Panduit FX2ERQ1Q1SNM001 Opti-Core OM3 LC Duplex Fiber Patch Cable
The Panduit FX2ERQ1Q1SNM001 is a precision-terminated 2-fiber OM3 multimode patch cord engineered for 10GBASE-SR and 40GBASE-SR4 Ethernet links in data centers, telecom rooms, and enterprise network aggregation layers. Built on laser-optimized 50µm OM3 fiber, this 1-meter duplex jumper delivers LC push-pull connectivity on both ends with aqua jacketing per TIA-598-C color coding standards. The 1.6mm cable diameter and riser-rated (OFNR) construction make it the go-to choice for high-density panel routing and vertical riser pathways where flame spread and smoke generation requirements apply.
Key Features
- OM3 50µm Multimode Fiber: Supports 10GBASE-SR to 300 meters and 40GBASE-SR4 to 100 meters, backward compatible with OM1/OM2 for 1G applications
- LC Duplex Push-Pull Connectors: Small form-factor (SFF) connectors with push-pull latching mechanism simplify insertion and removal in dense 1U fiber patch panels
- 1.6mm Cable Diameter: Ultra-slim jacket profile enables tighter bend radius and higher port density in horizontal managers and vertical wire trays
- OFNR Riser Rating: Meets NEC Article 770 requirements for vertical cable runs between floors without requiring conduit in non-plenum spaces
- Aqua Jacket Color: TIA-598-C compliant OM3 identification prevents field mismatches between OM2 (orange), OM3 (aqua), and OM4 (erika violet) fiber types
- Opti-Core Factory Termination: Panduit precision polishing and inspection process ensures insertion loss ≤0.35 dB typical, return loss ≥-35 dB per TIA-568-C.3
- 1-Meter Length: Ideal for intra-rack switch-to-panel connections, cross-connects in telecom rooms, and equipment-area jumpers where slack management is critical
- Standards-Compliant Construction: Meets ISO/IEC 11801, TIA/EIA-568-C.3, TIA-604-3 (FOCIS-3), and TIA-604-10 (FOCIS-10) interface and performance specifications
OM3 fiber uses laser-optimized 50-micron core geometry to support modal bandwidth of 2000 MHz·km at 850 nm, the wavelength used by cost-effective VCSEL transceivers in 10G and 40G short-reach applications. Unlike OM1 (200 MHz·km) or OM2 (500 MHz·km) legacy fibers, OM3 eliminates the need for expensive long-wavelength optics in typical data center link distances. The LC connector interface — formally defined in TIA-604-10 as FOCIS-10 for duplex assemblies — provides a 1.25mm ceramic ferrule in a compact footprint roughly half the size of SC connectors, enabling 48-port 1U density and 96-port MTP-to-LC breakout cassette deployments. The push-pull tab design allows single-handed operation even in fully populated panels, reducing technician strain during MAC (moves, adds, changes) work. Panduit Opti-Core terminations are factory-polished to physical-contact (PC) endface geometry, inspected for scratches and contamination per IEC 61300-3-35, and tested for insertion loss and return loss before leaving the manufacturing line, eliminating the field variability and labor cost of on-site terminations.
The 1-meter length serves three primary deployment scenarios: (1) intra-rack connectivity linking top-of-rack (ToR) switches to horizontal fiber patch panels with minimal slack coil, (2) cross-connect links in main distribution areas (MDAs) or horizontal distribution areas (HDAs) where structured cabling standards call for permanent backbone links terminated to patch panels with short jumpers to active equipment, and (3) equipment-area interconnects between SAN switches, blade chassis, or modular UPS systems where congestion and airflow are critical concerns. The 1.6mm cable diameter — significantly thinner than the 2.0mm or 3.0mm zipcord constructions common in older OM1/OM2 assemblies — allows tighter bundle radii in vertical managers and horizontal troughs, reducing pathway fill ratios and improving cooling airflow in enclosed racks. OFNR (Optical Fiber Nonconductive Riser) rating meets NEC 770.154(A) for installation in vertical shafts and from floor to floor without conduit, provided the cable does not penetrate more than one floor or is contained within a fireblocking system. This rating sits between general-purpose OFN (residential/commercial single-floor) and OFNP (plenum air-handling spaces), covering the majority of riser and telecom room applications in multi-story buildings where plenum pathways are not involved.
Panduit Opti-Core patch cords ship with A-to-A polarity (transmit fiber on position A connects to receive fiber on position A at the far end, with crossover occurring in the duplex transceiver or MTP trunk), aligning with TIA-568-C.0 Method B polarity for LC-to-LC links. This eliminates the guesswork and potential for A-to-B reversal errors that cause link-down faults during initial turn-up. Compliance with TIA-604-3 (FOCIS-3 single LC interface) and TIA-604-10 (FOCIS-10 duplex LC clip) ensures mechanical interoperability with all standards-compliant LC adapters, cassettes, and transceiver modules from Cisco, Juniper, Arista, HPE, Dell, and other OEM vendors, while ISO/IEC 11801 compliance guarantees worldwide deployment compatibility in international projects subject to ISO rather than TIA standards regimes.
