This section includes some Frequently Asked Questions regarding Plastic Optical Fiber and residential and commercial networking. Please Contact Us with any additional questions that you may have.
1. What are the advantages of using POF?
a. POF is faster to install than Cat 5e/Cat 6 networks. Service Providers have quoted up to 50% labor savings.
b. POF is more reliable: Solves Pixelization and freezing issues with HD IPTV applications. Saves repair costs and follow up visits.
c. Installing POF leads to a better customer experience: less time in their home, significant reduction in the need to perform a return repair.
d. POF is immune to EMI. With more EMI influences than ever (Treadmills, AC Power, baseboard heating, fluorescent lighting etc.) POF has proven to eliminate the negative effects of EMI on your high bandwidth Ethernet signals.
e. POF has a lower profile than cat 5e/cat6. At only 2.2mm, POF is more aesthetically pleasing to surface mount, easier to hide under baseboards and carpets, and therefore opens up more installation options than with Cat networks.
f. POF is so easy to install, a homeowner can “Do-it themselves”. In the hands of a trained installer, the install possibilities are endless.
2. What is the maximum bandwidth today?
a. Our converters are equipped with 100mbps Ethernet and POF Connections.
3. How would you troubleshoot?
a. Troubleshooting performance is simple. POF uses a safe LED light to transmit data. If the red light is on, data is being transmitted. If the red light is off, the problem piece can be isolated. Our EPS 4 port switch also has flashing Green LED’s that indicate transmission, connectivity and disconnection.
4. Where is POF currently being used?
a. POF is being used all over the world. POF has been around since the 1970’s as a lighter and more flexible data transmission alternative to copper wiring in the Automobile industry. Today, with the development of new technologies from companies like NYCE Networks, distances are now further and performance has been improved to make it an ideal candidate for the last 100m of a home/business network.
b. Notable POF markets include: Europe, China, Japan, and North America.
c. POF is currently used in hospitals for their immunity to EMI, Airplanes for their EMI immunity and their weight reduction, the Automobile industry and Home and Business networking for their installation time savings, reliability and ease of use.
5. What applications can POF be used for?
a. Any device that is IP based or uses Ethernet: VoIP, Computers, Online Gaming Consoles, IP Security Cameras, HD IPTV, ADSL.
6. Can the converters be used in Power Bars?
a. Yes
7. Is the red light safe to look at?
a. The Red light is an LED light so completely eye safe.
8. What training is needed to install POF?
a. Professional Installers: Installers that are trained to install cat 5e/cat 6 should be capable of installing our POF cable and products with less than a few hours training. Training time would include discussing various new installation techniques that were previously not possible with copper wiring. There are several short 3 minute videos on our website that targets the professional installer. You can view them at: www.nycenetworks.com/videos/
b. Home-owners: Home-owners with no previous wiring experience have found that a quick look at our 3 minute video will give them all the instruction they need to install POF. It’s that easy! Go to the 4 minute video titled: “The NYCE Do-it-yourself video” found at: www.nycenetworks.com/videos/
9. What special installation tools are needed? Fusion splicers, specialized cutters?
a. No special tools are required. Anything that can produce a clean cut of the POF is all you need. However, a basic cutter is available for purchase. No more downtime for installers if equipment fails or goes missing.
b. Splicing is achieved by our patented POF Coupler, which again only requires a clean cut of the POF to accommodate.
10. What are the distance limitations of POF?
a. Approximately 80 meters. However, at each Media Converter location, the signal is refreshed like a repeater. This allows for daisy chaining and 80 meters distance to the next device. Daisy-chaining can be repeated with multiple converters throughout the home/business.
11. What are the maximum number of devices that can be looped or daisy chained?
a. Generally you can link any number of devices depending on requirements of the Equipment used. For example: if you need 15 mbps for each IPTV set top box, a 100 mbps feed will allow for a maximum number of 6 TV locations.
12. What certifications does NYCE have for NYCE Plastic Optical Fiber?
a. NYCE POF is the only Plenum, UV, NSZH and UL rated POF available.
13. What certifications does NYCE have for NYCE Media Converters?
a. NYCE Media Converters are ETL, FCC, CSA C22.2 Std. No. 60950-1, UL std. 60950-1, and are ROHS compliant, containing no Lead.
b. Our C-Plug type for Europe is also CE certified.
14. What is Voltage range of Converters?
a. Our products can accommodate a variety international voltages: 100V-240VAC 50/60 Hz
15. Can the POF be used outdoors?
a. Yes, we have a UV rated POF.
16. Can the POF be direct buried?
a. Not directly but within an appropriate conduit, yes.
17. Can I bend and pull POF around tight corners?
a. Yes, bend radius of POF is much more forgiving than copper wiring. Tight corners are a specialty of POF.
18. Why is POF immune to EMI?
a. POF is completely plastic based using light for communication. Since there is no electrical signal and no metal conductors, POF is not affected by EMI sources like power cabling, microwaves, fluorescent lighting, treadmills or anything else that draws significant power.
19. How resistant is POF to rodent scratches and chewing?
a. POF is resilient to breaks in its cladding, so much that millimeters can be removed exposing the core without disruption to service.
20. How can you splice POF?
a. Using our POF Coupler which takes less than 30 seconds to attach.
21. What devices can be serviced by POF?
a. VoIP, IPTV, Computers, IP Security Cameras, Home Automation products…essentially any device you buy that requires Ethernet/internet can be fed with POF.
22. How do NYCE Media Converters know which signal is required for each device that is plugged in?
a. The NYCE Media Converter simply takes the priority and information sent by the Service Provider to deliver it to the appropriate device and passes through the information to the appropriate VoIP phone, IPTV, or Data device.