Comparison of the differences between fiber pigtail and fiber patch cords

　　Fiber pigtail and Fiber Patch Cords play different roles in fiber optic communication systems, and there are obvious differences between them. Here is a detailed comparison of the two:

　　I. Definition and purpose

　　fiber pigtail

　　Definition: Fiber optic pigtail, also known as fiber optic trunk line or pigtail line, is a kind of fiber optic cable with a connector (such as SC, LC, etc.) at one end and a broken fiber optic cable at the other end.

　　Purpose: Mainly used to connect optical cables and optical fiber equipment, such as optical fiber end point boxes, optical fiber couplers, etc. In optical networks, pigtail acts as a bridge to connect optical cables and jumpers, and plays a key role in tranSMitting optical signals from optical cables to equipment.

　　fiber patch cord

　　Definition: Fiber optic patch cords, also known as fiber optic connectors or fiber optic patch cords, are fixed-length fiber optic cables with connectors at both ends.

　　Purpose: Mainly used to connect short-distance connections between optical fiber devices, such as optical transceivers, end point boxes, switches, routers, etc. In optical networks, jumpers are used as a link to connect pigtail and end point devices, realizing the active connection of the optical path.

　　II. Structure and characteristics

　　fiber pigtail

　　Structure: The pigtail is usually composed of a single or multiple fiber bundles, each of which is distinguished by a different color. One end is equipped with a connector, and the other end is a fiber optic cable core break, which is connected to other fiber optic cable cores by welding.

　　Features: The pigtail length is usually longer, reaching several kilometers or even longer, to meet the connection requirements between devices in different locations. At the same time, the pigtail generally uses single-mode fiber, which has low loss and is suitable for long-distance transmission.

　　fiber patch cord

　　Structure: The jumper consists of a central fiber core, a glass envelope with a lower refractive index than the core, and an outer plastic jacket. Both ends are equipped with connectors that can be directly inserted into the optical port of the device.

　　Features: Jumper length is usually short, usually within a few meters, suitable for short-distance connections within or between devices. Jumper cables are generally made of multimode fiber, with relatively large losses, but due to length limitations, this loss is acceptable.

　　III. Application scenarios and requirements

　　fiber pigtail

　　Application scenarios: It is mainly used for scenarios where the distance between the computer room and the end point equipment is long, as well as scenarios such as connecting optical cables and optical transceivers in the optical fiber end point box.

　　Requirements: Pigtails need to be used in outdoor or indoor computer rooms and other environments, and there are certain requirements for temperature, humidity, waterproofing, etc. Therefore, pigtails are usually made of waterproof and anti-corrosive materials to ensure long-term stable use.

　　fiber patch cord

　　Application scenarios: Mainly used for scenarios such as short-distance connections within the computer room and between devices.

　　Requirements: Jumpers are generally used in indoor environments with relatively low requirements for temperature, humidity, and other environments. Jumpers are usually made of materials such as PVC or LSZH to ensure good flexibility and wear resistance.

　　IV. Other differences

　　Transmission performance: Pigtail fibers typically have lower losses and higher transmission performance due to their longer length and single-mode fiber; while jumpers, due to their shorter length and multi-mode fiber, have relatively large losses but are still within acceptable limits.

　　Connection method: The pigtail is generally connected to other optical cable cores by welding; while the jumper is directly inserted into the optical port of the device through the connectors at both ends.

　　To sum up, there are obvious differences between fiber pigtail and fiber patch cable in terms of definition, purpose, structure, characteristics, application scenarios and requirements, and transmission performance. In practical applications, the appropriate cable type should be selected according to specific needs to ensure the normal operation of the fiber optic communication system.