Nippon Labs OM4 MPO Trunk Cable, 12 Fiber Multimode 50/125, Type B, 1–30 m

This is a 12 fiber OM4 MPO trunk cable with a female MPO connector on each end, used as the backbone between patch panels, MPO cassettes and fiber adapter panels in a data center or telecom room. One cable carries twelve fibers, so it replaces six duplex patch cords in a single pull. This one is wired Type B, reversed, key up to key up, which is the detail that has to match the rest of your channel.

Specifications

• Fiber type: OM4 multimode
• Core and cladding: 50 / 125 micron
• Connector A: MPO female, low loss
• Connector B: MPO female, low loss
• Polish: UPC to UPC
• Fiber count: 12 fibers
• Polarity: Type B, reversed, key up to key up
• Wavelength: 850 nm / 1300 nm
• Supported reach: 10 Gigabit up to 550 meters, 40 Gigabit and 100 Gigabit up to 150 meters
• Effective modal bandwidth: 4700 MHz/km at 850 nm
• Insertion loss: less than or equal to 0.35 dB
• Return loss: greater than or equal to 20 dB
• Jacket material: OFNR (riser)
• Jacket outer diameter: 3.0 mm
• Jacket color: Aqua
• Glass: Corning
• Transceiver compatibility: SFP+, QSFP and QSFP+ for 10G, 40G and 100G
• Light sources: LED and VCSEL laser
• Lengths available: 1 m to 30 m
• Listings: UL listed
• Included: dust protective caps, and a test report with every cable tested

Good for

• Backbone runs between two patch panels or MPO cassettes in a channel built on Type B polarity
• Direct 40G or 100G QSFP to QSFP connections, where Type B is the common choice for a straight transceiver to transceiver link
• Short in rack and in row jumpers as well as longer backbone pulls, since this listing runs from 1 m up to 30 m

Choosing the right fiber

• Singlemode (OS2): a 9 micron core for long distance, from a few hundred meters up to tens of kilometers. Yellow jacket by convention
• OM3 multimode: a 50 micron core rated for 10 Gigabit to 300 meters. Aqua jacket by convention
• OM4 multimode: a 50 micron core rated for 10 Gigabit to 550 meters, and 40 or 100 Gigabit over shorter distances. Aqua or violet jacket
• OM5 multimode: wideband multimode for short reach 40 and 100 Gigabit over fewer fibers. Lime green jacket

This cable is OM4 multimode with a 50 / 125 micron core, in an aqua jacket. It suits high density multimode backbones inside a building or data center, reaching 550 meters at 10 Gigabit and 150 meters at 40 or 100 Gigabit. It will not work on singlemode equipment.

FAQ

Can I mix singlemode and multimode? No. The transceivers on each end have to match the fiber type, and mixing them will not pass a link. Check what the SFP or transceiver in your switch is rated for before ordering.

What is a 12 fiber trunk cable for? A trunk consolidates many fiber pairs into one cable between two points, usually patch panel to patch panel or cassette to cassette. Instead of pulling six duplex cords through a pathway, you pull one trunk and break it out at each end with MPO cassettes. It saves pathway space and cuts install time, and it is the normal way to build a structured fiber backbone.

Does the Type B polarity matter? Yes, and this is the most common ordering mistake. This cable is Type B, reversed, key up to key up, where fiber 1 at one end lands on fiber 12 at the other. The polarity method has to match the rest of the channel, meaning the cassettes and any other trunks in the same path. Dropping a Type B trunk into a Type A channel puts transmit onto transmit and the link will not come up. Confirm which method your cassettes use before ordering.

How should I handle the connectors? Leave the dust caps on until the moment you plug in, and never touch the end face. A fingerprint on the ferrule is one of the most common causes of a link that will not come up. Clean with a proper fiber cleaner, not with a cloth.

Often bought with

• OM4 MTP® Trunk Cable, 12 Fiber Multimode 50/125, Type B, 1–30 m: same 12 fiber OM4 Type B trunk with MTP connectors
• OM4 MTP to 4x LC Duplex Breakout Cable, 8 Fiber OFNP, Type B, 1–30 m: Type B breakout from an OM4 MTP/MPO port to four LC duplex pairs
• OS2 MTP® Trunk Cable, 12 Fiber Single Mode 9/125, Type B, 1–12 m: same 12 fiber Type B trunk in OS2 single mode