Extend Reach and Save Space with ProLabs Mini Media Converters

Did you know that optical transmission was first conceived back in 1880?

Alexander Graham Bell, forefather of the telephone system, created the first known optical transmission device, the Photophone, and first transmitted an optical signal between two buildings 213 meters apart. The main reason fiber optics were conceived was the short transmission distance that could be achieved over copper. A CAT cable currently has a max distance of around 100m. This is a problem when connecting networks over this distance, such as a campus with multiple buildings.

Focusing on the fiber and copper element of telecoms, there needed to be a crossover between the two, as copper networking was the main player before fiber came into commercial use in the 1980’s.

For this to happen, and for fiber to be utilized over a legacy copper network, the media converter was born. Media converters have come in line with the speed of today’s transferable data rates. ProLabs carries 100mb through 1GB – even up to 10GB! With the expansion of the telecoms industry and its appetite for more bandwidth, cheaper costs, and the need for precious space within a data center or network room, everything needs to become better, more economical and compact.

The solution is ProLabs MiMC range of mini media converters.

When used in a cabinet, 12 MiMC’s can be mounted in a 1RU rack space. Considering most media converters used in a cabinet chassis require 2RU space for up to 16 converters. The extra 1RU saved with the ProLabs MiMC can be used for 30% greater Media Converter density, enabling 24 converters in 2RU or preserving the space for other networking equipment.

ProLabs MiMC range can do everything that standard converters can do, including bi-directional (BiDi) optics enabling transmission over a single fiber strand. The converters Auto MDI/ MDIX function means you never have to worry what cable has been used – crossover or straight through will both work. The Link Fault Pass Through (LFPT) function, when used with a pair of converters, will identify a link fault on side A, which will pass this to side B and will alarm network administrators of an error.

Compatibility with Transceivers

ProLabs MiMC range has the ability to provide short or long-distance transmission. ProLabs carries two versions; a fixed optic version for times when the converter will never need to be touched and can be left in place and another version with an open optic slot for standard pluggable transceivers enabling greater flexibility with fiber type (SM/MM), distance or fiber savings such as BiDi.

Open slot MiMC offer great flexibility reducing the number of SKU’s that the field technicians need to have available. Each project may have different needs, such as a link that is less than 1k, or another that has a need for 80km. The open slot MiMC converter can accept both, and are plug and play. Bi-directional and WDM SFP’s can also be used. ProLabs is a leader in fiber optic transceivers and can provide a full range of transceivers to cater to your projects every need.

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