Most patch-cord quotations stall on the same problem: the buyer sends a length and a connector, the supplier replies with a range instead of a price, and three emails later everyone is still guessing. The fix is a six-line specification. Here is the checklist we use when we quote.
The six lines
- Connector — SC, LC, FC or ST, and whether the ends match. Simplex, duplex with clip, or hybrid (SC on one end, LC on the other).
- Polish — UPC or APC, per end. State it explicitly; do not leave it to the supplier.
- Mode — single mode OS2, or multimode OM1–OM5. Say which; the jacket colour follows from it but is not a specification by itself.
- Jacket / construction — 2.0 mm, 3.0 mm or 900 µm; PVC, LSZH or armored.
- Length — in metres, plus the tolerance you will accept. 1 m nominal is rarely exactly 1 m.
- Test limits and documentation — for example insertion loss ≤ 0.3 dB, return loss ≥ 50 dB (UPC) / ≥ 60 dB (APC), with a per-order test report and labelled packaging.
Why each line changes the price
Suppliers are not being evasive when they answer with a range. Connector choice drives the ferrule and assembly cost; APC adds grinding time; armored construction adds the steel tube and a slower assembly step; LSZH compound costs more than PVC; and very short or very long lengths change the yield per batch. Give all six values and the range collapses to a number.
Five details buyers forget
- Which end is which on hybrid cords — and whether the label must record it.
- Breakout length on duplex and multi-core assemblies, if a split is required.
- Packing — individual bag, bulk carton, or your own artwork and part number.
- Standards the goods must meet — RoHS, REACH, CE, or a customer specification.
- Destination — it affects packing, labelling and paperwork, and occasionally the length tolerance you should expect after shipping.
What you do not need to send
For a patch cord, you do not need a drawing or a physical sample. A written specification covering the six lines above is enough for an accurate quotation and a first production run. Drawings and samples matter for custom connectors and moulded assemblies — which is a different conversation, described on our OEM process page.
Where to start
The full option list lives on our fiber optic patch cord page, with the outdoor and PON construction covered on the armored patch cord page. When you are ready, send the six lines and we will reply with price, MOQ and lead time — normally within 24 hours.
Prefer email? Write to wangyazhong@hengchangtech.com.