Countless compatible fiber optic transceivers have been deployed in modern networks, yet doubts about quality, interoperability and compatibility remain widespread. In today’s crowded OEM-compatible market, making the right choice is critical. Will the modules you buy work seamlessly with your existing optics? Will they operate flawlessly in your switches? This article—brought to you by i7Fiber—walks […]

Fusion Splicing Process OverviewThe fusion splicing process for fiber optics follows a similar procedure across all automatic splicing machines. This technique involves using localized heat to melt the ends of two optical fibers and fuse them together. The first step in this process is to properly prepare the ends of the fibers for fusion. Environment

Why compatibility isn’t optional?Cisco, HP and a handful of other vendors encrypt their switches and routers so that only “genuine” transceivers are recognized. A Cisco-branded SFP will not light up in an HP port—and vice versa. Meanwhile, the OEM list price can be 3–5× higher than an equivalent third-party module. That price gap has driven

What is an optical transceiver?A hot-pluggable electro-optical converter that slides into a switch, router or server. Common form factors are SFP (1 G), SFP+ (10 G), SFP28 (25 G), QSFP+ (40 G) and QSFP28 (100 G). The question we answer below is simple: “Which of these can I mix and match without killing the link?

What are MPO Connectors? MPO connectors are fiber optic connectors designed for multi-fiber connections and feature a push-on coupling mechanism, which is why they’re referred to as “multi-fiber push on” (MPO). These connectors are ideal for high-bandwidth and high-density applications, supporting fiber counts ranging from 12 to 24 fibers, and in some specialized cases, they