Are Modern Third-Party SFP 10g lr Transceivers As Good As Their OEM Counterparts?

One common question facing network engineers today is whether they should buy generic sfp 10g lr optic transceivers instead of OEM transceivers. In the past, the answer to whether you could trust an sfp 10g sr transceiver from a third party was a shifting goalpost. The quality of third-party optic modules from QFSPTEK has always been consistently good. It is now common for fiber optic transceivers to have comparable performance with OEM brands even though the sfp 10g sr price of generic brands is significantly lower. By the end of this article, we shall break down why generic transceivers are worth a second look.

Why Do OEMs Claim To Have Better SFP 10g lr Modules?

sfp 10g lr
sfp 10g lr

The sfp+ transceiver market has changed dramatically because of rapid technological advancement. It is now easier than ever for a third party to make an sfp+ module that can trade blows with any OEM branded unit. The OEMs were not counting on having to deal with so much competition so quickly. As a knee-jerk reaction, they have resulted in spreading fear and misinformation to prevent people from buying the sfp 10g lrm module not made by them.

There are several key points that they say differentiate them from third parties that make the 10g sfp+ port. Let’s delve deeper into the perceived differences between an OEM sfp 10 lr module from a third-party version.

Compatibility of Third-party SFP 10g sr Transceiver With OEM Switches

The age-old excuse used by OEMs to dissuade people from buying third-party optic modules is that they might not work properly. This point used to be true some time ago before third parties started to make compatible transceivers. When ordering a 10g sfp+ Port from a third party, a person can get a version compatible with numerous OEM switches. Some third parties will even offer to write code to an sfp+ module to make it compatible with the customer’s switch.

To try to counter this, OEMs now commonly include software in their switches that check if an attached transceiver is from a third party to disable some or all its features. Some also claim that third-party sfp+ transceiver modules invalidate their switch warranty.

Is An OEM SFP 10g sr Module Better Quality Than Generic Ones?

The quality of a 10gbase sr sfp module varies a lot from one third-party manufacturer to another. Some manufacturers don’t employ stringent control over their production process to make reliable sfp 10g sr s modules. These ‘bad apples’ taint the image of other makers of generic sfp 10g sr s modules.

The picture on the ground is quite different from the one OEMs paint about third-party optical sfp 10g lr module reliability. What OEMs don’t tell you is that their devices share many components with third-party units. The reason is that OEMs often don’t manufacture the chips inside their modules. They simply source them from manufacturers like Finistar, package them, and brand them. Sure, they may have patents on their designs, but the components they use are owned by other companies and are hence available to both OEM and third-party alike.

The Performance Debate About sfp 10g lrm Modules

Any customer who wants to buy an sfp 10g lr module wants to know if it will be as fast as a unit from an OEM brand. OEMs want you to think that generic units won’t perform as well as theirs but this is far from the truth. The fact is that to get industry standardization marks, manufacturers of generic sfp 10g modules must meet a set of rules set out by various governing bodies. This means that performance must meet a certain threshold, which it often surpasses for major third-party manufacturers such as QFSPTEK.

Is a Third Party sfp 10g sr Transceiver Different From An OEM Version?

The gap between an OEM sfp+ port and a generic one has been reducing in leaps and bounds. Sure, there is a certain amount of confidence that people get when the name on their sfp+ connector matches the name of the switch it is attached to. Original equipment manufacturers want people to believe that that is the only configuration that will give them the best performance and reliability. However, people who buy sfp 10g sr replacement from third parties quickly find out that the case for OEM modules is not as strong as they would have you believe.

sfp-10g-sr
sfp-10g-sr

Benefits Of Buying Generic SFP 10g sr Transceivers

The following advantages of generic optic modules make them a no-brainer for anybody looking for great network equipment no matter where it comes from. They are the reasons why OEMs do not want people to buy cisco sfp 10g sr modules from third parties.

How sfp 10g sr Price Compares With OEM units

Original equipment manufacturers have big R&D departments which means that they spend a lot to develop their products. The 10g sfp price is significantly higher for an OEM product compared to a generic one. The demand for low-cost transceivers such as the 10g sr module is on the rise and this gives third party manufacturers a positive outlook according to QSFPTEK News.

You Get Better Service From A Generic sfp+ module Manufacturer

Contrary to what many people believe, it is common for third-party module manufacturers to have a wider product portfolio than OEMs. Third parties can also provide longer warranty periods for their sfp+ transceiver units because of the need to compete favorably with other generic brands and OEMs.

Wider Compatibility Of Generic Optic Transceivers

It is a fact that no optic transceiver works better with a particular switch than one from the manufacturer of that switch. This strength of OEM modules is also one of their greatest weaknesses and one shared by a few generic cisco sfp 10g sr compatible transceivers. Generic transceivers are made to work with a broad range of switches and other equipment.

Conclusion

The quality and reliability of third-party transceivers have improved dramatically. The question of whether you should buy an OEM SFP 10g sr has now been put to rest. You can now expect comparable performance from generic transceivers to most OEM-branded ones.

At QSFPTEK we have stringent production and quality control standards to ensure that every piece of equipment we make exceeds the industry requirements. Our product portfolio is assured to enable you to create a robust network at a very cost-effective price. Reach out to us at sales@qsfptek.com to make your order now.

Compared with 10GBASE SR, SFP 10GBASE LR may be the best choice for short-distance transmission

Comparing SFP 10GBASE LR and other modules such as 10GBASE –SR SFP gives an individual a better understanding of the 10GBASE LR among other technologies. Further, the comparison enables better decision-making when choosing a 10GBase module.

There is increased demand for modules bearing smaller form factors and capable of producing high density to match the speed and work with the 10 Gigabit Ethernet. These fiber optics modules presented both low cost and high density. The 10G SFP series graduated to become the go-to modules compared to other packing forms associated with the optic modules. It is used for purposes of communication and telecommunication.  There are many divisions of the 10G SFP such as 10GBASE –SR SFP, 10GBASE LR SFP, 10GBASE ER SFP. This article will focus on the characteristics and distinctions between the 10GBASE –LR SFP and 10GBASE SR SFP.

10GBASE-LR SFP

It is different from the SR technologies. The abbreviation ‘LR’ stands for ‘Long range’ so, it is tailored to enable data transmission over a long distance.  The 10GBASE LR can reach 10km using single-mode fiber. This module does not have a minimum distance, so it is the best choice when working with single-mode fiber connections. Further, the SFP 10G SR is among the commonly adopted SFP+ modules. Each optical transceiver in the SFP+ module can be characterized based on its properties such as ; environmental, optical, and electrical. Optical properties highlight vital properties such as the suitable wavelength that the transceiver operates on, compatibility with the optical cable, and bandwidth. Transmission power and receiver sensitivity showcase the optical budget is related to the maximum budget. The laser and photonic components are the most costly aspects of the transceivers; the main advantage of the lases is bringing the cost down and allowing for a simplified production process.

SFP-10G-LR from QSFPTEK
SFP-10G-LR from QSFPTEK

Cisco SFP-10G SR

The SFP 10G SR complies with 10GBASE SR standards.  For instance, the Cisco 10GBASE SR module allows for a link length of up to 26 m. It does so through standard Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) grade multimode fiber. It reaches a link length of 300 m through 0M3 and more distance through 0M4 cables.

Cisco SFP -10G SR transceiver is the best input/output device that is swappable. It allocates up to 10Gigabit Ethernet ports to connect with the fiber-optic network. Because it is highly swappable and compliant with MSA standards, it means that the Cisco SFP 10g SR transceiver can be used in any Cisco SFP+ transceiver by directly plugging in without having to shut down the initial host system network. This ability makes add-ons, moves, and exchanges are executed quickly and painless. Below is a table showing the datasheet for SFP 10G SR.

the datasheet of cisco sfp 10g sr s
the datasheet of cisco sfp 10g sr s

The abbreviation ‘SR’ Implies ‘short range’.It aims to transfer through short distances. 10GBASE –SR is the first multimode specification to be developed, and it is still the most used, leading by a more significant margin. It performs using a single and low-cost state laser assembly that operates at 850nm. Among the other modules, it is the least expensive supporting the 10G Platform.  However, the 10GBASE SR is considered very sensitive to the type of fiber, and it has limitations when working on short distances. Due to the limits of the space, it is a requirement that new multimode fiber deployment should use OM3 or others with higher grade fiber to make sure other 10G deployments are not associated with issues to do with distance.

Differences between 10GBASE LR and 10GBASE –SR

The above definition of both modules has shown that the main difference between the 10GBASE-LR and 10GBASE-SR mainly exists in the transmission distance, fiber mode, optical power, and wavelength.

Type of fiber mode

 10GBASE –SR development is designed to provide short-range.  So, it has multimode fiber that is a media type. Further, it allows connection with serial multimode fibers such as those such as OM3 and OM4. 10GBASE LR is best suited for transmission over long distances. Also, it uses single-mode fiber, making it the most covered aspect in 10GBASE-LR SFP. The table below shows cable category and distance transmission.

Transmission distance of SR module with different multi-mode optical cables
Transmission distance of SR module with different multi-mode optical cables

Transmission distance

By using multimode fiber, the maximum distance for transmission of the 10GBASE-SR SFP is at 400m. (OM4).  For the 10GASE LR SFP, it reaches 400m. The 10GBASE LR SFP has transfer distances of up to 10 km using single-mode fiber. Important to note that 10GBASE-LR SFP is way ahead of the 10GBASE –SR SFP in transmission distance.

Wavelength

10GBASE –SR SFP utilizes shot wavelength when transferring signal. It has a wavelength of 850NM. Its TX range lies between 840 nm and 860nm. LR uses long wavelengths when transmitting data. It possesses a wavelength of 1310 nm, having a TX range ranging from 1260 nm to 135 nm. The range of RX lies between 1260 NM TO 1600 nm.

Optical power

The optical power of 10GBASE LR SFP is slightly higher when compared to that 10GBASE SR SFP. They have a gap of about 1.5 dB. It also has a link budget of 4.6 dB (OM3). On the other hand, LR has a dB of 6.1. In addition, the SR module will have higher loss when transmitting at the same distance.

Summary

When choosing the optical module for short-distance transmission, the 10GBASE SR SFP is the best choice. It is relatively cheaper and has a low power density. However, when working with long distances, the 10GBASE LR SFP is highly recommended to make sure signals are transferred throughout the entire length. Important to observe is the costs for the 10gbase LR SFP are usually high, and the plus side is that it preserves its quality. QSFPTEK can provide cost-effective sfp+ lr and sr modules, welcome to visit QSFPTEK.com.