CT-000ANSP-S12L 850 nm VCSEL 2 km SFP Transceiver

This SFP transceiver is intended for low-speed optical links in telecom and industrial systems. It’s ideal for PDH-based networks and legacy circuits – for example, carrying a fractional E1 (around 512 kbps) signal over fibre between two sites. Any application that needs a reliable point-to-point link at sub-megabit data rates over multimode fibre can use this module.

Not in typical Ethernet switches or routers – this module is not designed for Ethernet protocols or high data rates. It supports data rates of roughly 0.5 Mb/s (not 100 Mb/s or 1 Gb/s), so it’s meant for specialised equipment (like PDH multiplexers, interface converters, or certain industrial devices) that operate at those lower rates. Standard Ethernet ports would not recognise the signal from this transceiver.

It’s designed for duplex multimode fibre using a pair of fibres. The transceiver has a duplex LC connector, which is a very common small form-factor connector. You would use multimode optical fiber (such as OM2 or OM3 graded-index fibre) with LC termination. Over such fibre, it can reliably reach distances up to 2 km.

No, this particular model does not include digital diagnostics. That means it does not actively report parameters like optical power, temperature, or voltage to the host. It’s a simpler SFP module aimed at cost-effective deployment. If you require DDM functionality, the manufacturer offers alternative SFP models (usually with a "D" or "E" in the part code) that include those monitoring features.

Like most SFP modules, it runs on a +3.3 V DC supply provided by the host device (the SFP slot). The power consumption is very low (typically around a few hundred milliwatts). There’s no special power supply needed – just plug it into the SFP cage and the host equipment provides the necessary power and interfacing automatically.

Yes. The SFP form factor is designed for hot-pluggability. You can insert or remove the CT-000ANSP-S12L from a powered SFP slot without needing to reboot equipment. This makes maintenance and upgrades convenient – for instance, you can swap a module if needed while the rest of the system stays running. It’s always good practice, however, to follow the equipment vendor’s guidelines for handling SFP modules safely.

The CT-000ANSP-S12L uses multimode fibre and an 850 nm VCSEL, which is optimal for shorter distances (up to 2 km) typically within a building or campus. Single-mode SFPs (often 1310 nm or 1550 nm) are used for much longer distances (tens of kilometres) but require single-mode fibre. Single-mode modules also often cost more. If your link is within 2 km and you have multimode fibre available, this 850 nm module is a cost-effective and easy solution. For distances beyond 2 km or for links that must run on single-mode fibre, you would use a different SFP (such as the CT-000ATSP-M15L, which is a 1310 nm FP laser 20 km single-mode version for similar PDH applications).

Yes, the module follows the industry-standard SFP multi-source agreement (MSA), which means it has the same physical dimensions, electrical pinout, and general interface as any standard SFP. This ensures it will fit and function in any MSA-compliant SFP slot. In terms of laser safety, the 850 nm VCSEL is a Class 1 laser device compliant with IEC 60825-1, meaning it’s eye-safe under normal operation. Additionally, the transceiver is typically RoHS compliant, meeting environmental and safety regulations for hazardous substances (as is standard for modern electronic components).