Fiber patch cords are becoming increasingly popular in a wide range of uses, including telecommunications and data communication. As gigabit-capable networks continue to expand, the demand for increased capacity and speed is fueling the widespread deployment of fiber patch cords. When facing various fiber patch cord types on the market, how can we make a valid choice? Understanding some basic knowledge of fiber optic patch cords will help you choose the right patch cords.
What is the Fiber Patch Cord?
The fiber patch cord, also known as a fiber patch cable, fiber jumper, or fiber patch lead, is a length of fiber cable terminated with fiber optic connectors (such as LC, SC, MTRJ, ST, etc.) at each end. These connectors enable quick connections of fiber optic patch cords to optical switches or other telecommunications/computer devices. Fiber patch cords play a crucial role in indoor settings, such as server rooms or data centers. With outstanding reliability, excellent adaptability, and enhanced security, fiber patch cords have emerged as the preferred choice for applications where traditional copper cables fall short.
What Are the Types of Fiber Optic Patch Cords? And How to Choose?
In the current market, fiber optic patch cords are available in various types. This blog categorizes them into two main groups: common fiber patch cord types and special patch cord types.
Common Types of Fiber Patch Cords
Based on different specifications and standards, the common fiber patch cords can be categorized from the perspective of fiber cable mode, transmission mode, jacket type, connector type, and polishing type.
Fiber Cable Mode: Single Mode or Multimode
The mode of fiber patch cables refers to how light beams travel within the fiber. There are two main fiber cable modes: single mode and multimode.
A single-mode fiber patch cord lead allows only one mode of light to travel along its length, featuring a very thin diameter of 8-10 microns. This characteristic enables it to carry signals at significantly higher speeds with lower attenuation. Single mode fiber comes in two varieties: OS1 and OS2. OS1 uses a tight-buffered structure, where the core and cladding are directly coated with a thick polymer jacket. This makes it compact and flexible but less protected from external stresses and temperature changes; OS2 uses a loose -tube structure. The core and cladding are housed in a protective plastic tube filled with gel. This provides better shock and temperature resistance, making it ideal for harsher environments. While both OS1 and OS2 are suitable for long-haul transmission, OS2 is particularly well-suited for this purpose, offering superior performance with fewer losses.
The core of a multimode fiber patch cord is larger, typically measuring 50 or 62.5 microns, allowing for the transmission of multiple light modes. There are five varieties of multimode fiber, each supporting different transmission rates or distances: 62.5-micron OM1, 50-micron OM2, 50-micron OM3, 50-micron OM4, and 50-micron OM5, distinguished by standard jacket colors. Due to the presence of multiple light paths in the cable, multimode fiber patch cords are generally suitable for short-distance transmissions within a building or campus.
Number of Fiber Cores: Simplex, Duplex, Multi-fiber
Fiber optic patch cords can come in various configurations, and the number of cores or fibers can vary. Common configurations are: Simplex(one fiber), Duplex(two fibers), Multi-fiber(more than two fibers, such as 4, 8, 12, 24, or even more).
Simplex fiber optic patch cord is commonly used for applications where only one-way communication is required or where a unidirectional data flow is sufficient. Duplex fiber optic patch cords are prevalent in situations where bidirectional communication is necessary, such as in networking applications where data needs to be sent and received simultaneously. 4-fiber patch cords are often used in parallel optics applications. 8-fiber patch cords are used in high-density environments or where multiple connections are needed. 12-fiber or 24-fiber patch cords are common in data centers where a significant amount of data needs to be transmitted.
Polishing Type: PC, UPC or APC
Fiber optic connectors are crafted and polished into various shapes to minimize back reflection, a crucial consideration in single-mode applications. Based on connector polish types, there are PC (Physical Contact), UPC (Ultra Physical Contact), and APC (Angled Physical Contact) Contact) fiber patch cords. The blog titled PC, APC, UPC, How to Distinguish the Ferrule of the Patch Cord?” outlines the distinctions among PC, UPC, and APC connectors. Presently, PC polish type has been largely replaced by UPC type. The choice between UPC and APC depends on the specific application.
APC connectors offer lower insertion loss compared to UPC, making them more suitable for high-bandwidth applications and long-distance links, such as FTTx (Fiber to the x), passive optical networks (PON), and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). On the other hand, UPC fiber patch cords are ideal for optical systems that are less sensitive to insertion loss, like digital TV and telephony applications.
Jacket Type: PVC or LSZH
PVC and LSZH are used to describe the common jacket material of fiber patch cords. Fiber patch cables with PVC jackets exhibit flexibility at standard installation temperatures. In comparison, LSZH patch cords are less flexible and more rigid, but they incorporate a flame retardant compound that prevents the emission of toxic fumes in case of burning. PVC fiber optic patch cords are typically employed for indoor applications, such as horizontal runs from the wiring center. On the other hand, LSZH cables find use in unventilated areas exposed to the public, like subways and tunnels, and are also suitable for locations where quick evacuation may be challenging.
Connector Type: SC, LC, ST, FC or Others
There are many connector types used in fiber patch cables such as LC, SC, ST, FC, MTP or MPO. Fiber patch cords can be categorized based on whether the connectors on each side are the same, resulting in two types: same-connector type fiber patch cords and hybrid fiber patch cords. Same-connector type fiber patch cords have identical connectors on both ends, such as LC to LC fiber patch cords, SC to SC fiber patch cords, and so on. On the other hand, hybrid fiber patch cords feature different connectors on each end, like a fiber patch cord with LC on one end and SC on the other. The choice between these types depends on the port type of the devices on both ends. If the devices on both sides have the same port type, opting for the same-connector type fiber patch cord is appropriate.
Special Types of Fiber Patch Cords
Fiber patch cords are continuously evolving to meet the growing demands for bandwidth. Specially designed fiber patch cables have emerged to cater to diverse application needs. Here are some special fiber optic patch cords for use in certain circumstances.
Terminated with specially designed LC uniboot connectors, the uniboot fiber patch cable combines two fibers within a single cable, offering notable advantages in high-density cabling environments. In comparison with standard LC cables, it reduces the cable count by up to 50%, making it particularly well-suited for locations where space is a critical consideration.
A specific variation of uniboot fiber patch cord is known as the switchable uniboot fiber patch cord. This design allows the polarity of the fibers to be switched by simply maneuvering the connectors, eliminating the need for any special tools. This approach helps avoid potential issues that may arise from re-terminating connectors and contributes to more efficient cable management.
An armored fiber patch cord retains all the characteristics of a standard fiber patch cord. The primary distinction lies in the design, where the armored fiber patch cord features a stainless armored tube within the jacket, positioned outside the optical fiber. This specific construction imparts robustness to armored fiber patch cords, making them resistant to rodent damage and capable of withstanding pressure from adult footsteps. Despite their strength, armored fiber patch cords maintain the flexibility of standard fiber optic patch cords and can be bent randomly.
Bend Insensitive Fiber Patch Cord
A bend-insensitive fiber patch cable exhibits high resistance to damage and loss caused by bending. It is designed with a small cable bending radius and features an innovative core design that minimizes macro-bending sensitivity, thus preventing additional losses. Bend-insensitive fiber patch cords are specifically crafted to support applications in data centers, FTTH (Fiber to the Home), and high-density cabling scenarios that involve wrapping and negotiating tight corners. Check out this blog post for “What is Bend-Insensitive Fiber?“
Mode-conditioning Fiber Patch Cord
This special fiber patch cord is a duplex multimode patch cable that incorporates a short length of single-mode fiber at the beginning of the transmission path. Its design addresses technical challenges associated with utilizing single-mode equipment on an existing multimode cable infrastructure. The mode-conditioning fiber patch cord is intended to extend the reach of the installed fiber plant beyond its original intended applications and enhance the quality of data signal transmission.
Low Insertion Loss Fiber Patch Cord
Fiber patch cords incorporating Low Loss (LL) technology exhibit lower connector insertion loss in comparison to standard fiber patch cords, despite sharing many visual similarities. While common fiber connectors typically have an industry-standard insertion loss of 0.75dB, low loss fiber patch cords can achieve 0.2dB or even lower. These fiber patch cords find applications in scenarios where minimizing attenuation loss is a critical factor. By reducing attenuation, they enhance the network’s capability for long-haul applications, extending the reach of the network.
Conclusion
Through the above introduction to fiber optic patch cord types and their applications, you may have an idea of which fiber optic patch cord to choose. The parameters of common fiber optic patch cords, such as fiber mode and connector type, are very important key elements. If your wiring environment has higher requirements, then the above-mentioned special optical fiber patch cord can meet your needs.
