Fiber Optic Cables vs Copper Cables

Nowadays, fiber optic cable has been more and more popular instead of the copper cable. However, these two different types actually have several different varieties of uses either in office or residential areas. Fiber optic is the latest technology in cabling or wiring system that allows you to get more advantages.

Copper cable is the older type of cable that has been used for over a hundred years in some different systems. You will find that this cable was traditionally used as telephone wire, speaker system wire, as well as computer wire. Copper cables contain a single thread of copper. The size will be quite different based on the purpose of the cable. It could be in thin or small size, but you can also find some types that come in large size as thick as your arm. Those are sometimes protected with a covering of another type of metal. The covering is usually called braiding.

What about fiber optic cable It consists of plastic or glass strands to transmit information. Besides, it also transmits the data in form of light instead of electricity. A little bit different from copper one, fiber optic could not transmit electricity. However, this kind of cable offers higher theoretical performance. Besides, those two types of cable also have different resistance against interface. Copper cable usually is quite weak to some kinds of signal interface, such as those from cell phones or microwaves. Therefore, you should not operate or use any device that might trigger interface. However, you will not find this certain problem when you are using fiber optic cable.

There are several benefits offered by fiber optic cables. You might find some risks of interface from copper cable, but not fiber optic cable. Meanwhile, you will get great convenience from optical fiber since it could transmit multi-channel audio through a single line. This ability also makes this certain cable very popular for home theater system wiring. However, you need to pay more money to afford it.

Although compared to copper cables, fiber optic cables have so many advantages, they have good use in different areas. Copper cable is mostly used in Ethernet Network for short distance transmission, while fiber optic cable in the Optical Network for long distance transmission. You can choose the most appropriate one to support your own needs.