In order to transmit any traffic over an optic network, an optical transceiver is crucial. These elements generally work to convert electrical signals into optical ones that later will be transferred over the fiber optic cable. The current market offers consumers a diversity of transceivers available for various appliances, depending on the data type needed to be transmitted, the distance, and transmission speed. Here is a quick guide on everything you need to know about a transceiver.
What is a transceiver?
A transceiver combines features of both receiver and transmitter. It is most often implemented in the wireless communication technologies and fiber optic cable systems, particularly in their transmitter\receiver devices. This electronic device is designed to transfer and receive various signals. In some appliances, including wireless communication ones, the transceivers are built-in. In contrast, such devices are contained in a so-called interface card of the network – it mainly relates to the local networks.
What does a transceiver do?
Different types of transceivers are in charge of diverse functionalities. Here are a couple of the most common transceivers kinds utilized in wireless communication technologies:
1. Optical transceivers
These transceivers are called high-speed transmission appliances and are also known as fiber-optic and optical module transceivers. The fiber optical transceiver technology works to convert electronic signals into light signals.
2. Ethernet transceivers
Another type of transceiver is Ethernet which is well-known for media accessibility, or simply MAU (media access unit). Consumers primarily utilize such transceivers to connect various electronic devices with Ethernet technology. Such transceivers transmit and receive messages.
3. RF transceivers
You can find RF transceivers in multiple satellite communication technologies. Digital and analog routers, as well as baseband modems, usually use such transceivers in their constructions. These transceivers are widely used to transfer data in video or voice in the wireless environment.
4. Wireless transceivers
Such transceivers operate to ensure improved Wi-Fi transfer speeds. They initially combine features of the RF and Ethernet transceivers. Besides, wireless transceivers contain two primary functional layers – a media access control layer and a physical layer. The first layer operates to change a bitstream into a flow of symbols for information transfer. The second layer is essential to ensure efficient link traffic control for a transmitter related to the wireless links.
How does the transceiver work?
The transceivers can work in both full-duplex and half-duplex modes. This feature is prevalent in radio communication. The former variation of transceivers stands for the ability of a transmitter and receiver to work simultaneously. However, both these devices operate at various radio frequencies. Full-duplex receivers are most widespread in portable two-way radios.
On the other hand, half-duplex transceivers can not receive and transmit simultaneously. It is due to the connection of the transmitter and receiver to the single antenna. Radio transmitters and ham radios most often implement half-duplex transceivers into their constructions.
