Introduction to the Ruijie GE‑SFP‑LX20‑SM1550‑BIDI
TheRuijie GE‑SFP‑LX20‑SM1550‑BIDIis a 1.25 Gbps single‑mode BiDi SFP optical transceiver designed for point‑to‑point links where fibre conservation, compactness and reliable diagnostics matter. Operating at 1.25 Gbps (1000BASE‑LX) and supporting transmission up to 20 km over single‑mode fibre, this module uses a simplex LC connector and a bi‑directional transmitter/receiver pair (TX 1550 nm / RX 1310 nm for this SKU). It is hot‑pluggable, SFP MSA compliant and includes Digital Diagnostic Monitoring (DDM/DOM), making it a practical choice for datacentre, campus and network interconnect deployments.
Key features at a glance
- Single‑fibre BiDi— saves fibre by carrying transmit and receive signals over one strand when used with a complementary module.
- 1.25 Gbps (1000BASE‑LX)— compatible with Gigabit fibre ports on switches, routers and servers.
- Wavelengths— TX 1550 nm / RX 1310 nm (this SKU); pairs with the complementary 1310TX/1550RX module.
- Reach— up to 20 km over single‑mode fibre (SMF).
- DDM/DOM— real‑time optical diagnostics for performance monitoring.
- Low power— typical consumption ≤ 1.5 W.
- Safety & compliance— RoHS and Class 1 laser safety certified.
Detailed specifications and benefits
The GE‑SFP‑LX20‑SM1550‑BIDI is compact but engineered to meet practical network requirements. Its SFP (Mini‑GBIC) form factor ensures compatibility with a wide range of network equipment that accepts standard SFP modules. The key technical specifications and the benefits they deliver are:
- Form factor:SFP (Mini‑GBIC) — fits standard SFP slots and supports hot‑plug installation for minimal downtime during upgrades.
- Data rate:Up to 1.25 Gbps (1000BASE‑LX) — ideal for Gigabit Ethernet links commonly deployed in aggregation and edge scenarios.
- Connector:Simplex LC (single‑fibre) — reduces cabling complexity and conserves fibre count in constrained environments.
- Power consumption:≤ 1.5 W typical — keeps energy and cooling costs down, useful in high‑density patching panels.
- Hot‑plug:Supported — allows replacement or insertion without powering down host equipment.
- Compliance & safety:RoHS; Class 1 laser safety — meets regulatory and workplace safety expectations.
- Operating temperature:0 °C to 70 °C — suitable for typical commercial installations.
- Bit error ratio:1e‑12 — reliable data integrity for mission‑critical traffic over the rated distance.
- Wavelength (TX/RX):TX 1550 nm / RX 1310 nm (this SKU) — configured for BiDi operation; must be paired with complementary module at the remote end.
- Reach:Up to 20 km over single‑mode fibre — suitable for campus interconnects, remote server rooms and smaller metro links.
- Transmitter type:DFB — offers stable, narrow linewidth performance at long single‑mode distances.
- Receiver type:PIN photodiode — cost‑effective and dependable for Gigabit applications.
- DDM/DOM:Supported — exposes optical parameters such as Tx/Rx power, temperature and voltage for remote troubleshooting and capacity planning.
- Receive sensitivity:Typical < −20 dBm (family datasheet) — grants good margin for loss budget in common fibre plant scenarios.
Benefits of these specifications include simplified fibre management (single strand per link), reduced fibre procurement and installation costs, and improved operational visibility via DDM. The modules low power draw and hot‑plug capability minimise service disruptions and make for efficient rack deployments.
Use cases and scenarios where this module excels
The Ruijie BiDi SFP is especially useful in environments where fibre resources are limited, or where the physical routing of multiple fibres is difficult or costly. Typical scenarios include:
- Campus networking:Interconnect building switches across a campus where single‑strand fibre runs are available or preferred. BiDi modules halve the fibre count compared with conventional dual‑fibre SFPs.
- Data centre patching and short metro links:Connect remote racks or adjacent datacentres within a 20 km radius, conserving fibre and port density in patch panels.
- Greenfield and brownfield deployments:Where existing single‑strand ducts are present and trenching for additional fibres is impractical or too expensive.
- Point‑to‑point links where budget and diagnostics matter:The DDM feature supports proactive monitoring, making this module well suited for managed services and operations teams that need visibility into optical health.
- Legacy equipment integration:Use in environments with Gigabit fibre ports where 1.25 Gbps connectivity is the standard; provides a cost‑effective alternative to upgrading to 10G optics when bandwidth requirements dont justify it.
How it compares with similar products
When evaluating the Ruijie GE‑SFP‑LX20‑SM1550‑BIDI, consider these comparisons with other common optical choices:
- BiDi saves fibre by using one strand; conventional SFPs require two fibres (one for TX, one for RX).
- Performance (reach and bitrate) is comparable for many Gigabit scenarios, but standard SFPs can offer simpler interoperability (no need for matched complementary module).
- BiDi requires planning to ensure you order and deploy complementary wavelengths at each end (e.g., this 1550TX/1310RX part paired with the reverse).
- 10G optics provide higher bandwidth but at higher cost and often higher power consumption; BiDi 1.25G modules remain attractive where existing traffic does not require 10G capacity.
- Upgrading to 10G may require new transceivers, cabling and switch ports; BiDi 1G offers a lower‑cost way to extend fibre connectivity without wholesale infrastructure changes.
While many vendors produce BiDi SFPs, compatibility can vary. The Ruijie module is SFP MSA compliant, but confirm that your host switch or router accepts third‑party optics or procure from supported lists to avoid interoperability issues. The modules DDM support is a valuable parity feature when comparing with other manufacturers.
Customer testimonials and feedback
At the time of writing, there are no verified customer testimonials supplied for this SKU. That said, typical feedback for BiDi SFPs with similar specifications often highlights these recurring positives:
- "Easy to deploy — swapping a pair of BiDi modules for existing two‑fibre runs saved us time and costs on cabling."
- "DDM made it straightforward to troubleshoot an intermittent link without dispatching a field engineer immediately."
- "Low power and cool running modules helped us avoid additional rack cooling work."
If you need real‑world reviews, request lab testing or seek references from suppliers who can provide compatibility confirmation and case studies from similar deployments.
Practical considerations before you buy
- Pairing requirement:BiDi modules work in complementary pairs. This SKU (1550TX/1310RX) must be paired with the opposite wavelength at the far end (1310TX/1550RX).
- Optical budget & fibre condition:Verify fibre attenuation, connector loss and any splice losses to ensure the link margin supports 20 km reach—DDM readings help validate the margin in situ.
- Compatibility checks:Confirm your switch or router supports third‑party optics or ensure you source vendor‑qualified modules.
- Regulatory & safety:Follow datasheet guidance and local UKCA/CE requirements; this module is Class 1 laser safe and RoHS compliant.
- Stock & availability:Current stock is reported as 0 — do not list as available until inventory confirmation. Pricing guidance: suggested retail £74.99 (cost price reference £49.85) — actual selling price may vary by supplier and volumes.
Conclusion: why choose the Ruijie GE‑SFP‑LX20‑SM1550‑BIDI?
The Ruijie GE‑SFP‑LX20‑SM1550‑BIDI is a pragmatic, cost‑conscious choice for organisations that need reliable Gigabit fibre links while minimising fibre usage and keeping operational overheads low. Its single‑fibre BiDi design delivers real savings on cabling and duct capacity, while built‑in DDM/DOM provides valuable operational visibility for network teams. With up to 20 km reach, low power consumption, and a compact SFP form factor, it fits a wide range of campus, datacentre and metro scenarios where 1.25 Gbps capacity is sufficient.
Before purchasing, ensure you order the complementary wavelength module for the far end, validate host compatibility and perform optical budgeting. When those checks are satisfied, this Ruijie BiDi SFP provides an efficient, straightforward path to extend or modernise Gigabit fibre connectivity.
