- All
- Product Name
- Product Keyword
- Product Model
- Product Summary
- Product Description
- Multi Field Search
Views: 399 Author: Addams Publish Time: 2025-08-19 Origin: Site
1. Classification of 100G Optical Modules by Transmission Distance
2. How do 100G optical modules achieve transmission over different distances?
2.1. Short-distance transmission (10m-100m)
2.2 Medium- and Long-Distance Transmission (2km-40km)
2.3 Ultra-Long-Haul Transmission (40km-2000km)
3. How to Choose the Best 100G Optical Transceiver?
In today's networks, 100G optical modules are the workhorse for building communication links. Whether in data centers, enterprise campus networks, or metropolitan area networks, 100G optical modules are used to meet bandwidth and traffic pressures. To adapt to different application scenarios, 100G optical modules are available in a variety of models, covering transmission distances from 100m to 80km, meeting the needs of various use cases and providing low-cost, high-performance network communication connections. In this article, let's take a deeper look at 100G optical modules with different transmission distances and discuss how to choose them for different use cases.
Based on transmission distance, 100G optical modules are mainly categorized into short-haul, medium-haul, long-haul, and ultra-long-haul levels. The optical module parameters vary significantly between different distances. The following table lists typical optical module parameters for these distance levels.
Distance | Typical models | Transmission distance | Wavelength(nm) | Fiber type | Power consumption |
Short distance | SR4 | 100m | 850 | MMF | ≤2.5W |
Middle distance | CWDM4, LR4 | 2km-10km | 1310 | SMF | ≤3.5W |
Long distance | ER4 | 40km | 1310 | SMF | ≤4.5W |
Ultra-long distance | ZR4 | 80km | 1310 | SMF | ≤6W |
The YXF-Q28-M85M-01D is the most common module for short-distance transmission. When paired with a multi-mode 8-core MPO optical cable, it can transmit up to 100m. Because it uses a 4-channel 4x25G parallel solution, component cost and power consumption are very low, with most consuming less than 2.5W. This meets the requirements of short-distance cabling within equipment rooms and high-density deployments.
The YXF-Q28-C31L-2D is also a popular product in data centers. It utilizes a four-wavelength multiplexing solution (1271/1291/1311/1331nm) with duplex LC connectors. When used with single-mode fiber, it can transmit up to 2km. Because it uses wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) with a 20nm wavelength spacing, it doesn't require TEC (Transistor-Electrode-Transmitter) to stabilize wavelengths, minimizing power consumption and costs. The duplex LC connectors save 75% of fiber resources compared to MPO cables, reducing cabling complexity and making it an ideal choice for medium- and large-scale interconnects.
The YXF-Q28-S31L-10D and YXF-Q28-C31L-2D are similar, both utilizing four-channel wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) and duplex LC interfaces. However, the YXF-Q28-S31L-10D utilizes the 1295.56-1309.14nm LAN-WDM wavelengths with shorter wavelength spacing. Furthermore, the laser also incorporates a TEC to stabilize the wavelength, resulting in a longer transmission distance of up to 10 km. However, the YXF-Q28-S31L-10D consumes more power and is more expensive, but it remains an ideal choice for medium- and long-distance interconnects.
Like the YXF-Q28-S31L-10D, the YXF-Q28-S31L-40D utilizes a four-channel wavelength division multiplexing solution to conserve fiber resources for long-haul transmission. However, the YXF-Q28-S31L-40D utilizes a higher-power laser and a lower-sensitivity APD receiver. This provides the YXF-Q28-S31L-40D with a more ample optical power budget, enabling unrepeatered long-haul transmission up to 40km, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
The YXF-Q28-S31L-80D optical module can transmit over an ultra-long distance of 80 km on standard single-mode fiber. At this distance, even an APD receiver cannot guarantee error-free optical signal reception. Therefore, the YXF-Q28-S31L-80D utilizes an SOA PIN receiver, which pre-processes the optical signal before receiving to ensure communication quality. A TEC is used on the transmitter to stabilize the laser wavelength. Due to its numerous components, the YXF-Q28-S31L-80D optical module consumes a high power consumption (6W) and is expensive. Furthermore, improper use over short distances can cause the receiver to burn out, limiting its application to long-distance transmissions with limited traffic.
Based on the above introduction, I believe everyone has a general understanding of the various 100G optical transceivers. When selecting a 100G optical transceiver, we must comprehensively consider multiple factors, including transmission distance, power consumption, cost, and future scalability, and choose the product that best suits our application scenario. With the widespread adoption of silicon photonics technology, future 100G transceivers will evolve towards lower power consumption (<2W) and longer distances (Coherent ZR+ up to 120km), further breaking the "distance-cost" trade-off. The transmission distance of an optical transceiver is never "the longer the better"; rather, it's about finding the optimal solution between scenario requirements, technical feasibility, and economic efficiency. We believe everyone can find the product that best suits their application. YXFiber, a professional optical transceiver supplier, offers a wide range of high-performance, high-quality 100G optical transceivers.
