Differentiating Aspects of Media Converters and Fiber Optic Switches

With the growing demand for a high-speed network in industrial and commercial applications and the advancements in electronics and telecommunication technologies, the demand for network devices such as media converters, fiber optic switches, cables, connectors, and more has surged. High-speed and seamless internet connectivity has become a necessity for several businesses located across various places. In many cases, businesses need to extend their existing network, which is possible by blending the existing network with fiber optics. For this, you need network devices such as switches and media converters, which help establish connectivity between two different networks and extend the transmission distance. However, both are different devices and function in their own manner. This post differentiates media converter from network switches considering their definition, data transmission rates, installations, functions, and more. So, stay tuned.

What Are Media Converters?

Media converters are the most often used network device that facilitates copper to fiber connectivity. Media converters extend your existing network by connecting to a copper cable at one end and a fiber optic cable at the other. This can be done for both single as well as multimode networks. One can connect several other devices on the network such as surveillance systems, computers or monitors, internet protocol (IP) cameras using media converters. You need two media converters in a simple network one at the transmitting end and the other at the receiving end. Most media converters support a wide variety of network types and data rates and are compatible with both copper and fiber devices.

What Are Network Switches?

A network switch is a connection point for all devices in the network. It is considered the most intelligent device among all networking devices. This is because it efficiently passes data packets across the network. Basically, the switch acts as a controller, enabling devices to communicate and share information using the MAC address. When data packets arrive, it reads the destination address and sends it to the associated system rather than sharing it with all the connected devices. If the destination address is not mentioned, then the switch sends the data packets to all the systems connected in the network. Through resource allocation and information sharing, the device helps fast and accurate data transfer, saves overall costs, and boosts business productivity.

Media Converters Vs Switches – Know the Differences

This section explores these networking devices further. With the following points, one will easily understand the significant difference between them. Let’s have a look at them.

• Installation Method: Unlike network switches, media converters require fewer interfaces, thus the installation is very simple. They are plug-and-play devices, and therefore the cabling and connectivity are less complex. On the other hand, network switches act as a stand-alone unit for home or small office networks. Simply, you need to insert patch cables into the port of the network switch to connect all the devices in the network.
• Function: There are various types of media converters – copper-to-fiber and fiber-to-fiber, PoE, and so on. As the name implies, copper-to-fiber media converter enables seamless integration of copper and fiber cabling networks. They transform the electrical pulses of copper data networks into light pulses of a fiber-optic network. On the other hand, fiber-to-fiber media converters can be used in single-mode and multimode fiber networks. They are independent of any protocol, and thus mainly used in TDM and Ethernet applications.

The function of network switches is complicated than media converters. They are determined by network operating systems. The network switches can be classified as Layer 2, Layer 3, Layer, or 4 switches. Layer 2 switches are responsible for data transportation and error checking. Layer 3 and Layer 4 switches considered intelligent switches. They come with a routing function to calculate the best and shortest route to send data packets.

• Transmission Rate: Today, media converters are available in diverse specifications. Among them, 100M/1000M media converters are the most widely used and cost-effective solution for small networks. To meet varied data rate requirements, 1G, 10G, 25G, 100G switches are used as core and spine switches.

Are you intrigued to expand your business network geographically? If your answer is yes, then make sure you consult a trustworthy, reliable industry player who will assist you with the appropriate network devices after understanding your application needs. VERSITRON offers media converters and fiber optic switches in diverse specifications. The company specializes in designing and manufacturing optimal fiber optic network solutions at affordable prices.

R.W. Tull is the President of VERSITRON. He interfaces daily with current and potential end-users. R.W. works closely with clients to review layout diagrams and drawings in order to ensure that the best fiber optic solution is achieved.