Fiber optic patch cords (also known as fiber optic connectors) are connector plugs installed at both ends of the optical cable to achieve active connection of the optical path. In addition to clarifying the type of connector you need, you also need to pay attention to other parameters in advance when choosing a fiber optic patch cord. How to choose a suitable fiber optic patch cord according to your actual needs can be based on the following 7 steps.

Step 1: Choose the correct connector type based on your needs

The pin type refers to the matching type between the connector jack and the pin. Common pin types include SC, LC, FC, ST, MPO, MTP, etc.

FC fiber patch cord: Developed by NTT of Japan, FC is the abbreviation of Ferrule Connector. The outer protective cover is a metal cover and the fastening method is a screw buckle. It is generally used on the ODF side and is mostly used on the patch panel. It has the advantages of strong fastening and dustproof.

SC fiber patch cord: Developed by NTT Corporation of Japan, the structure and size of its pin and coupling sleeve are exactly the same as those of FC type. Standard square connector, plug-in latch lock fastening method, no rotation required, commonly used as a connector for GBIC optical modules, and more commonly used on routers. It has the characteristics of low price and small access loss fluctuation. Commonly used in 100G BASE-FX connection.

LC fiber patch cord: Developed by BELL Research Institute, the connector is similar to SC but smaller than SC. It uses a modular jack latch that is easy to operate, and the size of the pin and sleeve is 1.25mm, which is half the size of ordinary SC and FC. It connects SFP optical modules and is commonly used in routers. It can increase the density of fiber connectors in fiber distribution frames to a certain extent.

ST fiber optic patch cord: The outer shell is round and fastened by screw buckles. The fiber core is exposed. After the plug is inserted, it can be fixed by rotating half a circle with a bayonet. It is mostly used in fiber optic distribution frames.

MPO (Multi-fiber Push On) fiber optic patch cord connector is one of the MT series connectors. The two guide holes with a diameter of 0.7mm on the left and right sides of the ferrule end face are precisely connected to the guide pin (also called PIN pin).

Step 2: Choose single-mode fiber or multimode fiber

Optical fibers are classified into single-mode fibers and multi-mode fibers according to their transmission modes. When light enters the optical fiber at a specific incident angle, full emission occurs between the optical fiber and the cladding. When the diameter is small, only light in one direction is allowed to pass through, which is called single-mode fiber. When the diameter of the optical fiber is large, light can be allowed to enter and propagate at multiple incident angles, which is called multi-mode fiber.

The sheath of single-mode fiber optic patch cords is generally yellow, while the sheath of multi-mode fiber optic patch cords is generally orange or aqua.

Single-mode optical fiber is often used for long-distance transmission, while multimode optical fiber is generally used for short-distance transmission.

Step 3: Choose simplex fiber patch cord or duplex fiber patch cord

Simplex refers to the transmission of information in one direction. At both ends of the communication, one end is the transmitter and the other end is the receiver, which is not reversible. Duplex, on the other hand, is the bidirectional transmission of information on the signal carrier. Data is received while being sent, which requires the sender and receiver to have independent receiving and sending capabilities at the same time.

Simplex means data transmission only supports transmission in one direction.

Half-duplex means that data can be transmitted in both directions on the signal carrier, but not simultaneously.

Full-duplex is the ability to transmit data in both directions of the signal carrier simultaneously, receiving data while sending data, requiring the sender and receiver to have independent receiving and sending capabilities at the same time.

Step 4: Select Your Desired Cable Length

This is pretty straightforward. You’ll need to know the distance between your devices and then select the cable length that you need. Fiber optic patch cable ranges in lengths between 0.5m – 50m. The most common lengths are:

1m，5m，10m，20m，30m，50m and customized.

Step 5: Choose the Right Connector Polish Type

When installing a connector on an optical fiber end face, return loss is inevitable, which is caused by the reflection of the light source. Severe light loss will damage the laser light source and interrupt the transmission signal. In order to make the end faces of the two optical fibers better contact, the core end face of the optical fiber jumper is usually polished into different structures.

Generally, there are three types of fiber end surface polishing methods: PC, UPC, and APC.

PC (Physical Contact) is physical contact. PC is micro-spherical grinding and polishing, and the surface of the ferrule is ground into a slight spherical surface:

UPC (Ultra Physical Contact) is an ultra-physical end face. UPC is based on PC and has optimized end face polishing and surface finish. The end face looks more dome-shaped:

APC (Angled Physical Contact) is the physical contact of the bevel. The fiber end face is usually polished into an 8° bevel:

Step 6: Choose the Right Cable Jacket Type

Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH): A flame-retardant jacket is ideal to use between floors and buildings.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): A tough jacket resistant to abrasion, oxidation, corrosion, and degradation. It weathers well, making it ideal for outdoor cabling or long lifespan cable needs.

Optical Fiber Nonconductive Plenum (OFNP): These jackets are also flame retardant and have low smoke production making them ideal for network applications that run inside walls and air plenums without a conduit.

Armored Cable: These jackets use double tubing and steel sleeves that don’t allow light and have high crushing pressures, making them ideal for floor cables that can be stepped on or even nibbled on by rodents.

Step 7: Determine the connector type of the optical patch cord based on the type of optical module used in the device

When using a 40G MPO interface or 100G QSFP28 packaged MPO interface optical module, you need to use an 8-core or 12-core MPO-MPO optical patch cord. The common MPO optical connectors are MPO12/PC, MPO12/APC and MPO16/APC:

l MPO12/PC holds 8 multimode OM3 and OM4 optical fibers for 40G SR4 and 100G SR4 multimode MPO interface optical modules.

l MPO12/APC holds 8 single-mode optical fibers for 100G PSM4 single-mode MPO interface optical modules.

l MPO16/APC holds 16 multimode OM3 and OM4 optical fibers for 400G SR8 multimode MPO interface optical modules. 

Conclusion

Fiber patch cord has elevated data transmission by providing larger bandwidths at greater speeds. It is incredibly durable, making it ideal for a variety of applications. You’ll want to examine the requirements of your applications before you select your fiber patch cord because connector types and modes will significantly affect the cable’s performance.

AIMIFIBER can help you determine the best cabling options for your business. Talk to one of our consultants to learn more about how we can shape the best solution for you.