Optical Fiber - N10-008 CompTIA Network+ : 1.3

Summary

This script explains fiber optic communication, which uses light instead of electrical signals for network connectivity. It highlights the benefits of fiber optics, such as immunity to radio frequency interference and the ability to transmit signals over long distances without degradation. The video showcases different fiber optic connectors and the structure of the cables, including the core, cladding, and protective coating. It also differentiates between multimode and single-mode fibers, explaining their uses for short-range and long-range communications, respectively.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Fiber optics use light instead of electrical signals for network communication, which is immune to radio frequency interference.
• 🔍 Fiber optic cables can transmit signals over long distances without degradation.
• 🚫 Fiber optics do not emit radio frequencies, making them secure from eavesdropping.
• 💡 Light in fiber optics is typically generated using LEDs or lasers.
• 🌌 The core of a fiber optic cable is highly reflective, allowing light to bounce and travel through the fiber.
• 🛡 The cladding surrounding the core has a low refractive index to prevent light from escaping.
• 🎨 The protective coating on the outside of the fiber is often colored to indicate the type of fiber inside.
• 🔌 Fiber optic connectors, such as SC connectors, have a protective ferrule to safeguard the fiber during connection and disconnection.
• 🌉 There are two main types of fiber: multimode and single-mode, each suited for different communication distances and applications.
• 🚀 Multimode fiber is used for short-range communication up to about two kilometers and typically uses LEDs.
• 🌌 Single-mode fiber has a smaller core and is used for long-distance communication, capable of spanning up to 100 kilometers with lasers.
• 💰 Single-mode fiber and equipment are generally more expensive than multimode due to the use of stronger light sources like lasers.

Q & A

What is fiber optics and how does it differ from copper-based networks?

Fiber optics is a method of network communication that uses light instead of electrical signals to transmit data. Unlike copper-based networks, fiber optics doesn't emit radio frequencies, making it secure from eavesdropping, and it can send signals over long distances without degradation.

Why are fiber optics immune to radio frequency interference?

Fiber optics are immune to radio frequency interference because they use light to transmit data rather than electrical currents. This means they are not affected by electromagnetic interference that can disrupt copper-based networks.

What is the purpose of the protective layers in a fiber optic cable?

The protective layers in a fiber optic cable serve to protect the delicate core where light travels. The cladding layer has a lower refractive index to prevent light from escaping, and the outer protective coating provides additional durability and can indicate the type of fiber inside.

How does light travel through a fiber optic cable?

Light travels through a fiber optic cable by being reflected internally within the core. It enters the fiber at one end and bounces along the core until it reaches the other end, where it is detected.

What are the two types of fiber optic cables mentioned in the script?

The two types of fiber optic cables mentioned are multimode fiber and single-mode fiber. Multimode fiber is used for short-range communication and allows multiple modes of light to propagate, while single-mode fiber is used for long distances and only allows one mode of light to travel through its smaller core.

What is the difference between multimode and single-mode fibers?

Multimode fiber has a larger core and allows multiple paths (modes) for light to travel, which is suitable for short distances. Single-mode fiber has a smaller core that only allows one path for light, making it ideal for long-distance communication.

Why might single-mode fiber be more expensive than multimode fiber?

Single-mode fiber is more expensive than multimode fiber because it requires stronger light sources like lasers for long-distance transmission, and the equipment used with single-mode fiber is typically more sophisticated and costly.

What is the role of the ferrule in a fiber optic connector?

The ferrule in a fiber optic connector is a protective component that holds the fiber in place and aligns it correctly when the connector is plugged in. It prevents damage to the delicate fiber during connection and disconnection.

How far can data be transmitted using single-mode fiber?

Some implementations of Ethernet using single-mode fiber can transmit data up to 100 kilometers without needing to recreate or retransmit the light signal.

What are the common light sources used in fiber optic communication?

Common light sources used in fiber optic communication include LEDs for multimode fibers and laser beams for single-mode fibers. LEDs are used for their affordability and suitability over shorter distances, while lasers provide the necessary strength for long-distance transmission.

What is the significance of the color coding on the protective coating of fiber optic cables?

The color coding on the protective coating of fiber optic cables is used to designate the type of fiber inside, which can be important for identifying the cable's purpose and specifications during installation and maintenance.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Introduction to Fiber Optics

This paragraph introduces fiber optics as a method of network communication that uses light instead of electrical signals. It highlights the benefits of fiber optics, such as the absence of radio frequency interference and the ability to transmit signals over long distances without degradation. The paragraph also discusses the physical components of fiber optic connectors and cables, including the core, cladding, and protective coating. It explains how light is transmitted through the fiber using an LED or laser and the different types of fibers: multimode for short-range communication and single-mode for long-range communication, with single-mode fibers requiring stronger light sources like lasers.

Keywords

💡Fiber Optics

Fiber optics refers to the medium and the technology of transmitting data or signals using pulses of light through an optical fiber. In the context of the video, fiber optics is the primary method of network communication discussed, emphasizing its use of light instead of electrical signals to transmit data over long distances without degradation and its immunity to radio frequency interference.

💡Light

Light, in the video, is the carrier of data in fiber optic communication. It is used instead of traditional electrical signals, which makes the communication secure from eavesdropping and interference. The video mentions that light is sent from one end of the fiber to the other, often created by an LED or a laser.

💡LED

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. In the video, it is described as a device that can create light used to send signals through fiber optic cables. LEDs are often used in conjunction with multimode fibers for short-range communications due to their lower cost and sufficient light output for these distances.

💡Laser

A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification. Unlike LEDs, lasers produce a more concentrated and stronger beam of light. In the context of the video, lasers are used for single-mode fiber because they can maintain signal strength over much longer distances, which is essential for long-range communication.

💡Multimode Fiber

Multimode fiber is a type of fiber optic cable designed for short-range communication, typically up to two kilometers. The video explains that multimode fiber has a larger core compared to the wavelength of light being transmitted, allowing multiple light paths or modes to propagate through it. This type of fiber is often used with LEDs due to its shorter communication distances.

💡Single-mode Fiber

Single-mode fiber is a type of fiber optic cable used for long-distance communication. The video describes it as having a smaller core than multimode fiber, allowing only one mode of light to propagate through. This results in less signal distortion and enables the transmission of data over distances up to 100 kilometers without the need for signal regeneration.

💡Core

The core is the central part of the fiber optic cable where light travels. The video explains that the core of a fiber optic cable is highly reflective, allowing light to bounce along its length until it reaches the other end. The size of the core differentiates multimode from single-mode fibers.

💡Cladding

Cladding is the layer of material surrounding the core of a fiber optic cable. It has a lower refractive index than the core, which prevents the light from escaping the core. The video mentions that if any light leaks into the cladding, it won't be reflected back into the core, ensuring efficient light transmission.

💡Connector

A connector in the context of the video refers to the physical interface used to join fiber optic cables to devices or other cables. The video provides a close-up of an SC connector, which includes a protective ferrule to safeguard the delicate fiber during connection and disconnection processes.

💡Ferrule

A ferrule is a component of a fiber optic connector that holds and aligns the fiber in place. The video describes it as a protective part around the fiber, allowing for the connector to be plugged in and unplugged without damaging the fiber. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the fiber optic connection.

💡Ethernet

Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks (LAN). The video mentions that some implementations of Ethernet can run over single-mode fiber, indicating that fiber optics can be used for Ethernet connections, facilitating high-speed data transmission over long distances.

Highlights

Fiber optics use light instead of electrical signals for network communication.

Fiber optics eliminate the risk of radio frequency eavesdropping.

Light signals in fiber optics can travel long distances without degradation.

Fiber optics are immune to radio frequency interference.

Fiber optic connectors are large and have a protective design.

The fiber inside the connector is very small and thin.

Light is sent through fiber optic cables using LEDs or lasers.

The core of the fiber optic is highly reflective, allowing light to bounce to the other side.

Cladding surrounds the core, preventing light from escaping.

A protective coating covers the cladding, often color-coded.

SC connectors have a protective ferrule to safeguard the fiber.

Multimode fiber is used for short-range communication, up to two kilometers.

Multimode fiber has a larger core, allowing multiple light modes to propagate.

Single-mode fiber has a smaller core, allowing only one mode of light to transmit.

Single-mode fiber is used for very long distances, up to 100 kilometers.

Laser beams are commonly used for single-mode fiber due to its long-distance capabilities.

Single-mode equipment and fiber tend to be more expensive than multimode.

Transcripts

If you're physically connecting to a network

and you're not using copper, then you're

probably using fiber optics.

This is network communication using light

to communicate instead of electrical signals.

This means there's no radio frequency

that someone could listen in to, to be able to hear what's

happening on the network.

And because we're communicating with light,

we can send the signal over very long distances

without having that signal degrade.

Fiber optics are also immune to radio frequency interference,

which makes them perfect for environments

where copper cable couldn't be used.

Here's a close up of some fiber optic connectors.

You can see where the connector is

plugging into the equipment is quite large.

It has a large protector around the fiber, itself.

The fiber is, actually, inside is very small and very thin.

We use fiber optic cables by sending light

from one end of the cable to the other.

This light is often created using an LED,

but it might also use a laser.

The light is sent inside of the fiber,

finds its way through, and ultimately

is received on the other side.

This fiber optic cable is made of many different layers.

The internal layer is the core of the fiber optic.

This is a highly reflective core,

which allows the light to come into the fiber

and bounce around the fiber until it makes

its way to the other side.

Protecting the core is a cladding.

The cladding is a low refractive index,

which means if any light does leak out into the cladding,

it won't be reflected back into the core.

And on the outside is a protective coating

that is usually colored to designate what type of fiber

might be on the inside.

Here's a close up of an SC connector.

Inside of this SC connector is a fiber optic.

You can see in the very middle is a very light colored fiber,

and all around that is a protective ferrule.

This allows you to plug in this connector

and unplug it without damaging the fiber that

might be on the inside.

When you're installing fiber in your facility

or connecting two devices with a fiber optic connection,

you're probably using one of two different types

of fiber, a multimode fiber and a single-mode fiber.

Multimode fiber, usually, is for short-range communication,

often up to two kilometers or so.

And it often uses an LED or some other inexpensive light source.

We call this multimode fiber because the core

of the fiber, itself, is larger than the wavelength of light

that is being sent through it.

And you'll find that the light is reflecting

through multiple modes as it goes from one side

to the other.

In this case, you can see an example of different modes

as they're passing through this fiber.

The other type of fiber you might see is single-mode fiber.

Single-mode fiber has a smaller core than multimode fiber,

and it only allows one mode of light

to transmit through that core.

We often see single-mode fiber used for very long distances.

Some implementations of ethernet can run over single-mode fiber

up to 100 kilometers without needing to recreate,

or retransmit, that light.

To be able to send a signal over that very long distance,

we need a light that's stronger than an LED, which

is why you'll commonly see laser beams

being used to send traffic over single-mode fiber.

This is why the cost of single-mode equipment

and single-mode fiber, itself, tends

to be more expensive than multimode fiber.