光纤介质转换器的应用

随着对网络的需求增加，各种网络设备被制造出来以满足这些需求。光纤媒体转换器是这些设备中的关键组件之一。它具有高带宽容量、远距离操作和可靠性等特点，使其在现代网络系统中广受欢迎。这篇文章将探索一些基础，并说明光纤媒体转换器的几个应用示例。

光纤媒体转换器的基础知识

光纤媒体转换器是一种可以在铜UTP（非屏蔽双绞线）网络和光纤网络之间将电信号转换为光波的设备。众所周知，与以太网电缆相比，光纤电缆的传输距离更长，尤其是单模光纤电缆。因此，光纤收发器帮助运营商完美解决了传输问题。

光纤媒体转换器通常是特定于协议的，可用于支持多种网络类型和数据速率。它们还提供单模和多模光纤之间的光纤到光纤转换。此外，一些光纤介质转换器如铜缆转光纤和光纤转光纤介质转换器具有使用SFP收发器进行波长转换的能力。

根据不同的标准，光纤媒体转换器可以分为不同的类型。有托管媒体转换器和非托管媒体转换器。它们之间的区别在于后者可以提供额外的网络监控、故障检测和远程配置功能。还有铜缆到光纤媒体转换器、串口到光纤媒体转换器和光纤到光纤媒体转换器。

Applications of Common Types of Fiber Media Converters

With the several advantages mentioned above, fiber media converters are widely used to bridge copper networks and optical systems. This part is primarily to introduce two types of fiber media converter’s applications.

Fiber-to-Fiber Media Converter

This type of fiber media converter enables the connections between single mode fiber (SMF) and multimode fiber (MMF), including between different “power” fiber sources and between single-fiber and dual fiber. Following are some application examples of fiber-to-fiber media converter.

Multimode to Single Mode Fiber Application

Since SMF supports longer distances than MMF, it’s common to see that conversions from MMF to SMF in enterprise networks. And fiber-to-fiber media converter can extend a MM network across SM fiber with distances up to 140km. With this capacity, long distance connection between two Gigabit Ethernet switches can be realized using a pair of Gigabit fiber-to-fiber converters (as shown in the following picture).

Dual Fiber to Single-Fiber Conversion Application

Single-fiber usually operates with bi-directional wavelengths, often referred to as BIDI. And the typically used wavelengths of BIDI single-fiber are 1310nm and 1550nm. In the following application, the two dual fiber media converters are linked by a single mode fiber cable. Since there are two different wavelengths on the fiber, the transmitter and receiver on both ends need to be matched.

Serial to Fiber Media Converter

This kind of media converter provides fiber extension for serial protocol copper connections. It can be connected with RS232, RS422 or RS485 port of computer or other devices, solving the problems of traditional RS232, RS422 or RS485 communication conflict between distance and rate. And it also supports point-to-point and multi-point configurations.

RS-232 Application

RS-232 fiber converters can operate as asynchronous devices, support speeds up to 921,600 baud, and support a wide variety of hardware flow control signals to enable seamless connectivity with most serial devices. In this example, a pair of RS-232 converters provides the serial connection between a PC and terminal server allowing access to multiple data devices via fiber.