DATASHEET
Fiber Optic Test Cords
Overview
Fiber optic test cords connect your tester to the fiber link you’re testing and therefore act as a “window” into it. If that “window” is of poor quality or dirty , then your measurements will inaccurate. That’s why Fluke Networks offers a wide array of test cords that match the quality of our instruments. These test cords will also work with other vendors’ equipment, with exceptions noted below. (Always check your testers’ documentation to ensure you’re using acceptable test cords.)
Features
- Includes Test Reference Cords for Accurate Loss Measurements, Launch Fibers for OTDR Measurements, and Port Protection cords
- Supports a wide variety of connector types including LC, SC, ST, FC, MPO and E2K in UPC and APC versions
- Features the Durable Fluke Metal LC connector with latching mechanism tested to 10,000 insertions
- Test Reference Cords, used for optical loss (Tier 1) measurements, include reference grade connectors and fiber to minimize measurement errors
- Launch Fibers are packaged in a rugged, convenient zipper case, designed for use with our T-Pak magnetic / hanger / hook and loop strap. Also known as launch packs or Dead Zone Eliminators used for OTDR (Tier II) testing
Award-Winning, Durable Metal LC Connectors
Fluke Networks Test Reference Cords and Launch Fibers with LC connectors feature our unique metal latch design. Traditional LC connectors use a single-piece plastic design that flexes the latching mechanism each time the connector is inserted and removed and eventually breaks, making them unsuitable for repeated use in testing. The Fluke Networks Metal LC latching system uses a multi-piece metal design with a spring located between the latch and connector body. Since this latch is not part of the body and does not flex, the life of the latching mechanism is greatly improved, thereby extending the life of the LC connector and therefore the TRC’s and launch cords.
Metal LC connectors
The Metal LC connector is compliant with IEC 61754-20 and TIA-604-10B intermateability standards. That latch has also been tested for up to 10,000 insertions with no degradation in performance and passes all Telecordia GR-326-CORE durability tests including thermal, humidity, vibration, flex, impact, and salt spray. While the connector itself is the most rugged available, the glass fiber endface is still susceptible to damage, so it’s important to inspect the endface to make sure it’s contaminant-free and to properly clean it if necessary.
Metal vs. plastic LC connectors
- Durable Metal Construction with Non-Flexing Latch
- Rounded Latch Release: Easier on the Fingers
- Rounded Corners for Easier Insertion
- Greater Leverage: Less Force Required
- Color Coded for Use with CertiFiber™ Pro: Reduces Setup Errors
- Available for MM, SM, UPC and APC
- Meets and ISO & TIA Intermateability Standards (LC)
Compact, Rugged, and Convenient OTDR Launch Cords
OTDR launch cords don’t have to be big and clumsy. Fluke Networks Launch Cords are enclosed in a compact, rugged, and convenient zip case that allows the user to pull out as much or as little cable as needed to keep things organized. The case is compatible with Fluke’s T-Pak™ Magnetic Meter Hanger (sold separately), which allows the case to be suspended out of the way using its magnetic / hanger / hook and loop strap.
Launch cords are long fiber links that allow an OTDR to properly measure the performance of the first and last connector on a fiber optic link. The reflection from the OTDR port effectively blocks the OTDR from seeing the first part of the cable, so using a launch fiber allows the OTDR to separate the reflection from the port and the first connector in the link. Fluke’s launch cords use reference grade fiber and connectors to minimize the impact of the cord on the measurements. When used in sets of three, these cords also support the OptiFiber™ Pro OTDR’s SmartLoop™ that tests two fibers in both directions and averages the measurements as required by TIA-568.3-D in seconds - without taking the OTDR to the far end.
Test Reference Cords (TRC’s)
Today’s fiber networks operate with tighter and tighter loss requirements, so accurate measurements are critical. That’s why our Test Reference Cords are designed with the highest quality reference grade connectors and cabling. TRC’s are color coded to make it easy to set reference correctly – one of the leading causes of measurement errors – and are designed to work with the CertiFiber Pro’s Set Reference Wizard which virtually eliminates mistakes.
Note that multimode Test Reference Cords with an “EF” designation include Encircled Flux conditioners designed for use with the CertiFiber Pro and are not recommended for use with other testers.
Setting reference on a CertiFiber Pro
Port Protector Cords
Port Protector cords are short (1 ft / 0.3 m) cords designed to be installed in the OTDR’s port, and then attached to the appropriate test cords or Launch Fiber. The end of the cord remains plugged into the tester during testing and the fibers under test are plugged into the other end. This greatly reduces the risk of damage to the tester’s port, which can be difficult and costly to repair. If the port protector cord is damaged, it can be quickly replaced at low cost. Fluke Networks’ port protector cords feature reference grade connectors and fibers. This, plus their short length and location next to the port of the OTDR make them invisible to the OTDR and they will not negatively impact your measurements.
Models
| Model | Description | Function | Fiber Type |
| Test Reference Cords – Kits (set of four) - 50µ Multimode | |||
| MRC-50EFC-SCFCKIT | EF TRC KIT 50 FOR TESTING FC FIBERS | TRC Kit | MM 50µ |
| MRC-50EFC-SCLCKITM | MULTIMODE 50UM EF TRC KIT EM (2 SC/LC, 2 LC/LC), METAL | TRC Kit | MM 50µ |
| MRC-50EFC-SCSCKIT | EF TRC KIT 50 FOR TESTING SC FIBERS | TRC Kit | MM 50µ |
| MRC-50EFC-SCSTKIT | EF TRC KIT 50 FOR TESTING ST FIBERS | TRC Kit | MM 50µ |
| Test Reference Cords – Kits (set of four) – 62.5µ Multimode | |||
| MRC-625EFC-SCFCKIT | EF TRC KIT 62.5 FOR TESTING FC FIBERS | TRC Kit | MM 62.5µ |
| MRC-625EFC-SCSCKIT | EF TRC KIT 62.5 FOR TESTING SC FIBERS | TRC Kit | MM 62.5µ |
| MRC-625EFC-SCSTKIT | EF TRC KIT 62.5 FOR TESTING ST FIBERS | TRC Kit | MM 62.5µ |
| MRC-62EFC-SCLCKITM | MULTIMODE 62.5UM EF TRC KIT EM (2 SC/LC, 2 LC/LC), METAL | TRC Kit | MM 62.5µ |
| Test Reference Cords – Kits (set of four) – 9µ Single-mode | |||
| SRC-9-SCFC-KIT | SINGLEMODE TRC KIT 2M (2 SC/FC, 2 FC/FC) | TRC Kit | SM |
| SRC-9-SCLCAPCKIT-M | SM TRC SC/LC APC KIT (2 SC/LCAPC, 2 LCAPC,LCAPC), METAL | TRC Kit | SM |
| SRC-9-SCLC-KIT-M | SINGLEMODE TRC KIT 2M (2 SC/LC, 2 LC/LC), METAL | TRC Kit | SM |
| SRC-9-SCSCAPCKIT | SINGLEMODE SIMPLEX TEST REFERENCE CORD SC/SC APC KIT | TRC Kit | SM |
| SRC-9-SCSC-KIT | SINGLEMODE TRC KIT 2M (4 SC/SC) | TRC Kit | SM |
| SRC-9-SCST-KIT | SINGLEMODE TRC KIT 2M (2 SC/ST, 2 ST/ST) | TRC Kit | SM |
| SRC-9-SCE2KAPCKIT | SINGLEMODE SIMPLEX TEST REFERENCE CORD SC/E2K APC KIT | TRC Kit | SM |
| Test Reference Cords (Individual) - 50µ Multimode | |||
| MRC-50-EFC-SCFC | MULTIMODE EF TRC 2M 50UM (SC/FC) | TRC | MM 50µ |
| MRC-50-EFC-SCLC-M | MULTIMODE 50UM EF TRC 2M (SC/LC), METAL | TRC | MM 50µ |
| MRC-50-EFC-SCSC | MULTIMODE EF TRC 2M 50UM(SC/SC) | TRC | MM 50µ |
| MRC-50-EFC-SCST | MULTIMODE EF TRC 2M 50UM (SC/ST) | TRC | MM 50µ |
| MRC-50-FCFC | MULTIMODE TRC 2M 50UM, FC/FC | TRC | MM 50µ |
| MRC-50-LCLC-M | MULTIMODE 50UM TRC 2M (LC/LC), METAL | TRC | MM 50µ |
| MRC-50-SCSC | MULTIMODE TRC 2M 50UM, SC/SC | TRC | MM 50µ |
| MRC-50-STST | MULTIMODE TRC 2M 50UM, ST/ST | TRC | MM 50µ |
| Test Reference Cords (Individual) – 62.5µ Multimode | |||
| MRC-625-EFC-SCFC | MULTIMODE EF TRC 2M 62.5UM (SC/FC) | TRC | MM 62.5µ |
| MRC-625-EFC-SCLC-M | MULTIMODE 62.5UM EF TRC 2M (SC/LC), METAL | TRC | MM 62.5µ |
| MRC-625-EFC-SCSC | MULTIMODE EF TRC 2M 62.5UM (SC/SC) | TRC | MM 62.5µ |
| MRC-625-EFC-SCST | MULTIMODE EF TRC 2M 62.5UM (SC/ST) | TRC | MM 62.5µ |
| MRC-625-FCFC | MULTIMODE TRC 2M 62.5UM, FC/FC | TRC | MM 62.5µ |
| MRC-625-LCLC-M | MULTIMODE 62.5UM TRC 2M (LC/LC), METAL | TRC | MM 62.5µ |
| MRC-625-SCSC | MULTIMODE TRC 2M 62.5UM, SC/SC | TRC | MM 62.5µ |
| MRC-625-STST | MULTIMODE TRC 2M 62.5UM, ST/ST | TRC | MM 62.5µ |
| Test Reference Cords (Individual) - 9µ Single-mode | |||
| SRC-9-FCFC | SINGLEMODE TRC 2M (FC/FC) | TRC | SM |
| SRC-9-LCLCAPC-M | SINGLEMODE TRC 2M (LC-LCAPC), METAL | TRC | SM |
| SRC-9-LCLC-M | SINGLEMODE TRC 2M (LC/LC), METAL | TRC | SM |
| SRC-9-SCAPC/FCAPC | SM TRC (2M) FOR TESTING SCAPC/FCAPC | TRC | SM |
| SRC-9-SCAPC/LCAPCM | SINGLEMODE TRC 2M (SCAPC-LCAPC), METAL | TRC | SM |
| SRC-9-SCAPC/SCAPC | SM TRC (2M) FOR TESTING SCAPC/SCAPC | TRC | SM |
| SRC-9-SCFC | SINGLEMODE TRC 2M (SC/FC) | TRC | SM |
| SRC-9-SCLCAPC | SINGLEMODE TRC 2M (SC-LCAPC) | TRC | SM |
| SRC-9-SCLCAPC-M | SINGLEMODE TRC 2M (SC-LCAPC), METAL | TRC | SM |
| SRC-9-SCLC-M | SINGLEMODE TRC 2M (SC/LC), METAL | TRC | SM |
| SRC-9-SCSC | SINGLEMODE TRC 2M (SC/SC) | TRC | SM |
| SRC-9-SCSCAPC | SINGLEMODE TRC 2M (SC-SCAPC) | TRC | SM |
| SRC-9-SCST | SINGLEMODE TRC 2M (SC/ST) | TRC | SM |
| SRC-9-ST-ST | SINGLEMODE TRC 2M (ST/ST) | TRC | SM |
| MDC-MDC-SM UPC TRC | MDC to MDC and SC 9/125um UPC Test Reference Cord | TRC | SM |
| OTDR Launch Cords - 50µm Multimode | |||
| MMC-50-FCFC | MULTIMODE LAUNCH CABLE 50UM FC/FC | Launch | MM 50µ |
| MMC-50-LCLC-M | MULTIMODE 50UM LAUNCH CABLE 105M (LC/LC), METAL | Launch | MM 50µ |
| MMC-50-SCE2K | MULTIMODE LAUNCH CABLE 50UM SC/E2000 | Launch | MM 50µ |
| MMC-50-SCFC | MULTIMODE LAUNCH CABLE 50UM SC/FC | Launch | MM 50µ |
| MMC-50-SCLC-M | MULTIMODE 50UM LAUNCH CABLE 105M (SC/LC), METAL | Launch | MM 50µ |
| MMC-50-SCSC | MULTIMODE LAUNCH CABLE 50UM SC/SC | Launch | MM 50µ |
| MMC-50-SCST | MULTIMODE LAUNCH CABLE 50UM SC/ST | Launch | MM 50µ |
| MMC-50-STST | MULTIMODE LAUNCH CABLE 50UM ST/ST | Launch | MM 50µ |
| OTDR Launch Cords – 62.5µm Multimode | |||
| MMC-62.5-FCFC | MULTIMODE LAUNCH CABLE 62.5UM FC/FC | Launch | MM 62.5µ |
| MMC-62.5-LCLC-M | MULTIMODE 62.5UM LAUNCH CABLE 105M (LC/LC), METAL | Launch | MM 62.5µ |
| MMC-62.5-STST | MULTIMODE LAUNCH CABLE 62.5UM ST/ST | Launch | MM 62.5µ |
| MMC-62-SCFC | MULTIMODE LAUNCH CABLE 62.5UM SC/FC | Launch | MM 62.5µ |
| MMC-62-SCLC-M | MULTIMODE 62.5UM LAUNCH CABLE 105M (SC/LC), METAL | Launch | MM 62.5µ |
| MMC-62-SCSC | MULTIMODE LAUNCH CABLE 62.5UM SC/SC | Launch | MM 62.5µ |
| MMC-62-SCST | MULTIMODE LAUNCH CABLE 62.5UM SC/ST | Launch | MM 62.5µ |
| OTDR Launch Cords - 9µm Single-mode | |||
| SMC9-E2KAPC/E2KAPC | SM 9UM LAUNCH CORD (160M) FOR E2KAPC/E2KAPC | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-FCAPC/FCAPC | SM 9UM LAUNCH CORD (160M) FOR FCAPC/FCAPC | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-FCFC | SINGLEMODE LAUNCH CABLE 9UM FC/FC | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-LCAPC/LCAPCM | SINGLEMODE LAUNCH CORD 160M (LCAPC/LCAPC), METAL | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-LCLC-M | SINGLEMODE LAUNCH CABLE 160M (LC/LC), METAL | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-SCAPC/E2KAPC | SM 9UM LAUNCH CORD (160M) FOR SCAPC/E2KAPC | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-SCAPC/FC | SM 9UM LAUNCH CORD (160M) FOR SCAPC/FCUPC | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-SCAPC/FCAPC | SM 9UM LAUNCH CORD (160M) FOR SCAPC/FCAPC | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-SCAPC/LC | SM 9UM LAUNCH CORD (160M) FOR SCAPC/LCUPC | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-SCAPC/LCAPCM | SINGLEMODE LAUNCH CORD 160M (SCAPC/LCAPC), METAL | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-SCAPC/LC-M | SINGLEMODE LAUNCH CORD 160M (SCAPC/LCUPC), METAL | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-SCAPC/SCAPC | SM 9UM LAUNCH CORD (160M) FOR SCAPC/SCAPC | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-SCAPC/ST | SM 9UM LAUNCH CORD (160M) FOR SCAPC/STUPC | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-SCE2KAPC | SINGLEMODE LAUNCH CABLE 9UM SC/E2000APC | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-SCFC | SINGLEMODE LAUNCH CABLE 9UM SC/FC | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-SCFCAPC | SINGLEMODE LAUNCH CABLE 9UM SC/FCAPC | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-SCLCAPC-M | SINGLEMODE LAUNCH CABLE 160M (SC/LCAPC), METAL | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-SCLC-M | SINGLEMODE LAUNCH CABLE 160M (SC/LC), METAL | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-SCSC | SINGLEMODE LAUNCH CABLE 9UM SC/SC | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-SCSCAPC | SINGLEMODE LAUNCH CABLE 9UM SC/SCAPC | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-SCST | SINGLEMODE LAUNCH CABLE 9UM SC/ST | Launch | SM |
| SMC-9-STST | SINGLEMODE LAUNCH CABLE 9UM ST/ST | Launch | SM |
| Port Protector Cords (0.3 meter) Multimode | |||
| MRC-50-LCLC-0.3M-M | MULTIMODE 50UM TRC 0.3M FOR OTDR PORT (LC/LC), METAL | Port Protector | MM 50µ |
| MRC-50-SCSC-0.3M | MM 50UM TRC 0.3M FOR OTDR PORT (SC/SC) | Port Protector | MM 50µ |
| MRC-62.5-LCLC.3M-M | MULTIMODE 62.5UM TRC 0.3M FOR OTDR PORT (LC/LC), METAL | Port Protector | MM 62.5µ |
| MRC-62.5-SCSC-0.3M | MM 62.5UM TRC 0.3M FOR OTDR PORT (SC/SC) | Port Protector | MM 62.5µ |
| Port Protector Cords (0.3 meter) Single-mode | |||
| SRC-9-LCLC-0.3M-M | SINGLEMODE TRC 0.3M FOR OTDR PORT (LC/LC), METAL | Port Protector | SM |
| SRC9SCAPCLCAPC.3MM | SINGLEMODE TRC 0.3M FOR OTDR PORT (SCAPC/LCAPC), METAL | Port Protector | SM |
| SRC9SCAPCSCAPC0.3M | SM 9 UM TRC 0.3M FOR OTDR PORT (SCAPC/SCAPC) | Port Protector | SM |
| SRC9SCAPCSCUPC0.3M | SM 9 UM TRC 0.3M FOR OTDR PORT (SCAPC/SCUPC) | Port Protector | SM |
| SRC-9-SCLC-0.3M-M | SINGLEMODE TRC 0.3M FOR OTDR PORT (SC/LC), METAL | Port Protector | SM |
| SRC-9-SCSC-0.3M | SM 9UM TRC 0.3M FOR OTDR PORT (SC/SC) | Port Protector | SM |
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