Difference between Coaxial Cable and Fiber Optic Cable
Coaxial cables and fiber optic cables are both referred to as guided transmitted media. What this means is that there is a transmission medium which acts as a physical path in data communications and which is placed between the transmitter and the receiver (also known as the channel through which data is sent from one place to another. Both fiber optic cables and coaxial cables are considered guided media.
To describe the optical fiber cable, it’s important to understand its makeup. It is made up of an outer jacket, a loose buffer, cladding, and a fiber core. Basically it is a kind of guided media that is built of glasses and plastics, both of which are used to convey either a light form signal or an optical form signal. It can also supply a high bandwidth, and additionally it has an installation process and implementation system that is difficult and complex, at least when compared to the coaxial cable.
Meanwhile the coaxial cable is also built distinctly. It consists of a plastic cover enveloping the outer layer, an insulator in its second tier, and outer conductor shield, yet another insulator above that, and an inner conductor at its topmost tier. Some other key differences between the two? For one, the coaxial cable is made from copper wires and plastic wires, while the optical fiber medium is made of glasses, plastics, and wires. Though they are somewhat similar, the few differences here are important for conductivity. For instance, this makes the optical fiber very high efficient, while the coaxial cable is significantly less efficient than the former.
Another key difference the optical fiber is used to transmit the signal is in light form, while the coaxial cable is used to transmit the signal in an electrical form. The cost of optical fiber is also significantly higher while the price for a coaxial cable is crucially less. Some other differences include the weight in both cables. The former is much lighter and the latter is significantly weightier. Additionally, the diameter of the optical fiber is smaller while the coaxial cables are smaller. These differences are what make a difference for those shopping around for convenience, ease and other factors affecting customization. If installation for one is easier than the other, it’s likely that customers are going to go for the option that is much easier, In this case, that is often the coaxial cable.
As for some other unique differences, in the optical fiber, there is highest noise immunity as they are unaffected by the electrical noise, while the coaxial cable in contrast, has finest noise immunity because it is supplied with a shield. Furthermore, both mediums are only minimally affected by the external magnetic field (coaxial cables are less affected by the external magnetic field). Power loss ultimately occurs in the optical fibers because they are caused by the absorption, scattering, dispersion and bending. A power loss in coaxial cables meanwhile occurs as a result of conduction.
Share
