The cable is used to transmit electrical signals, and the inside is a copper core wire, usually a rope-like cable that is twisted by several or several groups of wires [each group of at least two].

The core wire diameter is divided into 0.32mm, 0.4mm and 0.5mm. The larger the diameter, the stronger the communication ability; and the number of core wires is divided into: 5 pairs, 10 pairs, 20 pairs, 50 pairs, 100 Yes, 200 pairs and so on.

Cable: It is large in size, weight, and poor in communication ability, so it can only be used for short-range communication.

Optical cables are used for communication cables that transmit optical signals. The inside of the optical cable is glass fiber, and a certain number of optical fibers are used to form the cable core in a certain manner, and the cable core is covered with a sheath, and some are also covered with an outer sheath. Optical cables are only divided into the number of core wires, the number of core wires: 4, 6, 8, 12 pairs and so on.

Optical cable: It has the advantages of small size, weight, low cost, large communication capacity, and strong communication capability. Due to many factors, it is currently only used for long-distance and point-to-point (ie, two switch rooms) communication transmission.

When the phone converts the acoustic signal into an electrical signal and then transmits it to the switch via the line, the switch transmits the electrical signal directly to another phone via the line for answering. The transmission line during this conversation is a cable.

When the phone converts the acoustic signal into an electrical signal and transmits it to the switch via the line, the switch transmits the electrical signal to the photoelectric conversion device (converts the electrical signal into an optical signal) and transmits it to another photoelectric conversion device via the line (converts the optical signal). The signal is converted into an electrical signal), and then to the switching equipment, to the other phone to answer. The line between the two photoelectric conversion devices is an optical cable.

Summary: The difference between cable and optical cable is mainly manifested in three aspects-

●The material is different. Cables use metal materials (mostly copper, aluminum) as conductors; optical cables use glass fibers as conductors.

●There is a difference in the transmission signal. The cable transmits electrical signals. Optical cables transmit optical signals.

●There are differences in the scope of application. Cables are now mostly used for energy transmission and low-end data information transmission (such as telephone). Optical cables are mostly used for data transmission.

In actual use, it can be known that optical cables have greater transmission capacity than copper cables. The relay section has a long distance, small size, light weight, and no electromagnetic interference. The backbone of ocean submarine communications, as well as the wired transmission lines of local area networks, private networks, etc., has begun to develop into the field of user loop distribution networks in the city, providing transmission lines for fiber.