Media Converters
Media converters convert signals between different transmission media to achieve network expansion, playing a particularly important role when physical cable distances are limited.
1. What are the Types of Media Converters?
They are primarily categorized into the following types:
Optical Converters: These convert short-distance electrical signals over twisted-pair cables into long-distance optical signals over fiber optic cables, extending transmission distances where Ethernet cables cannot reach.
Automotive Ethernet Converters: These, such as 100/1000BASE-T1 converters, seamlessly connect in-vehicle ECU systems to standard Gigabit Ethernet devices, supporting fixed low-latency data transmission.
Video and Content Transport Converters: These are used in broadband metropolitan area networks (MANs), video streaming, and content distribution over wired networks.
2. What are the Applications of Media Converters?
Media converters are commonly used in the access layer of metropolitan area networks (MANs), data center expansion, and in-vehicle system testing (such as offline testing or hardware-in-the-loop). They rely on connectors (such as LC, ST, and SC) to ensure reliable transmission. For example, fiber access requires splicing optical cables to terminal boxes, which are then connected to media converters via couplers and ultimately to routers or switches. These devices support various configuration options, such as master-slave mode and frame generation, to meet the needs of efficient network management.