![]() ![]() A single-mode fiber optic core is 9 micrometers or significantly smaller in diameter than a human hair. A good mental model is to think of a multi-mode fiber core as roughly the same diameter as a human hair. The pointed end of the APC face plate is very small. If you see the above, you may have realized the challenge this can pose in the field, or simply when trying to build a fiber infrastructure. As one may imagine, not only is there a potential for loss, but damage can also occur if one attempts an incorrect mating. The goal should be mating a flat-ish UPC to another flat-ish UPC or angled APC to APC. Given the different connector angles, one should not try to connect APC and UPC cable together. This means we usually get less return loss with APC. With the 8-degree angle, light that reflects off of the end face is directed toward the cladding around the fiber optic cable instead of more directly back to the light source as we would see in APC. ![]() That may not seem like a lot, but that angled edge changes how light is reflected back. Single Mode Fiber Optic Cable LC Connector With UPC on Testing LabelĪPC on the other hand is polished at an 8-degree angle. ![]() The key challenge is that light can reflect off of the end of the end face and will travel back through the fiber optic cable towards the light source. They may look flat, but they are actually slightly curved for that. UPC as one can see has a slight curvature for better alignment. Multi Mode OM4 Fiber Optic Cable LC Connector We have to remember here that the goal is to mate two strands of fiber and continue to transmit light (data) over that mating. APC And UPC Examples (Illustrative Only Not to Scale) Here is a quick diagram in terms of the difference between the two polish types. These days, you are going to see UPC or APC on new fiber connectors that you install, but it is very important to understand the difference. If you are running modern OM3, OM4, OM5 multi-mode cable or OS1/ OS2 single-mode fiber optic cable, you are likely going to be using either UPC or APC (more on that in a bit.) There is another standard called just PC for “Physical Contact” that was used in older cables in the OM1 and OM2 generations. These are the two we are going to focus on today. UPC stands for “Ultra Physical Contact”.APC stands for “Angled Physical Contact”.APC and UPC What Does This Even Mean?įirst, let us get a few terms out of the way. So this is an ultra-important concept, but we are also going to give some easy guidelines to help you spot both. Depending on the type of fiber you are using, you may see either, and putting them together incorrectly can mean damaging cables. Something that one getting into fiber will run into, and that is very different than in the world of copper-based networking is APC versus UPC. MTP 12 OM4 MM Male UPC And OS2 SM Male APC Fiber Optic Cable Connectors ![]()
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