By BWNFiber Engineering · Last reviewed: 2026-09-15
An ODC-2 fiber cable is a hardened outdoor patch cord carrying 2 fibers (one duplex transmit/receive link) in the sealed, threaded ODC connector interface. It is the standard jumper between a base station’s feeder side and a single-radio RRU/RRH port, and the most widely deployed member of the ODC family. ODC® is a registered trademark of HUBER+SUHNER; BWNFiber manufactures ODC-compatible 2-core assemblies.
If your equipment port presents one duplex link, this is your family. If it presents two duplex links, see the ODC-4 fiber cable family; if you are unsure, the port-count method in ODC-2 vs ODC-4 settles it in three questions. For the series-level overview of every ODC build, start at the ODC fiber cable series page. Already know the variant you need? The seven-field quote checklist below turns your configuration into a priced build sheet.
ODC-2 in one paragraph: an ODC-2 fiber cable carries one duplex Tx/Rx link in a sealed, threaded, metal-housed 2-fiber interface, and buying it correctly means matching five things: the variant to the equipment port gender (ME/MP/FSS/FSH), the far-end connector and polish (polish is fixed at production and cannot be changed in the field), the fiber grade to the route (G.657.A2 for tight tower bends, OM3/OM4 for short industrial runs), the jacket to the environment (TPU outdoors, LSZH where the cable enters occupied space), and the measured route length plus 3–5% service slack. Every BWNFiber assembly ships with a per-unit IL/RL test record, and acceptance belongs against that measured record.
ODC-2 family variants
Five mechanical variants cover the gender and mounting combinations found on radio units, enclosures, and cable extensions. All share the same sealed 2-fiber optical core; the differences are mechanical, not optical.
| Variant | Connector form | Typical role | Product page |
|---|---|---|---|
| ODC-2C-ME | ODC 2-core male-end variant | Equipment-side jumper end | ODC-2C-ME product page |
| ODC-2C-MP | Cable plug (male), threaded coupling | Free-hanging jumper end that mates into ODC sockets on radios and enclosures | ODC-2C-MP product page |
| ODC-2C-FSS | Female socket for panel/bulkhead mounting, flange pattern | Bulkhead feed-through on an enclosure or cabinet wall | ODC-2C-FSS product page |
| ODC-2C-FSH | Female socket for panel/bulkhead mounting, flange pattern | Bulkhead feed-through where the panel cut-out matches this flange | ODC-2C-FSH product page |
| ODC 2C/4C configurable jumper | Plug or socket, built as 2F | Any end combination (ODC, LC, FC, SC, ST, E2000) | ODC 2C/4C configurable jumper product page |
Naming note: the ME/MP/FSS/FSH suffixes encode the mechanical form, not a different optical grade; a 2-core assembly performs identically across variants when built to the same specification. Plug/socket gender is specified per end; the full gender and extension logic is on the ODC to ODC page.
Specifications (BWNFiber standard build)
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Fiber count | 2 (1 × duplex Tx/Rx) |
| Connector interface | ODC 2-core, threaded screw lock, 2 × 1.25 mm ceramic ferrules |
| Insertion loss | ≤ 0.3 dB (SM/UPC and MM/UPC, per BWNFiber ODC model pages) |
| Return loss | ≥ 55 dB (SM/UPC) · ≥ 60 dB (SM/APC) · ≥ 35 dB (MM/UPC) |
| Ingress protection | IP67/IP68 when mated (version-dependent, rated per IEC 60529); protective cap required when unmated |
| Operating temperature | −20 °C to +70 °C (standard build); extended −40 °C to +85 °C versions |
| Housing | Nickel-plated metal, EMI-shielded |
| Fiber options | OS2 single-mode with G.657.A1/A2 bend-insensitive fiber (recommended for tower routing, where tight bends at enclosures and trays punish G.652.D); OM3/OM4 multimode for short industrial runs |
| Jacket options | TPU (tower default, UV-resistant) or LSZH (where the cable enters occupied space), black; armored and unarmored builds |
| Cable OD | 5.0 mm standard |
| Length | 1–150 m, built to order |
| Mechanical life | ≥ 500 mating cycles |
| Minimum bend radius | Per approved model datasheet (G.657.A2 build supports tighter routing than legacy G.652.D) |
| Tensile strength | ≥ 100 N between connector junction and cable |
| Performance grading | Aligned with IEC 61753 (environmental performance) and IEC 61300-3-35 (end-face inspection); per-unit IL/RL record shipped with every assembly |
Specification notice: the values above are the family-typical ranges published on BWNFiber ODC model pages; the approved model datasheet governs each order. Every assembly ships with a per-unit IL/RL test record — field crews can verify the installed link with an OTDR or light source against those same serial numbers. Accept a delivery against that measured record, not against a catalog claim. Request the approved model datasheet and a sample test record with your inquiry; they are the documents to compare suppliers on.
End configurations
The ODC-2 end mates with the outdoor port; the other end lands on your equipment:
| Far end | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ODC-2 to ODC-2 | Outdoor links and extensions through a bulkhead socket | Specify plug/socket gender per end; the ODC to ODC page maps every combination |
| ODC-2 to duplex LC (UPC) | The standard RRU-to-BBU fronthaul build | Most common ODC-2 configuration; see the ODC to LC page |
| ODC-2 to duplex LC (APC) | Fronthaul links where the transport spec calls for ≥ 60 dB return loss | Polish is fixed at production and cannot be changed in the field |
| ODC-2 to SC / FC / ST / E2000 | Legacy transport and enterprise ports | State connector and polish for each end |
| ODC-2 to other hardened families | FullAXS, ODVA, PDLC, NSN Boot or OptiTap equipment on the far end | Hybrid builds are quoted on the custom ODC cable assembly page |
E2000® is a trademark of Diamond SA; OptiTap® is a trademark of Corning; FullAXS™ is a trademark of TE Connectivity. Trademarks belong to their respective owners; BWNFiber supplies compatible assemblies.
Standard builds cover the end types above; mixed hardened families, pigtail ends, and non-standard lengths are the point to ask for a custom assembly drawing instead of forcing a standard SKU.
Where ODC-2 cables are deployed
- Single-band RRU/RRH links: one radio, one duplex pair — the default FTTA build on 4G/5G macro and small-cell sites
- Point-to-point outdoor links between enclosures, cabinets, and rooftop equipment
- Industrial radio and telemetry links where one sealed duplex connection must survive outdoors
- Short industrial runs: OM3/OM4 multimode builds serve machine-to-cabinet links where single-mode reach is unnecessary
- Independent-service pairs: sites running two ODC-2 jumpers instead of one ODC-4, so either link can be disconnected for maintenance without touching the other
One ODC-4 or two ODC-2 cables?
Same four fibers, different failure and maintenance behavior. One ODC-4 concentrates both duplex links in a single connector and cable: fewer parts, one panel position, but a damaged jumper or a re-termination takes both links down together. Two ODC-2 assemblies keep each link independently removable at the cost of a second connector and panel position.
| Confirm against the approved build sheet | One ODC-4 cable | Two ODC-2 cables |
|---|---|---|
| Links carried | 2 duplex links in one connector | 1 duplex link per connector |
| Maintenance isolation | Both links go down together | Each link removable independently |
| Parts & panel positions | 1 connector, 1 position | 2 connectors, 2 positions |
| Failure blast radius | One damaged jumper kills both links | One damaged jumper kills one link |
| Best for | Coordinated radio pair serviced together | Independent services, separate maintenance windows |
Rule of thumb: if the two radios run as independent services with separate maintenance windows, choose two ODC-2 cables. If they are one coordinated radio pair serviced together, one ODC-4 is the cleaner build; the ODC-4 family page covers its port mapping, and the cost-per-link comparison is in ODC-2 vs ODC-4. ODC-4 part numbers follow the same ME/MP/FSS/FSH pattern (ODC-4C-ME, ODC-4C-MP, ODC-4C-FSS, ODC-4C-FSH product pages), so the variant-selection logic on this page carries over. If the port layout is ambiguous, send a panel photo with your inquiry; BWNFiber engineering will confirm whether the site needs one ODC-4 or two ODC-2 assemblies before you commit to a build.
Looking for Q-ODC-2 instead?
Buyers sometimes land here searching for Q-ODC-2 cables. Q-ODC is a different interface from the same trademark holder: push-pull quick-lock instead of ODC’s threaded coupling, mechanically incompatible with ODC ports. If your equipment port is push-pull, read ODC vs Q-ODC before ordering anything: a threaded ODC-2 assembly will not mate with a Q-ODC socket, and vice versa.
Common ODC-2 ordering mistakes
- Ordering a plug when the port needs a socket. Radio units and enclosures present fixed genders. Confirm from the equipment datasheet, or send a port photo, before choosing between the ME/MP/FSS/FSH variants.
- Treating “waterproof” as unconditional. The IP rating applies to the mated pair. An unmated connector without its protective cap is an open connector, whatever the datasheet says.
- Confusing ODC-2 with Q-ODC-2. Same trademark family, different coupling. A threaded ODC-2 plug cannot mate with a push-pull Q-ODC socket; check the port mechanism, not just the name.
- Specifying route length without service slack. Add 3–5% over the measured route for tower movement, re-termination, and future re-routing.
- Accepting a catalog loss value at delivery. Acceptance belongs against the per-unit IL/RL test record shipped with the assemblies, not the marketing page.
What to send for an ODC-2 quote
Seven fields turn an inquiry into a buildable specification:
- Equipment port (datasheet reference or a photo of the port)
- Variant and gender per end (ME / MP / FSS / FSH, or a sketch)
- Far-end connector and polish (LC UPC, SC APC, and so on)
- Fiber grade (OS2 with G.657.A1/A2, or an OM grade for short multimode runs)
- Jacket (TPU, LSZH, armored or unarmored)
- Measured route length plus service slack
- Quantity, labeling, and project packaging requirements
BWNFiber returns a matched ODC-2 build sheet with per-unit test documentation and pricing against these fields; ask for a sample build at the same time if the project needs validation before a bulk order.
Frequently asked questions
What is an ODC-2 connector?
The 2-fiber member of the ODC hardened outdoor connector family: one duplex Tx/Rx link in a sealed, metal-housed, threaded-coupling interface rated IP67/IP68 when mated. ODC® is a HUBER+SUHNER trademark; compatible versions are widely manufactured.
What is the difference between ODC-2, ODC 2C, and ODC 2 core?
Nothing. They are the same product written three ways. ODC-2, ODC 2C, ODC 2-core, and ODC 2-fiber all describe the 2-fiber variant. Datasheets from different vendors use different spellings.
What do the ODC-2C-ME, MP, FSS and FSH suffixes mean?
They encode the mechanical variant (gender and mounting form), not a different optical grade. MP is the cable plug (male); FSS and FSH are panel/bulkhead female sockets with different flange patterns; ME is the fourth mechanical variant. The variant table above maps each suffix to its role, and every variant mates within the same ODC 2-core interface family.
Is ODC-2 single-mode or multimode?
The interface accepts both. Assemblies are built with OS2 single-mode (bend-insensitive G.657.A1/A2 recommended for tower routing, where tight bends at enclosures and trays punish legacy G.652.D) or OM3/OM4 multimode for short industrial runs.
Can I get an ODC-2 cable with LC connectors on the other end?
Yes. ODC-2 to duplex LC (UPC or APC) is the most common build for RRU-to-BBU links. SC, FC, ST, and E2000 far ends are also standard configurations.
What insertion loss should an ODC-2 patch cord have?
On BWNFiber ODC model pages the published limit is ≤ 0.3 dB (SM/UPC and MM/UPC), with return loss ≥ 55 dB (SM/UPC) and ≥ 60 dB (SM/APC). Whatever the catalog value, require the per-unit test report for the serial numbers delivered.
Is ODC-2 waterproof?
The mated pair is rated IP67 or IP68 depending on version. An unmated connector keeps its seal only with the protective cap fitted.
Can I get an armored ODC-2 cable?
Yes. Armored and unarmored builds exist for the same 2-core interface. Armor protects the cable span against crush and rodent risk; it does not change the connector seal, which is handled by the mated interface and caps.
ODC-2 or ODC-4 — how do I choose?
Count the duplex links on the equipment port: one link → ODC-2, two links → ODC-4. The full method, including port mapping and cost-per-link logic, is in ODC-2 vs ODC-4.
What lengths are available?
Assemblies are built to order from 1 to 150 m, from short equipment jumpers to long tower runs on reels. Specify measured route length plus service slack (typically 3–5%) when requesting a quote.
How much does an ODC-2 fiber cable cost?
Price follows the seven quote fields above — no single list price exists. As a reference point, a 10 m ODC-2 to duplex LC OS2 jumper is the baseline build; armor, E2000 far ends, and long tower runs price above it. Send your configuration for a priced build sheet.
Can an ODC-2 cable be built as a pigtail?
Yes. One end ODC-2 (plug or socket), the other end blunt or fusion-spliced to a distribution cable. Pigtail builds are quoted through the custom ODC cable assembly page; state splice-side fiber count and protection (splice sleeves, breakout length) in the inquiry.
Do ODC-2 assemblies come with test reports?
Yes. Each unit ships with its measured IL/RL record. For project acceptance, ask for the report format and sample record during the RFQ so field and factory results can be compared on the same basis.
Do you supply ODC-2 cables with custom labeling and project packaging?
Yes. OEM/ODM programs cover labeling, documentation, and packaging per project, including reels for long runs and export packing for sea freight. State the destination market’s compliance requirements (for example CPR classification for cables entering buildings in the EU, or RoHS and REACH declarations) and the site temperature range with the inquiry; the build sheet confirms the documentation available for that build. Send your configuration for a build sheet and quote.
Request your ODC-2 configuration
For FTTA rollouts, ISP builds, and industrial projects, BWNFiber’s engineering team confirms the build against your port layout before production, so the assemblies that arrive match the equipment on site. Send the equipment port (datasheet or photo), far-end connector, fiber type, jacket, length, and quantity. BWNFiber returns a matched ODC-2 build sheet with per-unit test documentation and pricing. Start your RFQ →
