OM Types of Multi-mode Fiber Patch Cables

Fiber optic patch cords are optical cables capped on both ends with fiber optic connectors. According to fiber cable modes, fiber optic patch cords can be divided into single mode and multi-mode. Single mode fiber optic patch cables usually have a core of 8 to 10 microns. Multi-mode fiber optic patch cables have a core of either 50 or 62.5 microns. The larger core of multi-mode fiber patch cords gathers more light compared to single mode, and allows more signals to be transmitted. Transmission of many modes of light down a multi-mode fiber patch cable simultaneously causes signals to weaken over time and therefore travel short distance.

 

Multi-mode fiber patch cables are described by the diameters of their core and cladding. There are two different core sizes of multi-mode fiber patch cords: 50 microns and 62.5 microns. Both 62.5 microns and 50 microns patch cable feature the same glass cladding diameter of 125 microns. Thus, a 62.5/125µm multi-mode fiber patch cable has a 62.5µm core and a 125µm diameter cladding; and a 50/125µm multi-mode fiber patch cable has a 50µm core and a 125µm diameter cladding. Based on the cores, multi-mode fibers are described as OM1, OM2, and OM3, classified by the ISO 11801 standard. OM4, defined in TIA-492-AAAD, was published by the end of 2009. According to this, there are four types of multi-mode fiber patch cords, OM1, OM2, OM3, and OM4. The letters "OM" stand for optical multi-mode.

 

OM1 multi-mode fiber patch cord has a bigger core diameter, 62.5 microns, which makes it better on concentrating the light and bend-resistance. It is suitable for 100Mb and 1Gb. The max attenuation of OM1 fiber patch cable is 3.5dB/km working at 850nm, and 1.5dB/km at 1300nm. Overfilled launch of OM1 fiber optic patch cable at 850nm is 200MHz*km, 500MHz*km at 1300nm. It is widely used especially before the mid 1990s. Today, OM1 fiber optic patch cable is still a popular indoor use multi-mode fiber optic patch cable. But it has serious limitations for high speed demands.

 

OM2 multi-mode fiber patch cord has a core of 50 microns. Overfilled launch of OM2 fiber optic patch cable is 500MHz*km. OM2 50/125 multi-mode fiber patch cable is used in fiber optic telecommunications and high speed transmission systems that require simultaneous, bi-directional data transfer. 50µm fiber offers as much as ten times the bandwidth of 62.5µm fiber. OM2 fiber optic patch cables are orange jacketed and can be available in simplex and duplex with FC, SC, LC, ST, MTRJ or MU connectors.

 

OM3 multi-mode fiber patch cord also has a core of 50 microns, but the cable is optimized for laser based equipment that uses fewer modes of light. Due to this optimization, OM3 fiber patch cord is capable of running 10 Gigabit Ethernet at lengths up to 300 meters. OM3 fiber patch cable has an aqua jacket and effective modal bandwidth (EMB) of 2000. It is designed for 10 Gb/s transmission.

 

OM4 multi-mode fiber patch cord is a 50µm laser-optimized multi-mode fiber patch cable with extended bandwidth. It is used in networks where an overwhelming or extreme amount of data needs to be transferred. Like OM3 multi-mode fiber patch cables, OM4 is considered to be "laser optimized" or optimized for use with 850nm vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) light sources. Both OM4 and OM3 fiber patch cables share the same distinctive aqua jacket. OM4 has been available for several years and has recently been officially standardized. It has a lower insertion loss and an EMB of 4700. It is the preferred technology for the emerging standards that will operate at 40Gb and even 100Gb up to 150m and is widely used in Data center applications.

 

Multi-mode fiber patch cords are a good choice for transmitting data and voice signals over short distances. These 4 types of multi-mode fiber patch cords are different from each other in many aspects, such as sizes of core. And their difference determines their respective characteristics and application areas. Fiberstore supplies a large variety of fiber patch cables with high quality. They can be available in OM1 ,OM2, OM3, and OM4, with different types of connectors. All the fiber optic patch cables are 100% optically tested for maximum performance before shipping worldwide.