Introduction to Fiber Optical Patch Cable

Contents

1. Different typesof fiber optical patch cord
2. Connector types and typical application
3. Polishing type: UPC or APC or PC or Flat
4. Fiber mode: SM or MM
5. Fiber count:Simplex or Duplex
6. Cable Jacket matterial and Jacket color
7. Fiber optical patch cord naming scheme
8. Hot Types of fiber optical patch cord
9. Main manufacturers and brands

1，Different types of fiber optical patch cord

What are the types of fiber optic patch cords and how do we choose the right one? We will do the classification and explanation in this note.

1.1）Common types of fiber optical patch cords (Most popular)

Based on different specifications and standards, the common fiber patch cords can be categorified from the perspective of connector type, polishing type,fiber type,fiber count and jacket type.

Visit us for price and sample: https://www.zion-communication.com/Fiber-Pacth-Cord.html

1.2）Armored fiber patch cord

Armored fiber optic patch cord uses a flexible stainless steel tube inside the outer jacket as the armor to protect the fiber glass inside. It retains all the features of standard patch cord, but is much stronger. It will not get damaged even if stepped by an adult and they are rodent-resistant.

1.3）Bend insensitive fiber optic patch cord

Bend insensitive fiber patch cord is widely used in FTTH. The fiber is not sensitive to stress and bending. Singlemode bend insensitive fibers include G657A1, G657A2, G657B2, and G657B3

1.4）Mode conditioning fiber optical patch cord

A mode conditioning patch cord is required where Gigabit 1000 Base-LX routers and switches are installed into existing multimode cable plants. The transceiver modules launch only single-mode 1300 nm signals but the existing network is built with multimode cables.

2.Connector types and typical application

There are many connector types used in fiber patch cables such as 

LC, SC, FC, ST,MU, MTRJ,LSH,E-2000.Let’s take a look at the common connector types:

Connector Type	LC, SC, FC, ST,MU, MTRJ,LSH,E-2000
	LC ( Lucent Connector/Little Connector/Local Connector) Typical Application: High density connections, SFP and SFP+ transceivers, XFP transceivers
	SC ( Subscriber Connector/Square Connector/Standard Connector) Typical Application: Telecom,GPON,EPON,GBIC
	FC ( Ferrule Connector) Typical Application: Datacom,telecom,measurement,equipment,single mode lasers
	ST ( Straight Tip) Typical Application: Datacom

3.Polishing Type

Fiber optic connectors are designed and polished to different shapes to minimize back reflection, which is particularly important in single mode applications. According to this connector polish types, there are PC, UPC, and APC fiber patch cords. This post PC vs UPC vs APC Connector: Selecting the Right Fiber Connector Type presents the difference of PC, UPC, and APC. Nowadays PC polish type has been replaced by UPC type. Whether you choose UPC or APC depends on your actual application. Since APC provides less insertion loss than UPC, the APC fiber patch cables are more applicable for high bandwidth applications and long-distance links, such as FTTx, passive optical network (PON) and wavelength division multiplex (WDM). Whereas UPC fiber patch cords apply to optical systems that are less sensitive to insertion loss such as digital TV and telephony.

4.Fiber Mode

The mode of fiber patch cables indicates how light beams travel within the fiber. There are two fiber cable modes: single mode and multimode.Single mode fiber patch lead only allows one mode of light to pass along its length with a very thin diameter of 8-10 microns, thus it can carry signals at much higher speeds with lower attenuation. Single mode fiber has two varieties: OS1 and OS2, which are different in construction and application.The core of the multimode fiber patch cord is bigger, typically 50 or 62.5 microns, which enables multiple light modes to be transmitted. It comes in five varieties supporting different transmission rates or distances: 62.5-micron OM1, 50-micron OM2, 50-micron OM3, 50-micron OM4, which can be differentiated by standard jacket colors. 

5, Fiber count:Simplex or Duplex

5.1) SX or DX

According to the number of fiber count, there are simplex and duplex fiber patch cord. As shown in picture, simplex fiber patch cord contains one single strand of fiber with one simplex connector on each end.

5.2) Duplex Patch Cords: Type A/B Recommended

To choose a duplex headlock model, you need to distinguish whether it is cross-hold or parallel-hold. Please check the chart below.

6, Cable Jacket matterial and Jacket color

PVC and LSZH are used to describe the common jacket material of fiber patch cord.

7, Fiber optical patch cord naming scheme

The following are common mainstream naming conventions for fiber optic patch cords.

8, Hot types of fiber optical patch cord

8.1) LC to LC types

8.2) SC to SC types

8.3) FC to FC types

8.4) LC to SC types

8.5) LC to ST types

8.6) LC to FC types

8.7) Customized

More products, please visit our online website:

https://www.zion-communication.com/Fiber-Pacth-Cord.html

9, Main manufacturers and brands

• ZION COMMUNICATION/HELLOSIGNAL

• Zion Communication is one of the top manufacturers and exporters of fiber opical patch cable
• Zion Communication has advanced production equipment and excellent engineers and skilled workers to guarantee the best twisted pair copper patch cableto our customers.
• Zion communication’smanagement and international sales teams are committed to our customers’ utmost satisfaction.
• UL/ETL/CPR/CE/DELTA/RoHS/REACH/ISO9001/ANATEL/SABS

• SIEMON/LEGRAND/PANDUIT/BELDEN/CORNING/AMP/MOLEX/IBM/NEXANS…