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====== Grid's fiber optics hardware notes ======

===== Introduction =====

This is a small note I'm making to tell about my experience with media converters, fiber optic cables, etc.

Things you'll see here are quite affordable as I won't be able to test them otherwise; some of these details are applicable for home use. Some of these details aren't applicable whatsoever.

{{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:htb-gs-20b-test.jpeg?direct&800|}}

{{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:photo1707147858.jpeg?direct&800|}}
===== Disclaimer =====

In no way do I claim competency in telecommunications, or anything else, for that matter.
In fact, the tests I'm doing are (proudly) conducted on the armrest of a couch in a flat I'm renting.

Take the information I'm providing with a grain of salt; a can of paprika works as good as a grain of salt, if not more. What I'm trying to say is "don't rely on this information for your final decisions; I'm doing my best to check the information, but would prefer to have the lack of responsibility". Thank you.

{{ :tamiwiki:users:6r1d:couch.png?direct&400 |}}

**You're welcome to add information**, but please add it in a separate category here so I can check it from the couch.
===== Devices =====

==== Media converters ====

Power inputs in HTB-GS-03B and HTB-GS-20B are compatible: 5V DC barrel jack with anode (+) inside and cathode (-) outside (feels like a breath of fresh air).

^ Link                                                                               ^ Speed, Mbit/s                ^ Cable connector                                 ^ Fibers                                           ^ Store                                                      ^ Vendor    ^ Distance, km ^ Power input   ^ Power connector ^ Tested ^
| [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002998819713.html|HTB-GS-03]]                | 1000                         | SC                                              | 1                                                | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/4696091|Ciin]]          | Anonymous | 3            | 5V            | DC barrel jack  | ✅     |
| [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002998819713.html|🔗]]                       | 100                          | SC                                              | 1                                                | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/4696091|Ciin]]          | Anonymous | 25           | 5V            | DC barrel jack  | ❌     |
| [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005763863457.html|HTB-GS-20]]                | 100 when tested on 10m cable | SC                                              | 1                                                | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1102911797|SevenLayer]] | netLINK   | 20           | 5V            | DC barrel jack  | ✅     |
| [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005763863457.html|🔗]]                       | N/A, expected to have 1000   | SC                                              | 1                                                | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1102911797|SevenLayer]] | netLINK   | 3            | 5V            | DC barrel jack  | ❌     |
| [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005606062376.html|(EW-310GS-20?)]]           | 10/100/1000                  | SC                                              | 2                                                | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1102794127|Ewind]]      |           | up to 20km   | 5V            | DC barrel jack  | ❌     |
| [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006030736958.html|10G SFP+ Media Converter]] | 1.25G - 10G                  | depends on SFP module                           | depends on SFP module                            | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1100319020|Xicom]]      |           | N/A          | 5-12V         | DC barrel jack  | ❌     |
| [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006074535322.html|🔗]]                       | N/A                          | replaceable (dual LC on the bundled SFP module) | depends on the SFP module (2 on the bundled one) | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/912068198|Feigee]]      | HTOC      | N/A          | 5V            | DC barrel jack  | ❌     |
| [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32880578391.html|🔗]] | N/A | SC |  | NVOC | NVOC | N/A |  | DC barrel jack	 | ❌ |
| [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33004388999.html|🔗]] | N/A | SC |  | GoFibereasy | GoFibereasy | N/A |  | DC barrel jack | ❌ |
| [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005421503437.html|🔗]] | N/A | replaceable, LC with default SFP module | depends on the SFP module (2 on the bundled one) | I-ONT | Link-XUNXING | N/A |  | DC barrel jack	 | ❌ |

The Ewind adapter may be cool at home or office, providing significant communication speeds.

I'm not sure the Xicom adaptor reaches a gigabit on **large enough** distances, but it's worth testing.
It's important to remember that **physics interjects** to cap the maximum distances:

  * "[[https://blog.leviton.com/understanding-distance-limits-multimode-fiber|Understanding Distance Limits with Multimode Fiber]]"
  * "[[https://www.canford.co.uk/TechZone/Article/MaximumTransmissionDistancesFibreEthernet|Maximum transmission distances for fibre Ethernet]]"

Maybe it'll be easier to set up a group of media converters as a module:

  * https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001171597263.html - SFP version
  * https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006388646725.html
  * https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006386720203.html

There are also versions without a case:

  * https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005588040539.html
  * https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005986948708.html
==== Rack-mount media converter chassis ====

Sometimes, i.e. on distances larger than a typical building, you can expect to need a multimode fiber to transfer the information quickly enough.
While adding more media converters in the middle should be possible, inserting many individual repeaters would be harder than installing a multimode cable for a long time.

I expect the large distance issue can be solved using the switch and rack assemblies shown here; however, I haven't had a chance to test it.

^ Units ^ Size, inch ^ Slots     ^ PSU count ^ Link                                                                           ^
| 2U    | 19 inch    | 14 Slots  | 2         | https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005196551612.html                          |
| 2U    |            | 14        | 1 or 2    | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001664672912.html|TL-FC1400, TL-FC1420]] |
| 2U    | 19 inch    | 14 Slots  | 2         | https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004578758423.html                          |
| 2U    | 19 inch    | 16 Slots  | 2         | https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005274581266.html                          |

TODO:

  * https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32880670098.html
  * https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004579147283.html
  * https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004387691007.html
==== Cables ====

=== Indoors ===

^ Cable                                                                         ^ Length, meters ^ Cores    ^ Tested ^ Brand                                                                       ^
| [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005904238333.html|SC-to-SC cable]]      | 10             | 1        | ✅     | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1102593641|Ampcom]]                      |
| [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005904238333.html|SC-to-SC cable]]      | 30             | 1        | ✅     | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1102593641|Ampcom]]                      |

=== Outdoors ===

^ Cable                                                                         ^ Length, meters ^ Cores    ^ Tested ^ Brand                                                                       ^
| [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004468775282.html|Outdoor Fiber cable]] | 5              | 4/6/8/12 | ❌     | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/4666096|Chuanglixin Networks Specialty]] |

==== Splitters ====

[[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006389816283.html|FTTH splitter]]

==== Connectors ====

^ Connector                                                                                         ^ Brand      ^ Count        ^
| [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006023088643.html|SC/APC cold connector]]                   | FASO       |              |
| [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005763847581.html|SC/APC SM Single-Mode Optical Connector]] | SevenLayer |              |
| [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000042110148.html|Fiber Optic Connector Adapter]]              | ONTi       | 50 - 400 Pcs |
==== Cleaners ====

^ Cable ^ Cores ^ Tested ^ Brand ^
| [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001444819206.html|COMPTYCO AUA-550 cleaner + core]] | 1        | ✅      | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/5883194|Network tool store]]             |
| [[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001444819206.html|COMPTYCO AUA-550 core]]           | 1        | ✅      | [[https://www.aliexpress.com/store/5883194|Network tool store]]             |

===== Device photos =====

==== HTB-GS-03 ====

SpeedTest output on 10m fiber cable

{{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:htb-gs-03b-speedtest.png?direct&400|}}

SpeedTest output on 30m fiber cable

{{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:htb-gs-03b-speedtest-30m.png?direct&400|}}

Other photos

^ Front ^ Back ^
| {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:htb-gs-03b-front.jpeg?direct&400|}} | {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:htb-gs-03b-back.jpeg?direct&400|}} |

^ Top ^ Label ^
|{{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:htb-gs-03b-top.jpeg?direct&400|}} | {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:htb-gs-03b-label.jpeg?direct&400|}} |

==== HTB-GS-20	====

SpeedTest output on 10m fiber cable

{{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:htb-gs-20b-speedtest.png?direct&400|}}

Other photos

^ Front                                           ^ Back                                           ^
| {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:front.jpeg?direct&400|}} | {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:back.jpeg?direct&400|}} |

^ Top                                           ^ Label                                           ^
| {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:top.jpeg?direct&400|}} | {{:tamiwiki:users:6r1d:label.jpeg?direct&400|}} |
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