FIBER vs COPPER

The fiber optic system is similar to the copper wire system that fiber is replacing. The difference being that copper lines utilize electronic pulses to transmit the information; while fiber optic systems use light pulses to transmit information down the fiber optic lines. To visualize the fiber transmission, picture a very long cardboard tube (like from a roll of paper towel) which has been covered with a mirrored surface inside along its length. When you shine a light in one end, you can see the light come out at the other end even if you were to slightly bend the tube, you can still see the light.

The fiber cable functions as a path that guides the light along the length of the fiber. Meaning that the light introduced at one end of the cable will continue through to the other end of the cable.

While fiber optic cable has become less expensive over time, an equivalent length of copper cable still costs less per foot but they are not equal in capacity. The fiber cable has a much greater capacity for data/information.

In general, fiber has many advantages over copper. In copper networks, loss increases with signal frequency. High data rates increase ower loss and therefore decrease transmission distances. In fiber optic networks, loss does not change with signal frequency.

October 20, 2011

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