20m OM5 SC to SC Multimode Fiber Patch Cable, Wideband 50/125 Duplex Corning, LSZH/OFNR, Lime Green

The CableLeader FB138-46XX is an OM5 wideband multimode duplex patch cable terminated with SC/UPC connectors on both ends. OM5 — formally wideband multimode fiber — keeps the familiar 50/125 um core geometry of OM4 but is characterized across a wider spectral window, the property shortwave wavelength division multiplexing (SWDM) transceivers exploit to carry multiple wavelengths on a single fiber pair. The lime green jacket is the standardized OM5 identification color, separating these runs from aqua OM3/OM4 cordage in a crowded patch field.

Both ends carry duplex SC/UPC connectors — the square-bodied, push-pull format with a 2.5 mm ferrule that seats with a positive click and resists vibration. SC remains standard on older multimode patch panels, media converters, AV distribution frames, and building-entrance equipment, so an all-SC cable is the direct link where both devices predate the small-form-factor LC transition. Each ferrule is polished to UPC grade for data links.

Backward compatibility is the practical headline. Because the 50/125 core matches OM4 and OM3, this cable plugs into any installed multimode equipment — 850 nm SFP and SFP+ optics behind SC converters, QSFP breakout ports, and multimode panels — and performs at the level of the link it joins. Optical performance is factory-verified on every assembly: each SC/UPC ferrule is tested to 0.30 dB max insertion loss and 35 dB min return loss at the 850 nm and 1300 nm windows.

The jacket is LSZH/OFNR rated under UL file E510298. Low-smoke zero-halogen material limits toxic emissions in enclosed equipment rooms, and the OFNR riser rating covers vertical pathways between floors. The Corning ClearCurve fiber inside is bend-optimized, tolerating the routing radii of dense cable managers and vertical rings without the attenuation penalty older multimode glass shows. Full RoHS compliance covers restricted-substance requirements for enterprise and public-sector procurement.

Deployment concentrates where SC infrastructure meets a wideband-ready plan: enterprise machine rooms refreshing SC-terminated structured cabling during a switch upgrade, AV and broadcast facilities standardizing multimode runs, and new builds specifying OM5 from day one while retaining SC hardware. Technicians value the color discipline — lime green patching signals at a glance which runs are OM5 during audits, moves, and troubleshooting, preventing mixed-grade patching mistakes.

Compatibility & Ordering Information — FB138-46XX mates with any standards-compliant SC/UPC multimode port, including SC media converters, AV frames, and SC-fed SFP/SFP+ and QSFP optics on Cisco, Ubiquiti, MikroTik, Juniper, and HPE platforms, plus SC adapter panels. The family is offered from 1 m through 30 m; select the variant matching the panel-to-equipment distance plus a service loop. For LC-SC OM5 links see the FB137-42XX family; for LC-LC OM5 links see the FB136-41XX family; aqua OM4 versions are listed separately in the CableLeader fiber optic cables catalog.

Product Comparison: SC-SC vs LC-LC OM5 Multimode Patch Cable

Both cables use identical Corning OM5 50/125 ClearCurve fiber and UPC polish; the difference is connector size and the equipment each links. The table summarizes the decision:

Select the SC-SC version when both ports are SC.
Select the LC-LC version (FB136 family) when both ports are LC.

FAQ

What is the difference between OM5 and OM4 fiber cable?

OM5 and OM4 share the same 50/125 um multimode core, but OM5 is additionally characterized across a wider wavelength band for shortwave wavelength division multiplexing (SWDM), while OM4 is specified at 850 nm only. On conventional 850 nm links the two perform equivalently. OM5 is jacketed lime green and OM4 aqua, so mixed plants stay visually distinct.

Is OM5 compatible with my existing OM4 or OM3 SC equipment?

Yes. OM5 uses the same 50/125 core geometry as OM4 and OM3, so it mates with any SC multimode panel, media converter, or SFP-fed converter with no adapters or configuration changes. The link runs at the grade of its weakest element, exactly as an OM4 cable would in the same position.

What does SC/UPC mean and how big is an SC connector?

SC is a square-bodied push-pull fiber connector with a 2.5 mm ferrule, roughly 9 mm across the receptacle — about twice the width of an LC. UPC is the flat/domed polish used on data links. SC/UPC connectors seat with a positive click and hold under vibration, which keeps them common on multimode panels and media converters.

How should I route and handle this cable during installation?

Handle it like any bend-optimized patch cable: route through cable managers and vertical rings normally, avoid kinks and hard staples, keep ties snug but not crushing, and leave a small service loop at each end. The Corning ClearCurve fiber tolerates tight routing radii, and the duplex zipcord jacket protects each fiber leg through moves and changes.

Should I buy OM5 or OM4 SC-SC for a new install?

Choose OM5 when the build should be ready for wideband SWDM optics or when you want one future-oriented multimode grade throughout; the cost delta over OM4 is small at patch-cable scale. Choose OM4 when matching an installed aqua OM4 plant with no wideband plans — performance on 850 nm links is equivalent.