Fiber optic cables often follow a color-coding system to indicate their type: Single-mode fibers - Typically yellow. Multi-mode fibers (OM1 & OM2) - Usually orange or sometimes gray. How to distinguish the advantages and disadvantages of optical cables? Let's go to find out together. Outer skin: Indoor optical cables are generally made of polyvinyl chloride or flame-retardant polyvinyl chloride, and the appearance should be smooth, bright, flexible, and easy to peel off. The. However, when these delicate fibers are bent, crushed, or exposed to harsh environments, the light signal weakens — resulting in high insertion loss, poor stability, or complete link failure. Understanding the visual signs of fiber damage, knowing how to test them, and applying proper maintenance. High-quality materials ensure that optical fibers have lower attenuation, dispersion and other characteristics, thus improving the efficiency and quality of optical signal transmission. The outer jacket plays a real role. It protects the cable from damage, bends, and moisture, and the color of that jacket actually says something important.