Fiber optic cables are network cables that are made out of a bundle of thin strands of glass.  This technology uses the glass fibers to transmit digital data.  The messages and data that are transmitted through these cables merge into a carrier signal and are adjusted to light waves.  The digital information that is carried through these lines is sent over long distances.

Each optical fiber that is within a fiber optic cable is made up of the core, the cladding, and the buffer coating.  In one cable there is usually hundreds of thin fibers that are all bundled under a covering.

The material that houses cables is just as important as the cables are themselves.  The housing of cables is there so that nothing is able to harm or interfere with them.  The housings that are usually used to protect these cables are called innerducts.

Innerducts can come in a variety of colors but are known for being made in a bright orange shade.  The tube is typically light weight and flexible, aiding in the installation of them because they are installed in restrained areas.  Innerducts surround fiber optic cables, and sometimes other types of cables or wiring, that are being run underground.

Among all the other advantages of fiber optic cables, they are also well known for their increased performance is extreme conditions. Traditional forms of metal wires and coaxial cables can expand or contract with changing temperatures. These conditions can lower the cable’s performance. Fiber optic cables, however, can perform at high speeds despite the temperature outside, as they are not as susceptible to changes in temperature. This makes the fiber much more consistent and reliable than coaxial cable.

Coaxial cables are known for their susceptibility to electromagnetic interference, which can cause them to become less effective. Fiber optics, on the other hand, is not affected by external electrical signals, since data is transmitted with light. Furthermore, fiber optic cables have a high electrical resistance, making them safe to use near high-voltage equipment. Fiber optics’ immunity to electromagnetic interference and high electrical resistance are just two more advantages over metal wire and coaxial systems.

Fiber optic cables can be found in many various forms. Generally speaking, an optical fiber can be reduced to three main sections, or layers. Starting in the center of the cable, the core is where the work is done. Information is directed through the core, in the form of light, using total internal reflection to transmit data. Surrounding this core is the cladding, which provides protection to the core. Surrounding this cladding, is the fiber’s sleeve, or jacket, which is the outermost layer of the cable, providing protection to the fiber as a whole.

Being that optical fibers are made from glass, some have assumed that this means that optical fibers are extremely fragile. This could not be more untrue. Fiber optic cables are constructed from ultra-pure silica glass, which is an extremely strong material that has the ability to easily handle temperature and pressure extremes. Optical fibers actually have a higher tensile strength (600,000 psi) than copper or metal strands of the same diameter.

An innerduct is flexible cover that houses cables to protect them from anything that could harm them or tamper with them. The innerduct usually surrounds fiber optic cables that are to be run underground. They can also be run in air-handling spaces either horizontally or vertically.

These innerduct are usually orange in color but can sometimes come in multiple shades. They are typically very lightweight and extremely flexible, which is a plus during the installation process. The small amount of weight and the flexibility of the innerduct permits for them to be installed in small or confined areas.

Fiber optic cables are network cables that are made out of a bundle of thin strands of glass. This technology uses the glass fibers to transmit digital data. The messages and data that are transmitted through these cables merge into a carrier signal and are adjusted to light waves. The digital information that is carried through these lines is sent over long distances.

Each optical fiber that is within a fiber optic cable is made up of the core, the cladding, and the buffer coating. In one cable there is usually hundreds of thin fibers that are all bundled under a covering.