If you want to make some installations in your home like installing a TV or connecting devices based on optical fiber transmission, a Fiber cable will do the job. Nevertheless, it is not a piece of cake to figure out the correct optical fiber cable jumpers.
Nowadays, there are several optical fiber jumpers for connectors as well as cables. Therefore, in this article, you will see the pointers to help you buy the ideal fiber jumper depending on your needs.
Types of Fiber Jump Cables
- Singlemode
- Multimode
Singlemode Optical Fiber:
A single-mode cable has a glass fiber optic of 9 microns in diameter. As the cable has two classifications, most cables are dual-rated.
Multimode Fiber:
A multimode jumper of optical fiber has differences in the classification and the diameter of a fiber strand. The two most commonly used cables are 50 and 62.5 microns in diameter. A cable’s cord should resemble the network cable’s patch code. Both are attached through a patch panel.
Connector Polish Type
Selecting a connector type is important, but you should also look for the right connector polish type. It would help if you made sure whether the polish of the same connectors is the same or different. You can identify it by seeing the ends of the connectors.
APC connectors’ performance is swift compared to the performance of the UPC connectors. If your connection type is wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) or FTTx, a passive optical network (PON) APC connector will work best. It is more sensitive to loss of information. Moreover, if your application calls for sensitive precision optical fiber signaling, APC should be considered.
Jacket Diameters
There are different available jack diameters of optic fiber cables. You must decide which diameter you want to go for, a two-millimeter or three-millimeter thick.
When to go for a thinner diameter
A thin diameter is between the measurements of 1.6 to 2mm. If you want to install the optic fiber cable in one rack, go for a thin diameter. This will be best for dense installations as a cable with a thinner diameter will occupy little space.
When to go for a thicker diameter
A thick-diameter cable has measurements that lie between 2mm to 3mm. A thicker diameter jack will work if your cable jumpers are linked through racks in a cable tray. Such jackets are more ridge due to larger diameters.
Flammability
Checking the jacket’s flammability will be essential if the surrounding area has a risk of catching flame. If the place uses various flammable products, you must check the flammability of the jacket material. To be precise, go for optical jumpers lying under the category of “Plenum”. You don’t want to go for the ones lying under the rating of a “Riser”, as that will not be able to prevent a fire outburst.
The type of Connector
A Fiber jumper cable can come in various forms and styles. Some have a unique connector type on both ends. This is to give internal connections to devices that have different connectors. You can also find pigtails. Pigtails are when a connector is on one end only.
Current Flow (Duplex or Simplex)
You will find many fiber cables having one strand only. This one strand permits current to flow in a single direction. Patch cords made of copper, however, allow the flow of current in two directions.
Therefore, you will need to connect a piece of equipment externally. This will help it in receiving and sending information. But for that, two fiber strands are sufficient. One for sending and one for accepting information.
An easy solution is using two fibers having one-strand cables, also known as simplex cables. A duplex strand cable is one with connectors as well as conductors that are linked in pairs. It is handy for communications that require separate receiving and transmitting. In short, for a common transceiver, Duplex fiber will work wonders.
Length
The jumper’s length depends on your requirement. Whatever length you require will be given to you in feet measurements.
Conclusion
The above information will help you determine the best fiber patch cord because it is hard to see the differences among various fiber optic cables. The above pointers will be sufficient for you to make the best decision.
