What is a Media Converter?
An Ethernet Media Converter is used to extend copper UTP/STP Ethernet cabling to distances beyond the 100 Meter maximum for UTP/STP by converting the voice/video/data signals to fiber optic cabling/transmissions.

Typical Media Converter Application

How is a Media Converter used?
Media Converters typically have two types of ports; one for copper (UTP or STP) and one for fiber (usually duplex, but sometimes simplex). You simply plug in the fiber cable and the copper cable and power on the media converter. Some more advanced media converters are designed with features such as "link loss carry forward" and "link loss return". These features are usually enabled by moving dip switches on the media converter.

Where are Media Converters used?
Media converters are used in environments where EMI/RFI is present such as manufacturing facilities. Other applications include campus networks where many buildings need to be connected via fiber. Also, high rise buildings typically use a fiber backbone which is laid vertically and taps into copper (UTP) networks on each floor
via a media converter