Certified Fiber Optics Practice Exam

The common wavelengths for multi-mode fibers are primarily 850 nm and 1300 nm. Multi-mode fibers are designed to carry multiple light rays or modes simultaneously, and these two wavelengths are optimized for their performance.

At 850 nm, multi-mode fibers excel in short-distance applications such as local area networks (LANs) and data centers. This wavelength is well-suited for LED light sources, making it a popular choice for high-speed networking solutions over shorter distances.

The 1300 nm wavelength is also used with multi-mode fibers, especially in longer-distance applications where improved bandwidth is required. At this wavelength, light attenuation is lower, and the modal dispersion is reduced compared to shorter wavelengths, enhancing signal quality over moderate distances.

Although other wavelengths may be used for certain specialty applications, 850 nm and 1300 nm are the standard choices for multi-mode fiber optics, ensuring effective communication for a wide range of installation scenarios.