Fiber optic cables and fiber optic patch cords are both fiber optic components used in networking applications, but they serve different purposes and have different characteristics. Here is a comparison of the two:
Fiber optic cable, a complete cable assembly, consists of one or more optical fibers encapsulated in a protective sheath. Fiber optic cables are designed for long distance communication and optical signal transmission between different locations. They are used to create fiber optic links between buildings, data centers, or telecommunications facilities.
Characteristics include:
1. Length: fiber optic cables are available in a variety of lengths, ranging from a few meters to several thousand meters. They are designed for long distance transmission and can span very long distances.
2. Construction: Fiber optic cables consist of multiple optical fibers bundled together inside a fiber optic sheath. The optical fibers are usually protected by additional layers, such as reinforcements, buffer tubes and outer jackets. These components provide mechanical protection, tensile strength and resistance to environmental factors.
3. Application: Fiber optic cables are mainly used in backbone installations to interconnect different network elements over long distances. They provide the infrastructure for the transmission of high-capacity data, voice and video signals.
Fiber optic patch cords, are shorter lengths of fiber optic cable with pre-terminated connectors at both ends. Patch cords are used to create connections between devices or between devices within a local area network (LAN) or data center. They help in the connection of optical transceivers, switches, routers and other network devices.
Features include:
1. Length: Fiber optic patch cords are usually available in short lengths, often ranging from a few centimeters to several meters. They are designed to interconnect neighboring devices.
2. Connectors: Fiber optic patch cords come with connectors pre-installed on both ends. Common connector types include SC, LC, ST and MPO/MTP connectors. The choice of connector depends on the specific device and network requirements.
3. Application: Fiber optic patch cords are used for short distance, point-to-point connections in local network environments. They are typically used in patch panels, fiber optic termination boxes and equipment racks to create fast, flexible connections between devices.
