Allied Telesis AT-SPZX80 – 80km 1000BASE-ZX Extended Temp SFP Transceiver

Product Overview

The Allied Telesis AT-SPZX80 is an Allied Telesis 1000BASE-ZX 80km SFP transceiver for long-haul single-mode fiber Gigabit Ethernet links where intermediate amplification is not feasible. Transmitting at 1550 nm over 9-micron single-mode fiber, this 1550nm long-range gigabit SFP for metro and campus fiber backbones achieves spans up to 80 km — covering inter-building campus rings, metropolitan area network (MAN) segments, and point-to-point WAN aggregation runs without the expense of optical amplifiers or DWDM equipment. The extended temperature rating makes it suitable for deployment in outdoor enclosures and industrial environments where standard commercial transceivers fail.

Product Description

The AT-SPZX80 is a hot-swappable SFP (mini-GBIC) transceiver that plugs into any standard SFP port on Allied Telesis switches, routers, and media converters that expose a compatible slot — including the full AT-SP series ecosystem. Operating at a 1550 nm wavelength over 9-micron (SMF-9) single-mode fiber, the module achieves up to 80 km reach with a maximum data rate of 2.125 Gbps, conforming to the 1000BASE-ZX standard used for extended-reach 80km single-mode fiber SFP for enterprise WAN aggregation. The LC duplex connector is the industry-standard interface for single-mode fiber patch panels, simplifying termination and cross-connect in carrier-class facilities. A self-locking mechanism on the LC connector prevents accidental disconnection in vibration-prone environments. The extended temperature design allows operation outside the standard 0–70 °C commercial range, making this transceiver appropriate for outdoor telecom cabinets, utility substations, and industrial switch enclosures where thermal conditions fluctuate. Unlike short-range SFPs (SX at 550 m or LX at 10 km), the ZX variant is specifically intended for long-haul fiber optic gigabit transceiver for metro Ethernet backbone deployments where spans between aggregation nodes or ring segments exceed what LX optics can support. Hot-swap capability means the AT-SPZX80 can be replaced in-service without powering down the host switch, minimizing planned maintenance windows. Allied Telesis’s broad SFP product line ensures that the complementary far-end transceiver is available from the same source, simplifying procurement for symmetric link pairs.

Key Features

• 80 km Reach — Supports point-to-point fiber spans up to 80 km over 9-micron single-mode fiber.
• 1550 nm Wavelength — Standard ZX transmission wavelength with low fiber attenuation over long distances.
• 1000BASE-ZX Standard — Gigabit Ethernet over single-mode fiber; compatible with IEEE 802.3z-compliant infrastructure.
• Extended Temperature Rating — Operates beyond standard commercial temperature ranges for outdoor and industrial installations.
• Hot-Swappable SFP Form Factor — Insert or replace in-service without powering down the host switch.
• LC Duplex Connector — Industry-standard single-mode fiber interface; compatible with standard patch panels and pigtail terminations.
• Self-Locking LC Mechanism — Prevents accidental disconnection in vibration-prone or high-density fiber environments.
• 2.125 Gbps Max Data Rate — Headroom above 1 Gbps for future protocol encapsulation overhead.
• Broad AT Platform Compatibility — Works with all Allied Telesis products supporting SFP uplink connections.

Typical Applications

• Inter-building campus fiber backbone links spanning distances beyond 10 km
• Metropolitan area network (MAN) aggregation segments between central offices and edge nodes
• Point-to-point enterprise WAN connectivity over leased dark fiber spans up to 80 km
• Outdoor telecom cabinets and utility substation switching where extended temperature is required
• Industrial network backbones connecting remote sites across manufacturing campuses

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What fiber type is required for the AT-SPZX80?

The AT-SPZX80 requires 9-micron single-mode fiber (SMF-9 / OS1 or OS2). It is not compatible with multimode fiber.

Q: Can the AT-SPZX80 achieve the full 80 km range in all deployments?

Actual reach depends on fiber quality, splice loss, connector loss, and patch panel attenuation. 80 km is the rated maximum; actual link budgeting should account for all insertion losses in the fiber plant.

Q: Is this transceiver compatible with third-party switches?

The AT-SPZX80 uses the standard SFP form factor. Allied Telesis verifies compatibility with its own product range. Third-party compatibility depends on the host device’s SFP qualification list.

Q: What does the extended temperature rating mean in practice?

Extended temperature transceivers are tested and specified to operate in temperature ranges exceeding the standard commercial 0–70 °C envelope, making them suitable for outdoor enclosures, industrial cabinets, and environments with significant thermal variation.

Q: What is the difference between 1000BASE-LX and 1000BASE-ZX SFPs?

1000BASE-LX operates at 1310 nm and typically reaches 10 km over single-mode fiber. 1000BASE-ZX operates at 1550 nm and extends reach to 80 km, making it the appropriate choice for inter-city and long campus backbone links.

Q: Do I need a matching ZX SFP at both ends of the fiber link?

Yes. Both ends of a 1000BASE-ZX link require compatible ZX transceivers. Allied Telesis offers the AT-SPZX80 as a pair-procurement item through Creation Networks.

Q: Where can I purchase the AT-SPZX80?

The AT-SPZX80 is available from Creation Networks, an authorized Allied Telesis reseller, at $858.