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Fiber Optic Cable

Communication is a very vital aspect of every organization and if you’re looking forward to buying a Fiber Optics Cable then you’re probably intending to improve your communication system which is very commendable. You just clicked the right link. We live in the information era. In a world that’s hungry for rapid large amounts of data to keep us entertained and to keep organizations running. At work we’re on computers and at home we’re on smart TVs and PCs and that calls for data transmission cables capable of relaying large bits of data fast, if it’s not fast people will be whining at work and whining at home. It calls for Optical Fiber Cables. On this post I’ll share with you some insightful details about a typical fiber optics cable and specifications about some fiber optics cables currently available for sale at Nassau Electrical; a reliable market leader in wire and cable products supplies.

Optical fiber cables, commonly referred to as fiber optics cables are special electronic data transmission cables whose prominence have grown in the recent years and have consequently replaced the conventional coaxial data cables to become the backbone of network systems around the globe. We’ll go deeper into the details as to why many buyers today prefer optical fiber cables to other cables but start with, the optical fiber cables are way efficient and affordable than the traditional Copper Data Cables and that alone is a knock out to the conventional cables.

So, here is a cable that’s affordable, reliable, safer and most importantly; transmits data faster than what you’re used to. What more would you ask for? Let’s dig a little deeper into the details.

There are very many types of fiber optics cables which means they are highly specialized and optimized for specific applications. This simply implies that you just can’t walk into a store and grab any optical fiber network cable, there’s a special type which will best suit your needs and you need to find out which one in the pile or list it is. Okay, here’s how I mean: There are single mode and multimode optical fiber network cables and each of them have sub categories providing for underground, indoor and outdoor installations. They are further classified on the basis of stability, heavy duty, low maintenance, speed of transmission among other classes so you really have options depending on what will best suit your data transmission needs. 

The Technology behind the Fiber Optics Cables 
Fiber optics is a very interesting subject. Here’s how it works; the cable is made of refined glass or plastic almost the same diameter as your hair. This piece of glass or plastic is fully cladded and externally reinforced using a tough opaque material to give it some strength and structural rigidity. Imagine of data as light passed through the cable, once it’s inside the cable, it’s transmitted like an electromagnetic wave by refracting it on the walls of the glass through the length of the cable. However, in this case, there are no losses through the cable hence the data can be transmitted over extremely long distances, even across continents. This technology eliminates data distortions and the need for boosters along the transmission lines which was common with Copper Network Cables. If you’re interested in physics I guess you’ve heard of electrical noise and current interferences. It’s no rocket science, these are basically interferences on the data caused by electric and magnetic currents which the data may have to interact with along the transmission lines. Fiber technology is immune to that too. Moreover, that small diameter I mentioned, the size of your hair’s can relay higher bandwidth than the conventional data cable you know. 

Components of a Fiber Optics Cable

1.The Core :Unlike many cables, this one has a core instead of a conductor. This is the innermost part of the cable whose work is to relay the data through the cable. However, the sizing of optical network cables is often based on the external diameter and not on the transmitter core.

2.Cable Cladding : Cable cladding refers to the material around the core. It’s on this cladding that the data is refracted as it is transmitted through the core from the point of input to the output. To allow the light or electromagnetic data refract/bounce off effectively on it, the cladding must be flawless all through the length of the cable.

3.Coating : This works pretty much like the insulation on the conventional coaxial copper data cables. The main purpose of the coating is to give both the core and the cladding a protective cover from the degrading factors like abrasion, corrosion and moisture. The strength and thickness of this coating solely depends on the area of application and your needs.

4.Fibers : The cable would definitely need some structural element to give it some rigidity which makes installations much easier. As such, the fibers are made of special materials which are wrapped around the coating all through the length of the cable to give it a higher shear strength and resistance to tensile forces which could develop as the cable is pulled during installations.

5.Cable Jacket : Like in all other cables, it is the outermost casing of the cable. The jacketing is normally colored using an internationally accepted color code to denote the cable type. There are many types of fiber optics cables and this is a common way of differentiating them. This covering also serves the purpose of defending the cable from harsh environmental conditions, rodents and a host of other things that could interfere with data transmissions.

Types of Fiber Optics Cables 
As I hinted earlier in the post, there is a very wide variety of optics cables to choose from depending on the needs of your networking project. It’s very important that you have the details right before you make the decision on which one of them to settle on lest you make a mess of the project. Here are the options readily available for sale at Nassau Electrical:

 1.Prysmian and Draka Cable 8 AWG Conductors Ezmobility Fiber Copper Composite FTTA Feeder Cable 
 2.Armored Sheathed Fiber Optic Cable 
 3.Data Center And Central Office Cable 
 4.FTTP Cable 
 5.HF10 - HF14 
 6.HF20 - HF23 
 7.HF24 - HF30 
 8.HF31 - HF38 
 9.Indoor/Outdoor Cables 
10.Industrial Optic Cables 
11.Loose Tube Fiber Cable 
12.OPGW Cable 
13.OUTDOOR Cables 
14.OUTSIDE Plant Cables 
15.Specialty Fibre Cable 
16.Telecommunication Air Core Cables 
17.Telecommunication Filled Core Cables 
18.Telecommunication Wire 
19.Unarmored Fiber Optic Cable 
20.Nextgen Tactical Breakout Fiber Specification and Combat Series Fiber Optic Cable 
21.Nextgen Tight Buffer 1.6 Mm Simplex Duplex Riser Interconnect Fiber Optic Cable 
22.Nextgen Tight Buffer 3.0 Mm Simplex Duplex Riser And Plenum Fiber Optic Cable 
23.Prysmian and Draka Cable 4g Hybrid Fiber Copper FTTA Wireless Cable 

Choosing an Optical Fiber Cables 
At this juncture you’ve probably gone through the array of products on our website and you’ve narrowed down to a specific type. If you checked keenly, there are different classes under different types of these cables so you really have to zoom in on the specific details to get exactly what will best serve your needs to the uttermost.

Generally, these cables are intricately designed to serve a specific function unique to every cable in your communication systems network. Gauging their service based on data transmission speeds, all the cables have two categories which you can opt for: Single modes and multi-modes. So when you choose a cable you must note if what you need is a single mode or a multimode. Once you decide on the mode, the next thing you may want to consider is the method of installation, will it be an indoor cable or an indoor cable? If it’s an outdoor multimode or an indoor multimode you’ll have to been keen on features like physical protection and flexibility as per the needs of your environment.

a. Single-Mode Optical Cable : When I explained the optical fiber technology I mentioned something on transmission. The data in the cable is transmitted in the form of electromagnetic wave which is refracted along the length of the cable from the source to the end point of the cable. In the case of a single mode fiber optical cable, the cable is designed to relay just a single ray of the light at a given point in time. This type has a very small diameter, core diameter and can maintain high levels of consistency in data transmission as compared to multiple mode cables. They are purposely made to carry the data at light speed across very long distances at minimum attenuation. Do you use cable TV? This is their most preferred mode of data transmission in a bid to relay same information across the country in real time.

b. Multimode : Unlike the case with the single-mode optical fiber cables, the multi-modes can relay many rays of light simultaneously. There’s really no limit to how many rays it can transmit at an instance in time, it all depends on the design. However, it’s obvious that they have a much larger radii as compared to the former and often tend to be a little bulkier. Even though they move data, it’s not as fast and the quality of information could be distorted because transmitting many rays means that at some point the will be a high dispersion rate and this would adversely affect the quality of data. It’s therefore limited to use over shorter distances as compared to a single mode cable. Typically, multi-mode fiber optics cables are best used for local area networks within a work station or a residential building.

c. Indoor Cables : This is yet another class of fiber optics cables which defines network cables installed inside a building. Generally, these have a tight buffer construction with minute core diameters. They get their structures from fiber reinforced plastics (FRPs) which also gives them some tensile strength for easier handling during installations. Most indoor cables are made of fire retardant coating or jacketing resins which keeps the underlying core safe even when the house is on fire. They are fairly flexible to allow installations in rather tight rooms so when you get yours be sure to note its bend radius and gauge it with the bends in the rooms you intend to install it in.

d. Outdoor Cables : These are almost the exact opposite of the indoor cables as far as the physical properties are concerned. They are rather loose buffer designs and get their structural form from FRPs and an internal member. Considering the punishing outdoor environment, they often have a water and oil-proof coating and a strong jacketing to keep the core safe from abrasions. For extra protection, the outdoor cables have special armors. The jackets can resist environmental effects as well as physical damages which would adversely affect the data transmission. The jackets are made of tough materials like polyethylene, aluminum or steel tapes all of which are resistant to wear and tear.

Certifications 
It’s good to buy genuine products, products which have been tested and proven to be in line with the international standards of quality and safety. As a network systems installation expert, it’s good for your reputation and as the end user it’s good for your safety. Nassau Electrical supplies optical fiber cables are from renowned manufactures whose products have been tested and proven safe by the following standards:

1.ETL Listed Type OFNR  
2.CSA FT4  
3.RoHS Compliant Directive 2011/65/EU 

Applications of Fiber Optics Cables 
Optical Fiber Cables are applicable in projects where communication signals are to be transmitted fast between long distances. It’s most appropriate where the signals are to be transmitted in the form light between the two ends at bandwidths higher than cable wire rates with minimal interferences. The most common applications are:

1. Internet cables for high speed data 
2. Cable Tv; it ensure clear signals for HD televisions 
3. Telephones: Though telephone booths are a dying breed, telephones are still used in offices and business set ups and fiber 
    optics cables makes phone calls so smooth. 
4. Medical field: Optical fiber cables are extensively used in endoscopy to light sections of the body to be surgically operated. 
5. Mechanics: Used in inspection of hard to reach parts of machines

Conclusion 
Optical fiber is an exciting new technology that assures of top speeds a number of advantages over the conventional copper cables that have been used over the years. The cables are impervious to common interferences and losses ensuring safety of data over very long distances; attributes which puts them way ahead of other communication cables. Even though they could be a little more costly and complex, the optical fiber cables are the technology of the future and definitely worth considering if you want to upgrade your network systems.