StarTech ET1000S40LC2 Gigabit Ethernet to Single-Mode Fiber Media Converter

Overview

The StarTech ET1000S40LC2 is a standalone Gigabit Ethernet media converter that bridges copper RJ-45 infrastructure to single-mode fiber, pushing usable network connectivity up to 40 km (24.8 miles) over an LC duplex fiber run. If you are connecting a remote security enclosure, a campus outbuilding, or a distributed surveillance node that sits well beyond the 100-meter hard limit of copper Ethernet, this converter solves the distance problem without requiring a dedicated managed switch at each end. It operates at a 1310nm wavelength, conforming to IEEE 802.3z, and handles full-duplex Gigabit traffic — making it a practical fit for network video recorder backhaul and other bandwidth-intensive security links.

Key Features

• 40 km single-mode fiber reach: Standard copper Ethernet tops out at 100 meters. The ET1000S40LC2 extends that to 40 km over single-mode fiber — enough to span an entire industrial campus, a university grounds, or a multi-building government complex on a single fiber pair. You eliminate the need for intermediate repeaters or additional switches along that run.
• 2000 Mbps aggregate throughput: Full-duplex Gigabit delivers 1 Gbps in each direction simultaneously, for a combined 2000 Mbps. That headroom matters when you are backhauling multiple high-resolution IP camera streams — a 16-camera NVR pulling 4K feeds at 8–10 Mbps each needs roughly 160 Mbps sustained; this converter handles that with bandwidth to spare.
• 1310nm wavelength, IEEE 802.3z compliant: The 1310nm single-mode wavelength is the industry-standard for medium-to-long haul fiber links. Conformance to IEEE 802.3z and IEEE 802.3ab means the converter integrates with standards-compliant fiber infrastructure without proprietary lock-in or compatibility surprises at the fiber patch panel.
• Half and full-duplex operation: Auto-negotiation across half and full-duplex modes means you can drop this into mixed environments where older network segments still operate in half-duplex. In practice, any modern switch port will negotiate full-duplex automatically, but the flexibility prevents link failures during phased infrastructure upgrades.
• Universal AC input (100–240V), 4W consumption: The wide-range AC input means it deploys in North American, European, or Asian facilities without a step-down transformer. At 4W operating consumption, it draws less than a night-light — annual electricity cost is essentially negligible, and it poses no thermal management concerns inside a compact enclosure.
• Steel housing rated 0°C to 60°C: The all-steel chassis provides physical protection inside IT closets, MDFs, and security enclosures. The 0–60°C operating range covers typical indoor equipment rooms; it is not rated for unheated outdoor enclosures or extreme cold environments without supplemental heating.
• LC duplex fiber connector: LC duplex is the current standard for single-mode Gigabit and 10G fiber in enterprise and security infrastructure — widely available patch cables, compatible with virtually every fiber patch panel and media converter shelf on the market today.
• Compact form factor (6.1 x 3.4 x 0.9 in): At under an inch tall and roughly the footprint of a paperback book, the ET1000S40LC2 fits on a shelf, mounts in a rack tray, or sits in a security enclosure without consuming significant space.

Integration and Compatibility

The ET1000S40LC2 operates as a transparent Layer 1 device — it converts the physical medium from copper to fiber and back, passing Ethernet frames without modifying addressing, VLAN tags, or QoS markings. Any device that speaks standard 10/100/1000BASE-T on the copper side (IP cameras, NVRs, PoE switches, access control panels) connects through unmodified. On the fiber side, single-mode LC duplex patch cables connect to your fiber distribution frame or directly to a matching converter at the remote end. Pair two ET1000S40LC2 units — one at each end of the fiber run — to complete a point-to-point link. This converter does not supply PoE on the copper port; if the remote device requires PoE, provision a PoE switch or PoE injector at the far end. For wider network switch integration, the RJ-45 port connects directly to any Gigabit switch uplink.

Deployments feeding video back to a central NVR or video management system benefit from the full 1 Gbps bandwidth headroom — no compression artifacts introduced by the converter, no latency added beyond the speed-of-light propagation delay across the fiber. Review your fiber media converter infrastructure plan to confirm single-mode fiber is already pulled to both endpoints; this unit does not support multimode fiber.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the ET1000S40LC2 support multimode fiber?

A: No. The ET1000S40LC2 is designed exclusively for single-mode fiber using a 1310nm wavelength and LC duplex connectors. It is not compatible with multimode fiber runs. If your existing fiber infrastructure uses multimode (OM1, OM2, OM3, or OM4), you will need a multimode-compatible media converter instead.

Q: Do I need two units to create a fiber link?

A: Yes. The ET1000S40LC2 converts copper Ethernet to single-mode fiber at one end. You need a matching converter at the remote end to convert the fiber signal back to copper for the receiving device. Both endpoints require a converter — one unit alone does not create a complete link.

Q: Does the copper RJ-45 port supply PoE to connected devices?

A: No. The ET1000S40LC2 does not include PoE pass-through or PoE generation on its RJ-45 port. If the device at either end requires PoE power (such as an IP camera), you will need a separate PoE switch or PoE injector at that location.

Q: What is the warranty on the ET1000S40LC2?

A: The ET1000S40LC2 carries a 2-year manufacturer warranty.

Q: What operating temperature range does the ET1000S40LC2 support?

A: The unit is rated for 0°C to 60°C (32°F to 140°F) operating temperature and -10°C to 70°C storage temperature. It is suitable for conditioned indoor equipment rooms and IT closets but is not rated for unheated outdoor enclosures without supplemental thermal management.

Q: What industry standards does the ET1000S40LC2 comply with?

A: The ET1000S40LC2 conforms to IEEE 802.3ab (Gigabit Ethernet over copper) and IEEE 802.3z (Gigabit Ethernet over fiber), ensuring interoperability with standards-compliant network equipment from any vendor.

Ted Perry

The spec I keep coming back to on the ET1000S40LC2 is the 40 km single-mode reach at full Gigabit — that is a genuine architectural solution for distributed security deployments, not a workaround. When you are pulling fiber between buildings on a large campus and copper simply cannot make the distance, this converter gives you a clean, standards-compliant bridge without adding a managed switch at each end of the run.

Technical Highlights:

• 40 km / 1310nm single-mode: Covers point-to-point runs across an entire industrial campus or between remote gate houses and a central security operations center — distances where copper is physically impossible and wireless introduces latency and reliability risk.
• 2000 Mbps full-duplex throughput: 1 Gbps in each direction simultaneously means a 16-camera 4K NVR backhaul (~160 Mbps sustained) uses less than 20% of available bandwidth — plenty of headroom for future camera additions or concurrent VMS access.
• 4W operating consumption, 100–240V input: Thermal load is trivial — no forced cooling needed, no dedicated circuit required. The universal AC input makes it drop-in ready for international facilities or mixed-voltage equipment rooms.

Deployment Considerations:

• This is a Layer 1 transparent converter — it passes VLAN tags, QoS markings, and jumbo frames unmodified, so your switch configuration at either end requires no changes specific to the converter itself.
• The 0°C lower operating limit is a real constraint: if the remote enclosure is an unheated outdoor cabinet in a cold climate, verify cabinet temperature before installing. Below 0°C, you need a thermostatically controlled heater in that enclosure.

For a university campus deploying IP video surveillance across multiple buildings separated by 10–30 km of existing single-mode fiber plant, the ET1000S40LC2 pair is the right tool — transparent, standards-compliant, and sized to fit on any equipment shelf without a rack unit to spare.