Optical Modem, also known single-port optic multiplexer, is a point-to-point type terminal equipment which uses a pair of optic fibres to achieve the transmission of E1 or V.35 or 10base-T. Fibre modem has the function of modulation and demodulation. Optical modem is a local network relay transmission equipment, suitable for base station transmission fibre terminal equipment and leased-line equipment.
Fibre modem is similar to the baseband MODEM (digital modem). The only difference from baseband MODEM is that it access fibre line, the optical signal. The multi-ports optic transceiver generally called multiplexer. For multi-port Fibre Optic Multiplexer is normally be directly called “multiplexer”, single-port multiplexer is generally used on the client, similar to commonly used WAN line (circuit) networking with the baseband MODEM, and also named for “fibre modem”, “optical modem”.
Fibre Media Converter is a simple networking device making the connection between two dissimilar media types become possible. Media converter types range from small standalone devices and PC card converters to high port-density chassis systems that offer many advanced features for network management.
Fibre media converters can connect different local area network (LAN) media, modifying duplex and speed settings. Switching media converters can connect legacy 10BASE-T network segments to more recent 100BASE-TX or 100BASE-FX Fast Ethernet infrastructure. For example, existing half-duplex hubs can be connected to 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet network segments over 100BASE-FX fibre.
When expanding the reach of the LAN to span multiple locations, media converters are useful in connecting multiple LANs to form one large campus area network that spans over a limited geographic area. As premises networks are primarily copper-based, media converters can extend the reach of the LAN over single-mode fibre up to 160 kilometres with 1550 nm optics.
Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technology in the LAN is especially beneficial in situations where fibre is in limited supply or expensive to provision. As well as conventional dual strand fibre converters, with separate receive and transmit ports, there are also single strand fibre converters, which can extend full-duplex data transmission up to 120 kilometres over one optical fibre.
Other benefits of media conversion include providing a gradual migration path from copper to fibre. Fibre econnections can reduce electromagnetic interference. Also fibre media converters pose as a cheap solution for those who want to buy switches for use with fibre but do not have the funds to afford them, they can buy ordinary switches and use fibre media converters to use with their fibre network.
The difference between the media converter and optical modem is that the media converter is to convert the optical signal in the LAN, simply a signal conversion, no interface protocol conversion. While, fibre modem for WAN is the optical signal conversion and interface protocol conversion, protocol converter has two types of E1 to V.35 and E1 to Ethernet.
In fact, as the developing of network technology, the concept of media converter and fibre modem has become increasingly blurred, which are basically can be unified for the same equipment. Media converter becomes the scientific name of fibre modem.