Fibre Network (basic knuckle-dragger level)
(September 2018)
Fibre used to be expensive and (IMO) gave the impression it was not for home use, things have changed.
For example, if I want to connect a few (4) items across 20m at 1G, keeping the items separate by VLAN's, I'd need at a minimum two five port managed networks switches and 20m CAT6 (or 5E).
If I pick some basic units that will probably come to about £100 including tax.
If I want to link the same number by a fibre (1G) 20m it is a few pounds more.
For example:
Six port managed network switch (five copper one SFP port) about £34 (x2) Mikrotic RB260GS (CSS106-5G-1S) (wifi-stock.co.uk).
two Gig SFP modules UBIQUITI UF-MM-1G SFP Module, 2pack (pair) £16.50 (wifi-stock.co.uk)
OM4 LC to LC Fibre Optic Cable 50/125 (Amazon) (20m) £19
All in (forgetting postage) £103.5
If you get modules from fs.com they are about £6 each, if I drop to OM3 20m cable (not future proofed for 10G) that saves another £9, suddenly copper looks expensive.
If I want to increase the link speed to 10G and number of items directly connected at both ends to twenty it's about £280.
£110 each for the 24port switches with SFP+ ports (MIKROTIK Cloud Smart Switch CSS326-24G-2S+RM) and about £15 per SFP-10G module (fs.com) +the OM4 20m cable above.
As the SFP modules are bought separately you could connect these items by 200m or 2km of fibre just selecting the SFP transceivers and fibre cable to suit.
I've only used multi mode transceivers as my links are local (less than 300m).
As I said real basic info this no optical patch leads, most basic modes no self termination of fibre. I also went with one router for bridging copper WAN into a fibre setup (MIKROTIK Cloud Router Switch CRS106-1C-5S (wifi-stock.co.uk) -£45) and one external router for mast mounting, not used yet as I haven't worked out where I want it (CRS105-5S-FB) on offer (wifi-stock.co.uk) at £53 currently with one SFP-Copper transceiver.
What I have learnt from this short test in my (dusty) house?
This is mainly paranoia but it came to mind while digging out holes. Plan any fibre route (completely) and don't get the cable out until you are ready, cover the ends in transparent packing tape (just over and back on itself) so that the ends are dust free after installation when you take the covers off. Likewise don't remove the covers from the transceivers until you are ready to connect, have more than enough fibre cable on any link, in these uses it is virtually loss free so if you have a 15m excess ready for the next use it will make zero odds, much better to avoid tight bends with short cable. Find a route where the cable won't get crushed, I ran mine in the loft. I had zero problems with dirty fibres but it pays to avoid dust rather than add the price of cleaning kit if you are only making changes infrequently.
Fibre used to be expensive and (IMO) gave the impression it was not for home use, things have changed.
For example, if I want to connect a few (4) items across 20m at 1G, keeping the items separate by VLAN's, I'd need at a minimum two five port managed networks switches and 20m CAT6 (or 5E).
If I pick some basic units that will probably come to about £100 including tax.
If I want to link the same number by a fibre (1G) 20m it is a few pounds more.
For example:
Six port managed network switch (five copper one SFP port) about £34 (x2) Mikrotic RB260GS (CSS106-5G-1S) (wifi-stock.co.uk).
two Gig SFP modules UBIQUITI UF-MM-1G SFP Module, 2pack (pair) £16.50 (wifi-stock.co.uk)
OM4 LC to LC Fibre Optic Cable 50/125 (Amazon) (20m) £19
All in (forgetting postage) £103.5
If you get modules from fs.com they are about £6 each, if I drop to OM3 20m cable (not future proofed for 10G) that saves another £9, suddenly copper looks expensive.
If I want to increase the link speed to 10G and number of items directly connected at both ends to twenty it's about £280.
£110 each for the 24port switches with SFP+ ports (MIKROTIK Cloud Smart Switch CSS326-24G-2S+RM) and about £15 per SFP-10G module (fs.com) +the OM4 20m cable above.
As the SFP modules are bought separately you could connect these items by 200m or 2km of fibre just selecting the SFP transceivers and fibre cable to suit.
I've only used multi mode transceivers as my links are local (less than 300m).
As I said real basic info this no optical patch leads, most basic modes no self termination of fibre. I also went with one router for bridging copper WAN into a fibre setup (MIKROTIK Cloud Router Switch CRS106-1C-5S (wifi-stock.co.uk) -£45) and one external router for mast mounting, not used yet as I haven't worked out where I want it (CRS105-5S-FB) on offer (wifi-stock.co.uk) at £53 currently with one SFP-Copper transceiver.
What I have learnt from this short test in my (dusty) house?
This is mainly paranoia but it came to mind while digging out holes. Plan any fibre route (completely) and don't get the cable out until you are ready, cover the ends in transparent packing tape (just over and back on itself) so that the ends are dust free after installation when you take the covers off. Likewise don't remove the covers from the transceivers until you are ready to connect, have more than enough fibre cable on any link, in these uses it is virtually loss free so if you have a 15m excess ready for the next use it will make zero odds, much better to avoid tight bends with short cable. Find a route where the cable won't get crushed, I ran mine in the loft. I had zero problems with dirty fibres but it pays to avoid dust rather than add the price of cleaning kit if you are only making changes infrequently.
