Fiber optic patch cord, also called fiber optic patch cable of fiber
optic jumper cable, is mainly used to connect one electronic device to another.
Fiber optic patch cord can be divided into
different types according to mode, structure, connector types, connector
polishing types, and it is similar to fiber optic cables. Today we will talk
about it.
Mode & Structure
There are two types of mode, single mode patch cord and multimode patch
mode.
Single mode patch cord uses 9/125um glass fiber, while multimode patch cord
uses 62.5/125um or 50/125um glass fiber. Single mode patch cord is normally
used in long distance data transmission, while multimode patch cord is normally
used in short distance data transmission. The jacket color of single mode patch
cord is usually yellow, while the jacket color of multimode patch cord is
usually orange or aqua.
And for the structures, fiber patch cord also has two types, simplex patch
cord and duplex patch cord.
Simplex patch cord has one fiber and one connector at each end. Duplex
patch cord has two fibers and two connectors at each end.
Connector Types
LC
LC stands for Lucent Connector. LC connectors have high density
connections, and are usually connected with SFP, SFP+ and XFP transceivers. LC connectors
adopt the traditional components of the SC duplex connector, so it has
independent ceramic ferrules and shells, and the size is reduced by half. It is
widely used in dense installations and has high performance, so it is very
suitable for single mode applications.
SC
SC stands for Subscriber Connector. SC connectors are becoming more and
more popular in single mode optical fiber telecommunication, and are used in EPON and GPON. It has a high precision ceramic ferrule structure, which is the
reason why it is the best option for single mode fiber alignment. SC fiber
patch cord is one of the most commonly used in optical fiber networks, because
it is simple and low cost.
FC
FC stands for Ferrule Connector. FC connectors usually connect with single
mode optical fiber, and mainly used for single mode optical fiber components
and some high speed optical fiber communication connections. FC connectors are
used in datacom, telecommunications, measurement equipment,
and single mode lasers. It is not as
popular as before, because it is replaced by SC and LC connectors.
ST
ST stands for Straight Tip. ST connectors are widely used in field and
indoor fiber optic LAN applications. Its high precision ceramic ferrule can be
used for multimode and single mode fibers. ST fiber optic patch cords are one
of the older generation connectors, but they are still widely used in multimode
networks, such as buildings, campuses and corporate networks.
Connector Polishing Types
The optical performance of APC connector is better than UPC connector
because the loss of APC connector is lower than UPC connector, but APC
connector is generally more expensive than UPC connector. In the current
market, APC connectors are widely used in FTTx, Passive Optical Network (PON)
and Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) applications, because they are more
sensitive to return loss. Generally, the connector color of the APC patch cord is
green, and connector color of the UPC patch cord is blue.
Conclusion
As an important component in Passive Optical Network, fiber patch cord
is widely used in many environments. Through our guide to fiber patch cord, you
may have a basic knowledge about fiber patch cord. If you want to know more
about it or want to purchase it, you may check our website.
Baudcom offers all types of fiber optic patch cords. For more information, please visit Baudcom.
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