LEAVE IT TO TRANSCEIVERS

Fiber optic transceivers are modular, pluggable and interchangeable optoelectronic devices. You can find a transceiver at the heart of any fiber optic communication system. Everything from a local university to a large corporation utilizes data centers and transceivers. These devices convert an electrical signal to optical signal on one end and back again on the other.

 

Tomorrow’s data centers, local area networks and digital communication systems will require faster data transmission rates. This “need for speed” stems from an increasing dependence on online communications. We use transmitters for almost everything we do online. Online shopping, educational programs and social media are just a few ways we have increased the need for faster transmitters.

 

Transceivers also provide an essential path for upgrading a fiber optic link to the next generation of data transmission speeds. Because transceivers are interchangeable, the ability to upgrade the transceiver without upgrading the entire data center is a remarkably low-cost solution. Transceivers are currently capable of transferring data at speeds from 10 to 40 to 100 Gigabits per second. However, many experts expect transfer speed to continue increase over the next few decades.

 

 

 

Did you know?

 

• Fiber optic transceivers have built-in intelligence! The built-in memory chips can be “programed” to work with specific switch gears, routers and transmission equipment. This programmability enables data centers to use transceivers from a variety of providers!

 

• Transceivers can use different schemes. For example; the PAM4 scheme is able to increase the modulation of the light containing the encoded data. You can also increase the transmission throughput by adding more fibers (parallel optical transmission) or adding more wavelengths on a single fiber (WDM).

 

• Transceivers come in different formats and in a variety of shapes and sizes (form factors). This enables the transceiver to fit into the switch equipment “slots”. In some cases it can be quite confusing to figure out what products you actually need to use. Luckily C2G has all the resources you need to make the correct selection!

 

 

 

What about MSA or MMWA?

 

It is a common misconception that transceivers are not interchangeable (Read more about transceiver warranties) . There are many different manufacturers that work under an MSA, or Multi –Source Agreement, which has been established in the industry by transceiver suppliers. It assures standardized and compatible mechanical and electrical interfaces.

 

The US government also protects transmission equipment warranties with the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (MMWA). This legislation, passed in 1975, ensures that equipment manufactures cannot require the data center to use only their brand of transceivers to retain the warranty. This means that you are free to use whatever transceiver you would like.

 

How do you select your transceiver then?

 

The transceiver selection process can be tricky. There are a variety of options and specifications. But we have a few suggestion for helping you find the perfect transceiver:

 

To begin, determine the three major application requirements for your fiber switch gear and transmission equipment. This would include finding the transmission data rates you need now and will need in the future (migration). Next, detail the protocols and data formats required. Finally discover the type of fiber optic cabling you plan to use or may already have installed (standard multimode, wide band multimode, single mode, cable constructions and fiber counts).

 

Once you answer all of these questions you can select a transceiver that will be compatible with your data center or network. The next step is to consult your manufacturer’s specification sheets for important technical information such as optical power transmitted and required at the receiver, as well as insertion fiber losses, wavelengths of operation and polarity requirements for all components.

 

Always make sure your transceiver’s requirements match up with your switch and your cable’s fiber and connector types.

 

In some cases C2G can provide a "Universal Transceiver" that works with some or all of your network equipment. This universal option allows you to reduce the inventory of spare transmitters required. C2G’s transceiver offering spans a wide range of equipment from popular manufacturers such as Arista, Brocade, Cisco, Finisar, HP, Juniper, and more. All of C2G’s transceivers are competitively priced, TAA compliant and guaranteed to meet all OEM specifications.