FY-ENC-KSU Fast Ethernet RJ-45 to OptoLock® POF Optical Media Converter

This media converter uses a connectorless OptoLock® slot for the fibre. To attach the fibre, first trim the duplex POF cable flat using the provided cutter. Then simply insert each bare fibre end into the OptoLock port until it clicks into place. There’s no need for any special fibre connectors – the mechanism securely holds and aligns the bare plastic fibre for you.

It supports Fast Ethernet data rates of 100 Mbps (full duplex) over plastic optical fibre runs up to 50 metres in length (using standard 1 mm core step-index POF cable). This covers typical short-range network needs – for example, linking rooms in a home or office, or connecting equipment across a factory floor. Even at the full 50 m distance, you can expect a stable 100 Mbps connection, effectively equivalent in performance to a standard 100Base-FX fibre link but achieved with flexible plastic fibre.

In most scenarios, yes. To create a point-to-point Ethernet link over POF, you would use two identical converters – one at each end of a duplex plastic fibre cable – allowing two distant RJ-45 devices to communicate via the fibre. Alternatively, if you have another device that already includes a compatible POF optical port (for instance, a switch or router with a POF interface), you could use a single converter at the other end of the link. Generally, using a matched pair of converters is the simplest way to extend a copper Ethernet connection over plastic fibre.

It is designed specifically for plastic optical fibre. The OptoLock interface accommodates bare 2.2 mm POF cable and isn’t compatible with traditional glass-fibre connectors or cable types. You’ll need to use standard duplex plastic optical fibre for the link – you cannot directly use glass fibre (such as typical Ethernet SFP modules or SC/ST connectors) with this converter.

No. The FY-ENC-KSU converter is completely plug-and-play. It operates transparently as a media bridge, so you don’t need any drivers or special configuration. Just power it via USB, plug in your RJ-45 Ethernet cable and the POF fibre, and the device will automatically establish the link with no additional setup.

The converter comes as a complete kit for quick deployment. In the box, you’ll find the FY-ENC-KSU converter unit, a 5 V USB power adapter and USB cable for powering it, a duplex POF razor cutter for preparing the fibre ends, and an Ethernet patch cable. This means you have everything needed to set up a POF link immediately, without hunting for extra tools or components.

Using POF offers certain advantages that standard copper Ethernet can’t provide. First, a fibre link is immune to electromagnetic interference and provides galvanic isolation between devices – ideal in industrial or medical environments where electrical noise or ground potential differences can be problematic. POF is also safe and easy to handle: it’s lightweight, can be cut to exact length on site, and poses no electric shock or laser eye hazard (since it typically uses visible light LEDs). For runs up to 50 m, a POF link lets you achieve the benefits of fibre (immunity and isolation) with a minimum of cost and complexity, making it a great solution for extending networks into electrically noisy or sensitive areas.