Filters
Search

Secure Checkout
No Sales Tax collected On Orders Shipping Outside NY State.
FREE SHIPPING FOR MOST ORDERS OVER $99
Same Day Shipping! For many in stock items if order received by 2PM EST.
No Sales Tax collected On Orders Shipping Outside NY State.
Search

What is CART ID?
Search
Your Shopping Cart Is Empty


Secure Checkout

Cables Blog

Shop Cables for Sale - Fiber Optic Cables, Network Cables, Outdoor Cables, Bulk Ethernet Cables, Cat6 Cables, Cat5 Cables, Cat5e Cables, Crypto Cables and Data Center Cables.



Fiber Optic Cable Types and Configurations

Fiber Optic Cable Connections and Configurations – SC and LC

Generally speaking, fiber optic cables work by transmitting pulses of light through ultra-thin strands of glass (or plastic in the case of newer plastic optical fibers or POFs). Depending on the type of fiber cable, the strand or strands of glass fiber will have a diameter of anywhere from five to 100 microns, much thinner than a human hair.

by Vikas Dayal • April 01, 2022

Fiber Optic Cables, Cables.com, Datacomm Cables


Fiber optic cables power so many aspects of our 21st century lives. Originally developed for surgical applications, today fiber optic cabling transmits information at the speed of light for everything from computers and telephones to automobiles and even the space shuttle. Solutions such as our 40-GB OM4 Fiber Optic Cables keep operations such as data centers and cellular base stations performing at the highest possible speeds. Speaking of speed, operating 20 times faster than its closest competitor, it’s easy to understand why fiber optics have applications across industries as diverse as data processing, telecommunications, both manufacturing and maintenance within the automotive industry, and nearly every type of engineering, just to name a few.

Fiber Optic Cable Types – Single Mode, Multimode and Plastic Optical Fiber

Generally speaking, fiber optic cables work by transmitting pulses of light through ultra-thin strands of glass (or plastic in the case of newer plastic optical fibers or POFs). Depending on the type of fiber cable, the strand or strands of glass fiber will have a diameter of anywhere from five to 100 microns, much thinner than a human hair.

- Single Mode Fiber Optic cables, also known as OS1s or OS2s use only one of these ultra-thin strands, usually just five to 10 microns in diameter. While single-mode fiber optic cables, such as our OS2 Single Mode Fiber Patch Cables, can transmit data up to 50 times faster than multimode cables, they’re limited to transmission of a single light wave at any given time, meaning lower bandwidth than their multimode counterparts. This makes them most useful for applications where high speeds are prioritized over bandwidth such as connecting buildings on a university or professional campus.

- Multi-mode fiber optic cables, available in OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4 and OM5 varieties use several fiber optic strands. The use of multiple strands allows for many more light signals to travel simultaneously through the cable. Our 10-GB OM3 Fiber Optic Cables and 40GB OM4 Fiber Optic Cables are good examples. Because multimode cables offer higher bandwidth, they make good solutions for high data traffic applications such as local area networks (LANs), and telecommunications.

- POF cables, using plastic instead of glass are far less popular, but may offer comparable performance at a lower price for some particular industry uses and applications.

Fiber Optic Cable Connections and Configurations – SC and LC

Just as important to functionality for various applications, fiber optic cables are available in a variety of configurations. Terms like LC to LC or LC to SC denote the input/output connections that the cable is appropriate for.

- A Standard Fiber Optic Connector or SC configuration is the older, original type of connector for fiber optic cables. Dating back to the early 1990s, SCs, though twice the size of their LC counterparts, have not become obsolete in the least. Their push/pull lock system means they’re easy to connect and disconnect making them ideal for audio and video applications, especially when those services need to be mobile and easily assembled and disassembled. Our SC  fiber optic cables  are just one example
   
- A Lucent Connectors or LC configuration for a fiber optic cable is half the size of an SC connector. Originally created as a replacement for SCs, LCs also differ in their latch-style lock system. Due to their smaller size, LCs are ideal for small spaces and panels requiring multiple connections such as the various types of high-volume data centers mentioned earlier. 
Shop Our LC fiber optic cables here

At Cables.com, we offer just about any configuration of fiber optic cables and connection types you need in many standard lengths with custom and bulk fiber optic cables available through our unique online cable configuration tool. Accessories and fiber optic components are our specialty as well including fiber optic couplers, adapters, enclosures and more. Visit our complete line of fiber optic cables and accessories and put your project, large or small, on the path to light-speed.

 

Frequently Asked Fiber Optic Cable Questions:

Question: What is LC Fiber Optic Cable?
Answer: LC Stands for Lucent Connectors.      

Question: What are the two types of Fiber Optic Cable?
Answer: Singlemode and Multimode - Multimode can carry multiple light rays (modes) at the same time while Singlemode carries one.

SHOP ALL FIBER OPTIC CABLES HERE


 


Seven Facts About the World's Most Common Power Cord: The IEC C13 to NEMA 5-15P
Can a damaged power cord damage your devices?

Recent Cables.com Posts

Why Buy Cat6A Ethernet Cables?
Watertight Cables for Extreme Weather
Why Buy Plenum Cat6 Cables?
Shopping Custom Cables at Cables.com
The Ins and Outs of Hospital-Grade Power Cords
What Do Fiber Optic Cable Colors Mean?
USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 Data Cables at Cables.com
HDMI Cables and Accessories at Cables.com
What Are the Best Outdoor Ethernet Cables?
Buy the Best Category6 Ethernet Cables at Cables.com

Categories

> A/V Cables
> Adapters
> AI
> Apple Products
> Artificial Intelligence
> Audio/Video Cables
> Bulk Cable Company
> Cable Company
> Cable Experts Online
> Cable Suppliers
> Cable Vendors
> Cable Warehouse
> Cable Wholesalers
> Cables on Demand
> Cables.com
> Cables.com News and Information
> Cat5e / Cat6 Cables
> Category 7 Ethernet Cables
> Cell Phone Cables
> Custom Cables
> Custom Fiber Optic Cables
> Data Center
> Datacomm Cables
> Fiber Optic Cables
> HDMI Cables
> Integrator
> Internet of Things (loT)
> Keystone Jacks
> Market Reports
> MIT Technology Review
> Network Patch Cables
> Network Patch Cords
> Network Topology
> New York Cable Company
> NY Cable Company
> Online Learning
> Outdoor Cables
> Patch Finder
> Patch Panels
> Power Cables
> Power Cords
> RapidRun
> Reseller
> Shielded Ethernet Cable
> Signal Conversion
> Solution Provider
> Supply Chain
> USB 3.0 Cables
> VAR
> Wholesale Cable
> Wholesale Cable Supplier
all

Archives

February, 2024
January, 2024
December, 2023
November, 2023
October, 2023
September, 2023
August, 2023
July, 2023
June, 2023 more archive dates
archive article list

RSS


Easy Product Returns within 30 Days and Secure Shopping for your safety.