SC connectors are considered highly suitable for applications that demand high-precision signals and are sensitive to return loss. It’s a square-shaped connector-also known as “stick and click” for its SC acronym-that comes with a locking tab that enables the push-on and pull-off operation (Figure 1).įigure 1: The simple, rugged and low-cost SC connectors deliver highly accurate alignment in fiber connections. SC is a push-pull device that uses a ceramic ferrule to deliver highly accurate alignment in a fiber-optic link. It’s a popular fiber-optic connector due to its low-cost, durability and simple installation for both point-to-point and passive optical networking. SC, abbreviated for Subscriber Connector, has also been referred to as Square Connector or Standard Connector. The article will also delve into what’s new in their design anatomy and which one is likely a winner in the long run. The following sections will provide a detailed treatment of these two most popular fiber interface devices and their key design attributes such as interface losses, alignment accuracy, repeatability, on-site terminations, etc. And they enable reliable connections that align precisely and are optically very smooth. That’s mainly because both SC and LC devices are rugged and offer a moderate cost. Subsequently, the SC and LC fiber-optic connectors became the most common devices in a broad array of optical fiber connections serving LANs, SANs, WANs, data centers, telecom switching offices, cellular base stations, CATV networks, fiber-to-the-x (FTTX) networks and test and measurement systems. Here, it’s worth mentioning that there are more than a dozen fiber-optic connectors each one of them emerged as a solution to specific product needs and eventually became known for specific technology limitations. But what defines a good fiber-optic connector? What matters the most in the selection of a fiber-optic connector? A detailed account of the SC and LC devices and their comparison will show how fiber connectorization is evolving with new technology advancements and burgeoning applications like data centers and 5G base stations.

Optical fiber connector types