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Frequently Asked Questions
Question 37: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SINGLE-MODE (SM) AND MULTI-MODE (MM)?
Answer:
Two basic types of fiber and many different types of fiber optic cables are
used today. The two types of fiber are called Single-Mode (SM) and
Multi-Mode (MM). SM fiber is more expensive, but more efficient than
MM fiber, SM fiber is generally used in situations in which the distances to
be covered are greater.
SM fiber is a single strand of glass fiber
with a diameter of 8.3 to 10 microns that has one mode of transmission.
SM fiber comes with a relatively narrow diameter; the small core and single
light wave virtually eliminate any distortion that could result from
overlapping light pulses, providing the least signal attenuation and the
highest transmission speeds of any fiber cable type. The typical
distances for SM fiber are 12.4 miles (20 km) to 62 miles (100 km).
Multi-Mode fiber is a multi-strand of
glass fiber with a diameter of 50 to 100 microns. Light waves are
dispersed into numerous paths or modes, causing signal distortion at the
receiving end for long distance cable runs. The typical distance for
MM fiber is 1.2 miles (2 km).
Note: Fiber optic converter and
fiber cable must be of the same type, e.g. SM fiber optic converter must be
used together with SM fiber cable, while MM fiber optic converter must be
used together with MM fiber cable.
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