الكابلات الضوئية في المنزل: عندما تحل الألياف محل النحاس

## Why Optical?

Copper cables have distance limits (Thunderbolt 4: 2m passive, HDMI 2.1: ~5m). Optical cables solve this with light-based signal transmission.

## Available Now

| Cable Type | Max Length | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI 2.1 AOC | 100m | Home theater, projectors |
| Thunderbolt 4 AOC | 50m | Studio/office connectivity |
| USB4 AOC | 30m | Long-distance USB |
| 10G SFP+ DAC→fiber | 300m+ | Home networking |

## Pros and Cons

**Pros**: Much longer distances, immune to electromagnetic interference, lighter and thinner than thick copper

**Cons**: More expensive, some don't carry power (need separate power at each end), can't bend as sharply as copper, one-directional (some models)

## When to Choose Optical

- Projector more than 5m from source
- Running cables through walls or ceilings
- Environment with heavy EMI (near motors, industrial equipment)
- Future-proofing home networking with 10G+ fiber