Male MTP® Elite to LC/UPC Fanout | Base-8 | Multi Mode G651.OM3 | 3.0/1.8mm

Overview

This is a Male MPO/MTP® to LC UPC Fanout Cable, an essential component for high-density data center cabling. It efficiently breaks out a single 12-fiber MTP® connector into eight individual LC UPC connectors. This design provides a direct, plug-and-play path from high-speed parallel optic ports to standard LC duplex channels, simplifying network architecture and cable management.

Engineered with a Base-8 configuration and high-bandwidth OM3 multimode fiber, this assembly is optimized for 40GBASE-SR4 and 100GBASE-SR4 applications. The inclusion of a genuine MTP® Elite connector ensures superior low-loss performance, making it a reliable solution for short-reach, high-speed interconnects within enterprise networks and data centers.

Key Features

• Features one Male MTP® Elite connector (with pins) to eight simplex LC UPC connectors.
• Optimized Base-8 fiber configuration for 100% fiber utilization in SR4 applications.
• Equipped with a genuine US Conec MTP® Elite low-loss connector for enhanced performance.
• Constructed with high-grade, laser-optimized OM3 50/125µm multimode fiber.
• LC connectors feature an Ultra Physical Contact (UPC) polish for excellent return loss.
• Factory-terminated and 100% tested to guarantee low insertion loss.
• Simplifies the breakout process from 40G/100G ports to 10G/25G devices.
• Aqua-colored, LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) jacket for easy identification and safety.

Applications

This multimode fanout cable is primarily used to connect a QSFP+ (40G) or QSFP28 (100G) SR4 transceiver to four separate SFP+ (10G) or SFP25 (25G) transceiver ports. The Male MTP® connector plugs directly into the female MPO/MTP® port on the SR4 module. The eight LC connectors then provide four duplex channels for connecting to lower-speed switches, servers, or storage devices over short distances.

Specifications

Cross-Platform Compatibility

Compatibility for this fanout cable is based on universally adopted industry standards rather than being vendor-specific. This assembly will function with any hardware that adheres to the MPO/MTP®, LC, and IEEE 802.3 standards for OM3 fiber.

Advantages

The primary advantage of this Base-8 breakout cable is its efficiency. It aligns perfectly with the 8-fiber requirement of SR4 transceivers, ensuring that every fiber is utilized. This eliminates the “dark fibers” and waste associated with using traditional 12-fiber MPO cables for 40G/100G applications, providing a more cost-effective and streamlined cabling solution.

Performance and reliability are guaranteed by using premium components. The low-loss MTP® Elite connector minimizes the overall link budget loss, which is crucial for maintaining signal integrity. Combined with factory-level termination and testing, this cable delivers a dependable, high-performance, plug-and-play solution right out of the box, reducing deployment time and potential errors.

FAQ (Technical & Product Questions)

1. What is an MPO/MTP® to LC fanout cable used for?

This cable is used to connect a high-speed parallel optics port (like 40G or 100G SR4) to multiple lower-speed devices. It breaks out the single MTP® connector into eight LC connectors, which form four duplex channels for standard 10G or 25G connections.

2. Why does this cable have a Male MTP® connector?

The Male MTP® connector has guide pins and is designed to plug directly into the female MPO/MTP® port on a transceiver (like a QSFP-SR4) or a patch panel adapter. This ensures precise alignment of the fibers for a stable, low-loss connection.

3. What does Base-8 wiring mean for an MPO/MTP® cable?

Base-8 wiring means the cable uses 8 of the 12 fibers in the MTP® connector. This is the most efficient configuration for 40G and 100G SR4 applications, as they use 4 fibers to transmit and 4 fibers to receive, resulting in 100% fiber utilization.

4. Why is the fiber OM3 and the jacket aqua?

OM3 is a laser-optimized multimode fiber capable of supporting 10, 40, and 100 Gigabit Ethernet over short distances (e.g., 100G up to 100 meters). The aqua jacket color is the industry standard for identifying OM3 fiber optic cables, making cable management easier.

5. Can I use this for single mode applications?

No. This is a multimode (OM3) cable with LC UPC connectors. It is not compatible with single mode systems, which require single mode fiber and typically use APC (angled) connectors for better performance over long distances.

6. What is the difference between MPO and MTP®?

MPO (Multi-fiber Push-On) is the generic industry standard for the connector type. MTP® is a high-performance MPO connector from US Conec that includes patented features, like a floating ferrule and elliptical guide pins, for improved durability and superior optical performance.

7. Is this compatible with Cisco, Juniper, or Arista SR4 transceivers?

Yes. Because this cable adheres to universal IEEE and TIA standards for MPO/MTP® and OM3 fiber, it is compatible with any vendor’s SR4 transceivers that also follow these standards, including those from Cisco, Arista, Juniper, and others.

8. What is the difference between LC/UPC and LC/APC connectors?

UPC (Ultra Physical Contact) connectors have a flat-polished endface and are standard for multimode applications. APC (Angled Physical Contact) connectors have an 8-degree angled endface to minimize back reflection and are used almost exclusively for single mode applications.