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MPO Cables

MPO Cables

MTP FiberShield Specifications

 

OptoSpan MPO Cables feature MPO (Multi-Fiber Push On) connectors on one or both ends. MPO is a multi-fiber connector that features 8, 12, or 24 fibers in a single ferrule, enabling high-density implementation of newer high-speed LAN and data center applications. Using MPO fiber optic cable assemblies provide over 12 times the fiber density in the same footprint as the LC or SC cables. These high-density MPO patch cords offer significant space savings, while also simplifying network installations.

FiberShield MPO cables from OptoSpan are five times stronger than standard fiber cables!

FiberShield MPO Cables: OptoSpan’s 8-, 12-, and 24-fiber standard MPO patch cables feature exclusive 5x stronger FiberShield technology, with 3x more PVC and DuPont Kevlar than that of MPO optical cables offered by competitors. These MPO patch cables are 4.5mm or 3.0mm thick, protecting them against accidental damage which is normally associated with installations.


Do you need help choosing the correct MPO fiber optic cable assemblies for your application? SanSpot’s MPO network engineers can evaluate your unique situation and recommend a complimentary cable configuration that is suitable for your needs. Please contact us toll-free at 1-800-720-3860, or you can email  [email protected].

SteelPatch Armored MPO Cables: OptoSpan SteelPatch Armored MPO patch cords feature a specialized jacket constructed from steel, which is molded into a helical shape to shield the internal fibers. This process allows SteelPatch armor to increase the cable strength by 7x, while still remaining fully flexible and lightweight.

SteelFlex Armored MPO Cables: These top-of-the-line military-grade OptoSpan SteelFlex Armored MPO optical cables feature an exclusive OptoLock mechanism comprised of a steel tube, which is locked into position by overlapping links. This composition results in an unmatched rugged but lightweight cable that provides maximum flexibility, which is suitable for harsh environments and industrial applications.

Weatherproof (IP68) MPO Cables: OptoSpan’s IP68-rated Weatherproof MPO patch cables provide extreme protection against water, dust, and harsh weather conditions. Using a simple bayonet locking system, IP68 MPO cable assemblies are designed to protect the optical fibers, without requiring specialized tools for assembly.

How do you choose the right MPO fiber cable for your application?

Choosing the correct cable depends on many key factors – such as type of network optics, fiber count, cable polarity, type of MPO connectors, and fiber media type (single-mode or multimode). If you’re not sure, or if you need help, please call us before placing an order!

Need Help? Get Answers from an MTP/MPO Experts

MPO Cable Applications:

MPO Patch Cable Polarity:

To ensure that data is transmitted correctly across fiber links, the transmit signal (Tx) at one end of the cable must match the equivalent receiver (Rx) at the other end. MPO polarity scheme's objective is to assure this continuous connection, which gets slightly more complicated when dealing with multi-fiber components. Industry standards call for three different MPO polarity methods: Method A, Method B, and Method C.

Method A MPO patch cables employ a key up connection on one end and a key down connector on the other, such that the fiber in Position 1 terminates in Position 1. When employing Method A for duplex applications, one end of the patch cord must have the transceiver-receiver flipped.

Method B MPO patch cables employ key up connectors on both ends to produce the transceiver-receiver flip, such that the fiber in Position 1 ends up in Position 12, the fiber in Position 2 ends up in Position 11, and so on. Method B utilizes straight A-B patch cords on both ends for duplex applications.

Method C MPO patch cables utilize a key up connector on one end and a key down connector on the other, but the flip occurs within the cable itself, where each pair of fibers is flipped so that the fiber in Position 1 arrives at Position 2 and the fiber in Position 2 arrives at Position 1. While this approach works well for duplex applications, it is not suggested for parallel 8-fiber 40 and 100 Gigabit applications.

MPO Connectors:

Each MPO fiber optic cable assembly must specify a type and gender of the MPO connectors. Most popular MPO connectors have 8, 12, 16, or 24 pins. For example, 12-fiber MPO patch cables are generally used for 10G or 40G applications, while 8-fiber and 24-fiber MPO patch cables are used for 100G applications. There are also newer kinds of 16 and 32 MPO connectors available for 400G and 800G applications.

To achieve ideal alignment with other MPO cables and equipment, MPO connectors utilize two alignment pins on one connector and two holes on the opposite connector. These are also referred to as “male” (with pins) and “female” (without pins) genders.

MPO Cable Types

There are three basic types of MPO cables:

What are MPO patch cables typically used for?

MPO patch cables are used in data centers and telcos for quickly creating high-speed interconnections, including the following:

Quality and Engineering Excellence

By utilizing our proprietary manufacturing process developed over 15 years of experience, we are able to produce higher performance products using the same components, hence lowering the cost to our clients. OptoSpan cables are made in a Class 10,000 (ISO14644-1, ISO7) clean room facility, which eliminates the potential of end face contamination.

Rohs Compliant

Quality Management Systems

  • ISO 9001: 2008
  • TL9000 (Ver. 5)

Standards Compliance

  • Telcordia GR-326 Core
  • TIA-604-18: FOCIS 18
  • IEC 61754-7-3:2019

OptoSpan fiber optic cables are RoHS compliant.

Cleaning and Testing MPO Patch Cords

All fiber end-face, including MPO Connectors, should be cleaned before each installation. Indeed, cleaning the MPO Connectors might be significantly more challenging due to their higher surface area. When cleaning these larger surface areas, pollutants are much more easily transferred from one fiber to the next within the same array.

OptoSpan recommends cleaning MPO patch cords before each insertion using these simple MPO cable cleaners.

For troubleshooting MPO cable connections (fiber breaks or defects) during installation, or for identifying faults during general use, OptoSpan offers a simple MPO fiber tester.


You might be interested in the following MPO Cables related products.

Are you looking for custom-designed and purpose-built MPO patch cords? Visit our section on Custom MPO Patch Cords...
Do you require MPO patch panels that are compatible with MPO patch cables? Visit our MPO Patch Panels...
Need a High Performance MPO patch cord? Our MTP Cables...
Do you require the strongest MPO patch cables available in the industry? Visit our Armored MPO Patch Cables section for more information...
For the highest performance MPO Cables, go to this link... MTP Elite Cables
If you prefer to use LC-LC breakout cables... Visit our Section on Breakout Fiber Cables...
Need IP68 (Weatherproof) and additional MPO Patch Cable options? Visit our section on Specialty Fiber Optic Cables...