🔌 TRENDnet TFC-110MSC: 100Base-TX to 100Base-FX Multi Mode SC Fiber Media Converter, Wall Mountable, Lifetime Protection Review

Fiber optics always seemed to be from the distant future, but in fact this material is cheap and can work over long distances. We use these devices in multiple warehouses to extend the network from one end of the building to the other. These boxes are cheap and flawless. Plug it in, plug in the fiber optic cables (just pick the right connector depending on your setup) and plug it in. Plug your Ethernet into a switch or hub and you're connected. Just like this one. Almost feels too easy…

Straight out of the box, mounted on the wall next to the router, plugged into an outlet and it worked like clockwork. The only downside: It takes several minutes for the data to actually flow over the fiber optic cable.

A pair of these were purchased for an office test of an industrial control system. This is fast enough to handle the 5ms scan speed of a PLC. While they're designed for home or office use, we've had no issues in electrically noisy and hot industrial environments, but I wouldn't recommend them for industrial use.

We used this converter to replace an old dying switch that contained a fiber optic card. We used a 10/100 HP ProCurve Switch 4000m. After replacing the switch with this device, traffic was restored smoothly without having to reset other devices. We had some concerns based on some of the other comments, so we ran some tests on the device to see how it would affect the converter. We ran a continuous ping and unplugged our switch, plugged it back in and the connection was restored. We also…

This is a rock star. We have a lot of them in our system. Multiple power supplies lost to lightning. Small power supply exchanged and the fiber optic box continues to work. The first of these models were installed in 2007 and are still in service.

I'm using them as a media converter for a new fiber installation while waiting for the switches to eventually take over. These media converters are simple, reliable and transparent as they should be. I'm currently using six of these and they're the only components on my run down network (non-commercial) that aren't giving me a headache.

In my old device I had a Broadcom Avago AFBR-5803Z with a wavelength of 1270-1380nm. I chose this because it is 1300nm from 100Base-TX to 100Base-FX Multi Mode SC. I don't know much about fiber. The above is from my research and the Avago datasheet. Since they matched, I tried it and it actually worked, just like before. I have a Sirona x-ray machine and media converter part number 6029040. When replacing an existing part the things I need to look out for are the type of connectors, the center…