Technical Documentation

Ethernet 10BASE, 100BASE, and 1000BASE Copper and Optical Specifications

The following Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet standards are supported on M Series, MX Series, or T Series routers. The standards are organized by distance supported. To determine which standards are supported by a transceiver in a particular device and router, see the “Cables and connectors” section for each device.

Ethernet 100BASE-T Copper Interface Specifications

Table 1 shows the copper interface specifications for the 1000BASE-T standard.

Table 1: Ethernet 100BASE-T Copper Interface Specifications

Parameter	10BASE-T
Rate	10 Mbps
Distance	328 ft (100 m)
Cable	Four-pair, Category 5 shielded twisted-pair

Fast Ethernet 100BASE-T Copper Interface Specifications

Table 2 shows the copper interface specifications for the 1000BASE-T standard.

Table 2: Ethernet 100BASE-T Copper Interface Specifications

Parameter	100BASE-T
Rate	100 Mbps
Distance	328 ft (100 m)
Cable	Four-pair, Category 5 shielded twisted-pair

Gigabit Ethernet 1000BASE-T Copper Interface Specifications

Table 3 shows the copper interface specifications for the 1000BASE-T standard.

Table 3: 1000BASE-T Copper Interface Specifications

Parameter	1000BASE-T
Rate	1000 Mbps autosensing
Distance	328 ft (100 m)
Cable	Four-pair, Category 5 shielded twisted-pair

Gigabit Ethernet 1000BASE-SX Optical Interface Specifications

Table 4 shows the optical interface specifications for the 1000BASE-SX standard.

Table 4: Gigabit Ethernet 1000BASE-SX Optical Interface Specifications

Parameter	1000BASE-SX
Rate	1000 Mbps
Optical interface	Multimode
Maximum distance	62.5/125 MMF cable: 656 ft (200 m) 50/125 MMF cable: 1640 ft (500 m)
Transmitter wavelength	770 through 860 nm
Average launch power	–9.5 through 0 dBm
Average receive power	–17 through 0 dBm
Receiver saturation	0 dBm
Receiver sensitivity	–17 dBm

Fast Ethernet 100BASE-FX Optical Interface Specifications

Table 5 shows the optical interface specifications for the 100BASE-FX standard.

Table 5: Fast Ethernet 100BASE-FX Optical Interface Specifications

Parameter	100BASE-FX
Rate	100 Mbps
Optical interface	Multimode
Maximum distance	50/125 MMF cable: 1640 ft (500 m) 62.5/125 MMF cable: 6562 ft (2 km)
Transmitter wavelength	1270 through 1380 nm
Average launch power	–19 through –14 dBm
Average receive power	–31 through –14 dBm
Receiver saturation	–14 dBm
Receiver sensitivity	–31 dBm

Gigabit Ethernet 1000BASE-LX Optical Interface Specifications

Table 6 shows the optical interface specifications for the 1000BASE-LX standard.

Table 6: Gigabit Ethernet 1000BASE-LX Optical Interface Specifications

Parameter	1000BASE-LX
Rate	1000 Mbps
Optical interface	Multimode
Maximum distance	62.5/125 and 50/125 MMF cable: 1804.5 ft (550 m)
Transmitter wavelength	1270 through 1355 nm
Average launch power	–11.5 through –3 dBm
Average receive power	–19 through –3 dBm
Receiver saturation	–3 dBm
Receiver sensitivity	–19 dBm

Gigabit Ethernet 1000BASE-LX10 Optical Interface Specifications

Table 7 shows the optical interface specifications for the 1000BASE-LX10 standard.

Table 7: Gigabit Ethernet 1000BASE-LX10 Optical Interface Specifications

Parameter	1000BASE-LX10
Rate	1000 Mbps
Optical interface	Single-mode
Maximum distance	9/125 SMF cable: 6.2 miles (10 km)
Transmitter wavelength	1270 through 1355 nm
Average launch power	–11.5 through –3 dBm
Average receive power	–19 through –3 dBm
Receiver saturation	–3 dBm
Receiver sensitivity	–19 dBm

Gigabit Ethernet 1000BASE-EX Optical Interface Specifications

Table 7 shows the optical interface specifications for the 1000BASE-EX standard.

Table 8: Gigabit Ethernet 1000BASE-EX Optical Interface Specifications

Parameter	1000BASE-EX
Rate	1000 Mbps
Optical interface	Single-mode
Maximum distance	9/125 SMF cable: 24.85 miles (40 km)
Transmitter wavelength	1260 through 1360 nm
Average launch power	–4.5 through 0 dBm
Average receive power	–22.5 through –3 dBm
Receiver saturation	–3 dBm
Receiver sensitivity	–22.5 dBm

Gigabit Ethernet 1000BASE-LH Optical Interface Specifications

Table 9: Gigabit Ethernet 1000BASE-LH Optical Interface Specifications

Parameter	1000BASE-LH
Rate	1000 Mbps
Optical interface	Single-mode
Maximum distance	9/125 SMF cable: 43.5 miles (70 km)
Transmitter wavelength	1500 through 1580 nm
Average launch power	–3 through +3 dBm
Average receive power	–20 through –3 dBm
Receiver saturation	–3 dBm
Receiver sensitivity	–20 dBm