
Monoprice
Monoprice 111875 10GB Fiber Optic Cable LC/SC 20 Meter
OM3 50/125 multi-mode fiber delivers certified 10GbE throughput across 20 meters with LC-to-SC flexibility for mixed-switch environments.
$10.98*
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Overview
Key Features
Multi-mode cable with a 50 μm core and 125 μm cladding diameter
Cable has a color-coded dual LC connector on one end and a dual SC connector on the other end
Ideal for use in 10 gigabit Ethernet (GbE) networks
Specifications
Connector Type
LC (one end) / SC (other end), duplex
Fiber Type
Multi-mode, duplex
Fiber Specification
OM3 50/125 μm
Core Diameter
50 μm
Cladding Diameter
125 μm
Length
20 meters
Jacket Color
Aqua
Supported Standard
10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-SR)
Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
- OM3 50/125 fiber supports 10GBASE-SR at distances up to 300 meters — the 20-meter length operates with enormous margin, making link failure from attenuation essentially a non-issue in this run.
- Duplex construction handles full TX/RX in a single routed cable, eliminating the need to manage two separate simplex fibers.
- LC/SC connector combination directly addresses mixed-infrastructure environments where one switch has LC ports and another has legacy SC ports, removing the insertion-loss penalty of an adapter.
- The aqua jacket color follows TIA-568 color coding for OM3 fiber, making cable identification and documentation straightforward in structured cabling environments.
👎 Cons
- This cable is not backward-compatible with OM1/OM2 62.5/125 transceivers — deploying it in a legacy environment without verifying transceiver core size first risks an unusable link.
- LC and SC connectors are not keyed identically — polarity (which fiber is TX, which is RX) must be confirmed against the switch's transceiver documentation; reversing polarity on both ends simultaneously is the correct fix if the link does not come up.
- 20 meters is a fixed length; installations requiring 25 or 30 meter runs will need a different SKU, as no field-trimming of factory-polished connectors is advisable without specialized equipment.
- Multi-mode fiber cannot support long-haul runs — if this infrastructure ever needs to extend beyond 300 meters, OM3 must be replaced with single-mode, requiring new transceivers as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does OM3 50/125 mean, and why does it matter for 10GbE?
OM3 designates an aqua-jacketed multi-mode fiber with a 50 μm core and 125 μm cladding, laser-optimized for 850nm VCSELs. At this specification, OM3 supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-SR) up to 300 meters — this 20-meter run is well within that envelope, leaving substantial headroom for additional attenuation from patch panels or connectors without signal degradation.
When do I need an LC/SC cable instead of LC/LC?
When one end of the link terminates at an SC-port device — commonly older switches, media converters, or SFP modules with SC receptacles — and the other at a newer LC-port transceiver. This cable eliminates the need for an LC/LC patch plus an LC-to-SC adapter, which would introduce an additional insertion-loss point.
Is this cable compatible with OM2 (62.5/125) transceivers?
No. OM3 50/125 fiber has a smaller core than OM1/OM2 62.5/125 fiber. Connecting to a 62.5 μm-optimized transceiver produces a significant mode mismatch, resulting in high insertion loss and unreliable link performance. Use this cable only with 50/125-compatible SFP modules.
Does duplex mean this single cable handles both transmit and receive?
Yes. Duplex fiber bundles two fibers in one jacket — one fiber carries the transmit signal, the other the receive. The dual LC and dual SC connectors at each end correspond to this TX/RX pair, so a single cable run handles full-duplex 10GbE operation.
What is the maximum distance this cable supports for 10GBASE-SR?
At OM3 specification, 10GBASE-SR supports up to 300 meters. At 20 meters, this cable operates at approximately 7% of its rated distance ceiling, which means connector and patch panel losses have negligible impact on link integrity.