Armour your MPO connector to add military toughness to optical swiftness

Amphenol Socapex has found a way to add military-grade ruggedness and waterproofing to MPO (multi-fibre push-on) optical fibre connections.

Called ‘MPO Field’, it is intended to transform a standard patch-cord with MPO/MTP connectors using MT ferules.

The MPO connector and patch-cord gets hand-assembled into a metallic plug based on a MIL-STD-38999 Series III, shell size 13 connector.

The overall effect is to produce a 28 mm diameter connector that carries 12 or 24 fibre channels, couples with a tri-thread for shock and vibration resistance, and is sealed to IP68.

Optical field-termination is not necessary, and assembly can be tool-less, said Amphenol, although a wrench may be required to fully tighten the plug shell onto the back shell.

The combination is resistant to "harsh environment applications such as high speed embedded network backbones for battleships, armoured vehicles or airplanes and trains, data centres in harsh environments or track-side measuring and inspection systems for trains", according to the company.

Typical insertion loss is 0.5dB, and rated lifetime 500 mating-unmating cycles for a change of <0.2dB.

The range also includes square flange and jam nut panel-mount receptacles, and there is an extraction tool for dismantling the assemblies.

There is a example assembly video on YouTube, and the MPO Field product page can be found here

Amphenol-Socapex is based in Thyez France