Filters
Search

Secure Checkout
No Sales Tax collected On Orders Shipping Outside NY State.
FREE SHIPPING FOR MOST ORDERS OVER $99
Same Day Shipping! For many in stock items if order received by 2PM EST.
No Sales Tax collected On Orders Shipping Outside NY State.
Search

What is CART ID?
Search
Your Shopping Cart Is Empty


Secure Checkout

Cables Blog

Shop Cables for Sale - Fiber Optic Cables, Network Cables, Outdoor Cables, Bulk Ethernet Cables, Cat6 Cables, Cat5 Cables, Cat5e Cables, Crypto Cables and Data Center Cables.



Difference Between Multimode and Single Fiber Optic Cable

Single-mode VS Multimode Fiber Optics

Put simply, the main difference between SM and MM fiber optic cables is the size of the core. Multimode fiber is thicker and measures in the 50 to 100-micron range. The thinner single mode fiber core has a diameter of only about 8.3 to 10 microns.

by Vikas Dayal • November 18, 2019

Fiber Optic Cables


Single-mode VS Multimode Fiber Optics

Put simply, the main difference between SM and MM fiber optic cables is the size of the core. Multimode fiber is thicker and measures in the 50 to 100-micron range. The thinner single mode fiber core has a diameter of only about 8.3 to 10 microns.

The thicker, multimode fiber optic cables can handle high bandwidth and faster transmissions but only over short distances. One MM cable can handle what would take several SM cables to accomplish. However, single mode fiber optic cables can handle up to 50 times more distance with little attenuation or distortion. For this reason, telecoms use this type of cable to cover long distances.

How Do I Know Which Fiber Optic Cable I Need?

The main factors to consider when deciding on the type of fiber you should use is the transmission distance and the project budget allowance. For distances less than a mile or two, you can opt to use a multimode fiber. However, if the transmission distance exceeds 3 miles, single mode fiber optics is the best choice.

It is also important to consider the type of application when deciding whether to use single-mode or multimode fiber. For example, over longer distances, multimode works well for CCTV but not high speed transmissions.

.

Cost Comparison of Single Mode vs Multimode Fibers

Although single-mode optical fiber has advantages in terms of bandwidth and reach for longer distances, multimode optical fiber easily supports most distances required for enterprise and data center networks, at a cost significantly less than single-mode.

If you haven’t yet designed or installed the network, multimode cable and the corresponding transceivers are the more affordable option for enterprise and data center applications. If your application exceeds the 1500 - 2000 feet range, installing single-mode optical fiber is necessary.

The Future of Fiber Optic Cable Networks

As enterprises are preparing to deploy 100G and 400G technologies, industry standards groups are leaning towards multimode fiber optics. They’ve name multimode fiber optics cable as the short reach solution for the next generation of faster transmission speeds. 

The next generation of multimode cable, OM5 (wide band), can handle more bandwidth and higher speeds, alleviating the use of single-mode optics in certain applications. This new fiber offers enterprises and data centers another cost-effective option without having to transition to the more expensive single-mode optics. 


Why Do Ethernet Cables Come in Different Colors?
How Much Bandwidth Do Data Centers Need?

Recent Cables.com Posts

Why Buy Cat6A Ethernet Cables?
Watertight Cables for Extreme Weather
Why Buy Plenum Cat6 Cables?
Shopping Custom Cables at Cables.com
The Ins and Outs of Hospital-Grade Power Cords
What Do Fiber Optic Cable Colors Mean?
USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 Data Cables at Cables.com
HDMI Cables and Accessories at Cables.com
What Are the Best Outdoor Ethernet Cables?
Buy the Best Category6 Ethernet Cables at Cables.com

Categories

> A/V Cables
> Adapters
> AI
> Apple Products
> Artificial Intelligence
> Audio/Video Cables
> Bulk Cable Company
> Cable Company
> Cable Experts Online
> Cable Suppliers
> Cable Vendors
> Cable Warehouse
> Cable Wholesalers
> Cables on Demand
> Cables.com
> Cables.com News and Information
> Cat5e / Cat6 Cables
> Category 7 Ethernet Cables
> Cell Phone Cables
> Custom Cables
> Custom Fiber Optic Cables
> Data Center
> Datacomm Cables
> Fiber Optic Cables
> HDMI Cables
> Integrator
> Internet of Things (loT)
> Keystone Jacks
> Market Reports
> MIT Technology Review
> Network Patch Cables
> Network Patch Cords
> Network Topology
> New York Cable Company
> NY Cable Company
> Online Learning
> Outdoor Cables
> Patch Finder
> Patch Panels
> Power Cables
> Power Cords
> RapidRun
> Reseller
> Shielded Ethernet Cable
> Signal Conversion
> Solution Provider
> Supply Chain
> USB 3.0 Cables
> VAR
> Wholesale Cable
> Wholesale Cable Supplier
all

Archives

February, 2024
January, 2024
December, 2023
November, 2023
October, 2023
September, 2023
August, 2023
July, 2023
June, 2023 more archive dates
archive article list

RSS


Easy Product Returns within 30 Days and Secure Shopping for your safety.