What is Fiber Optics and why is it important to use? Let's find out!
So what is fiber optics? Imagine a coax cable, except the internal copper has been subbed out for a thin cable made of glass! This glass allows light to pass through with higher speeds and higher quality than coax can handle. Fiber cabling has a vast array of benefits over coax; diameter, distance, "green initiatives", and even future proofing!
In the grand scheme of things, fiber optics allows you to send your quality RF Signal a much greater distance than typical found with coax cabling. For a full broadband CATV RF Signal, Coax cable can be limited between 400 and 600 feet, where as fiber can run miles! If you were to ask a major installation what some key important features are, there is a good chance the answer would be redundancy or reliability. With the correct fiber equipment set-up we can segment out parts of a building and ensure there are a large number of redundancies are in place. Fiber also allows an installer to source every closet as a designated main feed which in turn is easier to troubleshoot and in the event of a failure it limits the failure to one section not the whole building.
Z-band can help solve the majority of your video distribution needs weather you are building a new building, expanding an infrastructure or even retro-fitting an existing building even if you already have the correct fiber in place. There are two main types of fiber out there: Multi-mode and Single-Mode fiber, Z-Band can use the latter. In conjunction with single-mode fiber, we also need an angle polished cable, and this is very crucial. When the light travels down the glass it will eventual hit the end of the cable, where does it go? In most connections this light get "bounced" back, or called back reflection, in a direct line back into itself. There are a lot of data infrastructures where this back reflection is acceptable, however in the AV world and more importantly with the Z-band equipment this is detrimental to the function of our equipment. Utilizing flat polished, ultra polished, or physical connection will not allow the video signal to pass un-degraded. The Z-band equipment needs to be used with an angle-polished connector. This style of connector cleaves the glass at an angle, and this angle allows the signal to pass while sending the "back reflection" to the outside of the cable and it dissipates rather than bouncing back.
I'm ready to install fiber with Z-Band!
When it comes to utilizing Z-Band for your Fiber Optic Video Distribution needs you may be wondering what equipment you would need. It all starts in the head end room! Just like any other Z-Band equipment we need to begin with a good signal. A quality signal that meets or exceeds Z-bands spec is sent to the Fiber Transmitter via coax on the rear of the unit. The Z-band fiber transmitter will convert this coax feed into a light signal for transmission over fiber optic cables. The output of this fiber transmitter can be sent to either a Z-Band Video Distribution Unit directly (utilizing attenuation to achieve the proper input requirements) or an fiber optic splitter. A fiber optic splitter is just like a coax splitter, it has one input and multiple outputs. These multiple outputs can then be sent to a various number of distribution hubs. Once the fiber is received at the distribution hub, the fiber goes into the rear of the video distribution unit and your quality RF signal exits the unit via category cable to the TV, or even via coax to other distribution units (if needed).
A Z-band tech can help assist you in designing your fiber infrastructure and answer any questions about transmitter size, coupler size, and attenuation needs!
Requirements
What are some important Z-Band specs when using Fiber systems?
- +20 dBmV Flat Digital RF Signal going into a Fiber Transmitter with MER above 40dB
- Single Mode Angle Polished Fiber (SC/APC: green connector)
- -2dBm to -3.5dBm dynamic range , -2dBm is optimal input signal level into the receiving end (Z-Band Video Distribution Unit, or a Fiber Receiver)
What Equipment should I use during a standard Z-Band Fiber Install?
- Fiber Transmitter
- Z-Band Video Distribution unit with Fiber input or a Fiber Receiver Node
- Optical Splitter
- Fiber Patch Cords
- Variable Fiber Optic Attenuator
- Optical Power Meter with a dynamic range of -10dBm to +20dBm preferred