SR, ER, ZR, LR ... Optical Transceivers

Fixed Networks
,
1

Optical transceivers are essential devices in WDM systems.

They enable the transport of optical signals, converting electrical signals to optical and vice versa.

These modules are commonly referred to as SFPs (small form-factor pluggable).

Choosing the right SFP requires considering various parameters:

  • Receive sensitivity
  • Transmit (Tx) power
  • Operating temperature
  • Wavelength
  • Extinction ratio
  • Bias current
  • Data rate
  • Insertion and return loss

We’ll explain these parameters in detail in the next post.

For now, let’s look at the different types of optical modules based on their distance capabilities:

  • VSR (Very Short Range): Supports up to 100 meters
  • SR (Short Range): Supports around 300 meters on multimode fiber
  • MR (Medium Range): Up to 2 km
  • LR (Long Range): Uses single-mode fiber at 1310 nm, supporting up to 10 km
  • ER (Extended Range): Single-mode fiber at 1550 nm, supporting up to 40 km
  • ZR (Ultra-Extended Range): Supports up to 80 km on single-mode fiber at 1550 nm

Modules like SR4, LR4, and ER4 use four lanes of 25G fiber.

SR, ER, ZR, LR ... Optical Transceivers

LinkedIn: :point_down: