What Is USB Over Fiber?
USB over fiber extenders (also called adapters, converters, and transceivers) allow for transmitting USB data at a greater distance and speed than is supported by USB cables.
There are two types of USB over fiber extenders.
The most common type of USB over fiber extender is an adapter with a USB port and a fiber-optic port. Check out my recommended USB over fiber extenders below.
A USB over fiber adapter converts a USB cable to a fiber cable, transmitting data through the fiber-optic cable via light. A second adapter converts back to a USB cable on the other side of the extension.
Transwan USB 3.0 Fiber Extender
Check Price on Amazon (affiliate link)
The second type of USB over fiber extender has fiber adapters built into the cable. This integrated type of USB extension is easier to use and cleaner looking. However, it has less flexibility in how you can set it up. For example, if you wanted to change the length of the extension or upgrade the supported USB version, you would have to replace the entire extension cable with the integrated adapters.
If you're interested in an integrated USB extension, you can find the Light-Link USB Cable by Sewell on Amazon (affiliate link). Keep in mind that this cable only supports USB 3.0 devices.
Max Speed of USB Over Fiber
USB over fiber extenders can reach speeds of 5 to 10 Gbps while using a USB 3.0+ device and cable along with a fiber-optic cable.
The overall speed of the connection is determined by the:
- Max supported speed of the USB over fiber extension device.
- Fiber-optic cable type.
- USB cable version.
- USB versions and speeds supported by the devices that you connect to and from the extender.
| Mode Name | Marketing Name | Bandwidth |
|---|---|---|
| USB 1.1 | 12 Mbps | |
| USB 2.0 | Hi-Speed | 480 Mbps |
| USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 / USB 3.1 Gen 1 / USB 3.0 | SuperSpeed USB 5Gbps | 5 Gbps |
| USB 3.2 Gen 1x2 | 10 Gbps | |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 / USB 3.1 Gen 2 / USB 3.1 | SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps | 10 Gbps |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 | SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps | 20 Gbps |
| USB4 Gen 2x1 | 10 Gbps | |
| USB4 Gen 2x2 | USB4 20Gbps | 20 Gbps |
| USB4 Gen 3x1 | 20 Gbps | |
| USB4 Gen 3x2 | USB4 40Gbps | 40 Gbps |
Uses for USB Over Fiber
USB over fiber extenders are ideal for extending a USB connection farther than the USB cable's max length. Using a USB over fiber extender will allow you to keep the high connection speeds for USB 3.0 devices while extending the cable distance.
| Mode Name | Recommended Cable Length | Bandwidth |
|---|---|---|
| USB 1.1 (Full Speed) | 3 m (9 ft) | 12 Mbps |
| USB 2.0 (High Speed) | 5 m (16 ft) | 480 Mbps |
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 | 2–3 m (6–9 ft) | 5 Gbps |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 | 3 m (9 ft) | 10 Gbps |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (USB-C) | 3 m (9 ft) | 20 Gbps |
| USB4 (USB-C) | 0.8 m (31 in) | 40 Gbps |
You can use USB over fiber extenders for extending the USB cable length of:
- Video interfaces and devices, such as webcams, cameras, monitors, and video capture devices
- Audio interfaces and devices, such as speakers, sound cards, microphones, and audio capture devices
- Surveillance systems
- Touch screens
- Remote storage
- Printers
- Mice
- Keyboards
- Any other USB device that you want to use!
Downsides of USB Over Fiber
Depending on the USB over fiber extension device, there can sometimes be compatibility issues with the devices you're trying to extend. Most extensions only support USB 3.0, resulting in USB 2.0 and USB 1.0 devices not working with USB over fiber extenders.
USB over fiber extenders can be more expensive than other solutions for extending USB cable connections but can reach greater distances while maintaining high speeds.
Max Length of USB Over Fiber
USB over fiber can reach between 100 meters (330 ft) and 250 meters (820 ft) on average, depending on the extension device and fiber cable type. Some higher-end extenders can reach up to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).
Each extender device has different limits. Most extenders can reach 250 meters (820 ft) with lower-speed USB devices and 150 meters with real-time transmissions like a high-speed USB 3.0 camera.
Extenders also have specific fiber-optic cable types that are supported, so be sure to read the requirements of each device before getting the fiber-optic cable. The grade of the fiber-optic cable determines its supported speed and distance. However, the extension device's max speed will likely be the limiting factor for USB extension purposes.
Recommended USB Over Fiber Extenders
Transwan USB 3.0 Fiber Extender
- Maximum fiber length of 250 meters (820 ft).
- Requires single-mode fiber (9/125 μm) with a Duplex LC connector.
- Data transfer rate of 5 Gbps.
- Supports USB 3.0 (not backwards compatible with USB 2.0 / 1.0).
- 1 USB Port.
- Find the Transwan USB 3.0 Fiber Extender on Amazon
(affiliate link).
- Find a 250 Meter Singlemode Fiber Optic Cable on Amazon
(affiliate link).
Transwan 4-Port USB 3.0 Fiber Optic Extender
- Maximum fiber length of 100 meters (330 ft).
- Requires multimode fiber: OM3 (50/125μm) or OM1 (62.5/125μm) with a Duplex LC connector.
- Data transfer rate of 5 Gbps.
- Supports USB 3.0 (not backwards compatible with USB 2.0 / 1.0).
- 4 USB Ports (USB ports share 5 Gbps capacity).
- Find the Transwan 4-port USB 3.0 Fiber Optic Extender on Amazon
(affiliate link).
- Find a 100 Meter Multimode Fiber Optic Cable on Amazon
(affiliate link).
