Kenyan network installers should begin with the actual mating interfaces and site fiber records before assigning this product to a link. This duplex armored patch cable terminates two LC UPC connectors on an OM4 50/125µm multimode product wrapped in a helical stainless steel tube. The aqua 3.0mm riser-rated (OFCR) jacket identifies the multimode grade at a glance, whereas the steel armor beneath it absorbs the crushing, pulling and rodent damage that interrupts unprotected leads. Bend-insensitive OM4 glass keeps the path stable where the pathway turns tightly through trays and rack posts.
Product Highlights
- Helical stainless steel armor against crush, impact and rodents
- Bend-insensitive OM4 fiber, 20/10D dynamic/static bend radius
- Riser (OFCR) flame rating for vertical building pathways
- Insertion loss ≤0.3dB, return loss ≥30dB
- Stock lengths 1m to 30m; custom lengths and jackets on request
- LC UPC to LC UPC duplex, OM4 50/125µm multimode
Specifications
| Connector Type | LC to LC |
|---|---|
| Polish Type | UPC to UPC |
| Fiber Mode | OM4 50/125µm |
| Wavelength | 850/1300nm |
| Fiber Count | Duplex |
| Fiber Grade | OM4 Bend Insensitive |
| Min. Bend Radius (Fiber Cable) | 20/10D (Dynamic/Static) |
| Cable Outside Diameter (OD) | 3.0mm |
| Flame Rating | Riser (OFCR) |
| Construction Type | Single Armored, Stainless Steel Tube |
| Tensile Strength | 120/225N (Long/Short Term) |
| Insertion Loss | ≤0.3dB |
| Return Loss | ≥30dB |
| Operating Temperature | -20 to 70°C (-4 to 158°F) |
| Storage Temperature | -40 to 70°C (-40 to 158°F) |
OM4 multimode for 10G to 100G short-reach links
OM4 is the workhorse multimode grade for 850nm VCSEL optics. It carries 10GBASE-SR to 400m, 40GBASE-SR4 and 25G-class links comfortably, and supports 100GBASE-SR4 breakout pairs and bidirectional duplex optics over the distances typical of data center rows and equipment rooms. The duplex LC interface matches SFP+, SFP28 and QSFP-series ports directly; therefore, one armored cord range covers most short-reach multimode links without adapters.
Aqua identification in dense patching fields
The aqua jacket follows the industry color convention for OM3/OM4 multimode, which speeds up tracing and reduces cross-link errors in crowded frames. The steel armor sits invisibly under that jacket: the cord dresses and markings exactly like a standard patch cable, yet survives being stepped on, pinched by floor tiles or dragged across a tray edge during rework.
Why armor a multimode patch cord
Multimode links commonly run in the most exposed parts of a building: under raised floors, across warehouse ceilings, through retail or industrial spaces shared with power cabling and foot traffic. Conduit adds cost and locks the pathway in place. With the helical steel tube built into the cord itself, the pathway stays flexible, the optical cable count in the tray stays low, and a damaged channel generally means re-terminating nothing more than a single replaceable jumper.
Routing and installation notes
The armored cord bends and dresses like a standard 3.0mm jumper, with two differences worth respecting: keep the pathway inside the 20/10D bend-radius limits of the OM3/OM4 glass, and avoid crushing the coil under heavier power cables when trays are shared. In under-floor runs, lay the cord flat rather than coiled on edge, and leave the factory coil memory to relax before final dressing. The steel tube holds its shape well, which makes neat right-angle exits from managers easier than with loose-buffered leads.
Standard lengths and custom builds
Regular lengths are stocked for fast delivery: 1m (3ft), 2m (7ft), 3m (10ft), 5m (16ft), 10m (33ft), 15m (49ft), 20m (66ft) and 30m (98ft), covering the common rack-to-rack, access and frame connections this cord is built for. Project-specific lengths beyond this range are manufactured to order. For multimode channels, keeping the cord close to the true pathway length further protects the channel budget, since every extra meter of 50/125µm glass adds attenuation at 850nm. Specifying the specific pathway length avoids both the slack storage problem of an overlong cord and the strain risk of one that is too short.
Factory testing and quality checks
Each cord is terminated with precision zirconia ferrule LC connectors and measured for insertion loss and return loss before packing; the 0.3dB ceiling is a verified test limit. End-face geometry is inspected for consistent physical contact, and ferrules are rated for up to one thousand mating cycles in frequently reconfigured patching fields. Kenyan installers can add this check to the handover record for future maintenance and fault tracing.
How to Order and Factory Support
Use against the LC-LC OM4 duplex armored range and state the pathway length and jacket rating. Non-standard colors, APC polish or alternative connectors are handled through the project-specific duplex armored program; send the specification with the request and the factory confirms the manufacturable specification before manufacturing. Project support for Kenya and East Africa is available to reconcile the ordered configuration with the intended installation.