The FIB1-10/100 series are compact full featured Ethernet media converters. Their primary function is to convert from a standard 10/100Mbps UTP interface to a 100BaseFX fibre interface.

The units are available with either ST or SC fibre connectors. Both multi and singlemode versions are catered for as well as wave division multiplexing (WDM) converters that allow transmission over a single core of fibre cable.

The converters can be used in a stand alone manner and can also be located in the FRM-301 media converter chassis. See G.703/E1, X.21 and Ethernet Fibre Converter Chassis.From this chassis up to 16 converters can be housed and managed.

The FIB1-10/100 range have, as standard, advanced configuration features. The UTP speed and duplex can be hard set if necessary or left to auto negotiate. The duplex of the fibre port can be hard set too. Link loss forwarding can be enabled that allows a link fault to propagated to connected network elements.

Another advanced feature is loopback testing. When this is enabled the converter will send out a test pattern to the other converter and wait for a response. Once this response is verified the operator knows the fibre cabling is valid and the far end converter is present.

The final advanced feature is the get remote status. When this feature is enabled the local fibre converter will interrogate the remote converter and ask it for its status. The local converter will display the LEDs of the remote unit. With this feature the network manager can see if the remote UTP segment is connected and at what speed and duplex, a useful feature that negates the need for an engineer to travel to the remote location.