Nippon Labs OS2 SC to ST Fiber Patch Cable, Duplex Single Mode 9/125, 1–10 m

This is a singlemode fiber patch cable with an SC connector on one end and an ST connector on the other, for joining SC terminated equipment such as wall boxes and ONTs to ST terminated panels and media converters. It is duplex, so one strand transmits and one receives inside a single jacket. It is the hybrid to reach for when neither end of your link is LC and the two ends do not match each other.

Specifications

• Fiber type: OS2 singlemode
• Core and cladding: 9 / 125 micron
• Connectors: SC to ST
• Polish: UPC to UPC
• Configuration: Duplex, 2 strands
• Insertion loss: less than or equal to 0.3 dB
• Return loss: greater than or equal to 55 dB
• Jacket material: OFNR (riser)
• Jacket outer diameter: 2.0 mm
• Jacket color: Yellow
• Glass: Corning
• Lengths available: 1 m to 10 m
• Listings: UL listed
• Included: test report in each cable package

Good for

• Joining an SC wall box or carrier handoff to an ST terminated panel or media converter
• Mixed vintage equipment rooms, where part of the plant is SC and part is still ST
• Riser pathways and vertical shafts, since the OFNR jacket is rated for floor to floor runs

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 OS2 singlemode with a 9 / 125 micron core, in the conventional yellow jacket. It is the right choice for long distance links and for anything terminated on singlemode transceivers, and it is not suitable for multimode 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.

Duplex or simplex? Duplex is two fibers in one jacket, one to transmit and one to receive, which is what most switch and transceiver pairs need. Simplex is a single fiber, used with bidirectional transceivers that send and receive over one strand.

How do I tell an SC port from an ST port? SC is a square body that pushes straight in and pulls straight out. ST is round with a bayonet collar you push and twist a quarter turn to lock. Identify both ports before ordering, because the two ends of this cable are not interchangeable.

Is this UPC or APC? Both ends are UPC, with a flat polished end face, blue by convention on the connector body. If the SC port you are plugging into is green, that is APC and this cable is the wrong one, since APC must only mate to APC.

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.