Fiber Optic Coding and Resistance Comparison Table

Fiber optic cables are identified by standardized color codes and exhibit varying attenuation/resistance characteristics depending on fiber type and mode.Fiber Optic CodingFiber optic cables use EIA/TIA-598-D color coding to identify fiber types, individual strands, and connector polish types :Outer Jacket Color: Indicates fiber type (e.g., OM1/OM2/OM3/OM4/OM5 for multimode, OS2 for single-mode).Inner Fiber Sequence: Each fiber in a multi-fiber cable is color-coded in a 12-color repeating pattern (Blue, Orange, Green, Brown, Slate, White, Red, Black, Yellow, Violet, Rose, Aqua).Connector/Boot Color: Identifies polish type and fiber mode (Blue = UPC, Green = APC; single-mode vs multimode).Fiber Optic Resistance and AttenuationFiber resistance is typically expressed as attenuation (dB/km), which varies by fiber type and wavelength :Fiber TypeModeTypical Wavelength (nm)Typical Attenuation (dB/km)Max Attenuation (dB/km)NotesOM1Multimode850 / 13003.5 / 1.54.0 / 1.7Legacy multimode, short-distanceOM2Multimode850 / 13003.0 / 1.03.5 / 1.2Standard multimodeOM3Multimode8503.03.5Laser-optimized for 10G/40G/100GOM4Multimode8502.53.0Extended reach for high-speed networksOM5Multimode8502.53.0Wideband multimode for SWDMOS2Single-mode1310 / 15500.4 / 0.30.5 / 0.4Long-haul single-mode fiberNotes on Resistance/Attenuation:Attenuation increases with wavelength and fiber length.Single-mode fibers (OS2) have lower attenuation and are suitable for long-distance transmission.Multimode fibers (OM1–OM5) are optimized for short to medium distances and high-speed LANs.SummaryBy combining color coding and attenuation/resistance data, technicians can quickly identify fiber types, ensure proper connections, and predict signal loss over distance. Following TIA/EIA-598-D standards ensures consistent identification across installations, while understanding attenuation values helps in network design and troubleshooting .