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FSO Guide – Free Space Optics, Optical

Wireless

FSO (Free Space Optics, Laser, Optical

Wireless) Guide
Free Space Optics (FSO (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-
space_optical_communication)) communications, also called Optical Wireless
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_wireless_communications) (OW) or Infrared Laser,
refers to the transmission of modulated visible or infrared (IR) beams through the
atmosphere to obtain optical communications. Like fibre, Free Space Optics (FSO) uses
lasers to transmit data, but instead of enclosing the data stream in a glass fibre, it is
transmitted through the air. Free Space Optics (FSO) works on the same basic principle as
Infrared television remote controls, wireless keyboards or IRDA ports on laptops or cellular
phones.

History of Free Space Optics (FSO)

The engineering maturity of Free Space Optics (FSO) is often underestimated, due to a
misunderstanding of how long Free Space Optics (FSO) systems have been under
development. Historically, Free Space Optics (FSO) or optical wireless communications was
 first demonstrated by Alexander Graham Bell in the late nineteenth century (prior to his
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demonstration of the telephone!). Bell’s Free Space Optics (FSO) experiment converted
voice
10+ sounds
Gigabit into telephone
Wireless Networks signals and transmitted them between receivers through free
air
Homespace along a beam of light for
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About of some 600 feet. Calling his experimental
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Productsthe
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“photophone,” Bell considered thisSolutions
optical(https://www.cablefree.net/solutions/)
technology – and not the telephone –
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his pre-eminent invention because it did not require wires for transmission.
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Although Bell’s photophone never became a commercial reality, it demonstrated the basic
principle of optical communications. Essentially all of the engineering of today’s Free Space
Optics (FSO) or free space optical communications systems was done over the past 40
years or so, mostly for defense applications. By addressing the principal engineering
challenges of Free Space Optics (FSO), this aerospace/defence activity established a strong
foundation upon which today’s commercial laser-based Free Space Optics (FSO) systems
are based.

How Free Space Optics (FSO) Works

Free Space Optics (FSO) transmits invisible, eye-safe light beams from one “telescope” to
another using low power infrared lasers in the terahertz spectrum. The beams of light in Free
Space Optics (FSO) systems are transmitted by laser light focused on highly sensitive
photon detector receivers. These receivers are telescopic lenses able to collect the photon
stream and transmit digital data containing a mix of Internet messages, video images,
radio signals or computer files. Commercially available systems offer capacities in the
range of 100 Mbps to 2.5 Gbps, and demonstration systems report data rates as high as 160
Gbps.

Free Space Optics (FSO) systems can function over distances of several kilometres. As long
as there is a clear line of sight between the source and the destination, and enough
transmitter power, Free Space Optics (FSO) communication is possible.

FSO: Wireless Links at the Speed of Light

Unlike radio and microwave systems, Free Space Optics (FSO) is an optical technology and
no spectrum licensing or frequency coordination with other users is required, interference
from or to other systems or equipment is not a concern, and the point-to-point laser signal
is extremely difficult to intercept, and therefore secure. Data rates comparable to optical
fibre transmission can be carried by Free Space Optics (FSO) systems with very low error
rates, while the extremely narrow laser beam widths ensure that there is almost no practical
limit to the number of separate Free Space Optics (FSO) links that can be installed in a
given location.
 How Free Space Optics (FSO) benefits you

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FSO is free from licensing and regulation which translates into ease, speed and low cost of
deployment.
10+ SinceNetworks
Gigabit Wireless Free Space Optics (FSO) transceivers can transmit and receive through
windows, it is possible to mount Free
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the need(https://www.cablefree.net/products/) Solutions
to compete for roof space, simplifying (https://www.cablefree.net/solutions/)
wiring and cabling, and permitting Free
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Space Optics (FSO) equipment to operate in a very favourable environment. The only
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essential requirement for Free Space Optics (FSO) or optical wireless transmission is line of
sight between the two ends of the link.

For Metro Area Network (MAN) providers the last mile or even feet can be the most daunting.
Free Space Optics (FSO) networks can close this gap and allow new customers access to
high-speed MAN’s. Providers also can take advantage of the reduced risk of installing an
Free Space Optics (FSO) network which can later be redeployed.

The Market. Why FSO? Breaking the Bandwidth Bottleneck

Why FSO? The global telecommunications network has seen massive expansion over the
last few years. First came the tremendous growth of the optical fiber long-haul, wide-area
network (WAN), followed by a more recent emphasis on metropolitan area networks
(MANs). Meanwhile, local area networks (LANs) and gigabit Ethernet ports are being
deployed with a comparable growth rate. In order for this tremendous network capacity to
be exploited, and for the users to be able to utilize the broad array of new services
becoming available, network designers must provide a flexible and cost-effective means
for the users to access the telecommunications network. Presently, however, most local loop
network connections are limited to 1.5 Mbps (a T1 line). As a consequence, there is a strong
need for a high-bandwidth bridge (the “last mile” or “first mile”) between the LANs and the
MANs or WANs.

Top

A recent New York Times article reported that more than 100 million miles of optical fibre
was laid around the world in the last two years, as carriers reacted to the Internet
phenomenon and end users’ insatiable demand for bandwidth. The sheer scale of
connecting whole communities, cities and regions to that fiber optic cable or “backbone” is
something not many players understood well. Despite the huge investment in trenching and
optical cable, most of the fibre remains unlit, 80 to 90% of office, commercial and industrial
buildings are not connected to fibre, and transport prices are dropping dramatically.
 Free Space Optics (FSO) systems represent one of the most promising approaches for
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addressing the emerging broadband access market and its “last mile” bottleneck. Free
Space
10+ Optics
Gigabit (FSO)
Wireless systems offer many features, principal among them being low start-up
Networks
and
Homeoperational costs, rapid deployment,
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Broadband Bandwidth Alternatives
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Access technologies in general use today include telco-provisioned copper wire, wireless
Internet access, broadband RF/microwave, coaxial cable and direct optical fiber
connections (fiber to the building; fiber to the home). Telco/PTT telephone networks are still
trapped in the old Time Division Multiplex (TDM) based network infrastructure that rations
bandwidth to the customer in increments of 1.5 Mbps (T-1) or 2.024 Mbps (E-1). DSL
penetration rates have been throttled by slow deployment and the pricing strategies of the
PTTs. Cable modem access has had more success in residential markets, but suffers from
security and capacity problems, and is generally conditional on the user subscribing to a
package of cable TV channels. Wireless Internet access is still slow, and the tiny screen
renders it of little appeal for web browsing.

Broadband RF/microwave systems have severe limitations and are losing favor. The radio
spectrum is a scarce and expensive licensed commodity, sold or leased to the highest
bidder, or on a first-come first-served basis, and all too often, simply unavailable due to
congestion. As building owners have realized the value of their roof space, the price of roof
rights has risen sharply. Furthermore, radio equipment is not inexpensive, the maximum
data rates achievable with RF systems are low compared to optical fiber, and
communications channels are insecure and subject to interference from and to other
systems (a major constraint on the use of radio systems).

Free Space Optics (FSO) Advantages

Free space optical (FSO) systems offers a flexible networking solution that delivers on the
promise of broadband. Only free space optics or Free Space Optics (FSO) provides the
essential combination of qualities required to bring the traffic to the optical fiber backbone
– virtually unlimited bandwidth, low cost, ease and speed of deployment. Freedom from
licensing and regulation translates into ease, speed and low cost of deployment. Since Free
Space Optics (FSO) optical wireless transceivers can transmit and receive through windows,
it is possible to mount Free Space Optics (FSO) systems inside buildings, reducing the need
to compete for roof space, simplifying wiring and cabling, and permitting the equipment to
operate in a very favorable environment. The only essential for Free Space Optics (FSO) is
line of sight between the two ends of the link.
 Security and Free Space Optics (FSO)

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The common perception of wireless is that it offers less security than wireline connections. In
fact,
10+ Free Space
Gigabit Optics
Wireless (FSO) is far more secure than RF or other wireless-based
Networks
transmission technologies for several
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Space Optics (FSO) laser beams cannot Solutions (https://www.cablefree.net/solutions/)
be detected with spectrum analyzers or RF
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meters

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Free Space Optics (FSO) laser transmissions are optical and travel along a line of sight path
that cannot be intercepted easily. It requires a matching Free Space Optics (FSO)
transceiver carefully aligned to complete the transmission. Interception is very difficult and
extremely unlikely

The laser beams generated by Free Space Optics (FSO) systems are narrow and invisible,
making them harder to find and even harder to intercept and crack

Data can be transmitted over an encrypted connection adding to the degree of security
available in Free Space Optics (FSO) network transmissions.

Free Space Optics (FSO) Challenges

The advantages of free space optical wireless or Free Space Optics (FSO) do not come
without some cost. When light is transmitted through optical fiber, transmission integrity is
quite predictable – barring unforseen events such as backhoes or animal interference.
When light is transmitted through the air, as with Free Space Optics (FSO) optical wireless
systems, it must contend with a a complex and not always quantifiable subject – the
atmosphere.

Attenuation, Fog and Free Space Optics (FSO)

Fog substantially attenuates visible radiation, and it has a similar affect on the near-
infrared wavelengths that are employed in Free Space Optics (FSO) systems. Note that the
effect of fog on Free Space Optics (FSO) optical wireless radiation is entirely analogous to
the attenuation – and fades – suffered by RF wireless systems due to rainfall. Similar to the
case of rain attenuation with RF wireless, fog attenuation is not a “show-stopper” for Free
Space Optics (FSO) optical wireless, because the optical link can be engineered such that,
for a large fraction of the time, an acceptable power will be received even in the presence
of heavy fog. Free Space Optics (FSO) optical wireless-based communication systems can
be enhanced to yield even greater availabilities.
 (https://i0.wp.com/www.cablefree.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/CableFree-FSO-
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fog.png?ssl=1)
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Fog is a major source of attenuation of FSO (Free Space Optics) infrared signals
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Free Space Optics (FSO) and Physical Obstructions

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Free Space Optics (FSO) products which
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large receive optics will all but eliminate interference concerns from objects such as birds.
On a typical day, an object covering 98% of the receive aperture and all but 1 transmitter;
will not cause an Free Space Optics (FSO) link to drop out. Thus birds are unlikely to have
any impact on Free Space Optics (FSO) transmission.

Free Space Optics (FSO) Pointing Stability – Building Sway, Tower Movement

Only wide-beamwidth fixed pointed Free Space Optics (FSO) systems are capable of
handling the vast majority of movement found in deployments on buildings. Narrow beam
systems are unreliable, requiring manual re-alignment on a regular basis, due to building
movement. ‘Wide beam’ means more than 5milliradians. Narrow systems (1-2mRad) are
not reliable without a tracking system

The combination of effective beam divergence and a well matched receive Field-of-View
(FOV) provide for an extremely robust fixed pointed Free Space Optics (FSO) system
suitable for most deployments. Fixed-pointed Free Space Optics (FSO) systems are
generally preferred over actively-tracked Free Space Optics (FSO) systems due to their
lower cost.

Free Space Optics (FSO) and Scintillation

Performance of many Free Space Optics (FSO) optical wireless systems is adversely
affected by scintillation on bright sunny days; the effects of which are typically reflected in
BER statistics. Some optical wireless products have a unique combination of large aperture
receiver, widely spaced transmitters, finely tuned receive filtering, and automatic gain
control characteristics. In addition, certain optical wireless systems also apply a clock
recovery phase-lock-loop time constant that all but eliminate the affects of atmospheric
scintillation and jitter transference.

Solar Interference and Free Space Optics (FSO)

Solar interference in Free Space Optics (FSO) free space optical systems can be combated
in two ways. Optical narrowband filter proceeding the receive detector used to filter all but
the wavelength actually used for intersystem communications. To handle off-axis solar
energy, sophisticated spatial filters have been implemented in CableFree systems, allowing
them to operate unaffected by solar interference that is more than 1 degree off-axis.
 Free Space Optics (FSO) Reliability

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Employing an adaptive laser power (Automatic Transmit Power Control or ATPC) scheme to
dynamically
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Gigabit Wireless the laser power in response to weather conditions will improve the
reliability of Free Space Optics (FSO)
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lifetime by operating the laser at very low-
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stress conditions. In severe weather, the laser power is increased as needed to maintain the
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optical link – then decreased again as the weather clears. A TEC controller that maintains
the temperature of the laser transmitter diodes in the optimum region will maximize
reliability and lifetime, consistent with power output allowing the FSO optical wireless
system to operate more efficiently and reliably at higher power levels.

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