Advantages and disadvantages of fiber optics
Like other data transmission platforms, optical fiber has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Some advantages of fiber optics
The bandwidth of optical fiber is much higher than the bandwidth of copper cables of the same thickness. Some fiber optic cables can transfer data at 10 Gbps, 40 Gbps, and 100 Gbps, depending on their type.
Fiber optic cables are stronger, thinner and lighter than copper cables.
Optical fiber does not need constant maintenance and replacement.
Optical signals travel longer distances than electrical signals. Therefore, optical fibers need fewer repeaters or amplifiers compared to copper cables.
Unlike copper, glass is not an electrical conductor, and for this reason, optical signals are almost unaffected by electromagnetic interference.
Optical fiber can be used in more dangerous environments such as underwater and between oceans. It is estimated that about 99% of international data is transmitted through optical fibers. Many fiber optic cables have connected countries and continents under seas and oceans.
Some disadvantages of optical fiber
Copper wire is often cheaper than fiber optic.
Glass strands or strands require more care than copper cables if they are used as sheathed cables.
Installing new optical fibers requires a lot of manual work.
Fiber optic cables are often more fragile than copper cables, especially if they have glass cores and sheaths. Bending the fiber optic cable angle by a few centimeters may lead to signal loss.
What is fiber optic relay system?
In simple language, relay means disconnecting and connecting current; Now this current can be electric current or light emission current and so on. Therefore, the optical fiber relay system is a mechanism that controls the process of light propagation in the optical fiber cable. The optical fiber relay system consists of three main parts:
Optical signal transmitter
A transmitter is a device that sends an optical signal into a fiber optic cable. The light source of the transmitter can be laser or LED. Compared to LED, laser is more powerful and of course more expensive.
Optical signal amplifier
If the optical signal is weakened for any reason along the cable, a device called a repeater is used to amplify it. If the signals are not amplified, the data will not reach the destination correctly.
Optical signal receiver
The receiving device receives optical signals at the destination and translates them into electrical signals so that electrical appliances such as computers, televisions, etc. can read those signals.
Applications of optical fiber
Optical fiber technology is used in many fields. This technology plays an important role in the computer and communication industry, space industry, medicine, military, etc.
One of the most common uses of optical fiber is the creation of high-speed data transmission networks, because optical fiber has a higher bandwidth and data transmission speed. Currently, most of the world’s data traffic is exchanged through optical fiber cables, most of which have passed under the sea and oceans. Also, optical fiber can be used to connect distant computer networks that are scattered in different geographical locations. To get information in this field, you can use the advice and guidance of experts in the field of network installation.
Although copper cables have long been widely used in the communication industry, today they are being replaced by optical fibers. Most telephone company long-distance lines are now made of fiber optic cables.
Optical fiber is also widely used in the field of electronics and television broadcasting due to the quality of connection and better efficiency. Also, optical fibers are used in various medical equipments that require accurate lighting. Biotherapeutic sensors, and tools such as gastroscopes (a device for viewing inside the stomach) also use fiber optic technology. In addition, because optical fiber is resistant to electromagnetic interference, it is suitable for various medical tests, including MRI scans.
