CWDM Technology—Economically Saving Fibers for Your Network

What’s CWDM Technology?

CWDM, also referred to as coarse wavelength division multiplexing, is a kind of WDM technology that uses different wavelengths to multiplex two or more optical signals and carry them together via a single optical fiber, aiming at enhancing the network performance. Instead of putting more fibers to carry larger data volume, CWDM technology enables many virtual fibers to meet the increasing requirement of network capacity, as an economical cabling solution for fiber infrastructures. In principle, it can carry up to 18 wavelengths on a single fiber in the spectrum grid from 1270 nm to 1610 nm with a 20nm channel spacing, which can support the network at lengths up to 80 km.

In contrast with the DWDM channel spacing, the CWDM channel spacing is too large that makes its channel design not so complicated as the DWDM one. As a result, the optical signals in CWDM channels are not able to be amplified by the optical amplifiers as those in the DWDM channels. Accordingly, CWDM technology can not support the network as long as that of DWDM one. But on the other hand, the feature of wider channel spacing allows more moderate CWDM multi-channel Mux/Demux price and other CWDM equipment prices. In short, CWDM technology is an economical solution to deploy high capacity network with less fibers that reaches up to 80 km.

CWDM Mux Demux—a Key Component in CWDM Network

When we talk about the key components in the CWDM system, the CWDM Mux Demux usually comes to our mind firstly that plays a critical role in the CWDM system. The CWDM Mux Demux modules are bidirectional optical multiplexers utilizing different wavelengths to combine multiple optical signals together and transmit them via a single fiber, which always work in pairs to support bidirectional transmission. In details, it can combine up to 18 signals with different wavelengths from 18 separate optical fibers, then transmit them together through a single optical fiber, and finally separate the integrated signal into individual signals again and send them to other 18 separate optical fibers. By this method, it can efficiently expand the network without the need of adding more fibers, which is really a high bandwidth but low cost solution for users.

CWDM Mux Demux for Dual Fiber CWDM Network

The CWDM Mux Demux used for building dual fiber CWDM network can be also called dual fiber CWDM Mux Demux, which is an universal device with the advantages of good performance and environmental stability. There are up to 18 CWDM wavelengths between 1270 nm to 1610 nm with 20nm channel spacing that can be used for the dual fiber CWDM Mux Demux. Just taking a 4 channel dual fiber CWDM network as an example, there are four kinds of wavelengths separately used for the two 4 channel CWDM Mux Demux and the ports on these two Mux Demux have the same TX and RX, as shown in the following figure. The signals with four different wavelengths transmitted from left to right should be multiplexed in the left Mux Demux, transmitted via the first single fiber and demultiplexed in the right Mux Demux, and vice versa for the transmission from right to left.

CWDM Mux Demux for Single Fiber CWDM Network

As for the single fiber CWDM Mux Demux, it is more complicated than the previous one that can be learned from the following figure. By comparison, there should be eight wavelengths used for a 4 channel single fiber CWDM network, which is the twice as much as that of a 4 channel dual fiber CWDM network. The eight wavelengths will be divided into four pairs separately used for the four channels and the TX and RX of the ports on the two single fiber CWDM Mux Demux are all reversed to finish the dual way transmission. For instance, the first port on the left Mux has 1470 nm for TX and 1490 nm for RX, while the first port on the right one has 1490 nm for TX and 1470 nm for RX. Hence, the first signal with 1470 nm can be transmitted via the single fiber from the left to the right, while the signal with 1490 nm can be also oppositely transmitted via the same fiber.

Conclusion

CWDM solution is a cost effective choice for increasing the network capacity and promoting the network performance. By this method, you can use less fibers for sending the same amount signals. If you are facing the capacity-hungry issue, you are recommendable to use the compatible CWDM Mux Demux, CWDM transceivers, duplex or simplex singlemode patch cables and related CWDM equipment to build a high-capacity CWDM network.