Fiber to Ethernet Media Converter, What's your preference?
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I used an ERL on one side and a switch on the other - SFP ports
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TP-link have been very reliable for us and are good value for money.
They fit in rack as well as most "real" media converters do.https://www.tp-link.com/us/business-networking/accessory/?filterby=5715
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Also keep in mind that most media converters are just that.
Fiber can't auto-negotiate speed as copper can. You need the right converter for the fiber speed you have. And also for the type of fiber you have - single mode or multi mode.
Also, if you have 1Gbit fiber link you'll get 1GbE, not 100Mbit, and vice versa.
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I was going to get a dedicated media converter but ended up just getting an Adtran 8-port with 2 SFP ports.
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I haven't used these converters but fs.com is great on lots of other stuff so worth having a look at.
Price is good on these as well, just as tp-link ones.
https://www.fs.com/c/ethernet-media-converter-1037I've done it myself many times in the past but I think using an entire switch just for one or two ports make very little sense when you can get a good media converter for lot less than $100. A media converter is much smaller and more robust. Not bashing anyone.
What does a fiber media converter do:
Youtube Video -
@Pete-S said in Fiber to Ethernet Media Converter, What's your preference?:
I haven't used these converters but fs.com is great on lots of other stuff so worth having a look at.
Price is good on these as well, just as tp-link ones.
https://www.fs.com/c/ethernet-media-converter-1037I've done it myself many times in the past but I think using an entire switch just for one or two ports make very little sense when you can get a good media converter for lot less than $100. A media converter is much smaller and more robust. Not bashing anyone.
What does a fiber media converter do:
Youtube VideoWow, those prices are a LOT better than what I was able to find just 7 years ago.
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I almost never actually need a media converter. It is almost always fiber to a switch or router, and those devices actually have SFP ports as noted.
I like the EdgeSwitch 10X for basic stuff.
And if I need PoE, the EdgeSwitch 8
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@JaredBusch said in Fiber to Ethernet Media Converter, What's your preference?:
I almost never actually need a media converter. It is almost always fiber to a switch or router, and those devices actually have SFP ports as noted.
It probably has a lot to do with the size of the network. When you have a lot of long distance stuff and a lot of fiber and cat 6 going here and there, you're more likely to end up with fiber in one hand and cat 6 in the other and no way to connect them.
Even if you have a switch, for some odd reason switches don't have enough SFP ports. And if you run uplinks over fiber then you already used some of the few you had.
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Thanks, this has been very helpful. I need to relocate a 1GBe ethernet connection, about 900 ft. Someday I may need a fiber switch with vLANs, but for now a couple of media converters make the most sense. I've used Allied-Telesis and Transition Networks in the past, have only looked at Startech, and am happy to see the other options here.
Thanks again!
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@JasGot said in Fiber to Ethernet Media Converter, What's your preference?:
a fiber switch with vLANs
These have nothing to do with each other.
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@JaredBusch Why not? I need to isolate an 8 port switch into 4 two port switches. It seems to me that VLANS are the perfect solution to that problem. I couldn't do that if I used a fiber switch without vlan capabilities.
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@JasGot said in Fiber to Ethernet Media Converter, What's your preference?:
@JaredBusch Why not? I need to isolate an 8 port switch into 4 two port switches. It seems to me that VLANS are the perfect solution to that problem. I couldn't do that if I used a fiber switch without vlan capabilities.
While that is a good use of a switch, that is not hat you just stated. Which was, that you don't need a switch, and a simple media converter will do.
How the fuck would a media converter help you now, if you need a switch and VLANs?
Needing a switch versus a media converter is one discussion. and makes sense as discussed in this thread.
Needing a media converter or VLANs does not.
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@JaredBusch said in Fiber to Ethernet Media Converter, What's your preference?:
that is not hat you just stated. Which was, that you don't need a switch, and a simple media converter will do.
How the fuck would a media converter help you now, if you need a switch and VLANs?My god, it is so hard to like you or appreciate you; you can be helpful one minute and an asshat the next.
This is how the fuck it will help me now:
@JasGot said in Fiber to Ethernet Media Converter, What's your preference?:
Someday I may need a fiber switch with vLANs, but for now a couple of media converters make the most sense.
Why would I spend $2k now when $200 will do the job for at least several years? And don't tell me a couple of switches are not that much more than media converters. The switches I WILL install are currently about $1k each. Unless you know what the customer demands are, what the customer budget constraints are, what my plans are, what the possible future objectives are, what the building layout is, and what the fiber install looks like, don't presume to know anything that would entice you to make that silly and asinine statement.
You're just out in left field on this one. You'd have been better off yelling at a tree.
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@Pete-S said in Fiber to Ethernet Media Converter, What's your preference?:
I've done it myself many times in the past but I think using an entire switch just for one or two ports make very little sense when you can get a good media converter for lot less than $100. A media converter is much smaller and more robust. Not bashing anyone.
In my case I needed the switch in the far side, so there was no waste.
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@Pete-S FS.com is where I got the SFP transceivers. I also got Extreme networks stacking cables, sfp and sfp+ transceivers and fiber from them. I got extras of all and was still way cheaper than oem. Been running for several years without issues.
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My reasons for a low-end switch with SFP ports was also due to warranty. Most of the stand-alone media converters have a 1 year warranty. I can get Netgear, D-Link, etc with a Lifetime Warranty. Made sense in my application.
