10Gigabit OM3 and OM4 Fiber Optic Cables

With network speed requirements continuing to increase, especially in high-demand industry sectors such as data centres and service providers, there has been a need for faster and more stable optical fiber infrastructure to support it. OM3 was the first standard to emerge, codifying laser optimization of multimode fiber. This technology was the first to allow designs of laser transmission systems utilizing multimode optical fiber without the use of mode conditioning patch cord. It allowed for 10 gigabyte transmissions. OM4 has stepped in due to the need of supporting longer range applications.

OM4 fiber cable plays a pivotal role in allowing the development of future-proof network solutions for high-demand applications. When coupled with fiber technologies such as the MTP connector, the capacity of OM4 to provide a large bandwidth overhead becomes a great advantage. With it being a newer standard it has also been designed with newer transmission standards in mind, such as the steady influx of 40G Ethernet and the eventual 100G Ethernet rollouts. Where OM3 will be able to support these technologies, OM4 will provide longer distance support for each development and therefore allow a considerably greater level of flexibility at a later stage when upgrade programs commence.

OM3 vs OM4

OM4 is capable of handling 10G Ethernet up to a distance of 400-550m (depending on module capability) where OM3 can only manage up to 300m. The benefit of this is that a single multimode cable run can be used for longer distances than before, removing the need to use more expensive single mode fibre and modules for such mid-sized runs as 500m. OM4 can tolerate a higher level of loss at distances between 200-300m as it is designed to operate at longer distances than OM3. It may be a more flexible option for network managers to install OM4 in these instances, even though OM3 can often manage, as the OM4 option will allow for greater loss due to lower quality terminations, splices or increased bends.

While OM3 fiber will still be future proof in most applications, allowing speeds of 10GB/s up to 100GB/s, OM4 fiber offers users longer long distances and more wiggle room in optical budgets.

OM3 and OM4 fiber cables are typically used in data center structured cabling environments running high speeds of 10G or even 40 or 100 Gigabit Ethernet, SAN (Storage Area Networking), Fiber Channel, FCOE (Fiber Channel Over Ethernet) with such manufacturers as Cisco, Brocade, EMC and others. Typical applications could be virtualization or internal cloud core data center applications.

10G multi-fiber cable assemblies are a necessity for any data center looking for high speed networking throughput. FiberStore provides the cable choice of OM4 OM3 10G fiber cables with standard and multi-fiber assemblies. FiberStore offers a full line of OM3 and OM4 product line. While FiberStore still able to supply the OM3 cable and OM4 fiber patch cables. Our line of multimode duplex fiber cables will be sure to enhance your data transmissions over at a longer distance and at higher data rates than you’ve previously experienced.

Mode Conditioning Patch Cord utilized in Gigabit Ethernet Applications

Fiber optic patch cord is used to link different equipment components in a network, typically switch to switch connections, where fast efficient communication is needed. It may be terminated having a a few different connectors depending of the equipment requirements.

Fiber patch cords are occasionally called fiber jumpers and therefore are basically a length of fiber optic cable terminated with a suitable connector for the required installation. As previously described, fiber patch cables are commonly fitted with ST, SC, LC or MTRJ connectors. There are lots of types of fiber patch cords for different use. This article is about Mode Conditioning Patch Cord.

Mode Conditioning Patch Cords, also referred to as conditioned launch fiber cables, are utilized specifically in Gigabit Ethernet 1000Base-LX/LH applications where the objective is deploying new high-speed 1000Base-LX routers, switches, or optical transceivers within existing multimode system backbones. Mode conditioning patch cables are used in the 1300nm or 1310nm optical wavelength window, and cannot be utilized for 850nm short wavelength window such as 1000Base-SX. Also, any attempt to connect 1000Base-LX/LH equipment over short distances of multimode fiber without the use of mode conditioning fiber can lead to a higher bit error rate, and finally damage to the unit. Mode conditioning patch cord is made for Gigabit Ethernet multi-mode applications at 1300nm wavelength; the applying standard is IEEE 802.3z. All mode conditioning fiber optic patch cords are made with duplex cable; with a single mode to multi-mode offset fiber connection part in one of the two legs.

Mode Conditioning Patch Cord

Why do we need to use mode conditioning patch cable? The Gigabit Ethernet application standard requires the use of fiber optic light to offer the specified data transmitting rates. Usually people use long wave transceiver modules for Gigabit Ethernet. These modules have to operate both single mode and multi mode fibers. And as we all know, multi-mode fiber manufacturing techniques create index of refraction anomalies along the centerline of the multi-mode fiber core. When a highly concentrated single mode fiber optic light is sent into the center of the multi-mode fiberglass, the modes that propagate through the index of refraction anomalies disseminate over time causing modal dispersion. This effect is called differential mode delay. Differential mode delay results in reduced bandwidth over distance. By permitting the only mode laser launch to become offset from the center of the multi-mode fiber, the mode conditioning patch cord cuts down on the effect of such differential mode delay.

From the above descriptions we learn how to use such mode conditioning cables. When we use such mode conditioning fiber optic patch cords, we have to connect the yellow leg the colour of single mode to connect the transmit side from the equipment (single mode Gigabit transceiver) while we connect the orange leg the colour of multimode to the receive side (multimode Gigabit cable plant) .

Mode conditioning cables are usually utilized in pairs. This means that you will need a mode conditioning patch cable at each end to connect the gear towards the cable plant. So then these cables are usually ordered in even numbers. The typical reason someone may order one cable is so they may keep it as a spare. In case your gigabit LX switch comes with SC or LC connectors, make sure to connect the yellow leg (singlemode) from the cable towards the transmit side, and also the orange leg (multimode) towards the receive side of the equipment. It’s imperative this configuration be maintained on both ends. The swap of transmit and receive only works in the cable plant side. Mode conditioning fiber optic patch cord are utilized typically when you wish to run Gigabit Ethernet (LX) over some multi-mode fiber optic plant.

In FiberStore, mode conditioning cables are compliant with IEEE 802.3Z standard. FiberStore supplies mode conditioning patch cables with SC, ST, LC, MTRJ fiber optic connectors.

Source: FiberStore