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Fiber Optic Patch Cables: LC, SC and MPO

Duplex LC and SC patch cords and MPO cables in multimode and single-mode fiber, for linking switches, servers and optical transceivers. 812 products from $3.99 to $2,381.99. STARTECH, Enfain, Tripp Lite and more.

812 products from $3.99

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Matching fiber type to your transceivers

The jacket color is a quick guide. Yellow is normally single-mode (9/125 micron), built for long links and used with long-reach transceivers. Aqua usually means OM3 or OM4 laser-optimized multimode (50/125), while orange is OM1 or OM2 for older, shorter links. The cable has to match the optics at both ends, so a multimode cord on a single-mode transceiver is a mismatch even though the plugs fit. Multimode suits short distances such as within a rack or a room, and OM3 or OM4 is the usual choice for 10 Gbit/s links.

Connector styles, duplex pairs and polarity

LC is the small push-pull connector used on SFP and SFP+ modules, and SC is the larger square one found on older switches and patch panels, so an LC to SC cord bridges the two. Duplex means two strands, one for each direction, and if a link stays down, swapping the two plugs at one end often fixes a polarity problem. MPO connectors bundle many fibers in one plug, commonly twelve, for 40G and 100G links; male plugs carry guide pins and must meet a female one.

Some listings are fixed-end fiber cables made for video, rated for figures such as 4K at 60 Hz, and they are not interchangeable with network patch cords. Common lengths run from a few inches up to about 25 m, which covers rack to rack links; plan longer routes carefully, because tight bends add loss and a sharp kink can crack the glass inside the jacket.

Questions about Fiber Optic Patch Cables: LC, SC and MPO

Can I use a multimode patch cable with a single-mode transceiver?
It is not recommended. The core sizes and light sources differ, so the link may fail or run with heavy loss. Match the cable to the transceiver: single-mode optics need single-mode fiber, and multimode optics need multimode.
What do OM3 and OM4 mean?
They are grades of 50/125 multimode fiber and are usually aqua. Both support 10 Gbit/s links, with OM4 reaching a little further, and both reach shorter distances at 40G and 100G than they do at 10G.
Why does my fiber link stay down after I plug it in?
The most common cause is reversed polarity on a duplex cord, where transmit meets transmit. Swap the two connectors at one end. Dirty end faces, a sharp bend and mismatched fiber types can also stop a link.