MTP® Elite Female-Female Patch Cord | Base-24 | Single Mode G651.OM3 | 3.0mm

Overview

This is a Base-24 Female-to-Female MPO/MTP® Extension Cable specifically engineered to connect two Male (pinned) MPO/MTP® trunk cables. It functions as a high-density coupler, allowing you to extend the reach of your existing backbone cabling without replacing the entire run. This is essential for reconfiguring data center layouts or when initial cable runs fall short of their intended destination.

Featuring unpinned (Female) MTP® Elite connectors on both ends, this cable ensures a secure and low-loss connection between two Male cables. Built with laser-optimized OM3 multimode fiber, it maintains the performance integrity of your 40G and 100G networks. The 24-fiber design in a single 3.0mm jacket provides a simple, space-saving solution for extending high-density links.

Key Features

• Terminated with two Female (unpinned) MTP® Elite connectors for low insertion loss.
• Engineered with a Base-24 fiber configuration for maximum density applications.
• Functions as an extension cord, joining two Male MPO/MTP® cables.
• Constructed with high-bandwidth, laser-optimized OM3 multimode fiber (50/125µm).
• Aqua-colored jacket (OFNP/LSZH) clearly identifies it as OM3-grade fiber.
• Compact 3.0mm cable diameter simplifies cable management in dense environments.
• Factory-terminated and 100% tested to ensure reliable performance when extending links.

Applications

The primary application for a Female-to-Female MPO/MTP® cable is to serve as an extension piece in a structured cabling system. It is used to connect two Male-ended trunk cables end-to-end, effectively making a longer single trunk. This is a common requirement in large data centers during expansions or equipment relocation where existing cables cannot reach new racks or distribution areas, saving significant cost and installation time.

Specifications

Cross-Platform Compatibility

This cable is exclusively designed for cable-to-cable connections. Its Female MTP® connectors mate with Male (pinned) MTP® connectors found at the end of trunk cables. It cannot be plugged directly into most transceivers or network devices, as those typically have unpinned ports requiring a Male cable connector. When extending a link, the polarity of the extension cable must be chosen carefully to maintain the correct Tx/Rx pathway.

Advantages

This cable offers immense flexibility and cost savings. Instead of decommissioning and replacing a perfectly good trunk cable that is too short, you can simply add this extension piece. This minimizes network downtime, labor costs, and material waste. The use of premium MTP® Elite connectors is critical, as it ensures the additional connection point introduces minimal insertion loss, preserving the integrity of your overall link-loss budget.

By using a dedicated extension cable, you maintain a modular and scalable network design. The robust OM3 fiber provides a reliable medium for high-speed data, supporting 100G applications like 100GBASE-SR10 over standard data center distances. This makes it a smart, tactical solution for evolving network infrastructures.

FAQ (Technical & Product Questions)

1. What is the main purpose of a Female-to-Female MPO/MTP® cable?

Its main purpose is to function as an extension cord. It connects two separate MPO/MTP® cables that both have Male (pinned) connectors, creating a single, longer cable run.

2. Can I plug this cable directly into a transceiver (like a CXP or CFP)?

No. Most transceivers have Female (unpinned) ports and require a Male (pinned) cable connector for proper mating and alignment. This Female-to-Female cable is designed to connect two Male cables together, not to connect directly to equipment.

3. The product URL contains both “Single Mode” and “OM3.” Which is correct?

This cable is built with OM3 multimode fiber. The “Single Mode” term in the URL is a typo. All key specifications, including the G.651 standard, 50/125µm core, and aqua jacket color, confirm that it is an OM3 product.

4. What does “unpinned” mean for an MPO/MTP® connector?

“Unpinned” signifies a Female MPO/MTP® connector. It does not have the two metal guide pins and instead has two holes to receive the pins from a Male connector, ensuring a precise and stable connection.

5. Will using this extension cable degrade my network’s performance?

Every connection point adds a small amount of insertion loss to the channel. This cable uses low-loss MTP® Elite connectors to minimize that impact. However, you must always verify that the total loss of the extended channel remains within the loss budget of your equipment.

6. What polarity should I choose for this extension cable?

It depends on the polarity of the cables you are connecting. To extend a standard Type B (crossover) trunk, you would typically use a Type A (straight-through) extension cable to maintain the correct end-to-end pinout.

7. Is this cable suitable for 100GBASE-SR10?

Yes. It can be used to extend an existing Base-24 OM3 trunk cable that is part of a 100GBASE-SR10 link, provided the total channel length and loss budget are within the standard’s limits.

8. Why not just use a Female-to-Female adapter and a short patch cord?

While possible, using a single, purpose-built extension cable creates a more robust and reliable connection with fewer failure points. This single-component solution is cleaner and often results in lower overall signal loss compared to an adapter plus a separate patch cord.