Hello everyone!
Today, I'd like to introduce you to three types of cables. Fiber optic cables, twisted pair cables, and coaxial cables are the three types of network cables used in communication systems.
Fiber Optic Cable
A fiber-optic cable, also known as an optical-fiber cable, is an assembly similar to an electrical cable, but containing one or more optical fibers that are used to carry light. Fiber optic cables transmit data as pulses of light pass through tiny glass tubes. The transmission capacity of fiber optic cables is 26000 times higher than that of twisted-pair cables.
Optical cables are classified into single-mode fiber (SMF) and multi-mode fiber (MMF). Single-mode fibers have a very small core, allowing only one mode of light propagation at a time. Multimode optical cables, on the other hand, have larger cores and are designed to carry multiple light or modes simultaneously.
Common single-mode optical cables are OS2 optical cables, and multi-mode optical cables are OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4, and OM5. Different types of cables are used for different applications, such as long-distance telecommunications, or to provide high-speed data connections between different parts of a building.
Twisted Pair Cable
Twisted-pair cabling is a type of cabling that twists two conductors of a single circuit together to improve electromagnetic compatibility, typically used in telephony communications and most modern Ethernet networks.
To increase immunity, the twisted-pair cable can be shielded. Shielded cables are called shielded twisted pairs (STP), and unshielded cables are called unshielded twisted pairs (UTP). Common UTP copper cables are Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, and Cat7.
Coaxial Cable
Coaxial cable is designed to transmit high-frequency signals and is a type of cable consisting of the inner conductors surrounded by a concentrically conductive shield, and separated by two dielectrics (insulating material). Many coaxial cables also have a protective outer sheath or sheath. The shielded structure allows the coaxial cable to support longer cable lengths between two devices.
There are several different types of coaxial cables, but only two (RG59 and RG6) are most commonly used in residential applications.
Coaxial Cable Types | Description |
RG59 | RG59 is the basic coax cable. It’s thinner and has less shielding and is best suited for cable TV transmissions and short cable runs. |
RG6 | RG6 coaxial cable is a heavier gauge and has thicker insulation and better shielding. It is better for digital video signals and satellite TV. |
Comparison
Coaxial and twisted-pair cables are copper wires or copper bases that are insulated with other materials. They can all use electrical signals to transmit television, telephone, and data. Fiber optic cables can carry the same types of signals with wider bandwidth, faster speeds, and higher frequencies.
Cable Type | Speed | Bandwidth | Distance |
Fiber optic cable | 10/100/1000 Mbps, 10/40/100/200 Gbps | Up to 4700 MHz | Up to 80km |
Twisted pair cable | Up to 10 Gbps | Up to 4700 MHz | Up to 100m |
Coaxial cable | - | 750 MHz (default) | Up to 500m |
From the above, we know that there is a clear difference between fiber optic cable and twisted pair cable and coaxial cable. With the rapid development of technology, optical fiber seems to be a growing trend in market demand. However, the choice of twisted-pair, coaxial, or fiber-optic cable remains largely application-dependent, subject to cost, transmission distance, and performance.
Thanks for reading!
