Multi-mode optical fiber
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Multi-mode optical fiber (or multi-mode fiber) is a type of optical fiber mostly used for shorter distances, e.g. on campus. It can carry 100 Mbit/s for typical campus distances; the actual maximum speed (given the right electronics) depends upon the actual distance. It is easier to connect to than single-mode optical fiber, but its limit on speed x distance is lower. Multi-mode fiber has a larger center core than single-mode fiber.
The earliest fiber optic cables used a technique termed multi-mode transmission. This is where the light signals from the laser are broken up into a number of paths along the length of the fibre and is reflected off the fiber wall. The amount of reflection, which occurs, dictates the quality of the signal.
Multi-mode optical fiber is less expensive than Single-mode optical fiber. Current transmission speeds and distances are 100Mb/s up to 10km and 1Gb/s for distances up to 1km.
Multi-mode optical fibre has two categories. They are Step Index and Graded Index.