Understanding the Different Types of SFP Modules

There are many different types of SFP modules available today, so what makes them different and how do you know which one is best for you? This guide will explain them all.

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SFP modules have a wide range of applications and can be used with most modern networks. Most fall into four main categories: cable type, transmission range, transmission rate, and application.

100G 40KM QSFP28 ER4

Cable Types

SFP modules can work over both optical fiber and copper wire. Depending on the type of fiber, SFP transceivers can be divided into single-mode SFPs, which work with single-mode fiber, and multimode SFPs, which work with multimode fiber.

XBASE-T is the IEEE standard that defines the requirement for sending information on unshielded twisted-pair cabling and defines various aspects of running Ethernet on this cabling. You will primarily find SFP modules are base-T SFPs for a 1Gb network.

40G 10KM QSFP+ LR4

Transmission range

For shorter distances, multimode SFPs offer a cheaper and optimal solution. The most common multimode SFPs are 850nm wavelengths, up to 550 meters. If an extended multimode transmission distance is required, nm wavelengths are also available for a maximum transmission distance of 2km.

For longer distances, single-mode SFPs can transmit anywhere from 10km to 200km. The standard nm LX SFP can reach 10km and the extended nm EX SFP can reach 40km; the standard nm ZX SFP can reach 80km and the extended nm ZX SFP can reach 160km; the transmission distance of BiDi SFP varies from 10km to 160km when using different wavelengths. The most common wavelength pairs for BiDi SFP are nm/nm, nm/nm, and nm/nm, and the transmission distance is up to 200km when using multiplexed wavelengths (DWDM/CWDM).

 25GB SFP28 DWDM 20KM Transceiver

Transmission Rate

From Fast Ethernet to Gigabit Ethernet to 10Gb, 40Gb, 25Gb, and 100Gb Ethernet, the trend toward higher speeds and higher bandwidths has been unstoppable. Since the development of the SFP, modern advances have been added to the mix. Namely, SFP+ for 10 Gigabit, SFP28 for 25 Gigabit Ethernet, QSFP for 40 Gigabit Ethernet, and QSFP28 for 100G Gigabit Ethernet are now available.

 10G 100KM DWDM SFP+

Applications

HD audio/video transmission and reception, passive optical networks (PON), multiplexing, and simplex networks are also some of the most common applications for SFP modules.

3G-SDI video SFPs are designed to meet the high standard video transmission requirements in high definition (HD) environments.

PON SFPs are used for optical line terminals (OLTs) at central offices and optical network terminals/units (ONTs/ONUs) at subscriber premises.

CWDM SFPs and DWDM SFPs are used by telecom systems for long-distance transmission, allowing multiple signals to be transmitted simultaneously on a single fiber.

 1.25G BIDI SFP 80KM

BIDI SFPs allow data to be sent and received over a single fiber to interconnected network devices such as network switches or routers, which allows users to simplify their cabling systems, increase network capacity and reduce costs.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Wirenet.

Fibre Channel SFP is a high-speed network technology (typically operating at 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 128 Gb/sec) used primarily to connect computer data storage to servers in SAN data center environments.

SONET/SDH SFP is compatible with SONET/SDH and ATM standards, which cover the standard data rate range from OC-3/STM-1 (155 Mbps) to OC-48/STM-16 ( Gbps) for multimode (MM), short-range (SR), medium-range (IR1), and long-range (LR1/LR2) applications.

Hilink is specialized in fiber optical products and networking solutions. Our main products are transceiver modules such as QSFP, QSFP28, CWDM/ DWDM SFP/XFP. Our networking solutions are including FWDM, DWDM CWDM OLP, MPO AAWG, etc.

We have a professional production line and staff, so we can get the goods ready in a short time. All the items are coming with certification, like RoHS CE FCC, CB TUV, and standard. We are committed to providing class 1 products and cost-effective solutions to create new values for our partners.

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What&#;s the CWDM/DWDM Optical Add-drop Multiplexer?

The optical add-drop multiplexers (OADM) are used in wavelength-division multiplexing systems for multiplexing and routing different channels of light into or out of a single mode fiber. This is a type of optical node, which is generally used for the construction of optical telecommunications networks. An OADM may be considered to be a specific type of cross connect cabinet.

OADM Module

A traditional OADM consists of three stages: an optical demultiplexer, and optical multiplexers, and between them a method of reconfiguring the paths between the optical demultiplexer, the optical multiplexer and a set of ports for adding and dropping signals. The optical demultiplexer separates wavelengths in an input fiber onto ports. The reconfiguration can be achieved by a fiber patch panel or by optical switches which direct the wavelengths to the optical multiplexer or to drop ports. The optical multiplexer multiplexes the wavelength channels that are to continue on from demultiplexer ports with those from the add ports, onto a single output fiber.

Principles of OADM technology

General OADM node can use four port model (Figure 1) to represent, includes three basic functions: Drop required wavelength signal, Add rumored signal to other wavelengths pass through unaffected. OADM specific network process is as follows: WDM signal coming from the line contains mangy wavelength signals into OADM&#;s &#;MainInput&#; side, according to business required, from many wavelength signals to selectively retrieved from the end (Drop) output desired wavelength signal, relative to the end from the Add the wavelength of the input signal to be transmitted. While the other has nothing to do with the local wavelength channels directly through the OADM, and rumored signals multiplexed together, the line output from the OADM (Main Output) Output.

OADM node technical classification

Optical drop multiplexer network technologies can be divided into two types, fixed optical drop multiplexer (Fixed OADM, FOADM) and reconfigurable optical drop multiplexer (Reconfigurable OADM, ROADM).

Fixed Optical Drop Multiplexer (FOADM)

FOADM to filter as the main component, and its function is fixed to join or retrieve certain light wavelengths. General common FOADM can be divided into three types, namely Thin Film Filter type (TFF type), Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG type) and integrated planar Arrayed Waveguide Gratings (AWG type).

* TFF FOADM using thin film between the filtering effect of the different refractive index.

* FBG FOADM use of fiber Bragg grating filtering effect, with two circulator can become FOADM.

* AWG FOADM gererally used in semiconductor fabrication processes, the integration of different refractive index material is formed on a flat substrate in a planar waveguide, when different wavelength light source is incident through the couping after the import side, due to take a different path length, while the different phase delay caused by different wavelengths and thus produce certain wavelengths in the export side to form a constructive or destructive interference, making waves in the export side, the different wavelengths will follow the design on a different channel to reach, and thus achieve FOADM function.

Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM)

ROADM can always be adjusted with the distribution network to add and drop wavelength, which reconstruct the network resource allocation, the flexibility to meet the requires of modern urban network, so a flexible ROADM features, plus optical switch substantial advantage, making the current fastest growing ROADM based optical switches based ROADM (switch based OADM). ROADM mainly be the optical switch, multiplexer and demultiplexer composed, Switch-based OADM, mainly divided into Wavelength independent switch array and wavelength selection switch.

OADM network applications

WDM ROADM optical fiber suitable for different network environments.

OADM in the metropolitan network development tendency

1. Arbitrary choice must be retrieved, adding wavelength, the wavelength can take advantage of the limited resources, the node can be retrieved with the need to do to join the adjustment of the signal wavelength, and has a remote control functions. This can provide dynamic reconfiguration of optical communications network capable ROADM will be connected to the backbone network critical devices. And FOADM is used for wavelength demand network access will be smaller parts to reduce costs. Furthermore, ROADM use to all kinds of Tunable Laser, unable Filter, or wavelength selective optical switches and other components.

2. Must be able to convert incompatible wavelength suitable for the backbone network will be transmitted wavelengths. Therefore, OADM be combined with wavelength conversioin Transponder or other functional components.

3. Must be able to compensate for the node to make acquisistion, adding such action energy loss. Therefore, OADM optical amplifiers must be combined with functional components.

4. Wavelength signals related specifications, such as: the signal to noise ratio (S/N), the energy balance between the signal wavelength, etc., are required to meet network requirements. Therefore must be combined OADM variable optical attenuators (VOA), dispersion compensation module (DCM) and other components.

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