Not all SFPs are the same as one another, and some equipment requires specific SFPs to work.
Several factors affect whether SFPs will work in the equipment, and with one-another.
– Bitrate/Data rate is how quickly the laser in the SPF is switching on and off. A one gigabit per second (1Gbps) SFP is not going to be able to send or receive data with an SFP running at 10Gbps. Not all equipment can tell the SFP to negotiate the data rate, it is best practice to match the SFPs at each end.
– Wavelength is essentially the colour of light the SFP is using. Shown in nanometers (nm), a 1310nm SFP will not work with a 1490nm SFP. Again, best practice is to match the SPF at each end.
– Compatibility with the equipment. Some equipment is able to detect the manufacturer of the SFP and will not power the SFP up if it is not an approved manufacturer.
– Singlemode vs Multimode, they are not compatible with one another and again, match both ends.
CT SFPs
Below is a list of the SFPs found at CT, and not all are compatible with equipment despite being the same spec. The examples below include the key things to look for on the manufacturers label, along with their specific usage where applicable. Note that the bale colour is the same across many SFPs as the only thing it denotes is wavelength.
1 – Generic optical gigabit SFP
Use: network switches, network media converters,
Manucfacturer: FiberStore, FS, TP-Link etc
Keywords: 1000BASE, GB, 1310nm, singlemode, SM
Bale colour: blue
2 – Generic copper ten gigabit SFP+
Use: network switches, network media converters,
Manucfacturer: FiberStore, FS
Keywords: 10GBASE, 10G, 10000
3 – Generic copper gigabit SFP
Use: network switches, network media converters,
Manucfacturer: FiberStore, FS
Keywords: 1000BASE, 1G
Bale colour: blue
4 – Generic optical ten gigabit SFP+
Use: ten gigabit capable network switches
Manucfacturer: FiberStore, FS
Keywords: 10000BASE, 10G, 1310nm, singlemode, SM
5 – Generic optical multimode gigabit SFP
Use: network switches, network media converters where using multimode fibre or multimode venue patch.
Manucfacturer: TP-Link, Zyxel, Comnet
Keywords: 1000BASE, 1G, 850nm, multimode, MM
Bale colour: black
6 – MediorNet Micron 4.25GB 1310nm SFP
Use: connecting MicroNs to Compact Pros
Manufacturer: Municom
Keywords: 4.25Gbps, 4G or 31 in the part number, 1310, SM
Bale colour: blue
7 – MediorNet Micron 10GB 1310nm SFP+
Use: connecting MicroNs together
Manufacturer: Municom
Keywords: 10Gbps, 10G or 13 in the part number, 1310, SM
Bale colour: blue
8 – MediorNet Micron 4.25GB 1550nm SFP
Use: connecting MicroNs together
Manufacturer: Municom
Keywords: 4.25Gbps, 4G or 55 in the part number, 1550, SM
Bale colour: yellow
9 – MediorNet Micron 4.25GB 1490nm SFP
Use: connecting MicroNs together
Manufacturer: Municom
Keywords: 4.25Gbps, 4G or 49 in the part number, 1490, SM
Bale colour: purple
10 – 3G Extender SFP
Use: BlackMagic SDI to fibre converters and OpenGear cards
Manufacturer: BlackMagic, Fibrestore, FS
Keywords: 3G, 2.97G, 1310, singlemode, SM, video
Bale colour: blue
11 & 12 – 12G Extender SFP
Use: BlackMagic Teranex 4K extenders
Manufacturer: BlackMagic, FieldCast, Fibrestore, FS
Keywords: 12G, 11.88G, 1310, singlemode, SM, video
Bale colour: blue
13 – Coax Video SFP
Use: SDI video input into compatible products
Manufacturer: Net Insight, Embrionix etc
Keywords: VSFP, 3G, HD, SDI
SFPs can be 2 x Tx, 2 x Rx or bi-directional
14 – Riedel Artist CPU SFP
Use: linking Riedel Artist CPU cards
Manufacturer: Atop Opto
Keywords: 1.25Gbps, 1310nm, singlemode, SM
Bale colour: blue
15 – Multimode Optical MADI SFP
Use: MediorNet and Prodigy connection to multimode MADI systems
Manufacturer: Atop Opto
Keywords: 155Mbps, 850nm, MADI, multimode, MM
Bale colour: black
16 – Coax MADI SFP
Use: MediorNet and Prodigy connection to coax MADI systems
Manufacturer: Embrionix
Keywords: 1coax, MADI
17 – BiDirectional 1550/1310nm SFP
Use: network switches and media converter where only one core of fibre is available. Tx and Rx are sent along the same core. The reverse SFP must be used at the other end. This SFP transmits on 1550nm and receives on 1310nm, so the one at the other end must receive on 1550nm and transmit on 1310nm. See below.
Manufacturer: Fiberstore
Keywords: only one LC hole, two wavelengths listed
Bale colour: yellow
18 – BiDirectional 1310/1550nm SFP
Use: network switches and media converter where only one core of fibre is available. Tx and Rx are sent along the same core. The reverse SFP must be used at the other end. This SFP transmits on 1310nm and receives on 1550nm, so the one at the other end must receive on 1130nm and transmit on 1550nm. See below.
Manufacturer: Fiberstore
Keywords: only one LC hole, two wavelengths listed
Bale colour: blue
19 – 16G Quantum Multimode SFP+
Use: Quantum Xcellis StorNext array
Manufacturer: Finisar
Keywords: 16G, 850nm, multimode, MM
Bale colour: black
20 – Singlemode Optical MADI SFP
Use: MediorNet and Prodigy connection to singlemode MADI systems
Manufacturer: Atop Opto
Keywords: 155Mbps, 1310nm, MADI, singlemode, SM
Bale colour: blue
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