The Basics of How Fiber Optics Work

Although fiber optics have been a household term for many years, very few know how it works or even what it really is. Many people believe that fiber optic is just another substance like metal that transfers electrical signals, but they could not be more wrong. The widespread adoption and possibility of it coming to resident homes in the near future are both things that require knowledge of the importance and general use of the technology.

The construction of a fiber optic wire helps explain how it operates. The core is made up of glass where the light is shot through, and the cladding surrounds it as a reflector to bounce the light through the tunnel. On the outside, like most wires, there is a buffer coating that protects the internal wire from water or other damage and a jacket around that. The reason the inside of the wire is made the way it is makes it easier to shoot a light signal through it long distances. Light signals are shot and flashed through in different ways to transmit various codes, and the advantage comes from using the speed of light to send the information.

In these wires different light signals are shot through the tunnel that does not interfere with each other, and the quickly flashing signals are deciphered by optical transceivers. These transceivers are then interfaced to the motherboard by SFP modules which complete the link to the computer. Although there are different types of transceivers needed for different applications, they generally do similar forms of transmission.

Even though it costs a lot of implement for everyone’s household, the wiring itself is significantly less expensive than copper wiring. It is also not able to be interfered with in the same way that copper receives interference. Another exciting aspect of optical wiring is that it has been around for around twenty years, and still has not been fully utilized. There is still a lot of experimentation with the technology, which means they are lines that exist for a very long time and continue to get better.

Since fiber optics are always widely used in internal networks and for routing across continents, the wiring and equipment has become significantly less expensive than before. Even almost all TVs and sound systems come standard with an optical port, which is not even a bonus feature anymore. In some cities a few companies have begun offering fiber optic service to homes, but they are not near as capable as they will be one day. Even if we were to get ten gigabit Internet today, computers are not even close to capable of making full use of that speed. Just like most other technologies, it will eventually come around but take a while to reach max potential in the home.

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