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Choosing the right Fiber Optic Cable Core Type for your present and future needs.
-- by Tony Casazza
As you can see from the chart below, different Fiber core types have vastly different limitations for speed and maximum distance.
The 62.5/125 µm (AKA: OM1) has been the most popular multimode fiber choice throughout the 80's, 90's and into the early 2000's and was the most common multimode fiber used and yet it has the lowest data carrying capacity and shortest distance limitations as compared with other Multimode fiber types. It is generally accepted that 62.5/125 Multimode will soon be obsolete for the purpose of new installations.
NOTE: If you currently have 62.5/125 µm fiber installed in your office, building or campus you need to continue to use 62.5/125 µm fiber patch cables to connect to it. Attempting to mate two different fiber core sizes can lead to high loss and is therefore strongly not recommended.
The 50/125 µm core size comes in three different classifications (OM2, OM3 and OM4). Please note that OM3 is usually just referred to as 10GIG since it is generally the best choice for 10 Gigabit Ethernet over Multimode fiber and was designed specifically for that purpose (unless you need the extra distance provided by OM4).
Designation | Core/Cladding Diameter (µm) | Type | Fast Ethernet 100BASEFX | 1Gigabit Ethernet 1000BASE-SX | 1 Gigabit Ethernet 1000BASE-LX | 10 Gigabit Ethernet 10GBASE | 40 Gigabet Ethernet 40GBASE | 100 Gigabet Ethernet 100GBASE | 40G-SWDM4 | 100G-SWDM4 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OM1* | 62.5/125 | Multimode | 2000 | 275 Meters | 550 Meters (mode conditioning patch cable required) | 33 Meters | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported |
OM2* | 50/125 | Multimode | 550 Meters | 82 Meters | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | ||
OM3 (Laser Optimized) | 50/125 | Multimode | 550 Meters | 300 Meters | 100 Meters | 70 Meters | Not supported | Not supported | ||
OM4 (Laser Optimized) | 50/125 | Multimode | 550 Meters | 150 Meters | 150 Meters | 400 Meters | 100 Meters | |||
OM5 (Laser Optimized) | 50/125 | Multimode | 500 Meters | 150 Meters | ||||||
Singlemode | 9/125 | Singlemode | 5 km at 1310 nm | 5 km at 1310 nm | 10 km at 1310 nm |
* Please be sure to also check the performance specifications of the Network Equipment that you plan to use in order to be sure of speed and distance with a particular fiber optic cable type. This information can usually be found on the Equipment Manufacturer's website or by calling their Tech Support department.
Singlemode fiber, because of the more expensive electronics required for it is usually used for much greater distances. So for reasons of practicality, most Local Area Networks (LANs) will typically use one form or another of Multimode Cable.
Here are some useful facts to consider:
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
Multimode OM3
Multimode OM4
|
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
Multimode OM3
Multimode OM4
|
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
Multimode OM2
Multimode OM5
|
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
Multimode OM1
Multimode OM2
Multimode OM3
Multimode OM4
Multimode OM5
|
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
Multimode OM2
Multimode OM5
|
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
Multimode OM1
Multimode OM2
Multimode OM3
Multimode OM4
|
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
Multimode OM5
|
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
Multimode OM2
Multimode OM5
|
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
Multimode OM2
Multimode OM4
Multimode OM5
|
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
Multimode OM1
Multimode OM2
Multimode OM3
Multimode OM4
Multimode OM5
|
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
Multimode OM1
Multimode OM2
Multimode OM3
Multimode OM4
Multimode OM5
|
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
Multimode OM1
Multimode OM2
Multimode OM3
Multimode OM4
Multimode OM5
|
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
Multimode OM1
Multimode OM2
Multimode OM3
Multimode OM4
Multimode OM5
Singlemode
|
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
Multimode OM1
Multimode OM2
Multimode OM3
Multimode OM4
Multimode OM5
Singlemode
|
Jacket Type
|
Multimode OM1
|
Multimode OM2
|
10G Multimode OM3
|
Multimode OM4
|
Multimode OM5
|
Singlemode
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacket Type
Multimode OM1
Multimode OM2
Multimode OM3
Multimode OM4
Multimode OM5
|
Our custom Pre-Terminated Assemblies are made in the USA at the time of your order, are fully tested, and come with test results. We can manufacture your assembly at any length and any connector type you require.
If you need something other than what's listed here - just ask us
888-568-1230