With the development of technology and the growth of the optical communication market, more and more enterprises rely on optical fiber transceivers to maintain their leading position in the competitive industry.
The optical fiber receiver is a device that converts the digital signal into a light pulse in order to transmit it on the fiber part.
Its use makes data spread faster than the traditional copper network, and has greater reliability and security.
If you want to understand some basic contents of the transceiver, such as structure, running parameters, how to use, etc., this guide is completely suitable for you.
What Is An Optical Transceiver?
Optical transceivers are tiny devices that send and receive data, voice and video signals over fiber optic cables. It combines a transmitter and receiver into a single package, converts electrical signals into optical signals when transmitting, and then converts back to electrical signals when receiving to achieve two-way communication.
How Does Transceiver Optical Works
Transceivers work by sending modulated light pulses emitted by diodes over fiber optic cables. The most common transceivers require two separate fiber optic cables, one for transmitting data in one direction and the other for transmitting signals in the reverse direction. They cannot send and receive signals over the same fiber optic cable at the same time, as this would cause signal interference.
Multidirectional transceivers can be used. Multidirectional transceivers accomplish this by modulating different wavelengths of light, which means that the transceivers do not interfere with each other as they pass through the cable.
Many modern fiber optic transceivers are now hot-swappable, which means they are easy to integrate into existing networks and can be used immediately with minimal setup.
Sanopti offers optical transceivers that are compatible with different switch models and ensures that the optical transceivers function properly.
Factors of Optical Transceiver
Optical transceivers can be classified according to different classifications.
Classified by Form Factors
SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) Transceivers:
Compact and hot-pluggable.
SFP+ (Enhanced Small Form-Factor Pluggable) Transceivers:
Enhanced version of SFP, designed for higher data rates.
QSFP (Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable) Transceivers:
High-density, with multiple channels.
QSFP+ (Enhanced Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable) Transceivers:
Enhanced version of QSFP, designed for higher data rates.
SFP28(Small Form-Factor Pluggable 28)
Enhanced version of SFP+ and has the same size as SFP+, but it can support a single-channel 25Gb/s rate.
Classified by Fiber Mode Types
Single-mode Transceivers
Designed for long-distance transmission over single-mode fiber.
Multi-mode Transceivers
Suitable for shorter distances and use with multi-mode fiber.
Key Optical Transceiver Components
Transmitter (Tx)
It is responsible for converting electrical signals into optical signals and typically includes laser diodes or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit light and various circuits that modulate the optical signals according to the data to be transmitted.
Receiver (Rx)
It does the opposite of a transmitter: it receives optical signals and converts them into electrical signals.
Optical components (optical engines)
This assembly houses the optical signal transmission and reception components. It includes lenses, mirrors and filters.
Electrical Interface
The electrical interface connects the transceiver to a data source or host device and is responsible for sending and receiving electrical signals carrying digital data.
Management interface
Many optical transceivers have built-in microcontrollers and firmware that monitor and manage the performance of the transceiver.
The management interface allows network administrators to configure and monitor signal strength, temperature and error rates.
Connector
Optical transceivers usually have connectors on both ends to facilitate installation and removal. Common connector types include LC, SC, MTP/MPO, etc.
Digital Signal Processor (DSP)
Some advanced optical transceivers use DSP to perform digital signal processing functions such as error correction and equalization to improve signal quality and reliability.
EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory)
The EEPROM stores important information about the transceiver, such as its type, serial number, manufacturer, and calibration data. This information is critical for network management and identification.
Power Supply
Optical transceivers require power to operate. Depending on the transceiver type and form factor, power can be supplied through the host device or through a dedicated power connector.
Optical Interface
This is the part of the transceiver responsible for connecting the fiber optic cable. It includes optical ports, aligned with the corresponding ports on the network device.
Diagnostic and Monitoring functions
Many optical transceivers have diagnostic and monitoring capabilities, such as digital optical monitoring (DOM) capabilities, which provide real-time information about transceiver performance such as temperature, optical power level, and received signal quality.
Generations of Optical Transceivers
1G (Gigabit Ethernet)
Data rate: 1 Gbps
IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.3z
Common types: 1000BASE-SX, 1000BASE-LX, 1000BASE-T
The 1G transceiver was first launched (in the late 1990s) and was one of the earliest Ethernet optical transceivers.
10G (10 Gigabit Ethernet)
Data rate: 10 Gbps
IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.3ae
Common types: 10GBASE-SR, 10GBASE-LR, 10GBASE-T
Introduced in the early 2000s, this transceiver expanded network bandwidth.
40G (40 Gigabit Ethernet)
Data rate: 40 Gbps
IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.3ba
Common types: 40GBASE-SR4, 40GBASE-LR4
Mainly used in data center interconnect and high performance computing environments.
100G (100 Gigabit Ethernet)
Data rate: 100 Gbps
IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.3bm
Common types: 100GBASE-SR10, 100GBASE-LR4
100G transceivers are commonly used in high-speed data centers and long-haul fiber optic networks.
400G (400 Gigabit Ethernet)
Data rate: 400 Gbps
IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.3bs
Common types: 400GBASE-SR16, 400GBASE-LR8
Provide greater capacity and possibilities for data centers and long-distance communications.
800G (800 Gigabit Ethernet)
Data rate: 800 Gbps
IEEE Standards: Well-known standards such as IEEE 802.3ck and IEEE 802.3ct have been developed or are in the process of being developed.
Common types: 800GBASE-SR16, 800GBASE-LR16 (expected)
800G transceivers represent the latest development, doubling 400G capacity for bandwidth-intensive applications.
How to Choose The Right Optical Transceiver
Modulation Type
Single-Mode Transceivers
Choose these for long-distance transmissions over single-mode fiber (SMF). They are suitable for applications where signal integrity and distance are critical, such as long-haul telecommunications and high-capacity data links.
Multi-Mode Transceivers
Opt for multi-mode transceivers when dealing with shorter distances over multi-mode fiber (MMF). They are commonly used in data centers and campus networks for connections within buildings.
Range
Short-Range Transceivers
Use these for relatively short distances, typically within a data center or local area network (LAN). They are cost-effective and suitable for connections up to a few hundred meters.
Long-Range Transceivers
Select long-range transceivers when you need to cover longer distances, such as interconnecting buildings or linking data centers across town or even farther. These transceivers can support distances ranging from several kilometers to tens of kilometers.
Bi-Directional (BiDi) Transceivers
Choose BiDi transceivers when you have limited available fibers for communication. They allow you to send and receive data over the same fiber strand in opposite directions, efficiently using existing fiber infrastructure.
Specialty Transceivers for Specific Applications
For specialized applications such as automotive, industrial, medical, or military use cases, consider transceivers designed explicitly for those environments. These transceivers may have ruggedized enclosures or unique features tailored to the application's specific requirements.
Conclusion
In conclusion, optical transceivers are very important for designing and installing network systems. Optical transceivers are tiny devices that play a huge role in telecommunications. They can both send and receive data, just like digital interpreters. They convert electrical signals into light signals for transmission and change them back into electrical signals when received. Various types of optical transceivers are available on the market offering different wavelengths and transmission rates, which should be considered when purchasing.
