What is LC LC patch cable?
LC-LC fiber optic patch cord is a small compact patch cable very popularly used in many applications. These network solutions include telecommunication networks, LANs, data processing networks, device terminations and premises distributions. LC-LC patch cords are designed to deliver fast Ethernet solutions in Gigabit applications and ATM applications with less space consumption.
Specification
| Parameter | Unit | FC, SC, LC/ Armoured fiber patch cord | ST, MU | MT-RJ, MPO | E2000 | ||||||||
| SM | MM | SM | MM | SM | MM | SM | |||||||
| PC | UPC | APC | PC | PC | UPC | PC | PC | UPC | PC | PC | APC | ||
| Insertion loss(typical) | dB | ≤0.3 | ≤0.2 | ≤0.3 | ≤0.2 | ≤0.3 | ≤0.2 | ≤0.2 | ≤0.3 | ≤0.2 | ≤0.2 | ≤0.3 | ≤0.3 |
| Return loss | dB | ≥45 | ≥50 | ≥60 | ≥30 | ≥45 | ≥50 | ≥30 | ≥45 | ≥50 | ≥35 | ≥55 | ≥75 |
| Operating wavelength | nm | 1310, 1510 | 1310, 1510 | 1310, 1510 | 1310, 1510 | ||||||||
| Exchangeability | dB | ≤0.2 | ≤0.2 | ≤0.2 | ≤0.2 | ||||||||
| Vibration | dB | ≤0.2 | ≤0.2 | ≤0.2 | ≤0.2 | ||||||||
| Operating temperature | ℃ | -40~75 | -40~75 | -40~75 | -40~75 | ||||||||
| Storage temperature | ℃ | -45~85 | -45~85 | -45~85 | -45~85 | ||||||||
| Cable diameter | mm | φ3.0, φ2.0, φ0.9 | φ3.0, φ2.0, φ0.9 | φ3.0, φ2.0, φ0.9 | φ3.0, φ2.0, φ0.9 | ||||||||
Features
Meets Growing Demands for SFF Solutions
LC connectors are manufactured with only a 1.25mm diameter ferrule which is a great advantage for densely populated fiber optic network. The LC connector is manufactured under the standard IEC 61754-20 for high density connections such as in SFP, XFP and SFP+ transceivers.
Singlemode or Multimode LC-LC, Riser or Plenum Rated
OTSCABLE supplies singlemode and multimode LC-LC fiber optic jumper cables, with single mode (9/125 OS1, OS2), duplex and multimode (50/125 and 62.5/125) options. You can choose if it's for riser application or plenum connections or if you want it to be completely customized, you can contact us to know more about our OEM/ODM service for LC-LC patch cords.
Easy and Convenient Pull Out
Built with a conveniently snap in configuration, LC-LC connections are equipped with locking mechanisms that are similar to the retaining tab of an RJ45 connector. Now it's easy to connect and disconnect the connector from the device. The locking tabs are injection-molded with enhanced durability in resisting pulls, strains, snags, and impacts during cabling installs and maintenance.
Safe and Tested Fiber Assembly with Low Insertion Loss
Our patch cords are 100% optically inspected and tested to bring low insertion loss not exceeding 0.02 dB.
Applications
In fiber-to-the-home deployments, the optical line terminal (OLT) often ships with APC-polished ports to minimize back reflections on PON links, while distribution patch panels may retain UPC interfaces. This LC APC-to-UPC hybrid-polish fiber jumper bridges the two sides without requiring adapter conversion, reducing connection points and potential signal degradation at the central office. For the matching passive components on the distribution side, see our range of LC duplex fiber optic adapters for patch panel installation.
Cable television headend equipment relies on low back-reflection connections to protect laser sources from reflected optical power. Deploying an APC-to-UPC bridging cable between the headend transmitter (APC port) and downstream monitoring or splitting equipment (UPC ports) maintains signal integrity across the analog and digital video distribution chain.
Telecommunications carriers operating mixed-generation infrastructure frequently encounter APC-terminated trunk lines alongside UPC patch panels. A singlemode LC hybrid-polish patch cord for telecom cross-connect applications eliminates the need for separate APC and UPC jumpers paired through a mid-span adapter, simplifying cable management in dense ODF frames.
Optical test equipment such as OTDRs and optical power meters may use APC or UPC reference ports depending on manufacturer specification. Keeping an LC APC to LC UPC test-grade fiber cable in the field toolkit allows technicians to perform insertion loss and return loss measurements across both polish standards without swapping adapters.
When isolating faults on a passive optical network, technicians often need to patch between APC-terminated splitter outputs and UPC-equipped test access points. A factory-tested hybrid-polish duplex jumper for PON maintenance ensures measurement accuracy is not compromised by improvised adapter stacking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What makes a hybrid-polish LC APC to LC UPC patch cable different from a standard LC-LC jumper?
A: A standard LC-LC patch cable uses the same polish type on both ends-either both APC or both UPC. This hybrid-polish version terminates one end with an 8-degree angled APC ferrule (≥60dB return loss) and the other with a dome-shaped UPC ferrule (≥50dB return loss). It is purpose-built for connecting equipment that requires different polish standards, eliminating the need for a mid-span adapter between two separate cables. For a detailed breakdown of how each polish grade performs, see our guide on PC vs UPC vs APC fiber connector polish types and return loss differences.
Q2: Can I plug the APC end into a UPC adapter, or vice versa?
A: No. The APC ferrule has an angled face that will not seat properly against a flat UPC sleeve. Mismatching polish types at the adapter causes an air gap that dramatically increases insertion loss and can damage both ferrule end-faces. Always connect the green APC connector to an APC-keyed adapter and the blue UPC connector to a UPC adapter.
Q3: Why does the APC side achieve higher return loss than the UPC side?
A: The 8-degree angle on the APC ferrule reflects residual light away from the fiber core at an angle, preventing it from traveling back toward the source. The UPC side uses a curved physical-contact polish that reflects a small amount of light directly back along the fiber axis. For applications sensitive to back reflections-such as RF-over-fiber or analog CATV-the APC end should face the laser source.
Q4: Is this duplex cable available in simplex or custom fiber counts?
A: Yes. While the standard configuration is a 2-fiber duplex with a 2.0mm yellow LSZH jacket, custom orders for simplex versions, alternative jacket diameters (0.9mm or 3.0mm), and specific cable lengths can be arranged. If you are unsure whether simplex or duplex suits your application, our article on the difference between simplex and duplex fiber optic patch cords explains when each configuration is the right choice. Contact our team with your project specifications for a custom LC APC-UPC singlemode fiber cable quotation.
Q5: What jacket material options are available for this hybrid-polish jumper?
A: The default jacket is LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen), suitable for indoor plenum and riser environments. PVC-jacketed versions are also available for general-purpose installations where fire code requirements are less restrictive. Please specify your preferred jacket type when placing a bulk order for APC-to-UPC duplex patch cables.
Q6: How should I clean the connectors before installation?
A: Use a one-click fiber cleaning pen matched to the 1.25mm LC ferrule size. Clean the APC and UPC ends separately-the angled APC end-face requires a cleaning tool rated for angled ferrules to ensure full contact across the polished surface. Inspect both connectors under a fiber microscope before mating to confirm no particulate contamination remains. For a full step-by-step procedure, refer to our article on how to clean fiber optic patch cord end faces before mating.
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