The introduction of SFP transceiver and Fiber Media Converter
Before understanding the difference between SFP transceiver and Fiber Media Converter, let's take a look at what they are and what they do.
What is SFP transceiver?
As an optical device that completes photoelectric conversion and electro-optical conversion, the SFP transceiver is composed of optoelectronic devices, functional circuits and optical interfaces, and is the carrier for transmitting signals between switches and other devices.
What is fiber media converter?
Fiber media converter is the photoelectric conversion devices that convert short-distance electrical signals and long-distance optical signals, also known as photoelectric converters. It is generally used in long-distance transmission that cannot be covered by network cables to achieve the purpose of extending the signal transmission distance.
The difference between SFP transceiver and Fiber Media Converter
It can be seen from the above that both SFP transceiver and Fiber Media Converter are devices that convert electrical signals and optical signals. Although their functions are similar, there are still some differences. As shown below, they have the following differences:
Active and passive
The SFP transceiver is is equivalent to an optoelectronic device or accessory. It is a passive device that cannot be used alone. It can only be used when inserted into a switch or a device with an optical module slot; The Fiber Media Converter is an active device that can be used alone, and can be used after plugging in the power supply.
Application
The SFP transceiver is mainly used in network communication equipment, such as the optical interface of aggregation switches, core routers and other equipment; The Fiber Media Converter is mainly used in long-distance networks that cannot be covered by network cables and need to use optical fibers to extend signal transmission. Households, security monitoring, community network construction and radio and television broadcasting and other fields.
The SFP transceiver supports hot plugging, and the configuration is relatively flexible; while the Fiber Media Converter is relatively fixed, and it is troublesome to replace and upgrade.
Can a SFP transceiver be connected to a fiber media converter?
The SFP transceiver can be connected to fiber media converter, but the following precautions must be followed when connecting:
●The transmission rate and interface type of the optical module and the optical fiber transceiver must be the same, such as connecting a gigabit optical module with a gigabit optical transceiver.
●The wavelength and transmission distance of the optical module used on the fiber optic transceiver should be consistent with the wavelength and transmission distance of the optical module on the other end device (such as a switch).
●The fiber type of the optical module used on the fiber optic transceiver must be the same as the fiber type of the optical module on the other end device (such as a switch), for example, single-mode corresponds to single-mode, and dual-mode corresponds to dual-mode.
Conclusion
Through the above introduction, I believe that you should clearly understand the difference between SFP transceiver and fiber media converter, and the choice of SFP transceiver and fiber media converter needs to be determined according to the actual application situation. SFP transceiver is used for transmission, and fiber media converter is only used when the transmission distance of electrical signals needs to be extended. In other words, SFP transceiver is necessary for optical fiber transmission, but fiber media converter is not.