when VCSELs are used. In addition, some of the new laser-based 50-micron fibers have 10 to 20 times the bandwidth of 62.5 micron fiber. 850nm is the preferred wavelength for such laser based multimode fiber applications. Before deciding between 50-micron and 62.5micron fiber other factors must be taken into consideration. Namely, the choice between 62.5-micron and 50-micron fiber will depend on whether a new network segment is being installed or an existing network is being replaced or upgraded. When installing a new network segment 50-micron fiber offers numerous advantages over 62.5-micron fiber in all important areas: bandwidth, speed, distance and upgradability. However, existing networks, especially those with 62.5-micron fiber throughout, will usually offer better performance when not mixed with 50-micron fiber. Although not recommended, 62.5-micron and 50-micron fiber can be mixed in the same transmission line and numerous tests have been made to demonstrate this, however this does create attenuation where different size fibers are joined. The amount of loss which occurs where mixed fibers are joined can vary. For more details on this, please visit http://www.corning.com/docs/opticalfiber/an4256.pdf . Although uniformity in fiber size is important where fibers are mated using connectors or splices, fiber segments between the ports of two powered fiber optic devices may be upgraded to 50-micron fiber to accomodate future bandwidth needs. The diagram below illustrates the speed and distance benefits of 50 micron fiber:

As a final note, the price difference between 62.5-micron and 50-micron fiber is small enough that it shouldn't be an important factor in determining which fiber size you choose.

Gigabit Ethernet Fiber Cabling Tutorial Gigabit Ethernet Fiber Cabling Tutorial
July 10, 2007 For nearly a decade the most popular form of networking has been a standard known as Ethernet. Starting out at a speed of 2.94 megabits per second (Mbps), this original ethernet networking standard evolved to reach speeds of 10Mbps, 100Mbps, 1Gbps (or 1,000Mbps) and now 10Gbps (10,000Mbps). These last two ethernet developments are known as Gigabit Ethernet and 10-Gigabit Ethernet. Gigabit ethernet can travel over unshielded twisted pair (UTP) copper cable known as Category 5, Category 5e or Category 6 cable, or it can travel over fiber optic cable which allows greater distances and comparable costs. Below is a list of the various standards of Gigabit and 10-Gigabit ethernet standards.

Fiber Type & Transmission Wavelength(s) Name 1000BASE- Multimode fiber at 850nm wavelength SX 1000BASESinglemode fiber at 1310nm LX wavelength 1000BASE1 strand of singlemode fiber at BX10 1490nm & 1310nm wavelengths 1000BASESinglemode fiber at 1550 nm LH wavelength 1000BASESinglemode fiber at 1550 nm ZX wavelength 10GBASE-SR Multimode fiber at 850nm wavelength 10GBASE-LR 10GBASELRM 10GBASE-ER 10GBASE-ZR 10GBASELX4 Singlemode fiber at 1310nm wavelength Multimode fiber at 1310nm wavelength Singlemode fiber at 1550nm wavelength Singlemode fiber at 1550nm wavelength Multimode fiber at 1310nm wavelength Singlemode fiber at 1310nm wavelength

Maximum Distance

220m (62.5-micron fiber) or 500m (50-micron fiber)* 2km* 10km* 70km* 70km* 26m (62.5 micron fiber) ~ 300m (50 micron fiber)* 10km to 25km* 220m (62.5 micron fiber) ~ 260m (50 micron fiber)* 40km* 80km*

300m* 10km*

* IMPORTANT NOTE: These distances have been demonstrated, but longer distances are possible depending on the quality and type of fiber optic glass used and the specifications of the transmitting and

receiving devices used. Also, calculations for additional loss factors (splices and connector matings) must be considered (see separate Maximum Fiber Cable Distance article).