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 pairs two LC UPC connectors on an OS2 9/125µm single-mode product protected by a helical stainless steel tube. The 3.0mm riser-rated (OFCR) jacket keeps the optical cable flexible ample for cabinet and under-floor routing while the steel armor absorbs crushing, pulling and rodent damage that would interrupt an ordinary patch cord. G.657.A1 bend-insensitive glass keeps attenuation stable even where the pathway turns tightly around trays and rack posts.
Product Highlights
- Helical stainless steel armor against crush, impact and rodents
- G.657.A1 bend-insensitive fiber, 10/5D dynamic/static bend radius
- Riser (OFCR) flame rating for vertical building pathways
- Insertion loss ≤0.3dB, return loss ≥50dB
- Stock lengths 1m to 30m; custom lengths and jackets on request
- LC UPC to LC UPC duplex, OS2 9/125µm single mode
Specifications
| Connector Type | LC to LC |
|---|---|
| Polish Type | UPC to UPC |
| Fiber Mode | OS2 9/125µm |
| Wavelength | 1310/1550nm |
| Fiber Count | Duplex |
| Fiber Grade | G.657.A1 (Compatible with G.652.D) |
| Min. Bend Radius (Fiber Cable) | 10/5D (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 | ≥50dB |
| Operating Temperature | -20 to 70°C (-4 to 158°F) |
| Storage Temperature | -40 to 70°C (-40 to 158°F) |
Why steel armor instead of a conduit
Conventional patch leads depend on the surrounding duct or tray for mechanical protection. Where cables cross open floors, shared ceilings or industrial spaces, that protection is never always obtainable. The helical steel tube inside this cable assembly wraps the buffered fibers directly; therefore, the optical cable itself carries the crush and rodent resistance. Field staff can pathway it through areas that would otherwise require metal conduit, which reduces both material cost and installation time while keeping the pathway smaller and easier to reconfigure later.
OS2 single-mode performance in duplex links
OS2 glass at 1310/1550nm supports the long-reach single-mode optics used in campus backbones, carrier access networks and data center interconnects. Because the duplex LC interface is the standard link for SFP, SFP+, SFP28, QSFP+ and QSFP28 transceivers, one cable range covers links from 1G through 100G and beyond. G.657.A1 bend tolerance is fully compatible with legacy G.652.D plant, which means the optical cable can usually be mixed into current single-mode infrastructure without changing loss budgets.
Understanding the OFCR riser rating
OFCR stands for optical fiber conductive riser: a riser-rated cable whose metallic armor makes it conductive under building codes. The riser rating permits vertical runs between floors in shafts and riser closets. Where the pathway passes through air-handling spaces, a plenum (OFNP) variant must be specified instead; where low smoke and zero halogen are specified, the LSZH model of this matching LC-LC structure is obtainable. Matching the jacket to the building section is part of the ordering discussion, not an afterthought.
Where armored duplex cords are deployed
The typical homes for this cord are data center cross-connect fields, campus backbone handoffs, industrial control rooms and any pathway shared with power cabling or foot traffic. In each case the pattern is the matching: the pathway is fixed, the cord is handled during every reconfiguration, and an unprotected jumper would eventually be crushed, kinked or chewed. The armored build removes that failure mode without changing how the cord dresses or connects.
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. The matching structure can further be supplied with black or white jackets, APC polish, or alternative connectors through the project-specific duplex armored cable program. 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
Every assembly is terminated with precision zirconia ferrule connectors and measured for insertion loss and return loss before packing. The 0.3dB insertion loss ceiling and 50dB minimum return loss are verified ratings, not design targets. End-face geometry is checked to keep the physical contact consistent across repeat mating, and the ferrules are rated for up to one thousand insertion cycles, which matters in patching fields that are reconfigured frequently.
How to Order and Factory Support
Refer to the LC-LC OS2 duplex armored range when asking for a quotation and state the pathway length, jacket rating and connector polish specified. For non-standard combinations of length, color, connector or jacket, send the specification with the request and the factory will check the manufacturable specification before manufacturing. Project support for Kenya and East Africa is available to reconcile the ordered configuration with the intended installation.