Advantages and disadvantages of fiber optics

The optical fiber originated in the middle of the last century and thus sighted the possibility of a new transmission medium at the level of communications, which would be known as fiber to the house, being one of the most efficient technologies in the transmission of data to long Dist Anchors without losing quality.

Advantages and disadvantages of fiber optics

Types of fiber optics

This fiber is composed of extremely fine filaments of purified glass that carry information from one point to another in the form of light. The best known types are two:

  1. Singlemode: where the diameter of the core of the fiber is very small and only allows the propagation of a single mode or ray (fundamental), which propagates directly without reflection.
  2. Multimode: Technically the term multimode indicates that many modes or light rays can be guided, each one of which follows a different path within the optical fiber.

Advantages of fiber optics



  1. It’s one of the easiest ways to install.
  2. It has the ability to perform data transmissions at high speeds.
  3. In front of the coaxial cable or twisted pair, which are usually the most common, the fiber cable is much thinner, which makes it lighter.
  4. It transmits the data in a stable way.
  5. The heavy data like video and voice are transmitted in real time.
  6. The navigation speed reaches 2 million bps, which is technically impossible with the conventional system.
  7. It is fully compatible with digital technology.
  8. The material of which it is made has high resistance against heat, cold and corrosion.
  9. It is not affected by electromagnetic interference.
  10. The materials for their manufacture are easily found in nature.

Fiber Optic applications

Today, fiber-networking connections are more common and can be used in any industry. We detail the sectors that most use this communication resource:

  1. Medicine: Used as light guides, imaging tools and also as lasers for surgeries
  2. Defense/government: Used as radios for seismic and sonar waves, as wiring in airplanes, submarines and other vehicles.
  3. Telecommunications: The fiber is put and used to transmit and receive information.
  4. Networks — used to connect users and servers in a variety of network configurations and help increase the speed and accuracy of data transmission
  5. Industrial/Commercial: Used for imaging in difficult-to-reach areas.
  6. It is used in sensors to measure temperature and pressure
  7.  In car wiring.
  8. Broadcast/CATV: Broadcast/cable companies are using fiber optic cables for CATV, HDTV, Internet, video on demand and other uses.

Explanatory Video

Fiber Optic Disadvantages

  1. The fragility of the cable is high, which makes it a very delicate element.
  2. For cases where there is a breakdown in the wiring, making a splice is a difficult procedure to perform.
  3. Transmitters and receivers for this type of medium are highly costly.
  4. The execution of the installation of this technology is very expensive.
  5. The service of data transmission through optical fiber is more expensive than the conventional ones.
  6. Highly qualified personnel are required to perform both the installation and any repairs to a fault that presents the wiring.
  7. Optical fiber installation is more expensive than twisted pair cables.
  8. If the cables are not properly aligned during installation and/or repair, the transmission is affected.
  9. A parallel physical pathway is required to install the wiring.
  10. The availability of the connectors is usually limited.

Conclutions

The use of fiber optics as a means of transmission provides many comforts especially in the aspect of Internet browsing, however, their high cost of installation prevent their service to reach the majority of the population.

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