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Types of fiber optic cable connections. How to install fiber optics into a private home

High Internet speed is best achieved using optical communication lines. Now this technology has come to almost every apartment. The question of how to connect an optical cable is of interest not only to specialists, but also to ordinary users. Let's try to cover the topic in more detail.

We will consider connections using PON technology (passive optical networks) as the most modern and becoming increasingly widespread today, displacing conventional wire lines.

Let's start with the basics in order to understand what we will have to face, because optical communication technology differs from the usual and familiar wires, both in the operating principle and in the installation methods. Of course, this section can be omitted and proceed directly to solving practical problems, but still, knowing the theory, it is easier to solve many problems that arise in practice. We will try not to bother you with complex terms, but to explain everything simply and popularly.

How data transmission via optical fiber works

Transmitting a signal through ordinary wires using electric current runs into two obstacles that limit the speed limit.

A high frequency signal fades quickly over a long distance.
High frequency currents have large energy losses through radiation into the environment.
Nearby wires and equipment interfere with the signal.

These negative factors are combated by using intermediate amplifiers, screens, and twisting wires. But there is a limit to everything. Today, increasing the speed of information transfer is mainly solved by dividing it into parallel streams. For example, USB 3.0 differs from the earlier USB 2.0 in that it uses more than one pair of wires to transfer data.

The issue could be radically resolved only with the help of fiber optic cables. In them, the signal is transmitted using light, more precisely laser radiation, which is weakly attenuated over long distances. Glass fibers are used for communication, in which, due to the specially selected properties of the core and outer layer, the effect of complete reflection of the light beam is manifested.

Also, due to their small diameter, they are flexible (we also encounter thin flexible glass fibers in such familiar materials as glass wool and fiberglass).

The system works extremely simply - on one side of the cable, laser radiation is modulated, encoding information in it, which is decrypted by a photoreceiver at the other end. One optical fiber can transmit multiple streams, using lasers with different spectrums in parallel.

The transmission speed over optical fiber is orders of magnitude higher than the capabilities of metal conductors and reaches several terra bits per second.

Optical fiber has other advantages:

Absolute protection from external interference, it is impossible to direct an extraneous signal to such a cable.
Due to the absence of metal conductors, such lines cannot be damaged by insulation breakdown from high voltage, so they are also safe for users.
Modern fiber optic cable has a small diameter and takes up a lot of space in gutters and sewers.
Read information without damaging the cable or impairing its functionality known methods(for example, recording electromagnetic radiation) is impossible.

Another advantage of optical fiber is that it is not of interest to attackers, since it does not contain non-ferrous metals.

But there are also some disadvantages:

such cables cannot be connected by conventional soldering or twisting; it is necessary to weld glass or use special connecting elements;
fiberglass cables cannot be bent to a small radius;
equipment for receiving and transmitting is complex, although with proven and mass production, as with any electronics, its price is constantly decreasing.

How PON technology works

At first glance, building a subscriber network can be done in two ways:

Route cables from the base station to each user. This is how a standard city network works - pairs of wires go from the PBX to each telephone.
Conduct several main lines with a large throughput, to which active switches are connected - switches that distribute access between subscribers. This is how the first networks were built using twisted pairs (LAN) and later fiber optics as backbone lines. For example, a fiber optic line ran to the house, access to which was distributed among apartments using twisted pairs connected through switches. Such networks were called FTTB (Fiber To Building) - fiber to the building.

PON technology works on a slightly different principle:

Active equipment is installed only at the provider and client.
Up to 128 receivers can be connected to one fiber. The network is built on the principle of a tree, where branches go from the line, and from them branches of the second order, and so on.
All subscriber devices connected to the same fiber gain access to the network in a time-shared manner. That is, a package of information is immediately transmitted to one client, then to the second, and so on in turn. Due to the large capacity of the line, this does not in any way reduce the data transfer speed. Communication is also carried out in the opposite direction, but a different wavelength of laser radiation is used.

This approach became possible due to the use of special devices - splitters. They divide the flow of one fiber into several fibers. Radiation losses, of course, are large, but they are compensated by the use of powerful lasers; today their price is not that high.

The advantages of splitters are that they are relatively simple, do not require connection to electrical networks (this is a passive element, hence the name of the technology) and maintenance.

These features of PON technology allow the development of networks in any conditions. If for older methods of Internet distribution, unlike in the city, where you can place ordinary switches and servers without problems in any attic or basement and there are no problems with connecting the power supply, there were great difficulties in rural areas, for PON there are no such problems.

The splitter can be hung on any wall or power line support and even placed in a well; the devices are not afraid of moisture.

PON network

To make it more clear how PON technology works, here is a diagram of how such a network is organized.

Let's explain the diagram a little:

The Internet provider or PBX has an OLT (in English - Optical Linear Terminal) from which the distribution takes place. Cable lines are connected to it. This is a fairly compact device; the photo below shows a rack that can serve several thousand subscribers.

Several cables extend from each OLT; the diagram shows only one for four cores. They are distributed throughout the serviced area in cable ducts, along supports or in another way.

Thanks to the high power of lasers, the length of cables can reach up to 60 kilometers, although manufacturers usually guarantee a high-quality signal at a distance of up to 20 km, but this is quite enough for an average city.

A splitter is hung on each core (in the diagram these are boxes labeled Spliter), from which branches go either to other splitters or directly to clients. The diagram shows a branching of two cables at the top and four at the bottom, but the signal can also branch into large quantity cables, although multi-output devices are usually rarely used.

After the first splitter, several more can be installed.
At the end of the line, the subscriber has an ONU (on English language Optical Network Unit - Optical Network Unit) it can also be called ONT (in English Optical Network Terminal - Optical Network Terminal) to which you can connect a LAN cable. Sometimes the device is called an optical modem.

In addition to LAN connections, ONUs almost always have sockets for a telephone, since almost always a PON connection provides a package of services: Internet, telephone, television.

As can be seen from the diagram, the network can be easily developed without high costs. For example, in the upper part, instead of the first ONU, install another splitter, to which two subscribers can be connected. You can also replace the two-channel splitters with four-channel ones, such as those at the bottom of the circuit.

What problems might an ordinary PON user encounter?

Our article, as we said above, is not intended for specialists; they already know very well how to connect a fiber optic cable and configure the equipment. When connecting to PON for the first time, providers also usually provide assistance (though more often for a fee, so you can save money by doing everything yourself) with setting up equipment and networks.

Connection as usual

Contact the provider and write an application, make an advance payment if necessary.
After some time, several network installers appear at your entrance. As a rule, these are not employees of the Internet provider company, but third-party contractors. They make a hole in the wall in your hallway, run a fiber-optic cable from the distribution panel in the entrance to the apartment, weld it and install an optical socket near the entrance.

Next, the provider’s adjusters appear, who hang up the optical modem (usually it is provided for rent), connect it with a cable to the socket, and then configure it. The Internet is already in the house, all that remains is to distribute it.

The process is approximately the same in a private house, although the distribution panels will either be located on power line (telecommunication) supports, in wells, or will be absent altogether, and the subscriber cable will be connected from a separate splitter.

These three steps cannot be completed on your own unless you contract with a provider. In addition, according to contracts, networks up to the boundaries of the household or even up to the outlet are serviced by the Internet provider free of charge (if not damaged intentionally); after the boundaries of the separation, the lines are considered the property of the client and all costs of their operation are transferred to him.

Connecting ONT in an apartment

The figure below shows a standard diagram for connecting devices to an optical terminal. We’ll immediately analyze its implementation with our own hands, then we’ll tell you how it can be adjusted depending on the capabilities of the equipment, and how to improve it.

Please note that you will have to deal least with optics; you just need to know how to connect a fiber optic cable to a modem, and all other networks are wired.

Standard service connection

We will describe in detail all the components of the circuit, since not everything may be clear to a non-specialist.

The optical socket, as in most cases, is located near the entrance to the hallway. It is connected to the distribution panel with a welded optical cable, which was mounted during installation.
The socket is also connected to the terminal with an optical cable, but it is connected to connectors. This is a patch cord (this is the name given to any fiber optic and wire connecting cables; we will continue to use this term) as a rule, purchased.

A regular telephone cable is used to connect to the telephone. Instead of a telephone socket, it is plugged into an ONT connector, which corresponds to a standard telephone socket, and is routed throughout the apartment to the place where the device is located.

To connect to a desktop computer, a twisted pair cable (LAN cable) is laid around the apartment, which is connected to the appropriate ONT and PC connectors. The connection is similar to connecting through a regular switch.
In order to connect a laptop, Wi-Fi is used; for this, a router is placed next to the terminal. In the diagram it is designated as a PPPoE/Wi-Fi router. It is also connected to the ONT using a twisted pair cable.

The last connection is the TV, for this a digital television receiver is placed next to it (in the Set Top Box diagram, this is the English designation of the device). To connect the receiver to the ONT, twisted pair is again used, with the TV standard HDMI, SCART or Composite (bell) connectors that connect any video devices.

Now let's move on to how to implement this scheme:

To connect to an outlet, it is best to use a ready-made optical patch cord. Such a wire short length easy to purchase at any store. You can make it yourself by purchasing a fiber-optic cable and connectors; we’ll talk about this below when we describe how to move the terminal further from the outlet.
Next we connect the phone - for this you can also buy a ready-made wire of the required length with connectors. If it’s difficult to choose the length, but you don’t want to make extra, we make it ourselves.

For production we will need:

a special crimper (crimper) for RJ11 – 14 connectors or a universal one (it will also help when crimping twisted pairs);
cable of the required length;
RJ 11 or 14 plugs (they cost a penny);
tool for cleaning insulation (nipper knife).

Advice. Do not buy a four-core cable for the RJ14 standard; for standard devices, 2 cores are enough.

We remove the top insulation from the wire; for this you can use a knife or wire cutters or crimper blades (if you have them).
We expose the top insulation by 6-8 millimeters, do not touch the insulation of individual conductors.
We push them into the body until it stops. Moreover, if we use, as we have already said, a two-core wire, then the conductors should go into the sockets of the two central contacts. Which side will be red and which side will be green is not important, despite the fact that there is a wiring diagram for these connectors, it is not necessary to follow it, telephone sets are not polarity sensitive.

Then we insert the connector into the crimper, it should fit correctly into the corresponding socket and squeeze its handles. The bar will slide in, the knives will cut through the insulation of the cores and securely connect the contacts.

Advice. You can try to crimp the connector without a crimper. To do this, after installing the wires, use a screwdriver with a sharpened tip to press in the knives individually, and then the bar to secure the wire inside. The work must be done carefully, however, the plugs themselves cost a penny, so you can break a few pieces until you can achieve a normal result.

You can also connect your phone using standard short patch cords. To do this, we install sockets near the telephone and ONT.

The conductors in them are usually clamped with terminals. In this case, you need to connect pins 2 and 3 (the red and green wires go to them, just like in a telephone cable). This approach is even more convenient.

We connect the computer using twisted pair. As with a telephone, you can try to find a ready-made cable of the required length or purchase a twisted pair cable and plugs. Compression occurs in exactly the same way, but with one feature: before installing the conductors into the sockets, you need to develop the ends of the conductors and place them in in the right order, it is shown in the figure below.

When preparing a LAN line, do not forget one more feature - twisted pairs have different bandwidths; in order to fully realize the capabilities of optical connections, you need to choose cables of at least category 5, they provide gigabit speed.

Then we connect the television receiver and Wi-Fi router, everything is exactly the same as for a computer - we stretch a twisted pair cable, which we plug into the appropriate connectors. For the latter, if it is located as in the diagram, it is easier to use a ready-made short patch cord. The router will need to be configured, as this is described in its operating instructions.

Simplifying the circuit

The standard scheme is designed for the use of components with minimal functionality. But modern devices have advanced capabilities; we’ll tell you how to use them.

As a rule, almost all ONT terminals can distribute Wi-Fi, so you can abandon the router.
TVs with the “Smart TV” function also most often have a LAN input and do not require a receiver.

If you use a radiotelephone, then its base station can be placed next to the terminal and there is no need to run the telephone wire around the house. Moreover, many already have devices in the hallway where the digital socket is most often installed.

In general, using a Wi-Fi connection, you can do away with wires, except for the telephone one. Many TVs include a module for receiving wireless networks, and for a desktop computer you can buy a receiver that is either plugged into a USB connector or installed on motherboard in PCI slots.

However, when connecting via Wi-Fi, you will not be able to achieve the high speeds that an Internet connection via a fiber optic cable provides. Wireless network capabilities are limited and depend on the distance to the router and the presence of obstacles (walls).

Schema Improvements

Now let's talk about the possibilities of improving the scheme. Much more can be offered. It’s difficult to systematically give the options and describe them all, but we’ll try.

Phone line

Let's start with the simplest thing - a telephone; in a house there may be not one device in the office, as in the diagram, but several, in the bedroom, in the kitchen, in the living room. An optical modem most often has only one RJ 11 (RJ 14) connector. Therefore, the line from it will have to be branched; this can be done in three ways.

In the location required for branching, install a telephone splitter - a box with three outputs for RJ connectors. Another option is to install a double socket. This option may even be preferable, since later in case of breakdowns, by disconnecting sections, it will be possible to easily find the damaged line.
Install any suitable terminal box at the splitting point and bifurcate the line using it.
Connect another one to the telephone cable by soldering or twisting.

Router

A router installed in the hallway may not provide a clear signal (the weaker it is, the lower the data transfer speed) throughout the entire apartment or house, especially if the building area is large. It is advisable to move it closer to the center of housing. True, this option is impossible if the terminal itself distributes Wi-Fi. Alternatively, install a signal amplifier (repeater) closer to the center.

LAN lines

Due to the location of the fiber optic terminal, the twisted pair lines are long. Although the signal in them does not attenuate much, it is still more convenient to lay them from the center, especially if there is a lot of equipment connected to the network in the house. How best option, of course, it would be possible to move the ONT terminal itself to the center, but it may not be possible to do this (more on this below).

But there is another possibility - we move the router to the center, as we said above, and do the rest of the wiring from there. Almost all models of these devices, in addition to distributing Wi-Fi, have at least four LAN ports per output and work as switches.

also in standard scheme The laptop can only be connected via a wireless network. But we have already said that Wi-Fi does not fully realize the high-speed data transfer capabilities that an optical terminal provides. Therefore, it is advisable to also extend a twisted pair cable to connect it to those places (living room, bedroom, kitchen) where you most often use your laptop.

A television

As we have already said, modern TVs with the “smart” function have connectors for twisted pair cables (LAN) and a Wi-Fi receiver, which makes it possible to eliminate the need for a receiver altogether. It is correct to call such devices not even TVs, but all-in-one computers with the functionality of a TV.

If the TV supports high-definition video or even 3D, it is still better to connect via LAN (due to the possible reduction in speed over the wireless channel). Also, for such devices, if you still use a receiver, then it is better to connect it to the TV to ensure video quality not through the SCART or Composite connectors shown in the diagram, but through HDMI or at least DVI.

Another feature today in the house is usually not one TV, but several. How to connect them?

If you need high quality, you will have to run a twisted pair cable to everyone, if not, then you can get by with Wi-Fi. Even if the TV receiver itself or its receiver does not support this technology, the wireless adapter costs less than $10.

In this subsection of the article we will also answer a frequently asked question - how to connect the optical cable of the TV to the receiver?

In principle, there are receivers that connect directly to the optical network, but they are mainly used for broadcasting on cable networks, that is, for professional use. All home digital television receivers are connected as we described above.

Backup power

The disadvantage of modern high-tech communication lines and not only optical ones is that the terminal devices require connection to the electrical network.

If the old telephone could operate on voltage supplied from the telephone exchange via wires, then the device connected to the terminal is completely dependent on its power supply. That is, if the lights in your house go out, you will not be able to receive or receive calls. Therefore, consider a backup power source for the optical modem.

Considering that ONT power consumption is usually in the range of 15-20 watts for this purpose Any will do block uninterruptible power supply(abbreviation UPS - uninterruptible power supply).

For example, if an uninterruptible power supply has a battery with a capacity of 9 A/h, then it will be able to provide you with communication for 6-7 hours. During this time, the electrical networks usually repair the damage. For rural areas where power outages are longer, you can choose a unit with a larger battery.

It is advisable to connect a Wi-Fi router to the UPS in addition to the optical modem. Then, if there is a power outage, you will have not only telephone communication, but also the Internet, provided that the batteries of your laptop, tablet or smartphone are charged.

Transfer of ONT terminal

As we have already said, the location of the modem is front door not optimal, it is advisable to place it closer to the center of the apartment to improve Wi-Fi communication and reduce the length of wire lines.

Of course, transferring a device can be problematic:

Perhaps the provider does not allow the modem to be moved independently;
Subscriber optical cable is quite demanding in terms of installation conditions, it does not like bending under a small radius, it needs to be additionally protected.

But sometimes it is still advisable to rearrange the modem, especially in large apartments with several levels. Let's look at how this can be done, or more precisely, how to lengthen the optical cable.

There are several options:

Use an optical cable with connectors that correspond to the corresponding connectors in the socket and modem (a kind of patch cord) of great length. The most acceptable option, however, such cables are not found on sale, but you can make them yourself. In addition, with this approach there are no problems with the provider.
Extend fiber using connectors. Below we will look at how this can be done. But note that the signal loss with this method will be greater than with the first option.
Weld cable fiber. In fact, it is not that difficult, and we will also look at how it is done. The only problem is that the welding machine costs several thousand dollars and is not worth buying for one or two joints. Although if you are going to continue building optical networks at a professional level...

You can also borrow equipment from a friend or rent it for the day.

By the way, sometimes they ask whether it is possible to install two ONTs in one apartment. In principle, it is possible, but unlike telephone sets, they cannot work in parallel; you will have to pay for two personal accounts. So this choice only makes sense if you need uninterrupted Internet and have the opportunity to connect to the Internet via fiber optic cable from different providers.

By the way, a similar circuit, although wired, was implemented at my home. I am connected via a DSL modem to the republican provider Beltelecom, from which I chose a tariff without a monthly fee. The second connection using a twisted pair cable to the server of a local provider (the director of the enterprise is a neighbor and friend), where the Internet is free. If someone has a breakdown, then I easily switch to reserve.

We also offer video connection of an optical cable to help:

Connecting and splicing optical cables

All the work described below is usually done by craftsmen for a decent fee, although as you can see, they are quite simple if you have the equipment and tools. In my opinion, mastering the connection of optics is just as easy as the correct soldering of conventional copper wires.

True, such a need rarely arises, but let's look at the future; perhaps soon optical fiber will replace copper everywhere, and end devices will connect to it directly, and not through ONT.

Installing optical connectors

Let's look at how the most common SC type connectors are mounted. The vast majority of modems and sockets use this type. For installation we will need a set of special tools and materials.

Although it costs a decent amount, it is still cheaper than a fiber optic splicer. Such kits are usually supplied with detailed instructions, so we will give an approximate order of operations for your reference.

The steps for installing the connector on the cable are as follows:

We remove the insulation with special cutters - a stripper. This tool has calibrated gaps between the cutting edges, allowing you to remove layers one by one without damaging the fiber itself.
The Kevlar fiber is then cut to reinforce the wire sheath. This cannot be done with ordinary scissors due to its great strength. You will need stronger blades, which are most often found in strippers.
Then the part of the connector is put on, which will fix it on the cable.
Next, using a special compound or simply alcohol wipes, the hydrophobic coating on the glass fiber itself is removed.
Next, glue is prepared and filled into a syringe, which will fix the fiber in the connector. A strictly measured amount of it is introduced into the channel, into which the exposed optical fiber is then threaded.
After the glue hardens, the optical fiber is cleaved with a special tool.
Then its end is polished.
Finally, the remaining parts of the connector are put on, and it is crimped with a special crimp.

Connecting fiber optics with a mechanical connector

This method is simpler than the previous one: pieces of fiber optic cable are taken, with industrially mounted connectors (pig tails), and joined together with mechanical connectors. The disadvantage of this method is signal loss at the connections; it is comparable to a decrease in light intensity in the connectors themselves (it is clear that connectors cannot be abandoned). So it’s better to either weld or mount the fiber into the connector.

Interesting. Pig tail is translated from English as “pig tail”, a rather apt comparison.

Using the SNR-Link connector as an example, we will describe the execution of the work.

The cable is stripped of its insulation and chipped.
The ends of the cleaned cable are installed in the connector.

Then the latch securing the joint is simply pressed.

This is where the work ends. As you can see in the photo below, the test of this connection shows a loss of 0.028 dB, this is comparable to the losses in the connector, although according to the connector’s passport data, losses of up to 0.04 dB are allowed. By the way, the device is reusable.

Welding wires

As we have already said, it is best to weld wires or pigtails, this is also not difficult, the only problem is the cost of the device. We will show you how welding occurs step by step.

The device turns on and performs a self-test.

Next, enter the type of cable to be welded. Moreover, for this you do not need to have a professional understanding of all types of fiber optic conductors; we simply enter the markings indicated either on the packaging or on the insulation surface itself.

Then, after removing the outer protective layer with any suitable tool, we install the wire in a special holder. Before this, do not forget to put on the KDZS sleeve (a set of parts for protecting the welded joint), which will then cover the welding site.

Then the holder is placed in the thermal stripper of the device, and it turns on. The insulation is removed by heat, with much less risk of damaging the fiber than with conventional mechanical stripping.

The lid closes and the thermal stripper starts. It cleans the wire itself.

Next, without removing the wire from the holder, we wipe it with alcohol (a round container with a swab is located on the top cover of the device) to remove the hydrophobic coating and install it in the cleaver. The holder in it, like in the stripper, is attached to a magnet. The chipping occurs when the lid is closed. The fiber scraps fall into a special container so as not to get lost (it is easy to drive a thin, almost invisible fiber under the skin, but then difficult to remove it).

Attention. Be very careful with fiber optic waste; it should not be lost, as it can be harmful to health. It is especially dangerous if pieces of glass wire get into the respiratory tract.

When the two wires are prepared, without removing them from the holders, we install them directly under the welding electrodes.

We start the welding process. The machine aligns and centers the fibers and splices them in less than ten seconds.

At the end of welding, the device shows the result - what losses will be at this joint. In the image below they are highlighted with an oval, only 0.01 dB.

All that remains is to case the KZDS sleeve; to do this, it is put on the joint (we first remove the holders) and the wire is placed in the oven.

The process also takes a few seconds. We remove the finished welded fiber optic cable from the oven (be careful, it will be hot).

As you can see, everything is quite simple, if you don’t have crooked hands, you can quickly learn how to splice optical fiber by just reading the manual for the splicing machine (our article is also suitable) or getting 10 minutes of instruction. I note that it is much more difficult to quickly acquire the skills of connecting ordinary wires using a soldering iron and solder.

We hope that our article told everything about the optical cable, how to connect it, connect it, coordinate the operation of the fiber optic modem with other devices. Even if you are not going to install networks or connectors yourself, knowing how this is done, you will be able to find the cause of breakdowns and ways to fix them. Let the Internet in your home always be fast and without interruptions.

We take digital sound from the optical output of the TV and feed it to the music tulips. center comraddm writes on April 8, 2016

USB cable 120cm long

Optical cable 1M long

The ends are covered with rubber protective caps.

The connector is standard SPDIF with beveled corners.
Many of you, like me, have sometimes seen it on TV and some computers, but have never used it, so it will be interesting to find out what kind of beast it is.

There is an optical fiber inside, if light is applied to one end, it can be removed from the other end.

And finally, the converter itself is a metal box with connectors on both sides.

On one side there are inputs: power and digital audio, either via an optical Toslink cable like ours, or via a coaxial one.

On the other side, there are outputs: 3.5mm headphone output, two RCA tulips and a power indicator, red and quite vigorous.

The dimensions of the converter are small: 5.5cm*6cm*2cm
But it is quite weighty thanks to the metal body: 82g

The converter is easy to disassemble, just unscrew the screw.

And then two more and you're done:

The work at the back is a little sloppy, the soldering is ugly in places, and the flux has not been washed off in some places.
I'll give you close-up photos:
http://s19.postimg.org/42zggy8tv/audio_converter_19.jpg
http://s19.postimg.org/bmsjj020j/audio_converter_20.jpg
http://s19.postimg.org/o05dpwroz/audio_converter_21.jpg
http://s19.postimg.org/fkft8eotv/audio_converter_22.jpg

Well, let's connect.
The connection is incredibly simple, insert the necessary wires where necessary and power it from the USB of the TV itself.
The indicator is eye-catching, like a mini flashlight.

It’s better to turn it somewhere back into the wall or completely seal it, since at least when the TV is turned off, it’s also turned off.
In the TV settings, in the sound section, you can choose where to output the sound; on Samsung, the fastest way to get there is through the quick settings button.

If the audio output is selected as in the screenshot, then the sound in the TV itself no longer comes, and when you try to adjust the volume it will write that we have tuned in to external speakers and now we must adjust the sound with their remote control.

You don’t have to switch the sound to external ones, they always play as soon as they are plugged in, then both external and internal speakers will play at the same time, and in many cases there will be an echo due to the time it takes to convert digital to analog, a kind of hall effect.
You can mute the built-in speakers or reduce their volume to zero so that the muted speaker icon does not appear on the side.
But when watching especially multi-channel films, it is better to use both speakers; the TV transmits mid-frequencies well - speech, music. the center acts as a sub and provides special effects.
During operation, the converter practically does not heat up.

I don't have a professional microphone, so I did my best with a regular camcorder to convey to you the difference in sound between the built-in speakers and external ones.
In reality the difference is even higher than in the video.
You will need bass headphones or speakers to hear the difference; you are unlikely to distinguish anything in laptop speakers or desktop plastic tweeters.

That's all, thank you all for your attention.

I was asked which cable in the photo is fiber optic. The minimum that you will have in your apartment will be a cable (white), an optical socket, a patch cord (yellow) and an optical terminal. Additionally, you may have your own router or TV set-top box.

I'll tell you how to connect fiber optic internet from Rostelecom. Connection for other operators/providers may differ, but in general it consists of the following steps:

1. Choose an interesting offer for services on the website. This is being done for Rostelecom. Cities are selected in the upper left corner, in case your location is incorrect. Prices are approximately like this:

Single Rostelecom phone number for connecting services: 8-800-100-25-25

Telephone number for connecting services, leaving a request for repairs, information on payments for services, current services: 8-800-100-08-00

Don’t be alarmed, they have an “intelligent assistant” - a multi-level voice menu, so you need to speak clearly and distinctly - “connect the Internet” without any “huff-hack”.

7. Rostelecom does not have a local network (“since its organization is contrary to the legislation of the Russian Federation.” - Rostelecom), but there are so-called “” based torrent clients. Scary blue, in my opinion. One of the applications brought me the Amigo browser with 333 megabytes, VKontakte and Odnoklassniki. Another one simply hung after the firewall refused to give it free reign on my computer.

8. If there is a power outage, you will not be able to call an electrician by phone - the phone will stop working, since it will also depend on electricity. Considering that everyone has mobile phones, it’s not so scary, but some people still have uninterruptible power supply.

9. In the event of a malfunction, first check the power supply of the terminal, reboot the equipment, then connect it directly with a cable and, if this does not help, dial the support phone number. It is possible that you will be asked to report the status of the indicators on the terminal panel. I gave the support phone number above.

This, or something like this, is how connecting to a network via fiber optics works.

The initial basic setup process was described in the D-Link post.

PON technology involves transmitting data in the form of light pulses through a fiber optic cable. Laptops, computers and wireless devices connected to a WiFi network do not have a built-in module for decoding the optical signal. Therefore, to work with FTTH (fiber to the home/apartment) system providers, special equipment is required.

The optical signal can be converted into an electrical signal using a media converter. At its input there is an SC/LC connector or a paired SFP with TX and RX ports. The converted signal is sent to the RJ-45 port, through which you can connect a router or other network device using an Ethernet cable. A less common method of connecting home devices via PON requires an ONU/ONT subscriber terminal. This article presents the rating best models such devices that combine the functions of a router and a media converter.

5th place in the ranking: Eltex NTU-2W

Router NTU-2W is a good one a budget option subscriber terminal with WiFi support and built-in IPTV functions. This model is best suited for a small apartment. It has only two LAN ports and is not equipped with external high-gain WiFi antennas. However, the high reliability, low price of the Eltex NTU-2W, the presence of a USB port and a gigabit Ethernet connector make us pay attention to this device.

A noticeable drawback of the NTU-2W is that WiFi only operates in the 2.4 GHz band. Of course, not all portable devices support data transfer speeds greater than 300 Mbps ( limit value for the 802.11 b/g/n standard). But having a 5 GHz network could not only increase WiFi throughput, but also help improve signal strength. This is due to the fact that most surrounding wireless equipment in neighboring apartments operates on the 2.4 GHz frequency, and therefore can cause interference when crossing channels.

Unfortunately, there is only one Gigabit Ethernet connector on this router. The second LAN port belongs to the Fast Ethernet standard, its maximum throughput is 100 Mbit/s. When using a high-speed Internet connection (if real speed from the provider exceeds 100 Mbit/s), it is advisable to use a 100 Mbit/s connector to connect IPTV, and connect the computer through a faster port.

4th place in the ranking: ZTE F660

Router with 4 RJ-45 LAN ports and two RJ-11 telephone jacks. The speed of receiving information through the optical interface is up to 2.488 Gbit/s, the sending speed is up to 1.244 Gbit/s. Supports the creation of up to 4 WiFi networks with different SSIDs operating at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. Despite the theoretical ability to connect up to 128 clients to each of them, in practice the device parameters are insufficient to service a large office network. ZTE F660 is suitable for installation in an apartment or small office.

This router also has a USB port that can be used to connect a printer, flash drive, or external hard drive. Connected drives are accessed through a file server or network media library. This router model has built-in functions for automatic diagnostics of the PON connection, thanks to which stable communication over the optical channel is maintained. Wireless network it also works flawlessly on ZTE F660.

Note! Most devices of this model are Russian market have limited MGTS firmware. To use another provider's network or access all factory functions, it is recommended to purchase a global version of the router or change the firmware.

3rd place in the ranking: Huawei EchoLife HG8247H

Unlike the two previous models in this rating, the Huawei HG8247H optical terminal is equipped with two omnidirectional antennas and a CATV connector for connecting cable television. One of the official suppliers of the router is the Rostelecom provider. The device has an unusual arrangement of the SC optical connector. The cable is inserted through a hole and a special channel on the bottom of the router, after which it is connected to the connector on the bottom panel. This design protects the fiber optic cable from refraction and hides the long connector.

The router occupies high positions in the ranking due to its trouble-free operation and a large number functions. There are ventilation holes on all sides of the case that reduce the heating of the board. All connectors are located on the rear side. The HG8247H provides Internet access via Ethernet and WiFi, the ability to use IPTV digital television and VoIP Internet telephony. Built-in firewall protects local network from unauthorized access and attacks aimed at slowing down work.

Important! The EchoLife HG8247H software provides dynamic power control. The power consumption of the router varies from 7.5 to 18 W, depending on the current load.

2nd place in the ranking: Sercomm RV6688BCM

In Russia, the branded model of this router from the MGTS provider is most often found. Along with ZTE and Huawei, the Sercomm router is supplied by the provider for free use with the right to purchase. At the same time, some of the advanced settings in the RV6688BCM web interface are hidden in the firmware from the provider. To obtain administrative access, you must contact technical support MGTS. Main characteristics of the PON module:

Receive speed (Rx): 2.488 Gbps;
Upload speed (Tx): 1.244 Gbps;
Connector: SC/APC;
Maximum distance from the provider’s equipment: 20 km.
Standard used: ITU-T G.984.2 CLASS B+.

A convenient feature of the model is the presence of a “Battery” connector for backup power supply of the telephone line. If a landline phone is connected through a router, the connection will remain even after a power outage in the apartment. On the rear panel there are two USB 2.0 ports, making it possible to simultaneously connect an external drive and a printer. The disadvantages of the device include its large dimensions and the lack of external antennas.

1st place in the ranking: TP-Link TX-VG1530

Universal router with two RJ-11 inputs for IP telephony, a USB port and 4 LAN ports with a bandwidth of up to 1000 Mbit/s. The TX-VG1530 has two antennas with 5 dBi gain. Software This TP-Link router model supports the OMCI remote management interface, NAT and SPI firewalls. The device has a wide range of VoIP functions:

Caller ID;
Call waiting and holding;
Automatic detection of voice activity;
Call forwarding;
Conferences with multiple participants;
Autoresponder.

Advice! A flash drive or external HDD connected to this router model can be used as storage for a voicemail server.

Let's sum it up

The editors of WiNetwork magazine recommend the TP-Link TX-VG1530 router for use in apartments connected to the Internet using PON technology. The price of the router fully corresponds to its quality and functionality. Gigabit ports allow you to organize data exchange on your home network and access the Internet at high speed. Powerful antennas provide stable wireless communication and wide WiFi coverage.

If you're trying to figure out what fiber optics are, you've definitely come to the right place!

Many internet users use fiber optic wire to connect to the internet.

However, almost no one knows what optical fiber is, what it is and how it transmits information?

Optical fiber- This is the world's fastest way to transfer data over the Internet.

The optical cable has a special structure: it consists of small thin wires that are separated from each other by a special coating.

Each wire transmits light, and the light, in turn, transmits data across the network.

Let's take a closer look at how to connect the Internet and configure its operation yourself.

First, make sure you have fiber to your home. Next, order the service to connect to the network.

The terminal is also equipped with two additional sockets for connecting an analog home telephone and several more sockets are needed to connect television from Rostelecom.

After connecting all components, you should check the Internet connections on your computer:

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