The main feature of PON is being passive type of network. Splitter is the main part of PON being passive. Main cost advantage of splitter is reduced cost due usage of only one fiber coming from Central Office to the splitter. In point-to-point architecture network would require individual cable from CO to each customer. In PON, splitter takes one input cable to serve up to 32 or 64 homes at the same time.
Splitter technology has made multiple improvements during several last years in performance, reliability and cost per port. Splitters excess loss was reduced to 1-1.5 dB above the ideal loss.
Figure 1. Loss versus wavelength comparison of 1 x 32 splitters made with (a) PLC device and (b) FBT device.
Main requirements for splitters include three wavelength bandpass regions with center wavelengths of 1310, 1490 and 1555 nm. Splitter fabrication technology is ensuring best performance. Figure 1. illustrates two splitters fabricated with two different processes – PLC and FBT and their loss over the bandpass of interest for PON system.
Each line in the figure is representing signal loss from the single input to on of 32 output ports of the splitter. If we analyze second graph, we can see that the process provides low loss windows for 1310 and 1640 nm wavelengths. However, PLC device on first graph is more uniform up to 1640 nm. Uniformed signal loss simplifies the optical tests and acceptance of fiber network, making future upgrades possible, when new wavelengths will be introduced. We have found PLC technology more advantageous for projects with possible future WDM expansion.
Splitter devices must be highly reliable and be able to work in extreme conditions of different weather types. Based on the reviews from our multiple customers from all over the world we found that early issues of reliability with certain PLC devices were no longer a fundamental concern. Reliability results have verified that splitters are rough enough to work in uncontrolled environments.
Below you can find dimensions of PLC and FBT splitters offered by AD-net:
More information and prices can be found in this link: https://www.ad-net.com.tw/index.php?id=815
Testimonials
Lomoveishiy – Finland
I needed those to connect my PC on the third floor to have internet access in that room, and ISP installed their modem on the first floor only. After dropping fiber patch cables, plugged in all cables into these media converters at both sides, and link came up instantly. Was much easier than I thought!
