Ethernet Cable or Fiber Optic Cable? Ethernet vs. Fiber Having fast, reliable, and secure Internet is essential to operational success today. Do you know which connection option like fiber optic cable and copper Ethernet cable fits your company’s needs best? Ethernet cable or fiber optic cable? In this article we will share the differences between the Ethernet cable and fiber optic cable, which help you decide which fits your company’s needs best: Ethernet cable or fiber optic cable.
Background and the Basics The Basics: Ethernet Cable & Optical Fiber Cable Ethernet Cable Developed by Xerox in the early 1970’s, Ethernet was introduced commercially in 1980. Ethernet is a popular method of networking computers in a local area networks (LANs) using copper cabling. In the past, Ethernet had a reputation for being slower than fiber optic cable, but that has started to change. Ethernet speed was once limited to 10 megabits per second (Mbps). However, “Fast Ethernet” offers speeds of up to 100Mbps, and “Gigabit Ethernet” can provide speeds of up to 1000Mbps. Due to our ever increasing demand for speed, gigabit Ethernet is emerging as the go-to Ethernet option. Its cables are comprised of multiple strands of copper wire that are twisted together, with four twisted wire pairs per cable. Two of the pairs are used to send data, and the other two are used to receive data. Data is transmitted via electrical signals sent through copper cabling. Cat 5e and Cat 6 cables are designed for high speed gigabit Ethernet. Learn more: CAT-5, CAT-5e, CAT-6, and CAT-7-General Questions
Optical Fiber Cable The principle behind fiber optics dates back to the mid 1800s. Through the years, fiber optic technology has been used in a number of applications, including in the television cameras that NASA sent to the moon in 1969. Today, optical fiber cables used for Internet are synonymous with speed, and are especially useful when transferring data over long distances. The cable is made up of strands of incredibly thin optically pure glass that carry digital information with light instead of electrical currents used with Ethernet. There are two basic types of fiber optic cable: single-mode and multi-mode.
Single-mode fiber cables use laser light to send signals, and they are thinner than multi-mode fiber cables. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are used to send signals in multi-mode fiber cables, and multi-mode cables are usually used over short distances. Data transfer rates between 10 Mbps to 10 gigabytes per second (Gbps) are the norm. Round One: Interference Ethernet cables are vulnerable to electromagnetic interference because they work through electrical signals. However, using a “shielded” cable can help minimize this problem. A “shield” is a protective sheath that surrounds and protects the cable wires from electromagnetic leakage and interference. Although not always necessary, shielded cable is the preferred choice if you’re working close to strong electrical interference such as that produced by a generator? Because optical fiber cables work through the transmission of light, interference from electronic devices isn’t a concern. Additionally, since they don’t conduct electricity, fiber optic cables are ideal for high voltage locations,
in buildings prone to lightening strikes, and locations where explosive fumes are present. Round Two: Security Due to the way in which data is transmitted across Ethernet copper cabling, it is vulnerable to being intercepted. Ethernet switches can help improve security. Information sent via fiber optic cables is much more difficult to intercept because light can’t be read in the same way signals sent via copper cabling can be. Round Three: Speed Until recently, fiber Internet-optic cable speed would almost always beat Ethernet cable speed. But as the technology behind Ethernet cables has advanced, Ethernet cables can provide speeds as fast as some fiber optic cables. As mentioned, gigabit Ethernet can provide data transfer speeds of up to 1000Mbps, but through the use of Cat 6 cables it can support data transfer rates of up to 10Gbps. Typically, optical fiber transmits data faster than copper Ethernet cable and has the potential to be incredibly fast. In fact, a single optical fiber strand has been shown to transmit data at a rate of 100 terabits per second. Round Four: Fire Threat Although the voltage used by Ethernet cable is usually insufficient to cause a fire, there is always electricity present in Ethernet cables. Unlike Ethernet cable, optical fiber cable is non-flammable because it does not use electricity. Round Five: Capacity and Bandwidth Copper cabling strands are thicker than optical fiber strands, so less wires can be bundled in a 22 gauge copper cable than in a 22 gauge optical fiber cable. Additionally, Ethernet offers less bandwidth. For example, a Cat 6a cable can relay 600 MHz over 100 m, but a multi-mode optical fiber cable can relay 1000 MHz over the same distance. … We’ve provided you with the very basics about Ethernet and fiber optic cables. If you’re ready to learn more, use our comparative guide to find the best business Internet provider to suit your needs. Info from http://www.business.org/services/internet/ethernet-vs-fiber-basics/
More Related Cisco CCNA Part: Types of Ethernet Cabling A Quiz for Test Your Knowledge of Fiber Optic Cables Ethernet Cables, CAT Technical & Physical Differences
The Cable War: Ethernet vs. Fiber In fact, each solution has its fair share of pros and cons. With unique benefits and limitations to each technology, it hardly seems like they’re competing technologies at all. Fiber is great for faster speeds and data delivery over super-long distances. But on the flipside, it’s brittle, a bit unwieldy, and much more expensive. Ethernet is getting faster, but it has some notable limitations with regard to distance. In its unshielded form, it can also be prone to interference.
So what’s the best choice? That’s easy, and I bet you guessed the answer… It depends. If you’re connecting an ISP to a node or street cabinet, then fiber’s your baby. Glass is great for outdoor applications and you can transmit a lot of data over incredible distances with fiber cabling. However, once you’re actually at the cabinet or close to the roofline of a home or building, the choice becomes more nuanced. This is where ethernet copper cable is giving fiber a run for its money.
One of the main reasons comes down to cost savings. HDBaseT and HDMI (both 1-cable solutions) come into play here as well. Frankly, these solutions deliver great performance at substantial savings. Ethernet also cuts down on the need for additional power sources. Fewer cables and less supporting installations? It’s easy to see why Ethernet is still a popular choice. In fact, short of data centers or IT hubs in academic or professional settings, where data demands can be enormous, customers are frequently opting for Ethernet. So, you can probably tell that it’s not always a clear choice. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits and drawbacks of each. But don’t get too hung up on the debate… if we’re being honest, many installations will require you to use both types of cable anyways. Origins of Ethernet and Fiber Optic Cables Ethernet was originally developed by Xerox. Developed in the 1970s, it went commercial in 1980. The origin of fiber optic cable technology is a bit more drawn out. In fact, one of its first uses was when NASA sent it to the moon for use in television cameras in 1969. Both of these cabling solutions have been going strong for decades. So from a historical perspective they’re on equal footing. Issues with Interference Unshielded Ethernet cable, also known as Cat 05, has challenges with interference. It can be caused by a number of sources ranging from bluetooth and RF to transformers and microwaves. This static is known as crosstalk. The solution for ethernet installations is simple. Use higher grade, shielded ethernet cables like Cat 5e, Cat 6 and 7.
We also recommend pairing shielded cable with shielded connectors for best results. The added protection makes a difference. With HDBaseT and HDMI on the rise for home use, microwaves are a consistent factor. Electrical interference is not a problem with fiber optic, but fiber does experience its share of interference as well. It’s called Intersymbol Interference and it arises from light pulses interfering with each other. This happens because light sources are not completely monochromatic. But like shielded ethernet, fiber optic has a high percentage of reliability. So both cables types ultimately have an achilles heel, but manufacturers are improving quality all the time. Current Speeds Fiber definitely wins for sheer speed, but applications can often neutralize the argument. With current end-user data requirements, terabytes per second aren’t really an issue when you’re just trying to send a signal from the living room to the kitchen. Here are some current breakthroughs that are shaping the performance levels to come for each cable type. Breakthroughs in Ethernet Technology Ethernet was once as slow as 10 Mbps over 100 m. It pushes data over electrical current. With the 802 IEEE Alliances, speeds now reach 2.5 and 5 Gbps, and are currently on track for 10 Gigabit Ethernet. VDSL2 technology has further changed the ballgame. VDSL2 uses up to 30 MHz of bandwidth to provide speeds of up to 100 Mbps both downstream and upstream within 1000ft.
So former limits are expanding exponentially. VDSL2 also paved the way for G.Fast. Test labs are currently reaching speeds of up to 150 Mbits over 500 m loops. Keep your eyes peeled for this tech to start rolling out in the UK soon and stateside subsequently.
What’s driving this ethernet movement is primarily consumer popularity. Ethernet extenders and SPF modems are particularly popular, because they help homeowners and businesses alike save money. The market can count on consumers continuing to rely on ethernet devices. Accordingly, manufacturers are appropriately motivated to spend money developing their products. This leads to further R&D, and thus the cycle begins anew. Here are the most common ethernet cable types for reference:
Cat 5e–The “e” stands for “enhanced” and these cables are produced under more stringent parameters. These are slightly better than straight Cat 5 cable.
Cat 6–Costs more than Cat 5, but it also supports higher bandwidths than the Cat 5 and 5e products. Last but not least, these cables are shielded.
Cat 6a–The “a” stands for “augmented” and these have the capability of sustaining higher speeds over greater distances.
Cat 7–Supports up to 100 Gbps over a range of 15 m
As you can see, current technology is stretching the dimensions of Ethernet capabilities. For specific ground-breaking products, you can check out our VX160 Series SFP modules and more here.
Breakthroughs in Fiber Optic Technology Fiber Optic technology falls into 2 categories: single and multi. Single Mode uses laser light to send signals over long distances. Diodes send signals over Multi Mode cables for installs that cover shorter distances. Single mode fiber can reach distances 50x greater than multimode can accommodate but it’s worth noting that it’s more expensive.
Multi mode fiber – the short distance version, typically reaches up to 10 Gbits/s over lengths of up to 600 m or 2000 ft. Speeds aren’t only increasing in the Ethernet camp. As recently as 2014, researchers were able to achieve data speeds of a staggering 255 Terabytes per second (Tbps).
“A joint group of researchers from the Netherlands and the US have smashed the world speed record for a fiber network, pushing 255 terabits per second down a single strand of glass fiber. This is equivalent to around 32 terabytes per second — enough to transfer a 1GB movie in 31.25 microseconds (0.03 milliseconds), or alternatively, the entire contents of your 1TB hard drive in about 31 milliseconds.” – Extreme Tech To give you some perspective, the most efficient single-fibre links reach their capacity at around 100gbs. Do the math. According to Extreme Tech, 255Tbps could supercede the net total of all traffic flowing through the entire internet during peak hours. Wow. That’s a lot of data reaching its destination at light speed. Fiber optic is definitely a great choice. In fact, in the previous administration there was an initiative to cable up the country using fiber optic. Sadly, the powers that be ran out of cash. So, it was back to square one. This failure does not reflect upon the technology’s features, but rather its cost.
Until manufacturers find a less expensive way to produce it, it’ll most likely continue to be used sparingly. Info from https://www.versatek.com/blog/cable-war-ethernet-vs-fiber/