hi, this may sound really dumb, but what are the benefits or disadvantage for using fiber over patch cable? is it for distance or bandwidth? becasue my compnay is using both, and I am just a little curious to find out more about it. thanks

the biggest reason to use fiber is that emf [electromagnetic frequency/force] does not effect it. Until gigabit over copper it was the only way to do gigabit. Do a google search for more info.

Fiber has several magnitudes more in bandwidth capicity, and can transmit a great deal farther (copper generally only a couple of 100 ft (approx 300), or so, and then needs regeneration, while fiber goes several miles before needing regeneration), but because of it's expense generally companies invest in using fiber in the backbone of their network, and use copper to the desktop. That's why carriers use fiber optics for transmitting network data. Most even went into building out Major metropolitans using fiber, and where ever it was cost effective, they try to build fiber instead of copper into buildings. Mav

I have 4 telco closets in my main office and the backbone has to be fiber because they are over 600ft apart. For the speed and distance, fiber was the only choice I had.