Ubiquiti FC-SM-300 Single Mode Fiber Optic Cable
Overview
The Ubiquiti FC-SM-300 is a 300-foot single mode fiber optic cable terminated with LC male connectors on both ends. Single mode fiber (SMF) is engineered for long-distance, high-bandwidth backbone applications where multimode alternatives run out of steam. The FC-SM-300 delivers the distance and signal integrity required for enterprise campus interconnects, remote site links, and data center extensions without signal degradation over extended runs.
Key Features
- 300-Foot Length: Covers substantial distances—roughly the length of a football field—without intermediate repeaters or amplification. This eliminates costly active equipment and simplifies backbone architecture across multi-building campuses or between remote facilities.
- Single Mode Fiber (SMF): Smaller core diameter (~9 micrometers) than multimode means light travels a single path, reducing modal dispersion. Result: you can push signal quality over much longer distances than multimode fiber without signal degradation—critical when camera backhauls, wireless access point links, or NVR interconnects must span 200+ feet.
- LC Male Connectors: LC connectors are industry standard in telecom and data center environments. They mate with Ubiquiti SFP+ modules, transceivers, and third-party fiber-equipped equipment that use LC receptacles. Male-to-male simplifies hot-swapping and field termination.
- Compatible with SFP+ Modules: Pairs with standard single mode SFP+ transceivers. If your switch, NVR, or access point has an SFP+ slot, plug in an SMF-rated transceiver and connect the FC-SM-300. No special firmware or proprietary licensing required—straight ONVIF/standard networking.
- Low Attenuation: Single mode fiber exhibits minimal signal loss per distance unit (typically ~0.35 dB/km at 1310 nm), so a 300-foot run incurs negligible insertion loss. This means cleaner signal arrival and fewer retransmissions compared to copper-based backhauls subject to EMI or longer cable runs.
- Future-Proof Bandwidth: Single mode fiber supports 1.25 Gbps (SFP+), 10 Gbps (10G SFP+), and higher-rate coherent optics without retermination. If your deployment evolves from 1GbE camera backhaul to 10GbE NVR aggregation, the physical cable remains valid—you only swap transceivers.
Integration & Compatibility
The FC-SM-300 integrates into any fiber-equipped network backbone. Ubiquiti SFP+ modules (and any third-party LC-terminated single mode transceiver) insert directly into compatible equipment. Common deployments include wireless access point backhauls across campus buildings, remote IP camera site links, and NVR-to-switch fiber extensions in electrically noisy warehouse or manufacturing environments where copper gigabit Ethernet would pick up interference.
If you operate a managed network switch with SFP+ ports, or a network video recorder with fiber uplink, the FC-SM-300 (often searched as FC SM 300) becomes a drop-in backbone cable. Ensure your equipment supports single mode fiber—some older equipment defaults to multimode. Check your SFP+ module datasheet before ordering.
When to Choose a Different Model
If your run is under 150 feet and copper cost is a priority, standard CAT6A or CAT6 with PoE injectors may suffice for camera feeds or access point links. Fiber becomes economical when distance exceeds ~200 feet, EMI is a concern, or you need future 10GbE capacity without re-cabling. If you require shorter lengths, Ubiquiti manufactures shorter single mode cables (check the FC-SM series for 50-foot or 100-foot variants); multimode alternatives are cheaper but limited to ~600 meters maximum distance and higher modal dispersion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the FC-SM-300 compatible with multimode SFP+ transceivers?
A: No. Single mode fiber and multimode fiber are physically incompatible at the core level. Using a multimode transceiver on single mode fiber will result in high loss or no signal. Always verify your transceiver is rated for single mode (SMF) before connecting.
Q: Can I terminate or repair the FC-SM-300 in the field?
A: Terminating single mode fiber requires specialized equipment (fusion splicer or mechanical splice tooling) and skill. Ubiquiti ships the FC-SM-300 pre-terminated with factory LC connectors. Field termination is not recommended unless you have fiber termination training and equipment. Purchase the correct length upfront to avoid costly re-termination.
Q: What is the difference between single mode and multimode fiber?
A: Single mode has a smaller core (~9 µm) and supports longer distances (10+ km) with lower loss. Multimode has a larger core (~50 µm) and is cheaper but limited to ~600 m and suffers higher modal dispersion. For 300 feet, single mode is overkill in terms of distance, but offers superior signal quality and future bandwidth expansion.
Q: What power or active equipment does the FC-SM-300 require?
A: None. Fiber is passive media—no power supply or active electronics are built into the cable itself. Power is only needed at the endpoints (your SFP+ transceivers and switches), which are separately supplied.
Q: What is the maximum operating temperature range for the FC-SM-300?
A: Fiber optic cables typically operate across -40°C to +70°C. Confirm the exact range in the product datasheet for your specific cable jacket material and connector specifications.
Q: Does the FC-SM-300 work outdoors?
A: The fiber itself is environment-agnostic, but the cable jacket and connectors must be rated for outdoor exposure. Standard single mode cables are indoor-rated. If you need outdoor aerial or buried fiber, specify an outdoor-rated single mode cable with UV-resistant jacket and weatherproof connector boots.
Ted PerryPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
I spec the FC-SM-300 when a 300-foot backbone run is non-negotiable and copper noise or cost of active repeaters becomes an obstacle. Single mode fiber at this length is overkill from a pure distance standpoint—you could run multimode 600+ meters and still have headroom—but the FC-SM-300 buys you signal purity and future-proofing that multimode cannot deliver, especially in industrial or RF-heavy environments.
Technical Highlights:
- Single Mode Core (~9 µm): Lower modal dispersion and attenuation (~0.35 dB/km at 1310 nm) mean signal integrity over 300 feet is virtually lossless. Compare this to multimode, which degrades perceptibly over 200+ feet in real deployments.
- LC Connectors (Male/Male): Industry-standard LC is smaller and lower-loss than older SC or ST connectors. Pairs directly with any SFP+ transceiver equipped with LC receptacles—no adapter needed, no splitter loss.
- SFP+ Bandwidth Agnostic: Single mode fiber supports 1.25 Gbps, 10 Gbps, and beyond without physical retermination. If your backhaul starts at 1GbE camera traffic and evolves to 10GbE NVR aggregation, the FC-SM-300 cable remains valid. You only change transceivers.
Deployment Considerations:
- Pre-Terminated and Tested: Ubiquiti ships this cable factory-terminated. Do not attempt field termination without fusion splicer equipment and experienced technicians training. A botched splice introduces 10–50 dB loss and voids your link.
- Transceiver Matching is Critical: Verify your endpoint equipment uses LC-terminated single mode transceivers. Mixing single mode and multimode fiber introduces catastrophic loss and is not recoverable by gain adjustment or attenuation tuning.
- No Active Equipment Required: Fiber is passive. Your switch or NVR SFP+ module and the transceiver do all the work. One fewer power supply to wire, one fewer point of failure.
Deploy the FC-SM-300 for campus-wide wireless backhauls, remote IP camera site links, or NVR-to-core aggregation in electrically hostile environments (parking structures, RF-emitting broadcast facilities, industrial plants with AC traction drives). It is also the right choice when you anticipate upgrading from 1GbE to 10GbE backbone within five years and want to avoid re-cabling.
