Are the Finisar FTLF1318P3BTL compatible with LHY Audio switches?

[Dasign]

I recently switched my home network from copper to optical fiber. My signal path is the following: Helix Router/ethernet copper/LHY Audio SW-6 Switch/multimode SFP/multimode fiber/LHY Audio SW-10/multimode SFP switch/etc. Audio system is working fine with this setup.

I decided to go forward to a single-mode fiber network using the Finisar FTLF1318P3BTL SFP with single mode LC/UPC patch fiber cable. The 2 LHY switches are not connecting together. So my question is the following: Are the Finisar FTLF1318P3BTL SFPs compatible with the LHY Audio switches? Anyone with user experience with this combo?

I tried to reach out to Alvin Chee from Beatechnik, but they are having e-mail issues delaying support response. Tried to reach the SFP seller, but no reply after 48hrs. So my thinking right now is the following:

1) Both SFPs are defective (Signal green LED from both switche's SFP port not lighting up)
2) SFPs are not compatible with LHY Audio switches
3) My LHY Audio switches are defective in single mode only? (Highly improbable)

Once I receive user confirmation that these SFPs are compatible with my switches, I will purchase SFPs again from a different source and ask for a refund from first seller.

 

[djsina2]

On ONE end try reversing the two connectors of the cable. You can remove them from the plastic clip to test.

 

[tony22]

@Dasign, I can tell you the 1318 is compatible at least with the LHY SW-6, and I think I've heard of other audiophiles in the webspace who have used these with the SW-10.

 

[Dasign]

On ONE end try reversing the two connectors of the cable. You can remove them from the plastic clip to test.

No way I can separate the 2 fibers from the plastic clip. Each fiber is crimped metal to metal ferrule.

 

[djsina2]

No way I can separate the 2 fibers from the plastic clip. Each fiber is crimped metal to metal ferrule.

Not separate the fiber, remove the connector from the plastic clip that is holding them side by side. You can do it. To be clear you’re not doing anything to the cable or fiber, only removing from the holding clip.

 

[djsina2]

 

[Dasign]

Ok got you

 

[Dasign]

Ok got you

Tried it with no results. It looks like these SFPs are defective...

 

[djsina2]

Tried it with no results. It looks like these SFPs are defective...

Ok, put it back the way it was then. I would find it hard to believe you have two bad SFP. It’s not common for them to go bad.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

This is why I use known quality optical products (MC) such as Sonore Optical Module Deluxe and the Ether Regen V1 (waiting for the V2). No variables and they are built around Finisar SFP's.

 

[Dasign]

Ok, put it back the way it was then. I would find it hard to believe you have two bad SFP. It’s not common for them to go bad.

These SFPs were purchased from an Amazon third party and will ask for a refund. I have placed an order again to purchase the SFPs from Mouser. LHY has confirmed that my switches are compatible with these Finisar SFPs. I hope this will solve my problem.

 

[Dasign]

This is why I use known quality optical products (MC) such as Sonore Optical Module Deluxe and the Ether Regen V1 (waiting for the V2). No variables and they are built around Finisar SFP's.

Good for you, but your comment is not very helpful…

 

[Republicoftexas69]

Good for you, but your comment is not very helpful…

Depends, now you know what to buy. After you sell the LHY switches.

 

[Tuckers]

I just put a Finisar FTLX1475D3BTL in my LHY media converter. It worked great.

 

[Dasign]

I just put a Finisar FTLX1475D3BTL in my LHY media converter. It worked great.

Thank you Tuckers. I just got confirmation from Alvin Chee that these Finisar SFPs are compatible with LHY Audio switches. I am continuing my investigations…

 

[Dasign]

Depends, now you know what to buy. After you sell the LHY switches.

Thank you for your wisdom. I was such an idiot buying the LHY switches. I am preparing an ad as we speak, to sell my switches…

 

[Republicoftexas69]

Thank you for your wisdom. I was such an idiot buying the LHY switches. I am preparing an ad as we speak, to sell my switches…

Well I did not say that. Did you buy the Finisar SFP on the secondary market? Do you have access to any other MC to try them in. Are they fully seated in the slot of LHY MC. Been using Fiber for 20 years and only had an issue like this once with an inexpensive MC that would not accept 10g, was setting up my daughters system in her new condo. I will no longer be offering my experiences to your problem.

 

[audiobomber]

Are they fully seated in the slot of LHY MC.

Yes, and make sure the cable connectors are locked to the SFP. Sounds obvious, but these are common problems. Two defective Finisar SFPs seems unlikely.

 

[Dasign]

Well I did not say that. Did you buy the Finisar SFP on the secondary market? Do you have access to any other MC to try them in. Are they fully seated in the slot of LHY MC. Been using Fiber for 20 years and only had an issue like this once with an inexpensive MC that would not accept 10g, was setting up my daughters system in her new condo. I will no longer be offering my experiences to

Yes, and make sure the cable connectors are locked to the SFP. Sounds obvious, but these are common problems. Two defective Finisar SFPs seems unlikely.

Thank you Audiobomber. I've checked the cable/SFP connection on a few occasions and it is fine. I have confirmation from a few audiophiles that the SW-6/SW-10 switches are compatible. Also got same info from Alvin Chee (Beatechnik). I have a spare kit of SFPs and fiber cable coming in next week. I will then be in position to figure out what is going on.

 

[Dasign]

I just got the system working. Boy, this was a real head scratcher. Received my second order from Mouser, which included 2 new SFPs and fiber patch cable. Installed the new SFPs with original monomode fiber patch, no results. Then installed the new fiber patch cable with new SFPs, again no results. Re-installed multimode SFPs/Multimode fiber patch, everything is working fine. Re-installed new SFPs/new fiber just in case I hade poor connectivity, again no results.

I started looking at the multimode fiber patch to validate the SFP connectivity of the A/B fibers. The multimode fiber cable is an inverting fiber cable (A/B fiber going to B/A fiber). The monomode fiber patch cable is a non-inverting cable (A/B fiber going to A/B fiber). The fiber connection between the switches requires an inverted fiber connection. So I had to invert the two fibers by disconnecting the plastic clip from the fiber assembly as suggested by djsina2 above. Once fibers were inverted, I got the system working.

Then I started re-testing the first batch of SFPs initially purchased from a third party Amazon vendor. It was defective and got a complete refund from Amazon. The original and new fiber patch cable were fine, once inverted. So my problem was twofold; defective SFPs and non-inverted fiber patch cable.