Classification of Fiber Optic Patch Cords

This article is designed specially for those who want to quickly while without going into details to understand the wide range of fiber patch cable types.

What is fiber optic patch cord?

Fiber optic patch cable, which is often referred to as fiber optic patch cord or fiber jumper, is the segment of fiber optic cable with optical connectors on both ends. It applies in two main areas: a computer work station – the output fiber optic patch panels or optical cross – rapredelitelny center. Optic patch cords are used only indoors.

The most common types of optical patch cords

Fiber optic patch cords can be divided into different types depending on the type of optical fiber structures such as optical connectors, polishing type and cable length.

Fiber type of fiber optic cable

Single-mode optical fiber patch cables (SM): A single mode fiber patch cord consists of a piece of fiber optic cable with a core diameter of 9/125 micron, terminated on both sides of single-mode optical connectors. Sheath-mode fiber optic cable usually has a yellow color.

Multimode fiber patch cables (MM): Multimode optical patch cord consists of a piece of multimode fiber optic cable with a core diameter of 62.5/125 microns or 50/125 microns connectorized on both sides with multimode connectors. The shell of a multimode fiber optic cable, usually has an orange color, and the connectors are gray.

10G multimode fiber optic patch cable (such as OM3, OM4): 10Gib multimode optical fiber patch cable 50/125 micron is specially designed and optimized for laser VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface

Emitting Laser – semiconductor vertical cavity lasers) is based on 10Gig Ethernet. They have backward compatibility with existing network equipment and provide the bandwidth three times larger than conventional optical fibers with a core diameter of 62.5/125nm. 10Gib is targeted at distances up to 300 meters using a wavelength of 850nm. The shell of such a cable is usually celadon.

Structure of the fiber cable:

Simplex optical cords: an optical fiber patch cable has a single fiber cable and one connector on each end.

Duplex optical cables: double optical patch cord has two fibers with two connectors on each end. Each fiber is marked with a marker to indicate polarity.

Ribbon optical cords: ribbon cable has one connector on one side, such as MTP (12 fibers) and other multiple fiber optic cables with connectors SC, LC, FC, etc.

Difference in the types of optical connectors:

Optical cable with identical connectors: the optical connectors on both ends of the optical fiber patch cable is the same.

Transient optical cables: fiber optic patch cord has different optical connectors on the ends of fiber optic patch cord, allowing connection of equipment with different optical adapters.

Difference in the type of polishing

Fiber optic connectors are designed and polished to different shapes. This is done in order to minimize back reflection. This is especially important when using a single-mode optical fiber. Back

reflection depending on polishing can have the following values: -30 dB, -40 dB, -50dB and -60dB.

PC (Physical Contact): Typical back reflection < – 40 dB for single-mode and multimode optical fibers.

UPC (Ultra Physical Contact): Typical back reflection < -50 dB for single-mode optical fiber. (usually connector SC, LC blue, and shanks to the FC and ST – Black)

APC (Angled Physical Contact), angular polishing: Typical back reflection < – 60dB for single-mode optical fiber. (Connector SC, LC and FC shank on ST and green)

The Most Opted Solution For Fiber Optic Networks

Fiber patch cables could be the most opted solution nowadays for the networking and broadcasting industry, mainly in the fiber optic networks. They are strands of optically pure glass as thin as real hair, carrying information via mode of transmission of sunshine. Short patch leads those usually created using stranded wires are flexible patch cables, sometimes might be called patch cords (or patchcords). The fiber optic patchcord is used to plug one device into another.

The fiber patch cables have various uses in most kinds of industries. They are used in medical imaging, mechanical engineering, LAN applications, cable television networks, telephone lines, etc. They’ve revolutionized the entire network industry of telephones, cable, internet, audio applications, etc. The fiber patch cables offer accurate signal transfer that is totally distortion free. Thus because of these cables the audio or video transmission is totally distortion free and crystal clear. Because the fiber patch cables use light like a mode of transmission, there isn’t any hazard of electric interferences or any tampering.

Fiber patch cables are utilized to two nearby components using the fiber connectors on their ends. Different fiber patch cables include their respective connectors. They can be a perfect and easy replacing copper cables because a number of them make use of the same RJ45 connector as copper patch cables.

various parameters fiber patch cables can be found in simplex and duplex, multimode and single mode with ST-ST, ST-SC, SC-SC connectors. The 2 prominent types are single mode and multimode.

Single mode fiber patch cables are used in long-distance high capacity voice applications like telephone transmission or long distance gigabit networking. These fiber patch cables may use 9/125 micron bulk fiber cables and connectors at both ends.

Multimode fiber patch cables are used in computer industry which is standard for data applications like local area network, wide area network, etc. Fiber patch cables in multimode are available in 50 and 62.5 micron. SC, ST, LC, FC, MT-RJ, E2000 and MU connectors have polished ceramic ferrules for precision and durability. The SC and LC duplex fiber patch cables come equipped with a clip to keep polarity. LC to LC fiber patch cable gives unlimited bandwidth at high speeds over long distances. They are ideal for connections between fiber patch panels, hubs, switches, media converters and routers, etc.

FIBERSTORE fiber patch cables provide higher speeds and increased bandwidth, when compared with conventional twisted-pair copper cable. They are suitable for all standard fiber optic equipment and connectors. Ceramic connectors of those fiber patch cables ensure low signal loss and high reliability together with total immunity to electrical and electromagnetic interference. Except normal patch cables, MPO fiber and MPO trunk cable can also be found.