My TN Connection

When one is looking to make a purchase of a networking switch or media converter, the type of fiber connector to purchase can occasionally be overlooked. Although, there are a variety of fiber optic connectors available on the market these days, I will present the five most common and touch on the differences between them.

Fiber optic connectors terminate the end of an optical fiber cable, which enables a quicker connection and disconnection then splicing would. From my experience, organizations tend to choose one type of connector to standardize on. This connector is normally based on the equipment or the fiber type (one for multimode and one for single mode) the organization is currently utilizing in their existing network.

Below are the most common type of Fiber Connectors to choose from when purchasing network equipment and cable.

	ST Connector The ST connector uses a push-and-turn-to-lock system. Sometimes this connector is referred to as the “Stab and Twist”, referring to how it is inserted (the cable is pushed into the receiver, and the outer barrel is twisted to lock it into place).
	SC Connector Has a molded plastic plug casing and a push/pull locking system. SC connectors offer excellent packing density, and its push-pull design resists fiber end face contact damage during connection. Sometimes referred to as “Square Connector” or “Stick and Click”
	LC Connector Small form factor connector that resembles a mini SC connector. LC connectors are replacing SC connectors in corporate networking environment due to their smaller size; they are often found on SFPs Sometimes referred to as “Little Connectors”
	MT-RJ Connector Small form factor connector with a square plastic casing that contains both fiber strands in a single polymer ferrule. Sometimes referred to as MT-RJ45 connectors because they look like a miniature RJ-45 connector.
	MTP Connector The MTP Connector is a single-ferrule design that terminates 12 fibers at a time in one connector.

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