Although ferrite cores are useful for suppressing the RF noise on the cable, they cannot replace a properly designed inductor. In environments where vibration and shocks are prevalent, ferrite cores need to be secured by cable ties or other means. They are stronger but harder to use for existing cables. Tip: Use split cores for quick fixes and solid ones for long-term setups. Fe-Si alloys are cheap and work well. A fiber optic cable consists of five basic components: the core, the cladding, the coating, the strengthening fibers, and the cable jacket. In practical fibers, the cladding is usually coated with a layer of acrylate polymer or polyimide.