Media Converter Basics - Fiber Optic Network Products | FS.
COM Page 1 of 9
Media Converter Basics
September 15, 2015 (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/media-converter-basics.html) Admin
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/author/admin)
While fiber optic technology has been developed and deployed in
telecommunications for many years, network complexity still exists within
the Local Area Network (LAN), accompanied by users’ increasing
demands for higher network speeds and greater bandwidth. Media
converters can just provide solutions for those problems by utilizing fiber
when it is needed and integrating new equipment into existing cabling
infrastructure. There are many aspects that can be discussed concerning
about media convert, like its working principles, types, and applications.
This paper will focus on these basic information.
Definition and Working Principles of Media Converts
Media converters are simple networking media conversion devices to
connect two dissimilar media types, including copper-to-fiber and fiber-to-
fiber (See the figure below). In copper-to-fiber conversion, media
converters are used to convert the electrical signal used in copper
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) network cabling into light waves used in
fiber optic cabling. As for fiber-to-fiber conversion, media converters are
needed to convert a dual fiber link to a single fiber using Bi-directional
(BIDI) data flow. Fiber optic connectivity is of great importance when the
distance between two network devices exceeds the transmission distance
of copper cabling or fiber structured cabling. In such cases, media
converters really mean a lot.
http://www.fiberopticshare.com/media-converter-basics.html 24.5.2018
Media Converter Basics - Fiber Optic Network Products | FS.COM Page 2 of 9
There are various copper-to-fiber and fiber-to-fiber media converters
available that support different data rates, and cabling.
Copper-to-Fiber Media Converters
Copper-to-fiber media converters are compact devices that provide
seamless integration of copper and fiber cabling. Ethernet media
converters belong to this kind. Supporting the IEEE 802.3 standard,
Ethernet copper-to-fiber media converters provide connectivity for
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet devices. They
can perform 10/100 rate switching, enabling the integration of equipment
of different data rates and interface types into one seamless network. The
following shows how Ethernet copper-to-fiber media converters work.
Fiber-to-Fiber Media Converters
Fiber-to-fiber media converters are also compact devices. But unlike
copper-to-fiber media converters, fiber-to-fiber media converters offer
seamless integration of different fiber types by converting multi-mode
fiber to single-mode fiber, and dual fiber to single-fiber. With a single-
http://www.fiberopticshare.com/media-converter-basics.html 24.5.2018
Media Converter Basics - Fiber Optic Network Products | FS.COM Page 3 of 9
mode to multi-mode fiber converter or multi-mode to single-mode
converter, the conversion from one wavelength to another one is made
possible. The image below displays the outlook of a single-mode to multi-
mode fiber converter.
Applications of Media Converters
The applications of media converters are specific. For instance, when to
convert 1000BASE-T and 1000BASE-SX, an Ethernet media convert is
needed. What’s more, media converters can convert between
wavelengths for wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) applications,
such as WDM multiplexer and WDM transceivers. In addition, media
converters can support advanced bridge features, including VLAN,
Quality of Service (QoS) prioritization, Port Access Control and
Bandwidth Control that facilitate the deployment of new data, voice and
video to end users. Media converters can provide all these sophisticated
switch capabilities in a small and cost-effective device.
Media converters support a wide variety of protocols, data rates and
media types. They are flexible and cost-effective devices for
implementing and optimizing fiber links in all types of networks. Fiberstore
offers a large selection of fiber media converters with high quality for
http://www.fiberopticshare.com/media-converter-basics.html 24.5.2018
Media Converter Basics - Fiber Optic Network Products | FS.COM Page 4 of 9
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, 10-Gigabit Ethernet, and Data
Communications. Please visit Fiberstore for more media converter
solutions.
(/#facebook) (/#twitter) (/#google_plus)
(https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%
2Fwww.fiberopticshare.com%2Fmedia-converter-basics.html&title=Media%
20Converter%20Basics)
Fiber Media Converter (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/category/network-media-conversion/fiber-
media-converters), Network Media Conversion (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/category/network-
media-conversion) copper-to-fiber media converters (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/copper-
to-fiber-media-converters), Ethernet copper-to-fiber media converters
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/ethernet-copper-to-fiber-media-converters), fiber-to-fiber media
converters (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/fiber-to-fiber-media-converters), Media converters
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/media-converters), multi-mode to single-mode fiber converters
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/multi-mode-to-single-mode-fiber-converters), single-mode to
multi-mode fiber converter (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/single-mode-to-multi-mode-fiber-
converter), WDM transceivers (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/wdm-transceivers). permalink
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/media-converter-basics.html).
Loose-tube Cable vs. Tight-buffered Cable (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/loose-tube-
cable-vs-tight-buffered-cable.html)
Plastic Optical Fiber vs. Glass Optical Fiber (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/plastic-
optical-fiber-vs-glass-optical-fiber.html)
Search...
http://www.fiberopticshare.com/media-converter-basics.html 24.5.2018
Media Converter Basics - Fiber Optic Network Products | FS.COM Page 5 of 9
(https://www.fs.com/c/qsfp-40g-transceivers-1360)
http://www.fiberopticshare.com/media-converter-basics.html 24.5.2018
Media Converter Basics - Fiber Optic Network Products | FS.COM Page 6 of 9
(https://www.fs.com/c/patch-cables-960)
Recent Posts
24 Port Patch Panel to 24 Port Switch Wiring (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/24-port-
patch-panel-24-port-switch-wiring.html)
http://www.fiberopticshare.com/media-converter-basics.html 24.5.2018
Media Converter Basics - Fiber Optic Network Products | FS.COM Page 7 of 9
Recommendations for Cheap 48-Port 10Gb Switches
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/recommendations-cheap-48-port-10gb-switches.html)
48 Port PoE Switch: Managed vs Unmanaged? (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/48-port-
poe-switch-managed-vs-unmanaged.html)
How to Distinguish Network Cabinet from Server Rack Cabinet
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/distinguish-network-cabinet-server-rack-cabinet.html)
What Is a PoE Switch Used for? (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/poe-switch-used.html)
Categories
Select Category
Tags
40GBASE-SR4 (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/40gbase-sr4) 40G QSFP+
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/40g-qsfp) Bulk Fiber Cable
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/fiber-optic-cables) Cable Management
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/cable-management-2) CWDM
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/cwdm) CWDM multiplexer
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/cwdm-multiplexer) CWDM Mux/Demux
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/cwdm-muxdemux) CWDM OADM
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/cwdm-oadm) DWDM multiplexer
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/dwdm-multiplexer) DWDM System
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/dwdm) EDFA
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/edfa) FBT splitter
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/fbt-splitter) Fiber Adapter Panel
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/fiber-adapter-panel) fiber optic attenuator
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/fiber-optic-attenuator) fiber optic cable
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/fiber-optic-
cable) fiber optic cable supplier (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/fiber-
optic-cable-supplier) fiber optic connectors
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/fiber-optic-connectors) Fiber Optic Network
http://www.fiberopticshare.com/media-converter-basics.html 24.5.2018
Media Converter Basics - Fiber Optic Network Products | FS.COM Page 8 of 9
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/fiber-optic-network) fiber optic patch
cable (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/fiber-optic-patch-cable) Fiber
Patch Cables (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/fiber-
patch-cables) Fiberstore
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/fiberstor
e) fibre optic patch panel (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/fibre-optic-patch-
panel) figure of 8 cable (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/figure-of-8-
cable) FTTH (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/ftth) MPO/MTP
cabling assemblies (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/mpomtp-cabling-assemblies) MPO connector
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/mpo-connector) MTP/MPO cassettes
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/mtpmpo-cassettes) MTP/MPO harness cables
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/mtpmpo-harness-cables) MTP/MPO trunk cables
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/mtpmpo-trunk-cables) OLT
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/olt) ONT
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/ont) optical amplifier
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/optical-
amplifier) optical amplifiers
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/optical-amplifiers) Optical Attenuator
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/optical-attenuators) optical splitter
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/optical-splitter) optical switch
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/optical-switch) optical time-
domain reflectometer (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/optical-time-domain-
reflectometer) optical transceiver
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/optical-transceiver) passive
optical network (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/passive-
optical-network) plastic optical fiber
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/plastic-optical-fiber) PLC
http://www.fiberopticshare.com/media-converter-basics.html 24.5.2018
Media Converter Basics - Fiber Optic Network Products | FS.COM Page 9 of 9
splitter (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/plc-splitter) PoE switch
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/poe-switch) PON (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/pon)
SFP module (http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/sfp-module) variable optical attenuator
(http://www.fiberopticshare.com/tag/variable-optical-attenuator)
dazzling Theme by Colorlib (http://colorlib.com/wp/) Powered by WordPress (http://wordpress.org/)
http://www.fiberopticshare.com/media-converter-basics.html 24.5.2018
