6 steps to buy fiber optic patch cords

The optical fibers in the optical fiber jumper mainly include OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4 multimode and OS2 single mode. The connector types of the optical fiber jumper also include SC, ST, FC, LC, MTRJ and E2000. There is no fixed choice for these in practical application, and you need to choose according to your actual usage. How to choose the right jumper for your network? Just follow these 6 steps.

Step 1: Select the correct connector type (LC/SC/ST/FC/MPO/MTP)

Different connectors are used to plug different devices. If the ports of both end devices are the same, we can use LC-LC/SC-SC/MPO-MPO jumpers. If you want to connect different port type devices, LC-SC/LC-ST/LC-FC jumpers may be suitable for you.

Step 2: Choose single-mode or multi-mode fiber optic cable type?

Single-mode fiber patch cords use 9/125um fiber, and multi-mode fiber patch cords use 50/125um or 62.5/125um fiber. Single-mode fiber patch cords are mainly used for long-distance data transmission. Multimode fiber patch cords are mainly used for short-distance transmission. The jacket of the general single-mode fiber optic patch cord is yellow, while the jacket of the multi-mode fiber optic patch cord is orange or blue.

Fiber Jumper

Step 3: Choose Simplex or Duplex Cable Type?

Simplex means that this fiber patch cord has only one fiber optic cable and only one fiber optic connector at each end for bidirectional BIDI optical modules. Duplex can be regarded as two fiber jumpers side by side, which are used for ordinary optical modules.

Step 4: Choose the correct jumper length (1m / 5m / 10m / 20m / 30m / 50m)

Fiber patch cords vary in length, usually from 0.5m to 50m. You should choose the appropriate cable length based on the distance between the devices to be connected.

Step 5: Select the Correct Connector Polish Type (UPC/APC)

Since the loss of APC connectors is lower than that of UPC connectors, in general, the optical performance of APC connectors is better than that of UPC connectors. In the current market, APC connectors are widely used in more return loss sensitive applications such as FTTx, Passive Optical Network (PON) and Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM). But APC connectors are usually more expensive than UPC connectors, so you should consider whether you need APC connectors according to your actual situation. For applications that require high precision fiber optic signals, APC should be the first consideration, but other less sensitive systems will perform equally well with UPC. Generally, fiber patch cords with APC connectors are colored green, while UPC connectors are colored blue.

Fiber Jumper

Step 6: Choose the Right Fiber Patch Cord Sheath (PVC/LSZH/OFNP/Armored)

Generally, there are three types of jumper jackets: PVC, LSZH, OFNP. The jumper sheath made of PVC is commonly seen, with average fire resistance and the lowest price; LSZH jumper sheath is made of low-smoke halogen-free material, which has good environmental protection and flame retardant performance, but the price is relatively expensive; OFNP jumper The wire sheath refers to the American Fire Protection Council standard, which can be flame retardant. This material will automatically extinguish when it leaves the fire source. The price is the most expensive, and it is suitable for large data centers. You can choose according to your own situation.

In addition to the above three jumpers, there is another armored fiber jumper. Its steel casing structure can protect the fragile optical fiber well, and has strong bending resistance. These jumpers can handle higher pressures, so they're suitable for routing along floors and other areas where they might be stepped on. This optical fiber jumper also has the advantages of strong wear resistance, anti-pull, and anti-rat bite.