Types of Optical Fiber Connectors Often Used

Fiber patch cords are widely used in network engineering, especially in today's cloud computing era, where server access network ports have been upgraded to 10G fiber. , basically all cables carrying service traffic are optical fibers.

Network engineers who have just debuted may not be able to distinguish the three most common types of fiber optic connectors in our data communication field. Today, let's talk about the three most common types of connectors for fiber optic patch cords.

1. The first is the big square head connector:

SC type fiber optic connector

The large square head joint is the SC type joint, and its outer casing is rectangular, and the structural dimensions of the pins and coupling sleeves used are exactly the same as those of the small square head (FC type).

The large square head jumper adopts a plug-in and latch-type fastening method, which does not need to be rotated. The plug-in operation is very convenient, and the insertion loss fluctuation is small. It has the advantages of strong compression resistance and high installation density.

Commonly adapted optical modules are as follows:

GBIC optical module

XENPAK Optical Module

X2 optical module

CFP optical module

2. Then the small square head connector:

LC type fiber optic connector connector

The small square head connector is the LC type connector. The small square head connector adopts the modular jack (RJ) latch fastening method, which is plug and play. use, suitable for high-density connections.

Commonly adapted optical modules are as follows:

SPF optical module

QSFP optical module

CFP2 Optical Module

CFP4 Optical Module

3, followed by the round head joint:

FC type fiber optic connector connector

The round head joint is the FC type joint. The round head joint adopts the fastening method of the turnbuckle, and the external reinforcement method adopts the metal sleeve, which is relatively firm after being inserted into the device, and the connector is not easy to fall off. Generally, it is used on the ODF side (wiring). Most used on the shelf)

It is generally used for equipment ports to connect ODUs on optical disks.

Fiber Distribution Panel

4. Snap-on circular joint

The snap-on circular joint is ST-type joint. The shell of the snap-on round joint is round, and the fastening method is a turnbuckle. After inserting, there is a bayonet to fix it in half a circle. The tricky point is that it is easier to disassemble and install. break. Fortunately, it is rarely used. I have never seen a module interface that can be connected to this kind of connector on network equipment, but I have seen an interface that can be plugged into this kind of connector on transmission equipment such as optical transceivers.

5. MPO/MTP connector

Let me first point out that this kind of joint is rare now, which does not mean that it will be rare in the future.

MPO connector is a multi-core and multi-channel plug-in connector. Generally speaking, a connector can accommodate multiple optical fiber cores, unlike SC, FC, LC, and ST connectors, when one connector and one core connect equipment Usually used in pairs.

It should be noted that MPO and MTP are not two types of connectors, but the MTP connector is a type of MPO connector.

MTP claims that the MPO connectors it produces are much stronger than the general MPO connectors, so in order to distinguish it from the MPO connectors on the market, they call their products MTP connectors.

There are three types of MPO connectors: 8/12/24 pins.

24 cores are crazy to use 2 rows of 12 cores.

It is generally used to connect the connector of the optical module of the equipment.

MPO male fiber optic connector

Generally used as a relay cable.

Male to female interconnection

The MPO connector can connect five modules: OSFP, QSPF+, QSFP28 SR4, QSFP28 PSM4, and QSFP DD.