Introduction
There are various fibre ports used in fibre optical communication. Maybe SC, LC, ST and FC are the most common types of fibre connectors you may encounter in daily life. They’re frequently used in contemporary telecommunications networks. Even if they have some similarities, each sort differs from the others in size and shape to prevent them from being used interchangeably. When preparing fibre-related equipment for installation, it is critical to ensure that the cables are matched with the appropriate connectors.
SC
SC stands for “Subscriber Connector,” also known as “Square Connector.” It is arguably the most used type of fibre optic connector used today. The SC features a snap-in push/pull coupling mechanism with a 2.5mm ferrule, which was created by JP NTT in the middle of the 1980s. It has gained popularity and is widely used in single-mode fibre optic cable, such as telecom and datacom.
LC
LC is the abbreviation for Lucent Connector, named after its creator Lucent Technologies. LC features a push/pull coupling mechanism with a latch. It is often referred to as the “little connector” since it is a Small Form Factor (SFF) member. The key selling point of LC is its 1.25 mm ferrule, which is half the size of the ferrule of SC, ST and FC and has a smaller overall footprint. Because of this, LC is frequently used in high-density settings. SC and LC are currently in a tie, with LC likely coming out on top in the long term.
ST
ST refers to the “Straight Tip”, a late 1980s invention by AT&T that used a half twist bayonet mount to carry a long, cylindrical 2.5mm spring loaded ferrule. It was frequently used in college, business and military multi-mode networks because it was inexpensive and simple to plug and unplug. Up until 2005, it was the most widely used connector for multi-mode networks. However, its usage is severely constrained due to its incompatibility with APC.
FC
FC stands for “ferrule connector” or “fibre channel,” developed by JP NTT. It is a round threaded connector that is applied in datacom, telecommunications, measurement equipment, and single-mode lasers. It has a 2.5 mm ferrule surrounding a stainless-steel housing. Compared to newer fibre optic connectors, FC takes longer to unplug due to their threaded screw-on construction. It is also more expensive to produce FC because of the intricate design and metal usage. Currently FC has gradually become obsolete.
