 What is Fiber Optic Cabling? Fiber Optic Cabling systems are crucial for the success of your business. In a fast-paced world where anything below par can hinder your success and competitivity. Fiber Optic Cabling can provide you with the instant transmission of information you need to keep your business functions above par. After all, communication is crucial when it comes to operating a business. Fiber Optic Cables have become the go-to-choose of cabling as they hold a number of advantages over copper cables. For example, they have higher bandwidth and transmission speed. These cables are commonly used in telecommunication services such as the internet, telephones, and television. How does Fiber Optic Cabling work? Optical Fiber Cables are made up of thousands of Fiber strands which are as thin as human hair. The Fiber transmits information in the form of light particles or photons. The photons can be transmitted over large distances of 100 kilometers plus. This alone makes Fiber Optic Cabling perfect for communication systems. When light signals are passed through the cable, they reflect off the core and cladding in zigzag bounces. This process is known as total internal reflection. Unfortunately, the light signals do not travel at the speed of light due to the density of the glass layers. However, the light signals travel 30% slower than the speed of light. In spite of this, Fiber is still a lot faster than traditional copper. To boost the signal through its journey, a switch may be placed at distant intervals to regenerate the optical signal. By transforming it to an electrical signal, processing that electrical signal, and retransmitting the optical signal. What are the two types of Fiber Optic Cables? Single Mode Single Mode Fiber is used for long distances because of the smaller diameter of the glass fiber core. This reduces the possibility of losing signal strength. Due to the thin core, the light signals can travel directly through the core without the risk of bouncing off the internal sides of the Fiber Optic Cable. This reduces the amount of light reflection created during the transmission. Multimode Multimode Fiber Cables are noticeably larger in comparison to Single Mode. They can be 10 times larger than a Single Mode in diameter. One of the main benefits of Multimode is the greater light gathering capacity. This allows light to travel along a variation of different paths within the cable. Multimode Fiber can only transmit signals over short distances. These cables are perfect for connecting internal computer networks. What is Fiber to the Desk? Also known as FTTD, Fiber to Desk is a cable solution of using Fiber Optic Cables to connect workstations to the company's network instead of the traditional copper cable. The traditional method is also known as Fiber to the office. This method involves local conversion from Fiber to copper cabling connecting the user. FTTD installation costs are higher than the traditional method. However, the advantages of future proofing and security make up for the expenses. How to test Fiber Optic Cables Much like all forms of technology, Fiber Optic Cables are also prone to wear and tear, as well as failures. Testing your Fiber Optic Cable is essential if you wish to maintain the advantages. The best way to maintain your cables is through OTDR, Optical Time Domain Reflectometer. The OTDR has the ability to compose a comprehensive picture and analysis, providing you with a clear picture of the cable's health status. OTDR can be used to analyze place loss, fault finding and accurately measure lengths. Lastly, it can also read the performance of the cable and structural problems, enabling you to identify and rectify any fault. For further assistance or a free survey, please email or call on the details below, and click like and subscribe if you have enjoyed this video.