Transceivers/Media Converters Buying Guide

Purchasing transceivers or media converters can be a lifesaver if you have older computer equipment. Many newer Internet systems don't have the correct wiring to be compatible with older structures, but these transceivers can help you get a secure connection.

However, you should consider many things before getting a transceiver for your home or business. You can't connect a fiber segment to a copper network without one of these media converters.

Please continue reading to learn everything you need about transceivers and media converters before you purchase. In addition, we will discuss the pros and cons of using these devices to secure your wireless connection.

What Do Media Converters and Transceivers Do?

Transceivers and media converters help you get an Internet connection on an interface where you typically can’t. Most modern Internet modems use fiber optic cables and networks, which can be problematic if you have copper cables. Copper was extremely popular back in the day, but these days it's more trouble than it's worth.

You can also use these media converters and transceivers to get a more secure connection throughout your home or business. For instance, you may have trouble with copper wiring because it interrupts your Wi-Fi transmissions. These transceivers can help you avoid this issue entirely by connecting to the copper cables and using those cables to their advantage.

Benefits of Using Media Converters and Transceivers

There are several reasons people use transceivers to improve their Internet connection. Sometimes, updating your data speeds isn't enough to see an improvement, and you need an external device to step in. The following are the most common benefits of using media converters to improve wireless connectivity.

Affordable

These devices can be extremely cheap or expensive when improving your Internet connection. However, transceivers and media converters are the exceptions to this rule. These devices are typically very affordable, no matter where you look. So, you don't have to worry about breaking your budget to get a better Internet connection.

Better Internet Speeds

You can expect better Internet speeds throughout the facility when you use transceivers and media converters on your copper cables. Modern-day Internet cables will experience plenty of interruption if you don't use one of these devices on an older setup. These interruptions can be detrimental if you're under time constraints that require a sturdy connection.

Having better Internet speeds due to less interference is important for anybody that relies on the Internet for any reason. If you have older cables and notice that you're not getting as much Internet speed as you should, you could benefit from these devices.

High-Quality Cellular Signal

If you have a copper wiring system in your home or business, you'll get high-quality phone calls using transceivers to convert your connection. Unfortunately, even if you purchased the most expensive cell phone plan through your cellular provider, it won't benefit you unless you find a way around the copper wiring.

Ethernet plays a big role in your daily life because you need a decent connection to connect to the Internet and make phone calls. To complete this task seamlessly, you'll need to convert old copper wiring to fiber optic.

Downsides of Using Media Converters and Transceivers

Unfortunately, purchasing media converters and transceivers won't resolve all your structural issues. You may purchase several devices to resolve poor Internet or Ethernet connectivity. The following are the downsides of purchasing a transceiver.

Not Useful If Devices Are Already in Range

People mainly use media converters because they don't have devices in range of the older Ethernet connections. However, if all your devices are already in range, purchasing one of these converters might not be beneficial, and you may not notice a big difference in your connection.

Even though purchasing these converters isn't a big loss, it can be a waste of time if you have devices in range. Older copper wiring allows you to connect strongly within a shorter range of modern wiring systems. These days, Ethernet uses fiber optic cables to get a better signal, which these converters help you achieve when you have copper cables.

It May Not Be Useful On New Systems

If you already use fiber optic wiring throughout your home or business to connect to the Ethernet, these converters wouldn't benefit you. These converters are for when you have an older Ethernet system and newer devices. However, with all your devices brand new and your system new, you will need more than these media converters to improve your Ethernet.

Situations to Use a Media Converter

Even though these media converters aren't beneficial in every situation, there are several issues that you can fix by purchasing these converters. Below, we will discuss why people buy these converters and how they can benefit you.

Wireless Devices Far from Switch

You could benefit from a media converter if you need to use a cell phone far from your Ethernet switch. Old-school Ethernet cables won't do the trick regarding long-distance connections, so upgrading your system would be best if you're working with copper cables.

These transceivers will convert your old copper cables into a fiber optic connection so you can connect further away. Increasing your LAN range is the best way to use wireless devices if you're out of your Ethernet range.

Using Older Setups on Newer Devices

Whenever you have older Ethernet cables, you would benefit from purchasing a media converter to upgrade your system. However, this upgrade may not be necessary if your system is already upgraded and you need to work with copper cables. When you use a media converter on older Ethernet setups, you'll have an easier time connecting to cellular signals, the Internet, etcetera.

Final Thoughts

Now that you understand the pros and cons of using transceivers and media converters on old Ethernet cables, it's time to decide whether or not this would benefit you. You'll easily connect to the Internet and get faster speeds when you upgrade your Ethernet setup. Also, you won't have to break the bank by purchasing these media converters.