Fiber Optic Products

Fiber optic networking is slowly replacing copper as the standard for high speed data transfers. While fiber has the disadvantage of requiring more expensive equipment and training, the extra expenses are well worth the monumental gains in speed and efficiency. Installing a fiber network can help you transmit more info with greater fidelity over longer distances. It also provides added security, and is more resistant to electrical interference than traditional cooper cabling.

We have a huge selection of fiber optic supplies including, of course, the fiber cables themselves. We’ve got fiber patch cords, plenum & riser cables, single and multimode fiber optic cabling, and fiber optic connectors for your termination needs.

Fiber is, hands down, the world’s most difficult cable to terminate. Optical fibers must be finely cut, cleaned, polished, and inspected to ensure performance. It is certainly a far cry from the strip-and-crimp termination of copper cabling! We feature a huge selection of fiber termination kits, cleavers, and cleaning supplies for your termination needs. Whether you prefer sprays, wipes, or cleaning sticks, we’ve got you covered.

Our fiber optic testers and test kits will help you troubleshoot your network both during and after installation. Our fiber enclosures include wallmount options, racks and housings, and outdoor enclosures. And our fiber patch panels are available in a number of different options that can be customized to fit virtually any fiber optic application. Top industry brands including Black Box, Corning, Sigamax, Leviton, Panduit, NKT, Ericsson, Eaton,HP, and more are available for all your optical cabling needs!

Fiber Optic Cables

Fiber Optic Basics: Single Mode vs. Multi Mode Fiber

You may know the basics of fiber: glass or plastic fibers that serve as conduit for pulses of light to travel over distances. The light carries data, allowing fiber optic cables to be used as an alternative to traditional metal cabling. Optical fiber has benefits including less signal loss and immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI).
But not all fiber is created equal. One choice that you may find yourself encountering is Single Mode (SMF) or Multi Mode (MMF) fiber. What do these qualifiers mean? Good question. Let’s dig deeper.

Single Mode

Judging by name alone, you might assume that Multi Mode is “better” than Single Mode, because Multi means more, and more is better, right? Not necessarily! Single Mode fibers have a smaller core and narrower wavelength than Multi Mode. It’s referred to as “Single” Mode because it only allows one mode of light to pass along its length. This gives them a greater tolerance for bandwidth and allows them to travel over greater distances due to the narrower focus of the light pulses. A Single Mode cable can reliably travel up to 10,000 meters. They’re more expensive and fragile than Multi Mode, but necessary when utilizing fiber over great distances.

Multi Mode

Multi Mode fiber features a thicker core diameter and a longer light wavelength. This limits the distance it can travel (up to around 600 meters), but also makes it less expensive. They allow multiple modes of light to travel along the fiber length (“propogate”) and since the connections are simplified due to the larger core diameter, it means the equipment used in conjunction with it can be simpler, and thus less costly. Multi Mode fiber has a high capacity and reliability, but sacrifices traveling distance and thus is better suited to short run applications, such as a network within a building or data center.