Picking the Right Patch Cord for Your Fiber Optic Network
Choosing the right fiber jumpers for your fiber optic network is no simple task. The choice you make can affect a lot of things, like how quickly data is transmitted from point to point. A fiber jumper, also known as a patch cord, is a length of fiber cable that connects end devices or network hardware to a structured cabling system. The cable is terminated with LC, SC, MTRJ, or ST connectors at both ends. They are frequently used in cable television, optical switches, or other telecommunications equipment. Fiber jumpers are considered interconnect-style cabling. Their general characteristics include low insertion loss, high return loss, good repeatability, good interchange, and excellent environmental adaptability. Jumpers come in two configurations: simplex and duplex. The needs of your network will dictate which type you need.
Simplex vs. Duplex Jumpers
Simplex cables, a strand of glass encased in plastic, are typically used when a data transmission needs to travel in just one direction. Simplex jumpers are an ideal choice for connections within buildings or across large areas such as cable TV networks. Duplex cables, on the other hand, are two strands of fiber in a single cable, and operate like a two-lane highway. The signal must travel in both directions between the active equipment. This is called bi-directional communication. In a duplex cable, one cable is transmitting the signal, while the other is receiving it. Duplex cables frequently used in large workstations, switches, servers, and on major networking hardware.
Duplex cables come in two constructions: zipcord and uniboot. In zipcord cables, two fiber strands are fused together, but are easily separated when it's time to mine out the transmission and/or receiver strand. In uniboot cables, the two fibers merge into a single connector at either end, making replacement and maintenance slightly more difficult and expensive than zipcord cables.
Choosing the Right Patch Cord
Single-mode simplex fiber carries only one transmission at a time. They are very reliable and hold a high-carrying capacity for long distance transmissions. Because they require less material, these are usually more cost-effective than duplex cables. Simplex cables are the most widely-used cable in modern communications, due to their high capacities which allow for higher transmission speeds and greater bandwidth. The drawback of these is that you run the risk of the amount of fiber on your distribution frames - a huge collection of cables can easily become tangled, messy, and unmanageable.
Duplex jumpers, because they require less cable, keep your data center clean and tidy, while also making maintenance more simple. Ultimately, the choice between simplex and duplex jumpers depends on the network, who it is serving, and how complex it needs to be. Apart from cable TV and telecommunications, and computer fiber networks, patch cords are used in communication rooms, FTTH (Fiber to The Home), LAN (Local Area Network), FOS (fiber optic sensor), Fiber Optic Communication System, Optical fiber connected and transmitted equipment, Defense combat readiness, and more. Whatever you need fiber jumpers for, ensure you are getting them from a trusted source like Cogent Purchasing.
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