User Tools

Site Tools


fiber_optics

1. Transmission technology developed using fiberglass strands and light pulses to transmit information. Fiber optic cable is a type of data cable which employs light pulses which are guided along fiberglass strands to relay data. Fiber optics are slowly replacing copper coaxial cable in today's high speed networks for the simple reason that they can maintain a larger number of users at a higher speed then copper coaxial can. The downside is that fiber optics fail in atmospheric temperature extremes, and perform poorly in situations where the line must be cut and relinked elsewhere.

2. A transmission medium composed of glass or plastic fibers; pulses of light are emitted from a laser-type source. Fiber optic cabling is the present cabling of choice for all interexchange networks, and increasingly for the local exchange loops as well; it is high security, high bandwidth, and takes up little conduit space. Considered the physical medium of all future land based communications.

fiber_optics.txt · Last modified: 2006/10/15 09:35 (external edit)