Optical fiber

Optical fiber are classified according to several parameters. The most important ones are:

1] Diameter: 9 μm, 10 μm, 50 μm and 62.5 μm
2] Wavelength: 850nm, 1300nm, 1310nm and 1550nm
3] Number of wavelength: Multi-mode Fiber (MMF) OR Single-mode Fiber (SMF)
4] Supported distant range: in meters / kilometers

Generally speaking, the "S" stands for "Short Wave Length" and "L" stands for "Long Wave
Length".

• LX fibre - e.g. 1GBASE-LX / 1000BASE-LX is available in 50 μm and 62.5 μm as multi-mode fibre (mmf) supporting about 550 meters distance at 1300 nm wavelength. Distances of 2..10 km are possible in case of single-mode fibre (smf).

• SX fibre - e.g. 1GBASE-SX / 1000BASE-SX is available in 50 μm and 62.5 μm as multi-mode fibre supporting about 250 meters distance at 850 nm wavelength. This wavlength allows for the use of LED transmitters, which are cheaper available then the normally used laser components.

• FX fibre refers to the 100BASE-FX fast ethernet standard. This fibre type is the long wavelength optics fibre type for 100Mbps transmission systems.