6m OM5 LC to LC Multimode Fiber Patch Cable, Wideband 50/125 Duplex Corning, LSZH/OFNR, Lime Green
The CableLeader FB136-41XX is an OM5 multimode duplex patch cable terminated with LC/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 that 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.
Backward compatibility is the practical headline. Because the core geometry matches OM4 and OM3, this cable plugs into any existing multimode equipment — 850 nm SFP and SFP+ optics, QSFP breakout ports, media converters, and multimode patch panels — and performs at the level of the link it joins. An organization can therefore standardize new patching on OM5 today, gain a cabling base ready for wideband optics, and lose nothing on current-generation multimode hardware.
Optical performance is factory-verified on every assembly. Each LC/UPC ferrule is polished and tested to a maximum insertion loss of 0.30 dB with a minimum return loss of 35 dB, measured at both the 850 nm and 1300 nm operating windows used by multimode transmission. 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 under equivalent handling.
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 2.0 mm x 4.1 mm duplex zipcord construction keeps transmit and receive fibers paired and protected while staying flexible enough for panel-side dressing and slack management.
Deployment concentrates in environments planning ahead: new data center builds specifying wideband-ready cabling from day one, enterprise machine rooms refreshing structured cabling during a switch upgrade, and lab or campus environments standardizing on one multimode grade for the next decade. Technicians also value the color discipline — lime green patching signals at a glance which runs are OM5 during audits, moves, and & Ordering Information — FB136-41XX mates with any standards-compliant LC/UPC multimode port, including 850 nm SFP, SFP+, and QSFP optics on Cisco, Ubiquiti, MikroTik, Juniper, and HPE platforms, plus LC adapter panels and multimode media converters. Lengths run 0.5 m through 50 m; select the variant matching your rack-to-panel distance plus a service loop. For established OM4 links see the FB105 aqua family; for the LC-SC and SC-SC OM5 formats see FB137 and FB138 in the fiber optic cables catalog.
Product Comparison: OM5 vs OM4 Multimode Fiber Patch Cable
OM5 and OM4 are the two current-generation multimode grades. They share the same core geometry, so the decision is about future optics and color discipline rather than raw compatibility:
AttributeOM5 Wideband (this product)OM4Core / Cladding50/125 um multimode50/125 um multimode (identical geometry)Spectral SpecificationCharacterized across a wide band for SWDM wavelength multiplexingSpecified at 850 nm single wavelengthJacket ColorLime green (standardized OM5 identifier)AquaWorks With Existing OM3/OM4 OpticsYes, fully backward compatibleYesReady for SWDM Wideband OpticsYes, designed for itNot specified for wideband useTypical BuyerNew builds and refreshes planning for wideband opticsMatching an installed aqua OM4 plant
Select OM5 for new installations that should be wideband-ready and color-segregated for the future.
Select OM4 when extending an existing aqua OM4 plant with no SWDM plans.
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 cable compatible with my existing OM4 or OM3 equipment?
Yes. OM5 uses the same 50/125 um core geometry as OM4 and OM3, so it mates with any multimode LC equipment — SFP and SFP+ optics, QSFP ports, media converters, and patch panels — with no adapters and no configuration changes. The link simply runs at the grade of its weakest element, exactly as an OM4 cable would in the same position.
What does 50/125 mean, and how is multimode different from single mode?
50/125 describes the glass geometry: a 50 um light-carrying core inside a 125 um cladding. The wide multimode core carries many light modes from low-cost 850 nm optics, suited to in-building runs; single mode fiber uses a 9 um core with 1310/1550 nm optics for links spanning kilometers. The two types are not interchangeable on the same link — match the cable to your transceiver type.
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 cable 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 repeated moves and changes.
Should I buy OM5 or OM4 for a new installation?
Choose OM5 when the installation should be ready for wideband SWDM optics or when you want one future-oriented multimode grade across a new build — the cost delta over OM4 is small at patch-cable scale. Choose OM4 (FB105 family) when you are matching an installed aqua OM4 plant and have no wideband plans; performance on today's 850 nm links is equivalent.
