Fibre Optic data cabling uses photons (units of light) to transmit data as opposed to electrical pulses. As a result, high speed and reduced data loss can be achieved over greater distances than with copper cable.
There are two basic types of fibre optic - Single and Multimode. Single Mode is used when even greater distances are necessary - for example when connecting to the much-loved speed cameras that are a feature of our motorways.
Datacat focus on Multimode fibre optic cabling which is more commonly used for vertical (backbone) cabling in single-site business, education and administration environments.
Fibre optic cabling can seem very confusing, not least because a number of different standards of cable and connections have evolved over time. Datacat typically install the following:
Cable: Multimode Indoor/outdoor Tight Buffered LSOH OM3 50/125
Connectors: SC
Couplers: SC - SC
This information is very important when purchasing patch cable to connect from the Datacat patch panel to your switch. The patch cable must be the same ie 50/125 as the installed backbone cable. If your switch has different connection however (eg ST or LC) patch leads can be purchased with the appropriate connector at each end.
Multimode can be used to transmit data up to distances of 300m at 1000mbps. Cables can be installed with between 4 and 24 cores to provide multiple links or redundancy (each link requires 2 cores). Patch leads can be supplied on demand.
