Fiber optic cables have been around for a long time. They are preferred by many people as they are lightweight and resistant to weather conditions. They are also very thin and small thus have very few data blockages. Common Fiber Optic Cables There many types of fiber optic cables that you can use. The most common ones are MTRJ/MTRJ, it features a small form of MTRJ connector and latching design that allows you to make easy connections even in patch panels. MTRJ cables come with two fibers that ensure that you have a near-perfect connection. These cables are usually used in Ethernet and multimedia applications. LC/SC, this is ideal for high-bandwidth applications. It supports 10 Gbps dataspeeds for up to 300 meters. The cable uses VCSEL light sources that operate at 850 nm. The cable also supports backward flow of information which makes it possible for it to be used in 50/125 network equipments. RJ45 multi-mode SC, they allow you to convert fiber connections to copper-based cabling. They also allow you to extend cat type network along great distances. Digital audio, it was originally created by Toshiba in order to link CD players to receivers. The unique thing with this cable is that the core is made from inexpensive plastic. The most common plastic used in plexiglass. The cool thing with the cable is that it's immune to interference which makes shielding unnecessary. They also don't bring about distortion or signal loses. Environment requirement on outdoor fiber optic cables Outdoor fiber cables must endure harsh environment factors such as UV radiation from sunlight, storms, snows and 80 mph wind, so outdoor cables must be strong, weatherproof and UV resistant. The outdoor cable should also be able to endure the wild temperature variations both during installation and throughout its life span. These factors determine the materials used for the cable construction. Various materials are used to suit the installation environment. Outdoor cable jacket is treated to prevent UV light from penetrating inside the cable and damaging the internal glass fibers. Extra UV protection specification can be specified if needed. Environment requirement on indoor fiber optic cables Indoor fiber cables should be strong and flexible for easy pulling and installation. They should also possess NEC required fire and smoke ratings. As a industry standard practice, single mode fiber jacket is yellow and multimode fiber jacket is orange. Taking Care of Fiber Optic Cables Although, it's rare for the cables to get damaged or broken, they tend to be affected by dust, dirt and other contaminants. The cool thing is that you can get rid of these contaminants by cleaning the cables. There are two ways that you can do the cleaning, wet and dry cleaning. For wet cleaning you should fold a piece of lens paper a few times and apply a few drops of isopropyl alcohol. You should then hold the optic cable in a vertical position and press its end to the lens paper. Dry cleaning is similar to wet cleaning only that you use lint-free wipes. You should be cautious of dry cleaning as it tends to damage the lens. Conclusion This is what you need to know about fiber optic cables. For them to last for a long time you should ensure that they are of high quality. You should also ensure that you use them at the right areas.