9 Key Points to Consider When Choosing a Fiber Optical Transceiver
2017-10-05
A fiber optical transceiver is a photonic and electronic device that transmits and receives data over optical fibers rather than electrical wire. It is also called as an optical module or fiber optic module. Choosing a right fiber optic transceiver for your use is very important. Today’s main local carriers are major efforts to develop residential campus network and enterprise system, so that the number of fiber optic transceiver products is consistently improved to fulfill the needs of the access network building.
Following are the key 9 points which you should consider when choosing a right Optical Transceiver:
Form Factors
The multi source agreement (MSA) defines the different transceiver form factors. The MSA is an agreement between multiple vendors to manufacture optical transceivers that are used for different networking equipment. There are various types of Form Factors available in the market today. The most popular types include SFP, SFP+, QSFP, and some other types that are uncommonly used such as CFP, CFP2, CFP4, 1×9, SFF, GBIC, XFP, SFF, X2, XENPAK, CSFP and so on. You should choose the right form factors based on your platform and real needs.
Data Rate
Optical fiber’s bandwidth determines the data rate. The transceiver accommodates data rate on the basis of the standards such as Ethernet, Fibre Channel, SONET, SDH and InfiniBand. The emergence of the dual-rate optical transceiver is typical because of the cost consideration from 1G to 10G, 10G to 40G, 40G to 100G and it can be at a higher data rate that means Gigabit Ethernet is very fast. Dual-rate optical transceiver is a cost-effective solution to solve this query.
Transmission Distance or link budget
Fiber optic system is continuously restoring copper network, due to its different favorable circumstances such as high speed, high bandwidth, high density, and etc. Fiber optic cable can support much further distance than that of traditional copper cable like twisted pair wire or coax cable. However, in practice, the exact distance that fiber optic can support is limited by many factors. Transmission distance has become one of the biggest problems in the super fast optical communication. You have to make sense of the maximum distance or link budget needed in your fiber connection systems.
Fiber Mode
There are two modes to choose from in Fiber Optical Transceiver. Single Mode and Multimode, it is usually designed for systems of moderate to long distance like Metro or any other Long haul networks while on another hand Single mode optical fibers have a small core size which permits single mode or ray of light to be transmitted. Multimode transceiver usually cost less but give a short transmission distance (< 2km), while single mode transceiver allows a much longer distance of 160km at a higher cost.
Wavelength
It is very important to understand Wavelength while choosing fiber optical transceiver, our eyes are sensitive to lights of which wavelength is in the range of 400 nm to 700 nm. But in the fiber optics, lights are used in the infrared region which has wavelengths longer than visible light. Common wavelength usually comes from the range 850 nm to 1610 nm. Multimode fiber is specially designed that operate at 850 nm and 1310 nm, while single mode operates 1310 nm to 1550 nm.
Operating Temperature
Fiber optic transceivers have different operating temperatures when it is in use. For commercial fiber optic transceivers, it usually works at 0°C to 70°C, while for industrial usage, it works at -40°C. to 85°C.
Compatibility
Compatibility is also a crucial part to check before you buy Fiber Optical Transceiver. It is essential to test the interoperability and compatibility of each fiber optic transceiver. Because there are so many brands of networking equipment, and many brands such as Cisco, HP, Ciena lock the third party transceivers and not allow non-certified module works with their switches. The compatibility is always an issue you face, you have to make an extensive research and ask the vendor to guarantee the same function as brand genuine one. Want to know more about transceiver compatibility? click here.
Availability
There are many brands who manufacture or offers Fiber Optical Transceiver, today in the world of Internet, you may probably find the particular model on the various website but it is advisable to check each feature carefully before placing an order for the same.
Price
As we have mentioned, you may find optical transceiver in many brands and many sources. They usually have huge price differences among many different brands, even unbelievable differences between OEM transceiver and third party transceiver. Consider your budget and know how much you would pay, it is advisable to buy from the authentic suppliers at the affordable price.
Following are the key 9 points which you should consider when choosing a right Optical Transceiver:
Form Factors
The multi source agreement (MSA) defines the different transceiver form factors. The MSA is an agreement between multiple vendors to manufacture optical transceivers that are used for different networking equipment. There are various types of Form Factors available in the market today. The most popular types include SFP, SFP+, QSFP, and some other types that are uncommonly used such as CFP, CFP2, CFP4, 1×9, SFF, GBIC, XFP, SFF, X2, XENPAK, CSFP and so on. You should choose the right form factors based on your platform and real needs.
Data Rate
Optical fiber’s bandwidth determines the data rate. The transceiver accommodates data rate on the basis of the standards such as Ethernet, Fibre Channel, SONET, SDH and InfiniBand. The emergence of the dual-rate optical transceiver is typical because of the cost consideration from 1G to 10G, 10G to 40G, 40G to 100G and it can be at a higher data rate that means Gigabit Ethernet is very fast. Dual-rate optical transceiver is a cost-effective solution to solve this query.
Transmission Distance or link budget
Fiber optic system is continuously restoring copper network, due to its different favorable circumstances such as high speed, high bandwidth, high density, and etc. Fiber optic cable can support much further distance than that of traditional copper cable like twisted pair wire or coax cable. However, in practice, the exact distance that fiber optic can support is limited by many factors. Transmission distance has become one of the biggest problems in the super fast optical communication. You have to make sense of the maximum distance or link budget needed in your fiber connection systems.
Fiber Mode
There are two modes to choose from in Fiber Optical Transceiver. Single Mode and Multimode, it is usually designed for systems of moderate to long distance like Metro or any other Long haul networks while on another hand Single mode optical fibers have a small core size which permits single mode or ray of light to be transmitted. Multimode transceiver usually cost less but give a short transmission distance (< 2km), while single mode transceiver allows a much longer distance of 160km at a higher cost.
Wavelength
It is very important to understand Wavelength while choosing fiber optical transceiver, our eyes are sensitive to lights of which wavelength is in the range of 400 nm to 700 nm. But in the fiber optics, lights are used in the infrared region which has wavelengths longer than visible light. Common wavelength usually comes from the range 850 nm to 1610 nm. Multimode fiber is specially designed that operate at 850 nm and 1310 nm, while single mode operates 1310 nm to 1550 nm.
Operating Temperature
Fiber optic transceivers have different operating temperatures when it is in use. For commercial fiber optic transceivers, it usually works at 0°C to 70°C, while for industrial usage, it works at -40°C. to 85°C.
Compatibility
Compatibility is also a crucial part to check before you buy Fiber Optical Transceiver. It is essential to test the interoperability and compatibility of each fiber optic transceiver. Because there are so many brands of networking equipment, and many brands such as Cisco, HP, Ciena lock the third party transceivers and not allow non-certified module works with their switches. The compatibility is always an issue you face, you have to make an extensive research and ask the vendor to guarantee the same function as brand genuine one. Want to know more about transceiver compatibility? click here.
Availability
There are many brands who manufacture or offers Fiber Optical Transceiver, today in the world of Internet, you may probably find the particular model on the various website but it is advisable to check each feature carefully before placing an order for the same.
Price
As we have mentioned, you may find optical transceiver in many brands and many sources. They usually have huge price differences among many different brands, even unbelievable differences between OEM transceiver and third party transceiver. Consider your budget and know how much you would pay, it is advisable to buy from the authentic suppliers at the affordable price.
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