TP-Link MC210CSMedia Converter RJ45 to SC Single-Mode Fibre 20km · NO ADAPTER

TP-Link MC210CS Gigabit Single-Mode Media Converter

Certified refurbished Gigabit media converter that bridges 1000BASE-LX single-mode fibre to 1000BASE-T copper Ethernet, carrying a full gigabit link up to 20 kilometres at 1310 nm. Backed by a 12-month warranty from Reboot IT. Please note: the external power adapter is not included with this unit.

Key Benefits

• Twenty-kilometre reach — single-mode fibre at 1310 nm carries a gigabit link up to 20 km, roughly 200 times the 100-metre limit of copper Cat5e/Cat6.
• Full gigabit throughput — wire-speed 1000 Mbps forwarding in both directions with IEEE 802.3x flow control, so the conversion step never becomes the bottleneck.
• Zero configuration — auto-negotiation and Auto MDI/MDIX mean no management interface, no firmware, no crossover cables. Connect the fibre, connect the RJ45, done.
• Complete electrical isolation — fibre carries light, not current, eliminating earth loops, surge propagation and EMI between separately-earthed buildings.
• Standalone or rack-mounted — sits on a desk or shelf as a standalone unit, or slots into a TP-Link MC1400 chassis for tidy, powered, high-density installations.
• Negligible running cost — draws a maximum of 1.8 W, so a pair running continuously costs only a few dollars a year to power.

Performance in Use

The MC210CS earns its place wherever copper simply cannot reach. Standard twisted-pair Ethernet is specified to 100 metres, and past that the link either negotiates down or fails outright. Single-mode fibre with a 1310 nm optic pushes that boundary to 20 km, which covers the overwhelming majority of real-world campus, industrial estate and multi-building deployments. A converter at each end of the fibre pair presents an ordinary RJ45 port to the switch at both ends, so the fibre run is completely transparent to the rest of the network.

Typical deployments include linking a warehouse, workshop or gatehouse back to a main office switch; connecting floors or wings of a building where the riser is already fibre; extending a network across a car park, rail line or roadway where a copper run would be neither legal nor safe; and joining sites in an industrial environment where heavy machinery generates enough electrical noise to corrupt copper Ethernet. Because fibre is a dielectric, it also removes any risk of a lightning surge or earth-potential difference travelling between two separately-earthed buildings — a genuine equipment-safety consideration, not just a performance one.

Operation is deliberately unremarkable. There is no web interface, no console port and no configuration to maintain. Three LEDs report power, fibre link/activity and copper link/activity, which is all the diagnostic detail the device needs. It handles 0 °C to 50 °C and up to 90% non-condensing humidity, so an unconditioned comms cupboard or plant room is well within its envelope. Bear in mind this is a media converter, not a switch: it has a single RJ45 port and converts one fibre link to one copper link. Fanning out to multiple devices requires a switch downstream.

Technical Specifications

Is It Right For You?

Condition Grades

Cosmetic grading describes the casing only. Every unit, whatever its grade, is tested to the same standard and carries the same warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a power adapter included?

No. This unit is supplied without its external power adapter, which is why it is priced accordingly. You will need to supply a compatible DC adapter, or mount the converter in a TP-Link MC1400 chassis, which powers it directly.

Do I need two of these?

Yes, in almost all cases. A media converter changes fibre to copper at one end, so a point-to-point fibre run needs a converter at each end — unless the far end terminates in a switch that already has a 1000BASE-LX SFP or fibre port.

Will it work with multi-mode fibre?

No. The MC210CS is a single-mode device operating at 1310 nm. Multi-mode fibre such as OM1 to OM4 requires a multi-mode converter like the MC200CM. Pairing a single-mode optic with multi-mode fibre gives an unreliable link or no link at all.

What fibre connector does it use?

A duplex SC/UPC connector. If your patch leads are LC-terminated you will need an SC-to-LC hybrid lead or an appropriate adapter.

Does it need configuring?

No. It is a fully unmanaged, plug-and-play device with no web interface, console port or firmware to configure. Auto-negotiation and Auto MDI/MDIX handle speed, duplex and cable polarity automatically.

Can it be rack-mounted?

Yes. It operates standalone on a desk or shelf, or slots into a TP-Link MC1400 rack chassis, which both houses and powers multiple converters — a practical way around the missing adapter if you are deploying several units.

What is shipping and delivery like?

Shipping costs apply based on size and destination — rates are calculated at checkout. Orders placed before the daily cut-off are typically dispatched the same business day from our Melbourne warehouse.