In this lesson,
we're going to cover fiber network connections.
Now, a fiber network connection
is created by connecting a fiber optic cable
to two different devices.
On each end of the fiber optic cable or fiber media,
you're going to find a fiber connector
that will help enable a quicker connection
and disconnection from the network,
than splicing the fiber directly
into the piece of equipment would.
Now most fiber optic cables will require two different sets
of connectors on that cable.
One set will be for the transmission side of the cable,
and the other will be for the receive side of that cable.
Now for example,
if you have a standard fiber optic patch cable
using ST connectors,
you're either going to use a single cable
with one ST connector on each side,
and you would then connect one
to the transmit side of one device,
and one to the receive side of the other device.
Alternatively, some manufacturers make cables
that are joined as a pair.
In this case, you'd have two fiber optic cores
inside of one cable jacket.
Then you're normally going to find two connectors,
with one set of connectors
being for the first device's transmit and receive ports,
and the other set being for the second device's transmit
and receive ports.
Now, there are many different types of fiber connectors
used in modern networks,
and these include things like SC, LC, ST, MTRJ,
and MPO connectors.
First, let's take a look at the subscriber connector.
The subscriber connector, also known as an SC connector,
is known for its square shape and push pull design,
that offers a secure
and simple connection mechanism for our use.
One of the ways I remember how to identify the SC connector
is by calling it the stick and click connector,
because you stick it into the port
until you hear the click,
much like a regular copper twisted pair cable
with an RJ 45 connector on it.
The SC connector is widely used in single mode fibers
due to its precision and minimal signal loss,
which makes it a very commonly used connector type
in telecommunication and data networking environments.
The SC connector is also very durable
and easy to use,
so it's a very practical choice
for a variety of applications.
Frequently, you're going to find that SC connectors are used
in fiber to the home or FTTH deployments,
to connect individual houses
to the main fiber network of your internet service provider.
The reliability and ease of disconnection
and reconnection does make it ideal for environments
where modifications
or maintenance might be necessary in the future as well.
Second, we have the lucent connector.
Now, the lucent connector, also known as the LC connector,
is distinguished by its compact size,
which utilizes a push-pull mechanism
very similar to the SC connector,
but in a much smaller form factor.
The LC connector is highly favored
in high density applications like data centers
and telecommunication rooms,
because the LC connector's smaller size
allows for greater port density on panels and switches,
which is an essential feature
as your network size and demands continue to grow.
Often you'll find that the LC connector
is shipped as a two cable pair,
but their connectors are bound together.
For this reason, I like to think of the LC connector
as the love connector,
because they're usually coupled up with their transmit
and receive sides being joined together
by snapping them into place.
But you can also separate them too
if you need to for a particular use case.
In your enterprise data centers
where space is at a premium
and high data rates are essential,
you're commonly going to find the LC connectors
are being used there.
The LC connector's high precision alignment
also helps to ensure the efficient data transmission occurs
so that your potential data loss is going to be minimized.
Third, we have the straight tip connector.
Now, the straight tip connector,
also known as the ST connector,
is recognizable by its round shape
and twist lock mechanism,
that offers us a robust and reliable connector type
to use in our networks.
Personally, I like to call the ST connector the stick
and twist connector,
because you stick the connector onto the port
and then twist it to lock it into place.
The twist lock design
ensures that we have a secure connection
similar to a BNC connector used with our coaxial cables.
And this is a critically important feature
if you're operating in any kind of an environment
where movement or vibrations might occur.
Originally, the ST connector was developed by AT&T,
and you're going to find that the ST connector
is commonly used with multi-mode fiber optic cables
and applications.
Now, often I have found that the straight tip connectors
are going to be used in campus network environments
where the fiber might be run between two different buildings
that are within a few hundred meters of each other.
The ST connector's durability
also makes it well-suited for outdoor applications,
where environmental factors like wind, rain, and snow,
might otherwise affect our network's connectivity.
The ST connector's ease of installation
and reliable connection makes it a preferred choice
for all of these types of scenarios.
Fourth, we have a mechanical transfer register jack.
The mechanical transfer register jack,
also known as the MTRJ connector,
features a small, rectangular design,
and it houses both the transmit
and receive fibers inside of a single connector.
This dual fiber connector is often used
in space constrained applications.
The MTRJ connector combines high density capabilities
with the familiarity of an RJ style latch mechanism
that you might otherwise find in a traditional copper cable
like a CAT6A cable using an RJ45 connector on it.
The most common use case for MTRJ connectors
is for connecting devices inside of a local area network
within an office building.
The compact size of an MTRJ connector
is going to make it well suited
for connecting workstations and servers
whenever you have space that's limited,
such as when using a 24 port fiber switch
inside of your network closet.
Now the MTRJ's ability
to accommodate two fibers in one connector
is going to significantly reduce the space needed
for fiber connection,
and it makes it a cost-effective solution
for densely populated network environments.
Fifth, we have the multi-fiber push on connector.
The multi-fiber push on connector,
also known as an MPO connector,
is designed to accommodate multiple fibers
in a single connector
to significantly increase the capacity
and flexibility of your fiber networks.
Normally, you're going to find that there are 12
or more fibers contained within a single MPO connector.
So this type of connector is essential
for high density applications,
and is used widely in data centers
and high speed networks.
Inside of a data center,
MPO connectors are often going to be used
for backbone cabling
and high speed interconnections between your devices.
The MPO connectors allow for the quick
and efficient connection of multiple fibers
to help reduce the installation time
and increase the overall capacity
of your network infrastructure.
The MPO connectors ability
to handle multiple fiber simultaneously,
does make it a key component
in modern data center architectures,
particularly in applications that require rapid scalability.
Now, we have just discussed
five different fiber connector types,
including SC, LC, ST, MTRJ, and MPO,
but it's also important for you to realize
that each type of connector can also be polished
or shaped to create more
or less back reflection
when using that specific fiber optic cable.
Now, when I talk about back reflection,
what I'm talking about is that your machine is trying
to send data over the fiber,
but some of that light is actually coming back
into your transmitter,
and that can actually degrade your signal.
So we want to try to minimize that where possible.
So, when it comes to purchasing a cable,
you're going to have to consider which type of polish
it's going to use,
and this may be PC, UPC or APC,
and each one of these will affect the quality, speed,
and reliability of your connection,
as well as affecting the cost of each cable
you're going to purchase to use inside of your network.
Now, first we have the PC or physical contact style.
The physical contact style is going to have a slight curvature
in the face of the fiber,
so there's a lower back reflection
over a standard straight cut fiber.
PC connectors are commonly used in digital
and telephone services.
Overall though, as compared to UPC
or APC polish styles,
the physical contact style connectors
will provide you with the least effective reduction
in back reflection,
and so they're really going to be best suited for applications
where back reflection is less of a concern,
such as over a short distance
or lower speed data transmission network.
Second, we have a UPC,
also known as the ultra physical contact style connector.
The ultra physical contact style
is going to have a dome shaped end face
for better core alignment,
and this offers lower back reflection
than the standard PC style did.
Basically, UPC is an updated
and better version of the older PC
or physical contact style polish.
UPC connectors are usually going to be found
in general broadband, data and video applications,
because they offer a good balance
between performance and cost.
Third, we have APC or the angled physical contact.
Now, the angled physical contact
uses an eight degree angled polish
to greatly reduce the back reflection.
The APC style has the lowest amount of back reflection,
which makes them well suited for high bandwidth
and long distance applications.
For this reason,
you're going to find that APC polished connectors
are often used in long haul fiber installations,
such as undersea cable networks,
where minimizing signal loss is going to be crucial,
even though APC style polishes do cost more than a PC
or UPC style polish.
So remember, fiber optic media
is going to use different types of fiber connectors
to meet the the needs of your specific application.
The subscriber connector, also known as an SC connector,
is known for its square shape and push-pull design,
that offers a secure and simple connection mechanism.
The lucent connector, also known as an LC connector,
is distinguished by its compact size
that utilizes a push-pull mechanism
that's similar to the SC, but in a much smaller form factor.
The straight tip connector, also known as an ST connector,
is recognizable by its round shape
and twist lock mechanism,
that offers us a robust and reliable connection type
to use in our networks.
The mechanical transfer register jack,
also known as an MTRJ connector,
is going to feature a small rectangular design,
and houses both of its transmit
and receive fibers inside of a single connector.
The multi-fiber push on connector,
also known as an MPO connector,
is designed to accommodate multiple fibers
in a single connector
to significantly increase the capacity
and flexibility of your fiber networks.
Now, when it comes to the different types
and shapes of polishes,
I just want you to remember that the original one,
the physical contact, only provides slight improvements
in back reflection reduction.
The ultra physical contact is going to improve upon this
by creating a more dome like shape,
and the angled physical contact uses that eight degree angle
to minimize back reflection the most
out of these three different polish styles.
As fiber optics continue to evolve,
it's important that you stay informed about these connectors
and the standards,
because it will give you more efficiency
and effectiveness in your network designs
and maintenance when you're working as a network technician.