Businesses across the world are growing and expanding their horizons. Advancements in electronics and telecommunication and their rightful implementation in respective industries have been the driving factors of this growth and have further propelled the demand for robust communication networks for voice, data, and more. With the advent of fiber optics, it has been possible to further boost network speed, security, transmission distance, and join two or more dissimilar networks. There are many network devices involved in the accurate functioning of such large networks including fiber optical transceivers, SFP module based switches, media converters, fiber as well as copper cables, fiber optic splitters, and more. Distribution of signals is essential in large networks and this is performed using fiber optic splitters. This post describes how splitters are widely used in fiber optic or blended networks and their other details at length.
What is a Fiber Optic Splitter?
An optical signal is transmitted over a fiber cable in the form of light pulses. A fiber optic splitter is a device which splits this signal into multiple yet even signal outputs or parts. This is a passive device which splits the signal on one optical strand to be distributed among two, four, or more fiber strands. It helps optimize the overall network performance. It divides the light beam received almost equally, depending on the splitter configuration. For instance, a 1x4 splitter divides the beam into four different but equally divided light signals, which means almost 1/4th part of the original beam for each divided light beam. Some amount of light may get scattered or reflected through the fiber glass cladding, and hence the distribution may not be exactly even. Broadly, there are two types of splitters.
- Fused Biconic Tapered (FBT): In this type, two fibers are heated together and fused till the required coupling ratio is achieved. They are quite easy to install and use. They are made from a variety of materials ranging from fiber to steel, which influences the cost and accuracy. Overall, this type is cost effective and is largely used in passive networks and with small configuration splits. They can be used for single mode as well as multimode networks; however, these are suitable for three wavelengths- 850, 1310, and 1550 nm. In this type, the splitting of the signals may not be accurate and even. Their operating temperature ranges from -5 to 75 degrees Celsius.
- Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC): This type is slightly more advanced than FBT, and is especially applicable for split configurations in large networks. PLC prevents loss of signals and provides accurate splits. This technology supports a wide range of wavelengths up to 1600nm and beyond. These splitters have a wider operating temperature range than FBT, which is from -40 to 85 degrees Celsius. So, they are designed for use in extreme weather conditions. While these are advanced in terms of features and output, they are manufactured using complex techniques such as lithography, etching, and so on. Using techniques such as lithography offers scope for specific routing patterns of right signals. All of these aspects including the fabrication techniques used increase their overall cost.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Fiber Optic Splitters
While knowing your requirements and budget are key in choosing the right type of splitter, there are some other aspects you need to consider. Here are some factors you can consider when choosing a fiber optic splitter for your network application.
- Splitting ratio and the related accuracy required is a key element in choosing the right type, and this would be mentioned on the packaging. If your application demands high accuracy or has harsh operational environment, you may want to choose PLC splitters.
- In market terms, various types of PLC splitters available. Some of these include bare fiber optical splitter, LGX, ABS, rack mountable, and so on. All the details are mentioned in the packaging. You need to compare the configuration as well as compatibility with your connectors and other network devices.
- The splitting ratio needs to be analyzed along with the data transmission distance. The signal must be transmitted correctly to the right destination and seamlessly too. For a distance of around 20 to 25 km, 1x32 configuration splitter would be suitable. Consider a high splitting ratio if the transmission distance is short. So, these two aspects are inversely proportional to each other.
- A low splitting ratio device such as 1x4 or 1x8 is suitable for PON or passive networks. Such networks may have one central splitter which splits the signals in the network as per the topology. On the other hand, in a topology with multiple connecting points, multilayered splitters are used to split the signals at each of these points.
Tapping into unexplored potential is one of the drivers of business growth, and this may mean exploring new market segments, making new products, and so on. These areas require robust and seamless connectivity as you need to understand new markets or advertise a new product across the globe. This emphasizes on the importance of fiber optics as an indirect driver of business growth. If you are a business owner looking to expand your network, opting for a blended network may be beneficial as it allows you to retain the legacy network and connect it with fiber optics. Ensure to make the right selection of fiber optic devices such as fiber optic splitters, media converters, network switches, and so on from the trusted manufacturer. This would help you optimize the value of your blended networks and enjoy benefits of seamless communication always.
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