Electronics / Cables & Adapters
Corning SST-Drop Cable Specification Guide
Technical specifications and installation guidelines for the Corning SST-Drop single-tube, self-supporting fiber optic cable. Includes environmental ratings, mechanical limits, and fiber characteristics.
Table of contents
Quick guide from the manual
The Corning SST-Drop is an All-Dielectric Self-Supporting (ADSS) cable designed for outdoor use. It features a single-tube, gel-filled design that eliminates the need for messenger wires, allowing for single-pass installation. It is compatible with field-installable OptiTap connectors.
Installation and Usage
The cable supports pole-to-pole span lengths ranging from 400 feet (under NESC heavy ice and wind loading) to 500 feet (under NESC medium loading). Because it is an all-dielectric design, no support or messenger wire is required.
Environmental Conditions
- Installation Temperature: -30 °C to 70 °C (-22 °F to 158 °F)
- Operation and Storage Temperature: -40 °C to 70 °C (-40 °F to 158 °F)
- Environment: Outdoor
Mechanical Specifications
- Max. Tensile Strength (Short-Term): 1350 N (303.49 lbf)
- Max. Tensile Strength (Long-Term): 400 N (89.92 lbf)
- Min. Bend Radius (Operation): 135 mm (5.31 in)
- Nominal Outer Diameter: 12.3 mm x 4.4 mm (0.48 in x 0.17 in)
- Cable Weight: 525 kg/km (352.78 lb/1000 ft)
Optical Characteristics
- Fiber Type: Single-mode (OS2), SMF-28 Ultra fiber
- Fiber Count: 1
- Fiber Category: ITU-T G.657.A1
- Wavelengths: 1310 nm / 1383 nm / 1550 nm
- Maximum Attenuation: 0.4 dB/km / 0.4 dB/km / 0.3 dB/km
Standards and Compliance
- RoHS: Free of hazardous substances according to RoHS 2011/65/EU
- Design and Test Criteria: ANSI/ICEA S-110-717, Telcordia GR-20-CORE
- Approvals: USDA Rural Development Programs
Manufacturer information
Corning Optical Communications
Practical help
Common problems
Exceeding span length
Ensure span is between 400 ft (heavy ice/wind) and 500 ft (medium loading) to maintain structural integrity.
Bending cable too tightly
Maintain a minimum bend radius of 135 mm (5.31 in) during operation to prevent signal loss or fiber damage.
Before use
- Verify the installation temperature is between -30°C and 70°C.
- Ensure the support structure can handle the cable weight (525 kg/km).
- Confirm compatibility with field-installable OptiTap connectors.
- Check that the environment is suitable for outdoor deployment.
Specs in practice
- Max. Tensile Strength (Short-Term)
- Maximum tension allowed during installation (1350 N).
- Max. Tensile Strength (Long-Term)
- Maximum tension allowed during the cable's service life (400 N).
- SMF-28 Ultra
- Single-mode fiber type optimized for performance.
Model compatibility
- Compatible with field-installable OptiTap connectors.
- Meets ANSI/ICEA S-110-717 and Telcordia GR-20-CORE standards.
Manual page author
Michael Turner
Technical manual editor
Reviews PDF manuals for structure, safety notes, and practical product details so readers can find the right information quickly.