Comparisons of coaxial cable, fiber optic cable and twisted pair cable

Here's what Carrie had to say:
Coaxial cable is used predominantly for video and not used much at all anymore for networks, so I would not worry about that one unless you are looking for legacy information. As for fiber and twisted pair, I will address your questions one at a time and compare the two.

Transmission rates:
This will vary with the electronics, category of fiber or copper and distances spanned. Category 5e is supposed to be capable of providing gigabit performance. However it is estimated that 50% of all Category 5e UTP is not really 5e and can't perform to 5e as it was installed prior to the standards. The standards recommend recertification of all 5e channels prior to moving to gigabit. Cat 6 is generally what is being installed today. Work is ongoing at the IEEE for 10GBASE-T (10 Gigabits per second) over Category 6 or an augmented 6 that is characterized out to 625MHz. Today's category 6 is 250 MHz, 5e is 100MHz. You will also notice that many vendors have cabling and connectivity that are in excess of these numbers. This is because they have "margin and headroom" which basically is a forgiveness factor for what can happen over a cable channel, such as interference, etc.

Fiber transmission rates depend on distance, diameter of the fiber and the light source used to move the light over the fiber. This can be done via laser, VCSEL, etc. Here's a chart –

Application

Wavelength

62.5 160/500

62.5 200/500

50 500/500

50 2000/500

SMF

100BASE-SX

850nm

300m

300m

300m

300m

N/A

1000BASE-SX

850nm

220m

275m

550m

550m

N/A

100BASE-LX

1300nm

550m

550m

550m

550m

5km

10GBASE-SX

850nm

28m

28m

86m

300m

N/A

10GBASE-LX

1310nm

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

10km

10GBASE-EX

1550nm

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

40km

10GBASE-LX4

1310nm

300m

300m

300m

300m

10km

Price:
Fiber is more expensive than copper due to the light emitting equipment and cost. Copper comes in two varieties, shielded and non-shielded. In the US most companies use non-shielded. PC's come with copper ports in them already, so that is also a benefit. Fiber to the desktop can be very expensive when you have to add fiber NICs and Fiber switches. For instance – 10G fiber is supposed to settle at around 10x the cost of gigabit, while the copper alternative should settle at around 3.

Ease of Installation:
If properly trained, none of them are hard to install. However, proper training should include the entire channel, not just the termination.

It does take a bit longer to terminate fiber than copper.

Lengths are in the table above for fiber and copper is 100m as a standard although most are not that long.

Security Interference, etc.
One problem with UTP is that it can be "snooped" or eavesdropped. You can not do this with shielded systems or with fiber. Interference is also not an issue with shielded systems or fiber. They key to controlling interference with UTP (unshielded) is to have it properly installed by someone that understands all of the channel specifications including proper distances from any source of interference.

Rate this Tip To rate tips, you must be a member of SearchNetworking.com. Register now to start rating these tips. Log in if you are already a member. Submit a Tip Digg This!     StumbleUpon     Del.icio.us    RELATED CONTENT Network Engineering Limit network energy consumption with computer cooling technologies Understanding remote scripting -- Managing Windows networks using scripts, part 9 Network mapping in Vista for Windows XP Recovering domain controllers after a server disk failure Recovering from a server disk failure: The shortcomings of NTBCKUP Enabling Windows Vista's Network Mapping feature on domain networks Prevent unauthorized USB devices with software restriction policies, third-party apps How to subnet: Subnetting calculations and shortcuts Using Windows Vista group policy to prevent unauthorized USB device use ISDN implementation: Part 3 -- Cisco router ISDN configuration Network Cable The difference between half-duplex and full-duplex What are a TV tower's effects on your network? What cable do I install for a Nortel wireless access point? BICSI separation requirements between cross-connect points What is the length of a ScUTP and TERA cable run? USB direct cable connection: Cabling tips for network professionals, lesson 10 Parallel direct cable connection: Cabling tips for network professionals, lesson 9 Serial direct cable connection: Cabling tips for network professionals, lesson 8 Direct cable connection: Cabling tips for network professionals, lesson 7 ISDN implementation: Part 3 -- Cisco router ISDN configuration Network Cable Research RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary acoustic coupler  (SearchNetworking.com) Broadband over Power Line  (SearchNetworking.com) CDDI  (SearchNetworking.com) chiral fiber  (SearchNetworking.com) fiber jumper  (SearchNetworking.com) grey route  (SearchNetworking.com) keystone jack  (SearchNetworking.com) patch cord  (SearchNetworking.com) WAN interface card  (SearchNetworking.com) wrap plug  (SearchNetworking.com) RELATED RESOURCES 2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary DISCLAIMER: Our Tips Exchange is a forum for you to share technical advice and expertise with your peers and to learn from other enterprise IT professionals. TechTarget provides the infrastructure to facilitate this sharing of information. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or validity of the material submitted. You agree that your use of the Ask The Expert services and your reliance on any questions, answers, information or other materials received through this Web site is at your own risk.