When it comes to 100G network deployment, QSFP28 optical transceivers have become very popular but there are multiple types available on the market. In this article, we offer a brief comparison between the most common types of 100G QSFP28 optical transceivers.
QSFP28 SR4
The QSFP28 SR4 is there to address 100G connectivity over short distances as the name suggests (SR stands for Short Reach). This transceiver operates in the 850nm space and can reach 70m distance using OM3 fiber or 100m distance using OM4 fiber with an MPO connector.
QSFP28 LR4
For long distance 100G transmission you would need a QSFP28 LR4 (where LR stands for Long Reach). This optical transceiver is designed for long-distance transmission up to 10km with a working bandwidth of 1295nm to 1310nm over single mode fiber (SMF) and using an LC connector.
QSFP28 CWDM4
While the QSFP28 SR4 may not meet all the distance requirements in a data center and the QSFP28 LR4 uses too much power and is too expensive, the QSFP28 CWDM4 fits nicely right in the middle and is therefore quite popular in data center applications. It provides 100G transmission with a maximum distance of 2km on SMF with a working bandwidth of 1270nm to 1331nm. It uses WDM technology that enables it to multiplex 4 wavelengths to be transmitted over a single fiber which provides significant savings in fiber resources.
QSFP28 PSM4
Similar to the QSFP28 CWDM4, the QSFP28 PSM4 optical transceiver addresses mid-distance 100G transmission with a maximum reach of 2km. Unlike the QSFP28 CWDM4 though, the QSFP28 PSM4 transceiver uses an MPO connector and SMF operating at 1310nm wavelength.
GigOptics - Your Supplier for 100G QSFP28
At Gigoptics, we offer a wide range of optical transceivers including all types of QSFP28 100G; all tested to ensure quality and reliability. For more information, contact us at info@gigoptics.com.
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