Single Mode And Multimode Optical Fiber

What is the difference between multimode and single mode fiber optic cables.

Single mode and multimode optical fiber.

It is a single strand of glass fiber and has a diameter of 8 5 10 microns. Single mode optical fiber often costs less than multimode fiber. These modes define the way the wave travels through space i e. Single mode cables are designed to carry light directly down the fiber.

Single mode fiber cable systems are usually more expensive even though the actual cost of single mode fiber cable is cheaper than that of multimode fiber cable in the market. Because of this the number of light reflections created as the light passes through the core decreases lowering attenuation and creating the ability for the signal to travel further. Because it has one mode of transmission it will propagate 1310 or 1550 nm. Single mode fiber optic cable has a small diametral core that allows only one mode of light to propagate.

Single mode fiber optic cable. Multi mode optical fiber is a type of optical fiber mostly used for communication over short distances such as within a building or on a campus. This is because it is the optics that dominates the total cost of a network system. Multi mode fiber has a fairly large core diameter that enables multiple light modes to be propagated and limits the maximum length of a transmission link because of modal dispersion.

When building a 1g fiber optic network that you want to be able to go to 10g or faster on eventually the savings on cost of fiber for single mode saves about half price.