Based on growing bandwidth and service demands, the ideal network would be founded on an all fiber cable infrastructure. The expensive electronics located along this high-speed network would be equipped with fiber interfaces to take advantage of the medium’s bandwidth, resistance to EMI, better security, and freedom from confining distance limitations. | Media Conversion Myths about Media Converters Introduction Based on growing bandwidth and service demands the ideal network would be founded on an all fiber cable infrastructure. The expensive electronics located along this high-speed network would be equipped with fiber interfaces to take advantage of the medium s bandwidth resistance to EMI better security and freedom from confining distance limitations. That s probably not your current network however. The day may come when fiber is strung end-to-end and all your networking gear is equipped with fiber interfaces but the copper-to-fiber transition is truly an evolutionary process that won t come all at once. It s simply too expensive to abruptly replace all the copper and all the old equipment just because some parts of the network require fiber. Planned migration is a better and more practical idea using your current copper infrastructure to maximize profits while selectively deploying fiber and fiber gear as needs arise and funds are available. Media converters are a tactical element that facilitate the fiber network evolution. Deploying media converters makes it possible to connect networks that use dissimilar cabling. They are physical-layer devices that straddle two types of media. In their most common application they receive electrical signals on one port and transmit optical signals out the other. Most often this involves unshielded twisted pair UTP and fiber although there are media converters for almost every type of cabling twisted pair coaxial multimode and singlemode fiber. Likewise there are media converters for most types of networks Ethernet Fast Ethernet Gigabit Ethernet ATM T1 E1 Fibre Channel and SONET. There are many preconceived notions and beliefs about media converters and their usefulness. Myths about Media Converters will address the value they provide. Myths about Media Converters The Myths. Media converters don t belong in my network. Media conversion is prolific in every fiber network.
