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What is the difference between optical modules and optical transceivers?

Submitted by yunseo on Wed, 08/24/2022 - 19:11

  With the development of science and technology and the acceleration of urban informatization,the requirements for communication technology are becoming higher and higher.Optical fiber has become the first choice for people in communication laying due to its advantages of fast transmission speed,long distance,safety and stability,anti-interference,and convenient expansion.We often see the demand for long-distance data transmission in building intelligent projects,which basically adopts optical fiber transmission.And the link between them needs optical modules and optical fiber transceivers.Many users have some doubts about the use of optical modules and optical fiber transceivers.How should they be connected?What are the precautions?

  Let's first understand the difference between the two:

  1.An optical module is a functional module,or accessory,and is a passive device that cannot be used alone.It can only be used in switches and devices with optical module slots;The optical fiber transceiver is a functional device,which is a separate active device,and can be used alone with the power supply;

  2.The optical module itself can simplify the network and reduce the failure points,while the use of optical fiber transceivers will increase many equipment,greatly increase the failure rate and occupy too much storage space of the cabinet,which is not beautiful;

  3.The optical module supports hot plug,and the configuration is relatively flexible;Optical fiber transceivers are relatively fixed,and replacement and upgrading will be more troublesome than optical modules;

  4.The optical module is more expensive than the optical transceiver,but it is relatively stable and not easy to be damaged;While the optical fiber transceiver is economical and practical,many factors such as power adapter,optical fiber status and network cable status should be considered.The transmission loss accounts for about 30%;

  5.The optical module is mainly used for the optical interface of optical network communication equipment such as aggregation switch,core router,DSLAM,OLT,etc.,such as the backbone network of optical fiber network such as computer video,data communication,wireless voice communication,etc;Optical fiber transceivers are used in the actual network environment where Ethernet cables cannot cover and optical fibers must be used to extend the transmission distance,and are usually located in the access layer applications of broadband metropolitan area networks,such as:high-definition video image transmission of monitoring projects and the connection of the last kilometer of optical fibers to the metropolitan area network and the outer layer network;

  In addition,when connecting the optical fiber module and the optical fiber transceiver,pay attention to the following points:the wavelength and the transmission distance must be consistent,for example,the wavelength is 1310nm or 850nm at the same time,and the transmission distance is 10km;Optical fiber jumpers or pigtails must be connected with the same interface.Generally,the SC port is used for optical fiber transceivers and the LC port is used for optical modules.This will prompt the selection of interface type during purchase.At the same time,the speed of the optical transceiver and the optical module must be the same.For example,the Gigabit transceiver corresponds to the 1.25g optical module,with 100m connected to 100m,and Gigabit connected to Gigabit;The optical fiber type of the optical module must be the same,single fiber to single fiber,double fiber to double fiber.

fiber optic transceiver
800G QSFP-DD
Optical Transceiver Module