Panduit FQWA-12-10U QuickNet MPO-LC OM5 Fiber Cassette
The Panduit FQWA-12-10U is a 12-fiber MPO-to-LC breakout cassette engineered for OM5 wideband multimode deployments in high-density data centers and enterprise backbone installations. It delivers Method A polarity configuration with a single 12-fiber MPO male input breaking out to six LC duplex ports, enabling structured 40GBASE-SR4 and 100GBASE-SR4 connectivity or future 400G migration paths. The black polycarbonate housing integrates with standard cassette enclosures and patch panels, while lime-green LC adapters provide instant OM5 visual identification to prevent cross-patching errors during adds, moves, and changes.
Key Features
- OM5 Wideband Multimode: 50µm fiber optimized for SWDM (Short Wavelength Division Multiplexing) supporting 40G/100G over extended distances and 400G applications with reduced fiber count compared to OM3/OM4
- 12-Fiber MPO-to-6×LC Duplex Breakout: Single MPO male input fans out to six LC duplex ports, consolidating backbone trunk connections into discrete work-area or switch-port terminations
- Method A Polarity: Industry-standard straight-through polarity mapping eliminates the need for crossover assemblies in point-to-point links when paired with Method A trunk cables
- Color-Coded Identification: Black housing with black MPO connector and lime-green LC adapters align with TIA-598-D OM5 color conventions, reducing mis-patching risk in mixed-fiber environments
- QuickNet Cassette Architecture: Snap-in design fits standard HD Flex and QuickNet enclosures without tools, enabling hot-swappable reconfigurations and rapid deployment in modular datacenter builds
- Polycarbonate Construction: Impact-resistant housing withstands repeated insertions and cassette swaps while maintaining connector alignment and insertion-loss stability
OM5 fiber extends the operational envelope of traditional OM3 and OM4 multimode systems by supporting shortwave wavelength division multiplexing across four distinct wavelengths (850nm, 880nm, 910nm, 940nm). This allows a single 12-fiber MPO trunk to carry 100GBASE-SR4 traffic over 150 meters or support emerging 400GBASE-SR4.2 applications without requiring parallel single-mode infrastructure upgrades. The FQWA-12-10U cassette preserves this capability while providing breakout flexibility at distribution points—critical when leaf-spine architectures demand high port density at the access layer but require individualized LC connections for legacy 10G/25G server uplinks or storage arrays. Method A polarity configuration means transmit fibers on one end map directly to receive fibers on the opposite end when using Method A trunk assemblies, simplifying validation and eliminating the polarity-reversal troubleshooting common in Method B or Method C deployments.
The cassette fits Panduit QuickNet and HD Flex enclosures as well as third-party cassette-based patch panels, mounting in standard 19-inch or 23-inch racks with 1U or higher density configurations. Each LC duplex port includes a dust cap to protect unmated connectors during phased deployments, and the integrated MPO connector boot provides strain relief for trunk cable bend-radius management in shallow-depth enclosures. Installers use these cassettes at meet-me room cross-connects, top-of-rack switch interfaces, and horizontal distribution points where MPO backbone trunks transition to discrete LC patch cords. The 0.8-inch height and 4.2-inch width allow side-by-side mounting of multiple cassettes in a single enclosure, supporting modular growth as port counts scale—add cassettes as needed rather than over-provisioning fixed-port panels. Standard insertion loss performance ensures link budgets remain within IEEE and TIA specifications for 40G/100G Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and InfiniBand applications.
This cassette ships in 10-unit cartons suited to multi-floor datacenter builds or phased enterprise campus rollouts. Panduit backs the FQWA-12-10U with a manufacturer warranty, and the OM5 fiber specification positions the infrastructure for next-generation 200G and 400G migrations without requiring a complete fiber plant replacement—protecting capital investment while maintaining backward compatibility with existing 40G and 100G optics.
