Kenyan network installers should begin with the actual mating interfaces and site fiber records before assigning this product to a link. This duplex FTTA patch cable bridges the optical connector gap between generations of base station equipment: LC UPC duplex on one end for the small-form-factor ports on current baseband units and radios, SC UPC duplex on the other for the connected equipment, frames and enclosures that still present SC interfaces. The optical cable itself is the standard FTTA outdoor structure: two OS2 9/125µm single-mode fibers of Corning G.657.A1 glass in a 7.0mm LSZH jacket, with helical steel armored branches protecting the tails at both connector ends.
Product Highlights
- Hybrid connector mix for mixed-generation equipment
- Corning G.657.A1 bend-insensitive fiber, 20/10D bend radius
- 7.0mm LSZH UV-stabilized outdoor jacket
- Helical steel armored branches, anti-rodent and bird-proof
- Stock lengths 3m to 50m; project lengths on request
- LC UPC to SC UPC duplex, OS2 9/125µm single mode
Specifications
| Connector Type | LC to SC |
|---|---|
| Polish Type | UPC to UPC |
| Fiber Mode | OS2 9/125µm |
| Wavelength | 1310/1550nm |
| Fiber Count | Duplex / 2 Fibers |
| Fiber Grade | Corning G.657.A1 |
| Min. Bend Radius (Fiber Cable) | 20/10D (Dynamic/Static) |
| Attenuation at 1310nm | ≤0.36dB/km |
| Attenuation at 1550nm | ≤0.22dB/km |
| Cable Jacket | Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) |
| Cable Diameter (Outer/Inner) | 7.0/2.0mm |
| Armored Breakout Length (End A/B) | 0.03/0.34m |
| Tensile Strength | 200/400N (Long/Short Term) |
| Crush Resistance | 1100/2200N (Long/Short Term) |
| Insertion Loss | ≤0.3dB |
| Return Loss | ≥50dB |
| Operating Temperature | -20 to 70°C (-4 to 158°F) |
| Storage Temperature | -40 to 80°C (-40 to 176°F) |
Why a hybrid LC to SC cord exists
Base station sites evolve in stages. A shelter upgraded with new baseband equipment presents LC ports, whereas the outdoor enclosure, the fiber distribution frame or the surviving radio hardware may still be SC. Replacing every SC interface is rarely economical; a hybrid jumper with pre-terminated LC and SC ends solves the transition cleanly. Both connectors are polished and tested in the factory; therefore, the mixed interface adds no field termination and no further loss beyond the rated 0.3dB per connector.
Outdoor construction for the whole route
Whether the SC end lands in an outdoor cabinet or the LC end climbs to the radio, the complete cord is built to the matching outdoor standard: a 7.0mm LSZH jacket with UV stabilization, aramid strength members, and helical steel armored branches over both tails. The cable assembly tolerates vertical hanging runs, wind-induced flexing and the temperature swings of an exposed structure, with an operating range from -20 to 70 degrees Celsius.
Bend-insensitive glass at both ends
Enclosures that accept SC connectors are commonly older and tighter inside than modern equipment. G.657.A1 fiber tolerates the 10D static bends that appear when a duplex cord is dressed into a crowded box, holding attenuation steady where legacy G.652.D glass would begin to leak light. Compatibility with the deployed single-mode plant is unaffected; therefore, the hybrid cord drops into the current channel budget.
Planning the connector orientation
On a hybrid cord it is worth stating plainly which end goes where: LC toward the baseband or radio port, SC toward the frame or enclosure. Marking both legs at the factory avoids crossed connections during commissioning, and the breakout lengths at each end can usually be matched to the actual hardware positions so neither tail carries strain or excess slack.
Standard lengths and custom builds
Regular lengths are stocked for fast delivery: 3m (10ft), 5m (16ft), 10m (33ft), 20m (66ft), 30m (98ft) and 50m (164ft), covering the common shelter-to-tower and frame-to-radio runs this cord is built for. Project-specific lengths beyond this range are manufactured to order. For mixed-equipment sites, record which end of the pathway is LC and which is SC collectively with the length; the orientation is built into the cable assembly and cannot be reversed in the field. 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
Both the LC and the SC terminations are factory polished and optically tested: insertion loss is verified against the 0.3dB ceiling and return loss against the 50dB minimum on each branch leg. End-face geometry is inspected on every connector, and the completed cord is checked as a whole product so it can usually be plugged into service without on-site rework.
How to Order and Factory Support
Refer to the LC-SC duplex FTTA range when asking for a quotation and state the pathway length collectively with the specified connector orientation. Other connector mixes, including FC and ST, are covered by the project-specific duplex FTTA program on the matching outdoor platform; 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.