Male MTP® Elite to LC/UPC Fanout | Base-8 | Multi Mode G651.OM4 | 3.0/1.8mm

Overview

The Male MTP® Elite to LC UPC Base-8 OM4 Fanout Cable is a high-performance breakout solution engineered specifically for 40Gbps and 100Gbps parallel optic applications. This cable features a pinned Male MTP® Elite connector on one end, designed to plug directly into QSFP+ (40G) and QSFP28 (100G) transceivers. It fans out to eight LC UPC connectors (organized as 4 duplex pairs) on the other end, allowing for seamless breakout to four lower-speed 10G or 25G channels.

Constructed with laser-optimized multi-mode OM4 fiber, this assembly is ideal for high-bandwidth data transmission over short to medium distances within data centers. The Base-8 MTP® configuration utilizes 8 of the 12 possible fiber positions, perfectly matching the 4 transmit (Tx) and 4 receive (Rx) lane requirement of SR4 (Short Reach) transceivers. This 100% fiber utilization eliminates unused “dark” fibers common in Base-12 cables used for SR4 applications, making it a more efficient and cost-effective solution.

Key Features

• Male MTP® Connector: Features alignment pins for direct connection to QSFP+/QSFP28 transceivers and female MTP® ports, simplifying equipment patching.
• Optimized Base-8 Connectivity: Designed specifically for 40GBASE-SR4 and 100GBASE-SR4 breakout, ensuring 100% fiber utilization with no dead fibers.
• High-Bandwidth OM4 Fiber: Laser-optimized 50/125µm OM4 fiber supports 40G up to 150 meters and 100G up to 100 meters.
• MTP® Elite Low Loss: The premium MTP® Elite connector guarantees an ultra-low insertion loss (IL ≤ 0.35dB) for maximum signal power and link reliability.
• Simplified Port Breakout: Enables a single 40G/100G port to be broken out into four 10G/25G LC duplex links, maximizing port density and flexibility.
• Robust Construction: A 3.0mm main cable transitions to durable 1.8mm fanout legs, ensuring protection and easy handling during installation.

Applications

This cable is the ideal choice for creating direct, high-speed interconnects in modern data centers.

• Connecting a 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+ port to four 10GBASE-SR SFP+ ports
• Connecting a 100GBASE-SR4 QSFP28 port to four 25GBASE-SR SFP28 ports
• Direct connection from switches and servers to SANs or other networking equipment
• High-density fiber distribution in Main Distribution Areas (MDA) and Horizontal Distribution Areas (HDA)
• Mesh architectures connecting top-of-rack (ToR) switches to leaf or spine switches

Specifications

Cross-Platform Compatibility

This MTP® to LC breakout cable is manufactured to meet and exceed all relevant TIA/EIA and IEC industry standards for optical performance and connector geometry. Its standards-compliant design guarantees universal compatibility with any networking hardware or passive infrastructure that uses Base-8 MTP® and LC UPC interfaces. It is proven to work flawlessly with equipment from all leading manufacturers, including:

• Cisco
• Juniper
• Arista
• HPE/Aruba
• Brocade
• Dell/Force10
• Finisar
• Intel

Advantages

The primary advantage of the Base-8 design is its perfect alignment with the architecture of 40G/100G SR4 optics. By using a Male MTP® connector, it eliminates the need for an intermediate MTP® cassette or panel, allowing for a direct, low-latency connection from a high-speed port to four individual devices. This simplifies network design, reduces potential points of failure, and lowers overall link cost.

FAQ (Technical & Product Questions)

1. Why is this cable Base-8 instead of the more common Base-12?

Base-8 is specifically designed for 40G and 100G SR4 applications, which use 8 fibers (4 for transmitting, 4 for receiving). A Base-8 cable uses all 8 fibers, leading to 100% utilization. Using a Base-12 cable for the same application leaves 4 fibers unused (“dark”), making the Base-8 design a more efficient and cost-effective solution for SR4 breakouts.

2. What is the function of a Male MTP® connector?

A Male MTP® connector has two precision metal guide pins that protrude from the ferrule. These pins ensure precise alignment when plugging into a Female (unpinned) MTP® port, which is found on equipment transceivers (like QSFP+) or on MTP® adapter panels and trunk cables.

3. What are the distance limitations of OM4 fiber with this cable?

With high-quality OM4 fiber, this cable can support 40GBASE-SR4 links up to 150 meters and 100GBASE-SR4 links up to 100 meters. This is sufficient for the vast majority of interconnects within a single data center hall or between adjacent rooms.

4. Can I use this for 10G connections?

Yes, absolutely. The primary use is to break a 40G port into four 10G links. You would plug the MTP® end into a 40G QSFP+ port and each LC duplex end into a 10G SFP+ port on four different devices.

5. What’s the difference between MTP® Elite and a standard MTP® connector?

An MTP® Elite connector is a premium version manufactured to higher precision tolerances. This results in a significantly lower guaranteed insertion loss (0.35dB max for Elite vs. 0.75dB max for standard). This is crucial for high-speed links where preserving the signal power budget is essential for error-free performance.