The difference between optical fiber and ordinary copper-clad aluminum network cable

• Fiber optic: Fiber optic transmits data through optical signals, providing extremely high bandwidth and speed. Modern optical networks support data transmission rates of tens of Gbps per second, which can meet the needs of large traffic, high-speed Internet and data centers. Fiber optic cables have almost no bandwidth limitations and are suitable for long-term, high demand applications.

• Copper clad aluminum cable: Copper clad aluminum cable has relatively low transmission speed and bandwidth, typically ranging from 1Gbps to 10Gbps for Cat5e and Cat6, making it suitable for small office and home networks. But when the data load is large or the transmission distance is long, performance will be limited.

• Fiber optic: Fiber optic has very low signal attenuation and can maintain signal quality over long distances (tens of kilometers or even farther). It is suitable for wide area network (WAN) connections and does not require relay devices.

• Copper clad aluminum network cable: The transmission distance of copper clad aluminum network cable is generally around 100 meters, and signal attenuation is significant beyond this distance, requiring the use of signal amplifiers or relay equipment. Suitable for short distance and high-speed transmission.

• Fiber optic: Fiber optic is not affected by electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio frequency interference (RFI), making it suitable for use in complex electromagnetic environments. It has high stability and avoids common signal loss problems.

• Copper clad aluminum wire: Copper clad aluminum wire is susceptible to electromagnetic interference, especially during long-distance transmission, and signal quality may decrease. For scenarios that require high anti-interference capabilities, copper-clad aluminum network cables are not as reliable as fiber optic cables.

• Fiber optic: The transmission signal of fiber optic is an optical signal, which is almost impossible to eavesdrop or interfere with, providing higher data security. Suitable for environments such as finance, government, and military where sensitive data is transmitted.

• Copper clad aluminum wire: The signal of copper clad aluminum wire is susceptible to external electromagnetic interference and relatively easy to eavesdrop on. For environments with high security requirements, copper-clad aluminum network cables have poor security.

• Fiber optic: The initial investment in fiber optic is relatively high, and the cost of fiber optic equipment and installation is also high. However, the maintenance cost of optical fiber is relatively low, making it suitable for large-scale, high bandwidth, and long-term stable network environments.

• Copper clad aluminum wire: Copper clad aluminum wire has a relatively low cost and is suitable for households or small offices. Although the initial cost is low, its performance may be insufficient as network demand increases, requiring frequent replacement.

• Fiber optic: Fiber optic is relatively durable and can work stably in various environments for a long time. It is not easily affected by external factors such as moisture and temperature changes, and is suitable for use in various complex environments.

• Copper clad aluminum wire: Copper clad aluminum wire has poor durability, especially the aluminum core is prone to oxidation, which may cause signal attenuation or poor contact. In harsh environments, copper-clad aluminum network cables perform worse than fiber optic cables.