Using Fibre Optic Cables Compared To Conventional Metal Wires

Using fibre optic cables is still relatively new to most people at home and in large companies. These are by far one of the fastest and efficient connection cables that were ever invented. Most people will agree that having fibre optic internet connection is an impressive thing to have and it guarantees are fast connection that normal cable connections cannot live up to. These work very differently from normal wire cables, which in comparison are slower.

Fibre optic cables are made up of the core, cladding and buffer coating. They are strands of optical glasses which are thinner than one strand of human hair and are put together in a cable. This then transports digital information over greater distances than a conventional metal wire. The data transference works by light signals being sent across long distances, with the bundles put together under a jacket. They can come as single mode buffers and multi mode buffers. These are also immune to electromagnetic interferences, which metal wires are affected by causing loss of data and information.

Single mode buffers have smaller cores and usually transmit Infra-red light from laser light emissions, when transferring information across. Multi mode buffers have a larger core and like the single mode these two can transmit infra-red light only using light emitting diodes. Other fibre optic cables can be made from plastic that have an even bigger core which transmits a more visual red light across specific distances.

Metal wiring tends to transmit information at a slower rate because it does not take into consideration of interference and distance. A fibre optic cable works in the same way as if one was to shine a light down a straight and narrow hall. Imagine that this hallway is very windy and bendy, the light would then need to be reflected and bounced across using mirrors. This is exactly how fibre optics work, the light travels quickly down the core, bouncing off the cladding which does not absorb any of the light making it possible to keep it travelling over greater distances. The whole process is called total internal reflection.

The light signals that travel down can degrade; this could be due to any impurities within the glass. How much the light degrades depends on how many impurities reside within the glass fibre, therefore the purer the glass fibre, the stronger the light signal - these are usually prevalent in premium fibre optic cables.

Conventional metal cables work very differently. These are made up of strands of copper which is sheathed round with plastic. These have been used for electrical purposes by carrying electricity across. The signals carried across in copper wires tend to interfere with other fibres in the cable; these use analogue signals because this kind of wire is not always suitable for digital signals. The copper fibres are much thicker than fibre glass, therefore only a certain volume of data can be transferred at any one time. Unlike fibre optics which is much thinner and allows for much more to be crammed in at any one go.

Furthermore, copper wires are heavier, bulkier and less flexible; although they still have their uses in powering up devices and keeping things running. Fibre optic cables however, have become much more diverse and are taking over in working certain devices.

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