Questions buyers ask
before they order.

Start from the minimum guaranteed transmit power and the worst-case receiver sensitivity on the datasheet; the difference is the budget. Subtract fiber loss, roughly 0.35 dB per kilometre at 1310 nm and about 0.2 dB at 1550 nm, then subtract each mated connector pair and each splice, then allow for dispersion penalty on long spans. What remains is your margin. Aim to keep a few decibels in hand for ageing, repairs and future patching rather than commissioning a link that only just passes.

Because the receiver is being overloaded rather than starved. Long-reach modules use high launch power and sensitive receivers, and every receiver has a saturation point above which errors rise again. Connecting two such modules with a short patch lead puts far more power into the receiver than it is designed to accept. The fix is a fixed optical attenuator of the right value on each receive path, chosen so that the received power sits comfortably inside the range printed on the datasheet.

The values differ by module type, so compare against the datasheet ranges for the part you have rather than a universal number. What matters is that transmit power sits inside its stated window, that received power sits between the sensitivity figure and the saturation figure with margin at both ends, and that the difference between the two matches the loss you expect from the fiber length and connector count. A received level close to sensitivity, or a path loss well above your calculation, points at the fiber path rather than the module.

Usually yes. Reed-Solomon FEC is assumed by interfaces such as 100GBASE-SR4 and by CWDM4, and 25GBASE-SR reach figures are quoted with it enabled. The important point is consistency: both ends must use the same setting, and a mismatch often shows as a port that stays down or flaps without an obvious optical cause. Some hosts enable it automatically once the module type is recognised, and others require it to be set on the interface, so check the host documentation for the platform in use.

Up to 100 m on Cat6a or Cat7 cabling that is properly installed and terminated, and typically around 55 m on Cat6, where alien crosstalk between adjacent cables becomes the limiting factor. Cat5e is not suitable for 10G. Some copper SFP+ modules are offered in reach variants such as 30 m and 80 m, which draw less power than the full 100 m type, and product pages state which reach a given part covers. Host port power budget should be checked before filling a line card with copper modules.

Yes, provided the two ends implement the same standard, wavelength and reach class, because that interoperability is the purpose of the standards. What must match is the optical specification, not the brand. The exceptions are single-fiber bidirectional modules, where the transmit and receive wavelengths of the two ends have to be complementary, and proprietary or non-standard variants where reach and lane structure are vendor defined. In those cases it is safer to source both ends together so the pairing is known.

Yes. Third-party optics are programmed so that the information the host reads at insertion matches what that platform expects for the interface type. Coding is specific to the platform, the model family and often the software version, so all three are needed before production. Compatibility for the exact host you name is confirmed case by case as part of the order, not claimed in advance. Platform names identify only the host a module is coded for and remain the trademarks of their owners.

Custom labelling is listed on product pages as an available option, covering brand name, part number and other artwork you supply. Send the artwork or the label specification, the exact text for each part number, and any barcode or serial format you require, together with the quantities per line. What can be produced for your specific order, and any minimum quantity that applies to a custom label, is confirmed in the quotation rather than assumed from the product page alone.

OEM work takes an existing product and applies your branding, labelling, coding or packaging, leaving the design unchanged. ODM work involves configuration or design effort against a specification you define, such as a combination of wavelength, reach, temperature grade and coding that is not a standard catalogue item. The practical consequences are different: ODM configurations usually involve more upfront definition and different minimum quantities, both of which are set out in the quotation for the specific requirement.

Product pages list commercial grade at 0 to 70 degrees Celsius and industrial grade at minus 40 to 85 degrees Celsius as available temperature options. The grade affects component selection inside the module, so it has to be stated per line at enquiry stage rather than changed later. Tell us the installation environment as well as the grade you want, because outdoor cabinets, trackside enclosures and unconditioned plant rooms may also raise questions about surge protection and enclosure rating on the equipment around the module.

Product pages list alternative reach and wavelength options within the ranges shown for each series, and connector choice such as LC or SC on some items. What is practical depends on the interface: reach and wavelength are constrained by the standard and by the optics inside the module, so not every combination exists. Describe the link you are trying to close, including fiber type, distance, connector and whether it is single or dual strand, and the workable options for that link can be identified before quoting.

Neutral and custom export packaging is listed on product pages as an available option. State whether you need the outer carton, the individual box, the module label or all three to be neutral, and whether you want your own artwork applied instead. If the goods are being shipped onward to your own customer, mention that at enquiry stage, because it usually affects labelling, documentation and how the cartons are marked. The arrangement for your order is confirmed in the quotation.

Commercial documents such as the invoice and packing list accompany a shipment as a matter of course, and the packing list reflects the part numbers, quantities and carton details for that consignment. Anything beyond that, including declarations, conformity documents or customer-specific paperwork, should be requested by name at enquiry stage. What can be issued for your specific order and destination is confirmed in the quotation, since requirements differ considerably between markets and between customers.

Product pages state the warranty term for each item, and 12 months is the term listed on most transceiver pages, while some accessory and equipment pages list a different term. Treat the figure on the page for the item you are buying as the starting point, and treat the terms in your quotation and order confirmation as what actually applies, including what is covered, what is excluded and how a claim is handled. Ask for that to be set out in writing before you order if it matters to your procurement process.

Contact us with the part number, the serial number, the order or invoice reference, a description of the fault and the conditions in which it appeared. Diagnostic readings from the host and the interface error counters are particularly useful, as is confirmation of the host model and software version. The case is assessed on those details and the handling, including whether the item should be returned and where to, is agreed with you in writing before anything is shipped back.

Where a product page lists a marking for a specific item, that listing applies to that item; it should not be read across to the whole catalogue. Certification and marking depend on the product, the configuration and the market it is sold into. If you need a particular marking or a supporting declaration for the parts you are ordering, name it in your enquiry so that what can be provided for those exact part numbers is confirmed in the quotation.

Ask for them against the final configuration rather than the catalogue listing, because reach, wavelength, temperature grade and coding all affect the figures that matter for link design. State whether you need them for an internal design review, for a tender submission or for your own customer, since that can affect the format and the level of detail required. What will be issued for your order is confirmed alongside the quotation.

Use the enquiry channels listed on the site and quote your order reference so the case can be linked to what was actually shipped. For a link that will not come up or a module that behaves unexpectedly, include the host model and software version, the interface configuration, the port status and error counters, the diagnostic readings for the module, and the fiber type, length and connector count. That information usually narrows the cause to coding, configuration or the fiber path without further exchanges.