A Brief Introduction to CWDM Mux/Demux

CWDM Mux/Demux is the short name for Coarse Wavelength Divison Multiplexer/Demultiplexer Module, which is a flexible, low-cost solution enabling the expansion of existing fiber capacity. It is based on dielectric thin-film technology designed for integration in low cost Metro and Access networks. Combining with highly reliable passive optics certified for environmentally hardened applications, the CWDM Mux/Demux enables the operator to make full use of available fiber bandwidth in local loop and enterprise architectures. This module can either combine (added) or separated (dropped) 4, 8 16 or 18 channels .

What is Mux/Demux
The Mux is a module that makes it possible to share several signals in one device or resource such as an analog-to-digital converter (A/D converter) or one communication line, instead of having one device per input signal. A Mux is also called a data selector, which is mainly used to increase the amount of data that can be sent over the network within a certain amount of time and bandwidth.
On the contrary, the Demux, which is connected to the single input, takes a single input signal and selecting one of many data-output-lines. A complementary Demux is often used with a Mux on the receiving end.

How does CWDM Mux/Demux work
Through the use of Mux, several optical channels of different wavelengths can be combined, allowing multiple services to be transmitted together via fiber without interference. This can be possible for the reason that different light colours (wavelengths) do not affect each other. For transmission, light colours are multiplexed onto an fiber using a wavelength-specific filter (multiplexing). At the other (receiving) end of the line, the wavelengths are divided or demultiplexed again by the Demux. Hence, any transmission line consists of a multiplexer and a demultiplexer.
Being a universal device capable of combining nine optical signals into a fiber pair, the CWDM Mux/Demux is designed to support a broad range of architectures, ranging from scalable point-to-point links to two fiber-protected rings.

What are the features of CWDM Mux/Demux
First of all, as a passive CWDM optical mux/demux design, the CWDM Mux/Demux has a long transmission distance coverage of multiple signals on a single fiber strand. Secondly, it can support various types of signals such as 3Gbps/HD/SD, AES, DVB-ASI, Ethernet, etc. Furthermore, its ambient operating temperature is from -40°C to 85°C. In another word, CWDM Mux/Demux is suitable for outside plant applications. Last but not least, it requires no powering because of thermally stable passive optics.

The CWDM MUX/DEMUX modules are used to combine and split the multi-wavelength optical signals of CWDM networks. Fiberstore provides a series of CWDM MUX/DEMUX modules with as more as 18 channels (20nm spaced) in simplex or duplex configurations. All the CWDM modules are available with three types of packaging: ABS Pigtailed Box, Rack Chassis and LGX Cassette.