====== Grid's fiber optics hardware notes ====== ===== Introduction ===== This is a small note I'm making to tell about my experience with media converters, fiber optic cables, etc. Things you'll see here are quite affordable as I won't be able to test them otherwise; some of these details are applicable for home use. Some of these details aren't applicable whatsoever. {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:htb-gs-20b-test.jpeg?direct&800|}} {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:photo1707147858.jpeg?direct&800|}} ===== Disclaimer ===== In no way do I claim competency in telecommunications, or anything else, for that matter. In fact, the tests I'm doing are (proudly) conducted on the armrest of a couch in a flat I'm renting. Take the information I'm providing with a grain of salt; a can of paprika works as good as a grain of salt, if not more. What I'm trying to say is "don't rely on this information for your final decisions; I'm doing my best to check the information, but would prefer to have the lack of responsibility". Thank you. {{ :tamiwiki:users:6r1d:couch.png?direct&400 |}} **You're welcome to add information**, but please add it in a separate category here so I can check it from the couch. ===== Devices ===== ==== Media converters ==== Power inputs in HTB-GS-03B and HTB-GS-20B are compatible: 5V DC barrel jack with anode (+) inside and cathode (-) outside (feels like a breath of fresh air). ^ Link ^ Speed, Mbit/s ^ Cable connector ^ Fibers ^ Store ^ Vendor ^ Distance, km ^ Power input ^ Power connector ^ Tested ^ | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002998819713.html|HTB-GS-03]] | 1000 | SC | 1 | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/4696091|Ciin]] | Anonymous | 3 | 5V | DC barrel jack | ✅ | | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002998819713.html|🔗]] | 100 | SC | 1 | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/4696091|Ciin]] | Anonymous | 25 | 5V | DC barrel jack | ❌ | | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005763863457.html|HTB-GS-20]] | 100 when tested on 10m cable | SC | 1 | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1102911797|SevenLayer]] | netLINK | 20 | 5V | DC barrel jack | ✅ | | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005763863457.html|🔗]] | N/A, expected to have 1000 | SC | 1 | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1102911797|SevenLayer]] | netLINK | 3 | 5V | DC barrel jack | ❌ | | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005606062376.html|(EW-310GS-20?)]] | 10/100/1000 | SC | 2 | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1102794127|Ewind]] | | up to 20km | 5V | DC barrel jack | ❌ | | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006030736958.html|10G SFP+ Media Converter]] | 1.25G - 10G | depends on SFP module | depends on SFP module | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1100319020|Xicom]] | | N/A | 5-12V | DC barrel jack | ❌ | | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006074535322.html|🔗]] | N/A | replaceable (dual LC on the bundled SFP module) | depends on the SFP module (2 on the bundled one) | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/912068198|Feigee]] | HTOC | N/A | 5V | DC barrel jack | ❌ | | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32880578391.html|🔗]] | N/A | SC | | NVOC | NVOC | N/A | | DC barrel jack | ❌ | | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33004388999.html|🔗]] | N/A | SC | | GoFibereasy | GoFibereasy | N/A | | DC barrel jack | ❌ | | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005421503437.html|🔗]] | N/A | replaceable, LC with default SFP module | depends on the SFP module (2 on the bundled one) | I-ONT | Link-XUNXING | N/A | | DC barrel jack | ❌ | The Ewind adapter may be cool at home or office, providing significant communication speeds. I'm not sure the Xicom adaptor reaches a gigabit on **large enough** distances, but it's worth testing. It's important to remember that **physics interjects** to cap the maximum distances: * "[[https://blog.leviton.com/understanding-distance-limits-multimode-fiber|Understanding Distance Limits with Multimode Fiber]]" * "[[https://www.canford.co.uk/TechZone/Article/MaximumTransmissionDistancesFibreEthernet|Maximum transmission distances for fibre Ethernet]]" Maybe it'll be easier to set up a group of media converters as a module: * https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001171597263.html - SFP version * https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006388646725.html * https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006386720203.html There are also versions without a case: * https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005588040539.html * https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005986948708.html ==== Rack-mount media converter chassis ==== Sometimes, i.e. on distances larger than a typical building, you can expect to need a multimode fiber to transfer the information quickly enough. While adding more media converters in the middle should be possible, inserting many individual repeaters would be harder than installing a multimode cable for a long time. I expect the large distance issue can be solved using the switch and rack assemblies shown here; however, I haven't had a chance to test it. ^ Units ^ Size, inch ^ Slots ^ PSU count ^ Link ^ | 2U | 19 inch | 14 Slots | 2 | https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005196551612.html | | 2U | | 14 | 1 or 2 | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001664672912.html|TL-FC1400, TL-FC1420]] | | 2U | 19 inch | 14 Slots | 2 | https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004578758423.html | | 2U | 19 inch | 16 Slots | 2 | https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005274581266.html | TODO: * https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32880670098.html * https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004579147283.html * https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004387691007.html ==== Cables ==== === Indoors === ^ Cable ^ Length, meters ^ Cores ^ Tested ^ Brand ^ | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005904238333.html|SC-to-SC cable]] | 10 | 1 | ✅ | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1102593641|Ampcom]] | | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005904238333.html|SC-to-SC cable]] | 30 | 1 | ✅ | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1102593641|Ampcom]] | === Outdoors === ^ Cable ^ Length, meters ^ Cores ^ Tested ^ Brand ^ | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004468775282.html|Outdoor Fiber cable]] | 5 | 4/6/8/12 | ❌ | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/4666096|Chuanglixin Networks Specialty]] | ==== Splitters ==== [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006389816283.html|FTTH splitter]] ==== Connectors ==== ^ Connector ^ Brand ^ Count ^ | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006023088643.html|SC/APC cold connector]] | FASO | | | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005763847581.html|SC/APC SM Single-Mode Optical Connector]] | SevenLayer | | | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000042110148.html|Fiber Optic Connector Adapter]] | ONTi | 50 - 400 Pcs | ==== Cleaners ==== ^ Cable ^ Cores ^ Tested ^ Brand ^ | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001444819206.html|COMPTYCO AUA-550 cleaner + core]] | 1 | ✅ | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/5883194|Network tool store]] | | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001444819206.html|COMPTYCO AUA-550 core]] | 1 | ✅ | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/5883194|Network tool store]] | ===== Device photos ===== ==== HTB-GS-03 ==== SpeedTest output on 10m fiber cable {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:htb-gs-03b-speedtest.png?direct&400|}} SpeedTest output on 30m fiber cable {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:htb-gs-03b-speedtest-30m.png?direct&400|}} Other photos ^ Front ^ Back ^ | {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:htb-gs-03b-front.jpeg?direct&400|}} | {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:htb-gs-03b-back.jpeg?direct&400|}} | ^ Top ^ Label ^ |{{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:htb-gs-03b-top.jpeg?direct&400|}} | {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:htb-gs-03b-label.jpeg?direct&400|}} | ==== HTB-GS-20 ==== SpeedTest output on 10m fiber cable {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:htb-gs-20b-speedtest.png?direct&400|}} Other photos ^ Front ^ Back ^ | {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:front.jpeg?direct&400|}} | {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:back.jpeg?direct&400|}} | ^ Top ^ Label ^ | {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:top.jpeg?direct&400|}} | {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:label.jpeg?direct&400|}} |