Specifications For Fiber Optic Networks

The Fiber Optic Association - Tech Topics

Specifications For Fiber Optic Networks

Per current standards and specs as of November, 2008

Maximum supportable distances and attenuation for optical fiber applications by fiber type

Multimode

Single-mode

62.5/125 μm

50/125 μm

850 nm laser-optimized
50/125 μm

TIA 492CAAA

(OS1)

TIA 492AAAA (OM1)

TIA 492AAAB (OM2)

TIA 492AAAC
(OM3)

TIA 492CAAB (OS2)

Parameter

Application

Nominal wavelength (nm)

850

1300

850

1300

850

1300

1310

1550

Ethernet

10/100BASE-SX

Channel attenuation (dB)

4.0

-

4.0

-

4.0

-

-

-

Supportable distance m (ft)

300
(984)

-

300
(984)

-

300
(984)

-

-

-

Ethernet

100BASE-FX

Channel attenuation (dB)

-

11.0

-

6.0

-

6.0

-

-

Supportable distance m (ft)

-

2000
(6560)

-

2000
(6560)

-

2000
(6560)

-

-

Ethernet

1000BASE-SX

Channel attenuation (dB)

2.6

-

3.6

-

4.5

-

-

-

Supportable distance m (ft)

275
(900)

-

550
(1804)

-

800
(2625)

-

-

-

Ethernet

1000BASE-LX

Channel attenuation (dB)

-

2.3

-

2.3

-

2.3

4.5

-

Supportable distance m (ft)

-

550
(1804)

-

550
(1804)

-

550
(1804)

5000
(16405)

-

Ethernet

10GBASE-S

Channel attenuation (dB)

2.4

-

2.3

-

2.6

-

-

-

Supportable distance m (ft)

33
(108)

-

82
(269)

-

300
(984)

-

-

-

Ethernet

10GBASE-LX4

Channel attenuation (dB)

-

2.5

-

2.0

-

2.0

6.3

-

Supportable distance m (ft)

-

300
(984)

-

300
(984)

-

300
(984)

10000
(32810)

-

Ethernet

10GBASE-L

Channel attenuation (dB)

-

-

-

-

-

-

6.2

-

Supportable distance m (ft)

-

-

-

-

-

-

10000
(32810)

-

Ethernet

10GBASE-LRM

Channel attenuation (dB)

-

1.9

-

1.9

-

1.9

-

-

Supportable distance m (ft)

-

220
(720)

-

220
(720)

-

220
(720)

-

-

Ethernet

10GBASE-E

Channel attenuation (dB)

11.0

Supportable distance m (ft)

40000

(131240)

Fibre Channel

100-MX-SN-I (1062 Mbaud)

Channel attenuation (dB)

3.0

-

3.9

-

4.6

-

-

-

Supportable distance m (ft)

300
(984)

-

500
(1640)

-

860
(2822)

-

-

-

Fibre Channel

100-SM-LC-L (1062 Mbaud)

Channel attenuation (dB)

-

-

-

-

-

-

7.8

-

Supportable distance m (ft)

-

-

-

-

-

-

10000
(32810)

-

Fibre Channel

200-MX-SN-I (2125 Mbaud)

Channel attenuation (dB)

2.1

-

2.6

-

3.3

-

-

-

Supportable distance m (ft)

150
(492)

-

300
(984)

-

500
(1640)

-

-

-

Fibre Channel

200-SM-LC-L (2125 Mbaud)

Channel attenuation (dB)

-

-

-

-

-

-

7.8

-

Supportable distance m (ft)

-

-

-

-

-

-

10000
(32810)

-

Fibre Channel

400-MX-SN-I (4250 Mbaud)

Channel attenuation (dB)

1.8

-

2.1

-

2.5

-

-

-

Supportable distance m (ft)

70
(230)

-

150
(492)

-

270
(886)

-

-

-

Fibre Channel

400-SM-LC-L (4250 Mbaud)

Channel attenuation (dB)

-

-

-

-

-

-

7.8

-

Supportable distance m (ft)

-

-

-

-

-

-

10000
(32810)

-

Fibre Channel

1200-MX-SN-I (10512 Mbaud)

Channel attenuation (dB)

2.4

-

2.2

2.6

-

-

-

Supportable distance m (ft)

33
(108)

-

82
(269)

-

300
(984)

-

-

-

Fibre Channel

1200-SM-LL-L (10512 Mbaud)

Channel attenuation (dB)

-

-

-

-

-

-

6.0

-

Supportable distance m (ft)

-

-

-

-

-

-

10000
(32810)

-

FDDI PMD

ANSI X3.166

Channel attenuation (dB)

-

11.0

-

6.0

-

6.0

-

-

Supportable distance m (ft)

-

2000
(6560)

-

2000
(6560)

-

2000
(6560)

-

-

FDDI
SMF-PMD

ANSI X3.184

Channel attenuation (dB)

-

-

-

-

-

10.0

-

Supportable distance m (ft)

-

-

-

-

-

-

10000
(32810)

-

- means Not Applicable

Specifications For Legacy Fiber Optic Networks

Here is a listing of many fiber optic LANs and links available in the last 20 years, with basic operational specs.

Application Wavelength

Max distance (m)

for fiber type

Link Margin (dB)

for fiber type

62.5/125 50/125 SM 62.5 50 SM

10Base-F 850 2000 2000 NS 12.5 7.8 NS

FOIRL 850 2000 NS NS 8 NS NS

T oken Ring 4/16 850 2000 2000 NS 13 8.3 NS

Demand Priority

(100VG-AnyLAN)

850 500 500 NS 7.5 2.8 NS

Demand Priority

(100VG-AnyLAN)

1300 2000 2000 NS 7.0 2.3 NS

100Base-FX

(Fast Ethernet)

1300 2000 2000 NS 11 6.3 NS

10/100Base-SX 850 300 300 NS 4.0 4.0 NS

FDDI 1300 2000 2000 40,000 11.0 6.3 10-32

FDDI (low cost) 1300 500 500 NA 7.0 2.3 NA

ATM 52 1300 3000 3000 15,000 10 5.3 7-12

ATM 155 1300 2000 2000 15,000 10 5.3 7-12

ATM 155 850(laser) 1000 1000 NA 7.2 7.2 NA

ATM 622 1300 500 500 15,000 6.0 1.3 7-12

ATM 622 850(laser) 300 300 NA 4.0 4.0 NA

Fibre Channel 266 1300 1500 1500 10,000 6.0 5.5 6-14

Fibre Channel 266 850(laser) 700 2000 NA 12.0 12.0 NA

Fibre Channel 1062 850(laser) 300 500 NA 4.0 4.0 NA

Fibre Channel 1062 1300 NA NA 10,000 NA NA 6-14

1000Base-SX 850(laser) 220 550 NA 3.2 3.9 NA

1000Base-LX 1300 550 550 5000 4.0 3.5 4.7

ESCON 1300 3000 NS 20,000 11 NS 16

NA = Not Applicable

NS = Not Specified. Most LANs and links not specified to run on SM fiber have media converters available to allow them to run on SM fiber.

Proposed 40 and 100 gigabit Ethernet Standards
These are only proposals at this time (11/2008) so the final version may differ significantly

Network	Cabling Type	Wavelength	Distance Goal
40GBASE-LR4	SM G.652/021	1310 nm	10 km
40GBASE-SR4	MM OM3	850 nm	100 m
40GBASE-CR4	Copper	NA	10 m
40G Backplane	Not Specified	NA	1 m
100GBASE-ER4	SM G.652/021	1310 nm	40 km
100GBASE-LR4	SM G.652/021	1310 nm	10 km
100GBASE-SR10	MM OM3	850 nm	100 m
100GBASE-CR10	Copper	NA	10 m

Higher performance multimode fiber called OM3+ or OM4 with 850 nm bandwidth of 3500-4000 MHz-km is being investigated for 40G and 100G networks.

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		Multimode						Single-mode
		62.5/125 μm		50/125 μm		850 nm laser-optimized 50/125 μm		TIA 492CAAA (OS1)
		TIA 492AAAA (OM1)		TIA 492AAAB (OM2)		TIA 492AAAC (OM3)		TIA 492CAAB (OS2)
	Parameter
Application	Nominal wavelength (nm)	850	1300	850	1300	850	1300	1310	1550
Ethernet 10/100BASE-SX	Channel attenuation (dB)	4.0	-	4.0	-	4.0	-	-	-
Ethernet 10/100BASE-SX	Supportable distance m (ft)	300 (984)	-	300 (984)	-	300 (984)	-	-	-
Ethernet 100BASE-FX	Channel attenuation (dB)	-	11.0	-	6.0	-	6.0	-	-
Ethernet 100BASE-FX	Supportable distance m (ft)	-	2000 (6560)	-	2000 (6560)	-	2000 (6560)	-	-
Ethernet 1000BASE-SX	Channel attenuation (dB)	2.6	-	3.6	-	4.5	-	-	-
Ethernet 1000BASE-SX	Supportable distance m (ft)	275 (900)	-	550 (1804)	-	800 (2625)	-	-	-
Ethernet 1000BASE-LX	Channel attenuation (dB)	-	2.3	-	2.3	-	2.3	4.5	-
Ethernet 1000BASE-LX	Supportable distance m (ft)	-	550 (1804)	-	550 (1804)	-	550 (1804)	5000 (16405)	-
Ethernet 10GBASE-S	Channel attenuation (dB)	2.4	-	2.3	-	2.6	-	-	-
Ethernet 10GBASE-S	Supportable distance m (ft)	33 (108)	-	82 (269)	-	300 (984)	-	-	-
Ethernet 10GBASE-LX4	Channel attenuation (dB)	-	2.5	-	2.0	-	2.0	6.3	-
Ethernet 10GBASE-LX4	Supportable distance m (ft)	-	300 (984)	-	300 (984)	-	300 (984)	10000 (32810)	-
Ethernet 10GBASE-L	Channel attenuation (dB)	-	-	-	-	-	-	6.2	-
Ethernet 10GBASE-L	Supportable distance m (ft)	-	-	-	-	-	-	10000 (32810)	-
Ethernet 10GBASE-LRM	Channel attenuation (dB)	-	1.9	-	1.9	-	1.9	-	-
Ethernet 10GBASE-LRM	Supportable distance m (ft)	-	220 (720)	-	220 (720)	-	220 (720)	-	-
Ethernet 10GBASE-E	Channel attenuation (dB)								11.0
Ethernet 10GBASE-E	Supportable distance m (ft)								40000 (131240)
Fibre Channel 100-MX-SN-I (1062 Mbaud)	Channel attenuation (dB)	3.0	-	3.9	-	4.6	-	-	-
Fibre Channel 100-MX-SN-I (1062 Mbaud)	Supportable distance m (ft)	300 (984)	-	500 (1640)	-	860 (2822)	-	-	-
Fibre Channel 100-SM-LC-L (1062 Mbaud)	Channel attenuation (dB)	-	-	-	-	-	-	7.8	-
Fibre Channel 100-SM-LC-L (1062 Mbaud)	Supportable distance m (ft)	-	-	-	-	-	-	10000 (32810)	-
Fibre Channel 200-MX-SN-I (2125 Mbaud)	Channel attenuation (dB)	2.1	-	2.6	-	3.3	-	-	-
Fibre Channel 200-MX-SN-I (2125 Mbaud)	Supportable distance m (ft)	150 (492)	-	300 (984)	-	500 (1640)	-	-	-
Fibre Channel 200-SM-LC-L (2125 Mbaud)	Channel attenuation (dB)	-	-	-	-	-	-	7.8	-
Fibre Channel 200-SM-LC-L (2125 Mbaud)	Supportable distance m (ft)	-	-	-	-	-	-	10000 (32810)	-
Fibre Channel 400-MX-SN-I (4250 Mbaud)	Channel attenuation (dB)	1.8	-	2.1	-	2.5	-	-	-
Fibre Channel 400-MX-SN-I (4250 Mbaud)	Supportable distance m (ft)	70 (230)	-	150 (492)	-	270 (886)	-	-	-
Fibre Channel 400-SM-LC-L (4250 Mbaud)	Channel attenuation (dB)	-	-	-	-	-	-	7.8	-
Fibre Channel 400-SM-LC-L (4250 Mbaud)	Supportable distance m (ft)	-	-	-	-	-	-	10000 (32810)	-
Fibre Channel 1200-MX-SN-I (10512 Mbaud)	Channel attenuation (dB)	2.4	-	2.2		2.6	-	-	-
Fibre Channel 1200-MX-SN-I (10512 Mbaud)	Supportable distance m (ft)	33 (108)	-	82 (269)	-	300 (984)	-	-	-
Fibre Channel 1200-SM-LL-L (10512 Mbaud)	Channel attenuation (dB)	-	-	-	-	-	-	6.0	-
Fibre Channel 1200-SM-LL-L (10512 Mbaud)	Supportable distance m (ft)	-	-	-	-	-	-	10000 (32810)	-
FDDI PMD ANSI X3.166	Channel attenuation (dB)	-	11.0	-	6.0	-	6.0	-	-
FDDI PMD ANSI X3.166	Supportable distance m (ft)	-	2000 (6560)	-	2000 (6560)	-	2000 (6560)	-	-
FDDI SMF-PMD ANSI X3.184	Channel attenuation (dB)	-	-	-	-	-		10.0	-
FDDI SMF-PMD ANSI X3.184	Supportable distance m (ft)	-	-	-	-	-	-	10000 (32810)	-

Application	Wavelength	Max distance (m) for fiber type			Link Margin (dB) for fiber type
Application	Wavelength	62.5/125	50/125	SM	62.5	50	SM
10Base-F	850	2000	2000	NS	12.5	7.8	NS
FOIRL	850	2000	NS	NS	8	NS	NS
T oken Ring 4/16	850	2000	2000	NS	13	8.3	NS
Demand Priority (100VG-AnyLAN)	850	500	500	NS	7.5	2.8	NS
Demand Priority (100VG-AnyLAN)	1300	2000	2000	NS	7.0	2.3	NS
100Base-FX (Fast Ethernet)	1300	2000	2000	NS	11	6.3	NS
10/100Base-SX	850	300	300	NS	4.0	4.0	NS
FDDI	1300	2000	2000	40,000	11.0	6.3	10-32
FDDI (low cost)	1300	500	500	NA	7.0	2.3	NA
ATM 52	1300	3000	3000	15,000	10	5.3	7-12
ATM 155	1300	2000	2000	15,000	10	5.3	7-12
ATM 155	850(laser)	1000	1000	NA	7.2	7.2	NA
ATM 622	1300	500	500	15,000	6.0	1.3	7-12
ATM 622	850(laser)	300	300	NA	4.0	4.0	NA
Fibre Channel 266	1300	1500	1500	10,000	6.0	5.5	6-14
Fibre Channel 266	850(laser)	700	2000	NA	12.0	12.0	NA
Fibre Channel 1062	850(laser)	300	500	NA	4.0	4.0	NA
Fibre Channel 1062	1300	NA	NA	10,000	NA	NA	6-14
1000Base-SX	850(laser)	220	550	NA	3.2	3.9	NA
1000Base-LX	1300	550	550	5000	4.0	3.5	4.7
ESCON	1300	3000	NS	20,000	11	NS	16