What Is This Tool?
This converter transforms STM-4 (signal) data rates into megabytes per second (MB/s), enabling easier interpretation and comparison of optical telecom transmission speeds with standard data transfer units.
How to Use This Tool?
-
Enter the STM-4 (signal) value you wish to convert
-
Select STM-4 (signal) as the input unit and megabyte/second [MB/s] as the output unit
-
Click convert to get the data transfer rate in megabytes per second
-
Use the converted value to compare with storage or network throughput speeds
Key Features
-
Converts STM-4 (signal) optical transmission rates to megabyte per second (MB/s)
-
Uses the standardized nominal line rate of 622.08 Mbit/s for STM-4 (signal)
-
Supports understanding of telecom signal rates in terms of common file transfer speeds
-
Browser-based and easy to use
Examples
-
2 STM-4 (signal) equals 148.3154296876 MB/s
-
0.5 STM-4 (signal) equals 37.0788574219 MB/s
Common Use Cases
-
Interpreting regional or inter-city optical backbone link speeds in more familiar units
-
Aggregating multiple lower-rate PDH/SDH circuits into comparable data transfer metrics
-
Estimating wholesale Ethernet or ATM transport performance across telecom SDH infrastructure
Tips & Best Practices
-
Consider the difference between decimal and binary megabyte definitions when applying conversion results
-
Remember that STM-4 (signal) includes management and synchronization overhead which may not reflect pure payload data
-
Use the converted MB/s value to relate optical signal speeds with computer storage or network transfer rates
Limitations
-
Conversion precision varies due to different megabyte definitions (decimal vs binary)
-
STM-4 (signal) data rate includes overhead bits that can cause discrepancies in usable data rates
-
This tool assumes decimal megabyte units for conversion; binary megabyte (MiB) conversions require additional calculations
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What is STM-4 (signal) used for?
-
STM-4 (signal) is used for regional or inter-city optical backbone links, multiplexing multiple circuits in carrier networks, and transporting services like Ethernet across telecom SDH infrastructure.
-
How does megabyte per second relate to megabit per second?
-
One megabyte per second (MB/s) roughly equals eight megabits per second (Mb/s) when using the same megabyte definition.
-
Why might converted values from STM-4 to MB/s differ from actual data throughput?
-
Because STM-4 includes overhead for management and synchronization, and differences in megabyte definitions impact conversion accuracy.
Key Terminology
-
STM-4 (signal)
-
A Synchronous Transport Module level-4 optical transmission frame in SDH with a line rate of 622.08 Mbit/s, transporting both payload and overhead data.
-
Megabyte per second (MB/s)
-
A data transfer rate indicating one megabyte of data moved every second, typically using decimal megabytes unless specified otherwise.