Passive fibers - opposite to active fibers, having an additional laser active dopant (like fiber amplifiers). Passive fiber optics have a very wide range of applications, including areas like optical fiber communications (sending data through fiber-optic links and networks), illumination (fiber-optic lighting), fiber optic sensors and so on. The core components of passive fiber is always the optical fiber, which may be packaged into a fiber optic cable, or sometimes a fiber bundle. Fiber patch cables are often equipped with fiber connectors, and there are various other kinds of fiber tools and accessories such as strippers, cleavers and splicers.

Passive optical network (PON), does not include electrically powered switching equipment and instead uses optical splitters to separate and collect optical signals as they move through the network. A passive optical network shares fiber optic strands for portions of the network. Powered equipment is required only at the source and receiving ends of the signal.

Passive optical networks have some distinct advantages. PON takes advantage of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), using one wavelength for downstream traffic and another for upstream traffic on a single non-zero dispersion-shifted fiber (ITU-T G.652). BPON, EPON, GEPON, and GPON have the same basic wavelength plan and use the 1,490 nanometer (nm) wavelength for downstream traffic and 1,310nm wavelength for upstream traffic. 1,550nm is reserved for optional overlay services, typically RF (analog) video. PONs are efficient, in that each fiber optic strand can serve up to 32 users. PONs have a low building cost relative to active optical networks along with lower maintenance costs. Because there are few moving or electrical parts, there's simply less that can go wrong in a PON.

Passive optical networks are also inevitable with some disadvantages. They have less range than an active optical network, meaning subscribers must be geographically closer to the central source of the data. PONs also make it difficult to isolate a failure when they occur. Also, because the bandwidth in a PON is not dedicated to individual subscribers, data transmission speed may slow down during peak usage times in an effect known as latency. Latency quickly degrades services such as audio and video, which need a smooth rate to maintain quality.

Common passive optical components include branching devices such as WDMs, isolators, circulators, and filters. These broad variety of passive optical components applications include multichannel transmission, distribution, optical taps for monitoring, pump combiners for fiber amplifiers, bit-rate limiters, optical connects, route diversity, polarization diversity, interferometers, and coherent communication. And fiber optics like fiber optic cables, fiber optic patch cords, fiber pigtails are widely used to make a fiber optic link between other optical devices.

SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) transceiver is a hot swappable I/O device that plugs into a Gigabit Ethernet port or slot, linking the port with the network. Gigabit Ethernet SFP transceivers are designed to use with Gigabit networks. They are compliant to IEEE 802.3 standards and with different types to fit for 1000Base SX, LX/LH, EX and 1000Base-T applications.

It is important to choose a proper Gigabit Ethernet transceiver to act as an interface between the device and the cable. The interconnecting cable can be made of copper or fiber optic. This choice of transceiver is usually made based on the type of fiber optic cable.

Cisco Gigabit Ethernet SFP Transceiver Modules

1000BASE-T(or GLC-T) SFP: Cisco GLC-T is a copper wire SFP for 1000Base-T applications. The 1000BASE-T SFP operates on standard Category 5 unshielded twisted pair copper cabling of up to 100m length. Cisco 1000BASE-T SFP modules support 10/100/1000 auto negotiation and Auto MDI/MDIX.

1000BASE-SX SFP: 1000Base-SX SFP supports Multimode fiber only. It operates on 50μm multimode fiber links up to 550m, up to 1km over laser-optimized 50μm multimode fiber cable and on 62.5μm Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI)-grade multimode fibers up to 220m.

1000BASE-LX/LH SFP: 1000BASE-LX supports both Multimode and Single-mode fibers. 1000BASE-LX/LH SFP operates on standard single-mode fiber optic link spans of up to 10km and up to 550m on any multimode fibers.

1000BASE-EX SFP: The 1000BASE-EX SFP supports for Single-Mode Fibers. 1000BASE-EX SFP operates on standard single-mode fiber-optic link length up to 40 km. A 5-dB inline optical attenuator should be inserted between the fiber-optic cable and the receiving port on the SFP at each end of the link for back-to-back connectivity.

1000BASE-ZX SFP: The 1000BASE-ZX SFP operates on standard single-mode fiber-optic link spans of up to approximately 70 km in length. The SFP provides an optical link budget of 23 dB, but the precise link span length depends on multiple factors such as fiber quality, number of splices, and connectors.

1000BASE-BX10-D and 1000BASE-BX10-U SFP: The 1000BASE-BX-D & 1000BASE-BX-U SFPs used for Single-Fiber Bidirectional applications. A 1000BASE-BX10-D device is always connected to a 1000BASE-BX10-U device with a single strand of standard SMF with an operating transmission range up to 10km.

The communication over a single strand of fiber is achieved by separating the transmission wavelength of the two devices. 1000BASE-BX10-D transmits a 1490-nm channel and receives a 1310-nm signal, whereas 1000BASE-BX10-U transmits at a 1310nm wavelength and receives a 1490nm signal. Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) splitter integrated into the SFP to split the 1310nm and 1490nm light paths, up to 80km or 1000base BX-D BIDI tx1550 rx1490nm 80km in simple.

Above SFP modules are of several versions, where in each version has different values of working wavelength and working distance. FiberStore supply all types of Cisco compatible SFP products, they are fully compatible to the products from Cisco or other suppliers with equal price.

Fiber patch cords, also known as fiber jumpers or patch cables. The two major application areas of fiber optic patch cords are computer work station to outlet and fiber optic patch panels or optical cross connect distribution center. There are multimode(62.5/125μm or OM1, 50/125μm like OM2, OM3, OM4) and single mode fiber patch cables vailable, duplex and simplex. Most ofen we classify patch cables throuth different terminations, such as LC, SC, ST, FC, MU, MTRJ, E2000, etc.

Features of fiber optic patch cables:
Low insertion loss, high return loss
High credibility and stability
Excellent mechanical endurance
Good in repeatability and exchangeability

Application of fiber optic patch cords:
Optical fiber CATV
Optical communication system
Telecommunication
Testing equipment
FTTX+LAN

Fiber optic patch cords are made and custom to order worldwide. Singlemode, Multimode and 10G Patch Cable Assemblies available. Choose from ST, SC, LC MU, FC, FC/APC, LC/APC, SC/APC, MT-RJ, E-2000-UPC, E-2000-APC and SMA style connectors. Available in PM, Singlemode, Multimode and 10Gig applications.US ISO 9001:2000 compliant. Meets or exceeds Telcordia standards.

Ordering information:
Fiber optic connector type: LC, FC, SC, ST, MTRJ, DIN, D4, E2000, MPO
Ferrule Interface type: PC, UPC, APC
Fiber cores: Simplex, Duplex
Fiber type: Singlemode(9/125), multimode(50/125/62.5/125)
Fiber diameter(mm): Φ 0.9, φ 2.0, Φ 3.0
Fiber length: User-defined

The high-density LC connector is the new standard for high-speed data communications. It's one-half the size of older ST technology, allowing more interconnects in cramped equipment racks and cabinets and maximising hub density. The LC connector provides the extremely low insertion loss and return loss required to create reliable gigabit ethernet, fiber channel, ATM and other voice and data networks. Typical insertion loss is LC to LC fiber cable, no matter single mode or multimode, simplex or duplex available.

Over the past couple of years the convenience of a small footprint by the LC LC fiber has been evolving due to manufactures battling for your data center dollars. The LC connector is the natural progression/replacement for the SC, but is also displacing applications traditionally held by other connector systems such as the MT-RJ. The LC is popular as a 10 Gb/s Ethernet connector and is also the standard fiber interface for 1394B S800 and for the InfiniBand Trade Association. To support the trend and seamless integration of readily available SFP transceivers in industrial networks, it is imperative that a practical LC field-connection solution for harsh environment.

There are so many types of fiber optic transceivers, just GBIC transceiver can be made by Cisco, Alcatel-Lucent, Huawei, etc. Well ,the origial Cisco GBIC module is not cheap, then choose a Cisco Compatible GBIC transceiver is a good ideal.

In fact, most of the networking manufacturers including Cisco, HP networking and Juiper do not produce their own SFP, GBIC, XFP, SFP+, XENPAK and X2 transceivers. They buy original equipment manufacturers (OEM) transceivers, labeled with their own brand and sell at a much higher price. You are basically paying a higher price to have the respective manufacturers logo on the equipment. So buying a compatible fiber optic transceiver is a cost-effective option.

FiberStore offers you a compatible transceiver solution at a fraction of the original cost and a 3-year warranty. These products are manufactured per precise OEM specifications and with high quality. FiberStore's compatible SFP series optical transceivers are designed to install in SFP port of network switches, network router and other network equipments. The Compatible 1000BASE-ZX Cisco glc-zx-sm single-mode SFP transceiver module is a high performance and cost effective fiber optic transceiver. The optical transceivers are designed for serial-optical data communications, bi-directional such as Gigabit Ethernet or Data Storage Networks.

FiberStore’s Cisco-compatible SFP, SFP+ (or SFP plus), XFP, X2, XENPAK, QSFP+ and CFP transceivers are a series of Telecom class, high performance and cost effective, which supports both duplex and simplex LC or SC optics interfaces with 155Mb, 1.25Gb to 40Gb data rates, and RJ45 copper interface with 10/100/1000 Mbps or 1000 Mbps Ethernet data rates. Standard AC coupled CML for high speed signal and LVTTL control and monitor signals. The receiver section of Cisco 10G SFP uses a PIN receiver and the transmitter uses the most of common FP or DFB lasers, which allow up to 1.25Gbps rates over 500M ~ 120Km Ethernet applications. The SFP+ and XFP consist of 10Gbit/s DFB/ EML optical transmitter and PIN receiver, which allow 300m ~ 80Km 10G Ethernet and 10G fiber channel applications. The modules have been used by Telecom SPs, MSOs, Utility Telecom, and enterprise/campus networks for multiple years with extremely low return and supper reputation in reliability.

With plenty experience in interoperability with 3rd party standard based network equipment such as Alcatel-Lucent, Allied Telesis, AVAYA, Brocade, Cisco, 3com, etc. FiberStore’s fiber optic transceivers are able to fulfill enterprises, service providers, telecom operators and SAN providers to build and fulfill their existing and future network expansions.

Fiber optic communication is a method of transmitting information from one place to another by sending pulses of light through an optical fiber. The light forms an electromagnetic carrier wave that is modulated to carry information. Fiber optic communication systems have revolutionized the telecommunications industry and have played a major role in the advent of the Information Age. Equipment manufacturers in the fiber optic communication field produce various Fiber Optic Products (cable, transceiver, switch, router, and network components) that make and/or route connections from point-to-point via a central office location. These products are used in networks supporting wired or wireless applications, providing an efficient, cost effective, and reliable fiber optic networks.

Optical fiber is most widely used to transmit telephone signals, Internet communication, and cable television signals. Fiber optics (most refers to bulk fiber optic cable)is the transmission of data via light waves passed through glass threads. Single-mode fiber is used in conjunction with laser light to transfer data more than five miles in distance. Multimode fiber is used with a lower frequency light-emitting diode (LED) for shorter transmissions. Fiber optic cable has the advantages of lower signal attenuation, higher bandwidth allowing more data to be delivered, much lighter, do not suffer from stray interference pickup, etc. Bulk optical cables are fully meet the requirements of long distance and high demand. Fiber optic cables are really amazing. They are used a lot today in common life like on computers, cable television, and telephone communication.

Each coin has two sides, bulk fiber optic cables are not perfect; they can break. Sometimes when crews are digging, they accidentally can tear up the cables. They can be repaired through splicing, typically includes fusion splicing and mechanical splicing. It refers to cutting off the broken ends and reconnects them using special adhesives, heat, or special connectors with fusion splicer, fiber optic cleaver, etc.

Fiber optic cables had developed into many types to meet different applications, such as indoor cables, outdoor cable, waterproof cables, Ribbon cables, bare fiber, etc. There are also fiber optic patch cables or fiber optic patch cords, a fiber optic cable terminated with different connectors on the ends. Through fiber optic cables and patch cables, many optical devices can be connected, such as fiber optic transceivers, switches, multiplexer and demultiplexer, optical splitters, fiber amplifiers, fiber attenuators, etc. As you know, fiber optic transceiver is another important device in fiber optic telecommunication, it converts high speed data from a cable source to an optical signal for communication over optical fiber. Fiber optic transceiver modules offer a convenient and price effective solution for that adoption of Gigabit Ethernet and Fiber Channel in data center, campus, metropolitan area access and ring networks, and storage area networks. All these items you can find at FiberStore and provide a wide selection.