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How to Distinguish Single-mode Fiber Optic Transceivers and Multi-mode Fiber Optic Transceivers?

A fiber optic transceiver is literally a device used to transmit and receive optical signals.


From a professional point of view, it is actually a medium for transmitting and converting short-distance electrical signals and long-distance optical signals. Since short-distance electrical signals cannot be covered in some network environments, optical fibers must be used to extend the transmission distance, and the cost of upgrading copper wires to optical fibers is too high, so the application of optical fiber transceivers is becoming more and more extensive.


Of course, depending on the type of fiber, the distance that the transceiver can transmit is also different, so there are single-mode fiber and multi-mode fiber transceivers. So, how do we differentiate between single-mode fiber optic transceivers and multimode fiber optic transceivers?


Ⅰ. The structural difference between single-mode and multi-mode fiber optic transceivers


The central glass core of single-mode fiber is very thin, and only one mode of light can be transmitted, so the dispersion between modes is relatively small, which is suitable for long-distance transmission;


The central glass core of multimode fiber is thicker and can transmit light of various modes, so the dispersion between modes is relatively large. If the transmission distance increases, the transmitted signal will be unstable, so multimode fiber is suitable for short-distance transmission.


Ⅱ. The price difference between single-mode and multi-mode fiber optic transceivers


Single-mode fiber is suitable for long-distance transmission, with a thin core, wide transmission frequency, large capacity, and long transmission distance, but requires a laser source, so it is more expensive, and is usually used between buildings or in a less dispersed environment.


But it does not mean that single-mode fiber cannot be used for indoor wiring, and single-mode fiber transceivers can also be used for short-distance transmission, but the cost is higher.


The core of multimode fiber is thicker, the transmission rate is low, the distance is short, the overall transmission performance is not as good as that of single-mode fiber, and the price is relatively low.


Ⅲ. How to distinguish between single-mode fiber optic transceivers and multi-mode fiber optic transceivers


The most fundamental difference between single-mode fiber optic transceivers and multi-mode fiber optic transceivers is the transmission distance.


The multi-mode fiber optic transceiver is a multi-node and multi-port signal transmission in the working mode, so the signal distance transmission is relatively short, but the price is low and easy to use, and it is mostly used in the construction of the local area network;


The single-mode optical fiber transceiver is just the opposite. Its working mode is single-node, one-port signal transmission, so the signal transmission distance is relatively long, which constitutes the construction of a cross-metropolitan area network.


Ⅳ. Distinguishing method of single-mode and multi-mode fiber optic transceivers


1. Check whether the model contains s and m. s means single mode, m means multimode.


2. From the perspective of transmission mode, single-mode fiber transceivers receive and send data on one fiber, and multi-mode fiber transceivers receive and send data on two fibers.


3. Unplug the optical port dust cap of the optical fiber transceiver, and look at the color of the interface components inside. Generally, the interface of the multi-mode optical fiber transceiver is brown, and the inside of the interface of the tx and rx of the single-mode transceiver is oiled with white ceramic.


4. From the perspective of transmission distance, the transmission range of single-mode optical fiber transceivers is between 20 kilometers and 120 kilometers, and the transmission distance of multi-mode optical fiber transceivers is between 2 and 5 kilometers.


5. If it is a fiber optic transceiver that has been used, it can be distinguished by the color of the fiber optic jumper. The yellow jumper generally represents single-mode, and the orange-red jumper generally represents multi-mode.


It should be noted that there is no difference between single-mode fiber optic transceivers and multi-mode fiber optic transceivers, but the suitable network environments are different, and the selection should be made according to the use environment.


If there is a need for single multimode fiber connection between network devices, a multimode converter can be used for connection, which can effectively solve the problem of single multimode fiber conversion. However, it should be noted that single-mode fiber transceivers can work in single-mode and multi-mode, but multi-mode cannot work under single-mode fiber.