Tag Archives: fiber optic media converter

Things to Know About Fiber Optic Media Converter

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With the expected growth of today’s communications, network operators must meet the continuing growth in data traffic and the increasing demand for bandwidth while making full use of the investment in the existing network infrastructure. Instead of costly upgrade and rewiring for fibers, fiber media converters provide a cost-effective solution by extending the life of the existing structured cabling. How fiber optic media converter can achieve this? And how much do you know about it? Today, this article will tell you something about fiber media converter.

What Is a Fiber Optic Media Converter?

Fiber media converter is a simple network device that can connect two different media types such as twisted pair with fiber optic cabling. Its function is to convert the electrical signal used in copper unshielded twisted pair (UTP) network cabling into light waves that used in fiber optic cabling. And fiber media converter can extend transmission distance over fiber up to 160 km.

As the fiber optic communication evolves quickly, fiber media converter offers a simple, flexible, and economical migration to future-proof fiber optic networks. Now it has been widely used in in-house areas, location interconnection and industrial applications.

Types of Fiber Optic Media Converter

Today’s converters support many different data communication protocols including Ethernet, PDH E1, RS232/RS422/RS485 as well as multiple cabling types such as twisted pair, multimode and single-mode fiber and single-strand fiber optics. And they are available with different designs in the market depending on the protocols. Copper-to-fiber media converter, fiber-to-fiber media converter and serial-to-fiber media converter are only part of them. Here is a brief introduction to these common types of fiber media converter.

Copper-to-Fiber Media Converter

When the distance between two network devices exceeds the transmission distance of copper cabling, fiber optic connectivity makes a big difference. In this case, copper-to-fiber conversion using media converters enables two network devices with copper ports to be connected over extended distances via fiber optic cabling.

Supporting the IEEE802.3, fiber to Ethernet media converter can provide connectivity for Ethernet, fast Ethernet, Gigabit and 10Gigabit Ethernet devices. And they can be used in a variety of networks and applications. The common types of this media converter are fast Ethernet media converter, Gigabit Ethernet media converter and 10 Gigabit Ethernet media converter.

copper-to-fiber-media-converter

Fiber-to-Fiber Media Converter

Fiber-to-Fiber media converter can provide connections between single-mode and multimode fibers, and between dual fiber and single-mode fiber. Besides, they support conversion from one wavelength to another. This media converter enables long distance connection between different fiber networks.

fiber-to-fiber-media-converter

Serial-to-Fiber Media Converter

Serial-to-fiber media converters allow RS232, RS422 or RS485 signals to be transmitted across a fiber optic link. They provide fiber extension for serial protocol copper connections. In addition, serial-to-fiber media converters can detect signal baud rate of connected full-duplex serial devices automatically. RS-485 fiber converters, RS-232 fiber converters and RS-422 fiber converters are the usual types of serial-to-fiber media converters.

serial-to-fiber-media-converter

Tips for Choosing a Fiber Optic Media Converter

We have got familiar with the common types of fiber media converters, but how to choose a suitable one is still not an easy work. Here are some simple tips on how to choose a satisfying fiber media converter.

  • Make clear whether the chips of the fiber media converter support both half-duplex and full-duplex systems. Because if the media converter chips only support half-duplex system. It may cause serious data loss when it is installed to other different systems.
  • Make clear which data rate you need. When you choose a fiber media converter, you need to match the speed of the converters on both ends. If you need both speeds, you can take dual rate media converters into consideration.
  • Make clear whether the media converter is in line with standard IEEE802.3. If it doesn’t meet the standard, there will be compatibility issues absolutely, which can cause unnecessary problems for your work.
Conclusion

Fiber media converters play an important role in today’s multi-protocol, mixed media local area networks. And it is also a critical component of the data networks. A suitable fiber optic media converter can reduce the overall networking cost and extend transmission distance. Fiberstore provides a broad range of media conversion devices adapting to all kinds of working environments. Welcome to choose the ideal one for your networks.

Related Article: Fiber Media Converter: What Is It and How It Works?


What is the Relationship Between Media Converter and Network Switch

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Fiber optic media converter is a very simple networking device that connects two different types of media, and was introduced to computer networks nearly two decades ago. Fiber media converters are used to convert electrical signal to light signal and vice versa. They are basically used as network extenders to extend the distance from several hundreds of feet to several thousands meters. They are perfect for linking networks between campus buildings.

This converter plays an important part of fiber types of cabling system in connection with each other, based on the copper wiring system. It supports different communication protocols, such as gigabit Ethernet, fast Ethernet, Ethernet media converter, etc. It also supports multiple cabling system like coax, twisted pair, multi and single-mode fiber optic. On the other hand, a network switch is a device to connect computer network and equipment. This is a multiport network operating systems, processes and routes data for various networks such as fiber channel, Ethernet, etc. A single swithc operation in one or more layers of the OSI switch, however, operating in more than one layer is known as a multiple layers switch for a time.

What is the relationship between a media converter and a network swithc?

The interrelationship between a media converter and a network switch today is that both can act and perform the same functions. Both operate within the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model which is hierarchical and structured in the form of layers such as layer 1, layer 2, layer 3 and so on.

Layer 1. Only the media converter work role transformation on the layer 1 and the electrical signals and the media do not have any data changes. These converters have two outlets, which are “in”, and “out” and through these channels electrical signals are transmitted across. For examole thick coax to Thin, UTP to fiber etc.

Layer 2. The process of linking data takes place at this layer and both switches and converters operate together and perform the function of differentiating network addresses. In this layer media converters have 2 or 3 ports whereas a network switch has 4 or more ports.

Layer 3. Network in this layer and switches using the IP address to identify the location of the various network. Position reference address in computer memory, LAN workstation and so on. Switch is in this layer is faster and smarter, in the layer 2 switch and identification network location but not only a physical device.

Different types of fiber media converter range from PC card converter and small independent equipment system, there are a lot of extra high density advanced features. Media converter provides a transitional course from copper to fiber, so can reduce the electromagnetic interference. On the other hand, the different types of switches are unmanaged, management, intelligent network switches and enterprise management.

Source: FiberStore