Fiber Connectors and Transceivers

Just as copper needs RJ45 plugs, fiber needs its own connectors to join cables to equipment, plus transceivers to convert between light and electrical signals. Fiber connectors must align two tiny glass cores precisely, so they are engineered for accuracy and cleanliness. Knowing the common connector and transceiver names, and what each is for, is a steady source of exam questions.

The LC (Lucent Connector, also called Local Connector) is the most common fiber connector today. It is small, uses a push-pull latch like a phone jack clip, and often comes as a duplex pair — two fibers clipped together for separate transmit and receive. Its small size lets many LC ports fit on a single switch, which is why it dominates modern installations.