How To Use Fiber Media Converter In Your Network?--ETU-LINK

How to Use Fiber Media Converter in Your Network?

November 22. 2017

Fiber Media converters play an important role in today's muti-protocol, mixed media networks. Because of Fiber media converters, it provides convenient flexibility for your network design, making your network compatible with copper and fiber. So the fiber media converter solutions is considerably more economical.

Ⅰ. What Are Two Main Port Types Of Fiber Media Converter?

A fiber media converter is used to extend copper UTP Ethernet cabling to distances beyond the 100m max for UTP, by converting the signals to fiber optic cabling.

Media converters have two types of ports. One for copper and the other for fiber. In terms of fiber ports, there are two types. One for Optical transceivers(SFP, XFP, etc), the other for fiber optic patch cables(SC, ST, etc). The copper ports, are all designed for RJ45.

1. Fixed‑fiber‑port media converter: Built‑in fixed optical transceiver, fixed wavelength and transmission distance, SC/ST connector, plug‑and‑play, suitable for large‑scale monitoring deployment. Cannot change transmission parameters without replacing whole hardware unit.
2. SFP slot‑type media converter: Hot‑pluggable SFP slot, users can swap SFP/SFP+ modules to adjust rate, fiber‑mode and transmission distance, more flexible for network upgrade.

Ⅱ. How to use Fiber Media Converter in your network?

Since fiber media converter is used to convert fiber between copper, in one fiber media converter application scene, we usually use fiber media converter to connect a copper device and a fiber device. Like the below sketch show.

Ⅲ. Step‑By‑Step Installation & Operation Procedure

1. Hardware preparation: Media‑converter unit, matched fiber‑patch‑cord, Cat5e/Cat6 ethernet cable, DC‑power‑adapter; SFP‑slot‑type model needs corresponding SFP optical‑module.
2. Insert SFP module into slot (only for SFP‑slot‑type converter). Confirm wavelength/fiber‑mode match between two communication ends.
3. Connect RJ45 copper‑port to PC, switch or surveillance NVR with ethernet cable.
4. Plug‑in fiber‑patch‑cord: Duplex fiber follow TX‑to‑RX cross‑connection rule; BiDi single‑fiber must use reversed‑wavelength paired‑modules on two sides.
5. Power‑on device, observe LED indicator: PWR power‑light, LINK fiber‑port light, copper‑port link‑light should light‑up normally.
6. Conduct network ping test to verify link connectivity. If equipped with LFPT (Link‑Fault‑Pass‑Through) function, copper‑port failure will trigger local optical‑transmit shut‑down for fast fault‑location.

Ⅳ. Critical Matching Rules & Common Mistakes To Avoid
1. Rate consistency: 10/100M converter must work with 10/100M network device; Gigabit converter matches gigabit RJ45 equipment, rate‑mismatch will cause no‑link or random packet‑loss.
2. Fiber‑mode consistency: Multimode media‑converter must use multimode fiber‑cable; single‑mode converter uses OS2 single‑mode fiber. Do not cross‑mix multimode/single‑mode.
3. BiDi single‑fiber reminder: Must use complementary A/B wavelength pair, same‑wavelength BiDi modules cannot communicate.
4. Cable‑length restriction: RJ45 copper‑cable shall not exceed 100 meters; actual fiber transmission distance cannot exceed module nominal distance, reserve 3‑5dB optical‑power safety‑margin for connectors and splices loss.
5. Dust‑protection: Cover dust‑cap for fiber‑port and SFP module when idle; dirty ferrule will bring high insertion‑loss and unstable link.

Ⅴ. ETU-link Fiber Media Converter Solutions

We supply various fiber media converters including single-mode and multimode fiber, for Ethernet, fast Ethernet, Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet.

Fiber Media Converter
Convert From: 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps Twisted Pair Copper 10BASE-T / 100BASE-TX	Convert To: 100 Mbps Fiber100BASE-FX (up to 100 km)
Convert From: 1000 Mbps Twisted Pair Copper 1000BASE-T	Convert To: 1000 Mbps Fiber 1000BASE-X (up to 100 km)
Convert From: 10 Gigabit Ethernet Twisted Pair Copper 10GBASE-T	Convert To: 10 Gigabit Ethernet Fiber 10GBASE-X