As the optical device used in the optical communication network, the optical module performs the function of converting the photoelectric signal. However, with the rapid development of the optical network market, the packaging and speed of optical modules have increased several times.
The optical SFP module has a BIDI SFP optical module and a common optical SFP module. What do the two optical SFP modules mean? What are the differences?
Optical SFP Module
What is a BIDI SFP Optical Module?
The BIDI optical module is an optical module that uses WDM bidirectional transmission technology (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) to implement bidirectional transmission in an optical channel simultaneously over one optical fiber. The BIDI optical module has only one port for transmitting and receiving signals over a single fiber optic cable through an integrated two-way connector. Therefore, it must be paired.
How does the BIDI optical module work?
For efficient operation, bidi SFP must be paired to provide bi-directional data transmission by tuning the duplexer in accordance with the required wavelength of the transmitter and receiver.
BIDI Optical Speed Module
The speed of the BIDI optical module is 155 Mbps – 3.125 Gbps
Benefits of BIDI Optical Modules
The most obvious benefit of using BIDI optical modules, such as SFP + BIDI and SID BIDI optical modules, is the reduced cost of fiber optic cable infrastructure. The BIDI optical module reduces the number of ports on the patch panel of fiber-optic cables, and also reduces the occupied space of the tray designed to control fiber-optic cables, reducing the number of cables needed.
Introduction to SFP Common Optical Modules
The SFP optical module is a small hot-swappable module in an SFP package. The current maximum speed is 10.3 Gs, and the interface is LC. It consists of a laser (including a TOSA transmitter and a ROSA receiver), an IC circuit board, and external accessories. External components consist of a housing, a base, a PCBA, a tension ring, a buckle, an unlocking element and a rubber plug.
The difference between SFP and BiDi SFP
A common SFP module has two ports: one for a TX port for signal transmission and another for an RX port for signal reception. Unlike conventional SFP modules, the BiDi SFP module has only one port, which uses an integrated WDM coupler to recieve and transmit signals over a single fiber.
To our knowledge, a typical SFP module usually has two ports: one for the TX port for signal transmission and the other for the RX port for signal reception. Unlike conventional SFP modules, the BiDi SFP module has only one port in one optical fiber, using the entire WDM connector to send emitting and receiving signals.
SFP and BIDI SFP Connection Methods All SFP modules must be used in pairs. For regular SFPs, we should connect two SFPs with the same wavelength. For example, if we use 850 nm SFP at one end, then we must use 850 nm SFP at the other end.
For SFP BiDi, since it uses different wavelengths to transmit and receive signals, we must connect two SFP BiDi with opposite wavelengths together.