Owing to the high bandwidth capability and data speeds, fiber optics are being adopted gradually as the core network transmission medium. Fiber optic cables can be used in a huge variety of applications, from small office LAN to data centers, to inter-continental communication links and video surveillance systems. Such applications have different hazards and hence the fiber optic cable needs to be tough enough to sustain the harsh conditions without risking data signal loss.
Such kinds of fiber optic cables have an additional sheath of kevlar yarn or a tougher outer protective cover and they are called outdoor fiber optic cables. Terminating such cables is either difficult or needs specialized tools. Hence, most of the time, people opt for pre-terminated outdoor fiber optic cable to avoid the hassle of field terminations.
Let’s understand how to choose the right pre-terminated outdoor fiber optic cables
Types Of Pre-terminated Outdoor Fiber Optic Cables
Trunk Cable
A trunk cable consists of many fibers bunched together in a single cable, ranging from 4 to 144. This allows it to handle numerous users at the same time without having to run separate threads for each one. This is often the cabling infrastructure's backbone and the primary point of communication between the server and various appliances like routers, switches, and patch panels. 
Fiber Optic Harness
A fiber optic harness is the component that is usually found after a fiber optic trunk cable. The harness will separate the numerous threads into 4, 6, 8, or 12 independent connections.
It's most commonly used to feed connections into active equipment. When ordering the pre-terminated harness, more caution must be exercised. 
Optic Patch Cable
Fiber Optic Patch Cable refers to a single cable used to connect devices to a patch panel. The patch cable can be used to connect the following devices:
-
The patch cable must have the same type of connection on both ends, such as ST, SC, LC, FC, and so on.
-
This patch cable contains distinct connections on either end, which is the opposite form of the same connector.
Categorization Based On Connector Polishing
Because light is the medium of transmission, it is critical that the fiber is free of leaks.
When two separate fiber lines need to be linked, this is extremely essential (especially in single-mode).
As a result, the end of each thread must be polished so that the entire loss due to reflection back is less than -60dB.
The connection polished classification is as follows:
-
Flat Contact
-
Physical Contact
-
Ultra Physical Contact
-
Angled Physical Contact
-
Flat Contact: Polishing the edges flat is the most frequent rationale. The signal bounced back is less than -30dB since the ends are connected smoothly.
-
Physical Contact: The edges of this sort of contact are polished to provide a slightly curved and tiny contact area. Only the primary light signal is transmitted, and back reflection is minimized to less than -35dB.
-
Ultra Physical Contact: This contact is a more refined variant of the previous one. The contact is more pronounced, and the reflection back is less than -55dB.
-
Angled Physical Contact: The edges of this sort of contact are polished at an angle to provide a smooth connection. The back reflection of the signal is less than -65dB.
Which Connector to choose for your pre-terminated fiber optic cable?
LC
Lucent Technologies invented the LC type connection, which is a tiny form factor connector. It's designed for 1.25mm ferrules and is usually used in pairs for duplex communications.
SC
NTT developed the Subscriber Connector for fiber optic communications in Japan.
It's utilized in duplex communication, which implies two wires are connected together inside a single connection. It fits ferrules with a diameter of 2.5mm. 
ST
AT&T's answer to the SC connection is the Straight Tip connector. The ST connection, which is also suitable for 2.5mm ferrule core, uses a push pull mechanism for easy insertion and removal. These are used for duplex connections in the same way as SC connectors are.
MTRJ
The MTRJ connection is designed to look like an RJ-style modular plug, and it gets its name from that similarity. Mechanical Transfer-Registered Jack connections were created by AMP/Tyco and Corning and is an abbreviation for Mechanical Transfer-Registered Jack connectors. It is also used for duplex communications since it can accommodate two cables in a single connection.
Wrapping Up
Choosing a fiber optic cable might be daunting for people who are unprepared. However, after reading this advice, you will capable to narrow down your search criteria for the right pre-terminated outdoor fiber optic cable. Before installing a new fiber optic cable network or upgrading an existing one, it's also a good idea to test the connectors for signal. However, when buying from Falcontech, you can be assured that your cable has undergone multiple stages of testing before being delivered to your doorstep.
