Basic Fiber Optic

Systems

Calculation of parameters
 Basic Fiber Optic Systems
In Fiber Optic installations,
manufacturers of optical equipment For the design of Fiber Optic
provide sufficient information for the links, two important factors must
user who wishes to implement a basic be taken into account:
point-to-point connection using their
equipment

Maximum Bandwidth:
maximum data rate that an
optical communications
system can support with a
minimum of signal
distortion
Total link loss: total loss of light
power at the fiber optic link due
to all factors including connectors,
splices, fiber attenuation, cable
bends, and such factors

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 Single-Mode Optical Fiber

Single-mode fiber
cables are more
economical and have
optical wavelengths of
1310 and 1550nm
The single-mode fiber
has the capacity to
transmit the highest
possible bandwidth
and are ideal for long-
distance transmission
links

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 Fiber Optic Multimode
The 62.5 / 125 fiber is
the standard for LAN
communications, as
well as Ethernet,
Token Ring and FDDI,
and is suitable for
wavelengths of 850
and 1310nm

The equipment often used are LEDs as

light generators, for short distances
saving on optical equipment can
balance the cost

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 Basic Fiber Optic Systems

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 Procedure - Fiber Optic
Recommendations for fiber diameter Optics:
8/125, 50/125, 62.5 / 125, 100/140

Maximum recommended attenuation for Optical Fiber in dB / Km (AN)

M
A Maximum Fiber Optic Bandwidth (MHz x Km) at the recommended working
wavelength
K
E Maximum Recommended Fiber Optic Length and Maximum Attenuation Specified for
R Equipment

Receiver sensitivity of the equipment to the appropriate BER, average output

power of the transmitter equipment, dynamic receiver range

If the manufacturer makes maximum losses and the receiver has a full dynamic range (operates at both minimum and maximum light output), the
specifications for receiver sensitivity and average output power of the transmitter are not necessary

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 I
Procedure - Fiber Optic
N
S
T
A
L
Number of Optical
A Optical Losses due
Number of Fiber Connections
T Total Length of to other possible
Required Splices and Losses per
I Fiber Optic Link components of
and Losses in Each Connection
O the system
(Design Margin)
N

P
L
A
N

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 Procedimiento - Fibra Óptica
E
V
A Pérdidas en los Empalmes:
L Atenuación de la fibra óptica empalmes a dB/empalme
U a la longitud de onda de pérdidas de conexión, Margen de Diseño atenuación
A trabajo: distancia en Km conexiones a dB/conexión total del enlace
C empleando dB/Km pérdidas de otros posibles
I componentes
Ó
N

T
É Potencia media de salida del Sensibilidad del receptor con
C transmisor – potencia de Rango dinámico del receptor el BER deseando márgen de
N entrada al receptor reserva
El márgen de reserva debe ser mayor a cero para un diseño
I adecuado del sistema

C
A

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 EXAMPLE 1 - Fiber Optic Selection
A fiber optic link must be designed to provide point-to-point data communications between two PCs (see
figure). An optical communications equipment has been selected that is compatible with the equipment of
the pc (adequate electrical interface and communications protocol). The optical fiber specifications
recommended by the equipment manufacturer are presented in the table. In addition the dynamic range of
the receiver is valid from zero to the maximum power of the transmitter 0 to 10dB. The length of the cable
through an external route has been measured and is 1.2Km. Due to the nature of the installation, four
separate fiber optic cables will be required to complete the connection. A connection panel will be provided
at both ends to easily connect the interconnection cables. What type of optical fiber should be selected for
installation?

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 EXAMPLE 2 - Fiber Optic Selection
A LAN section should be expanded on a plant using fiber optics. Two fiber-optic LAN repeaters specifically
designed for this purpose will be considered for this link. The manufacturers of the repeaters provide the
following information for the optical fiber to be used for this equipment:
Working wavelength of the equipment 850nm

Type of Fiber Optic Multimode 62,5/125 AN=0,29

Fiber BandWidth 100 MHz x Km

Maximum Fiber Attenuation 5,0 dB x Km

Maximum Fiber Length 1 Km

Receiver Dynamic Range Full Range

The equipment manufacturer assumes that the optical fiber will not be spliced, that only two connectors will
be required for the equipment and that no further losses will be added to the link.
The measured length of the fiber optic link was 0.7Km. The fiber optic cable will be the one indicated for this
link and will not need interconnecting panels or splices. What type of optical fiber will be needed to make
this link operational? How will the design be?

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 Fiber Optic Link Elements Symbols

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 Fiber Optic Link Elements Symbols

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 It consists of a light
Optical Links
source (1310 or Light to RF
1550nm), a DFB converter,
AM Modulated amplification and
laser, power supply, Optical receiver
Amplitude monitoring system.
AGC system, Optical Fiber (conversion to
preamplifier and Optical
final RF) Receiving level from
circuits for Transmitter
monitoring - 1dBm to + 3dBm

Optical levels are specified in dBm (decibels above or

below 1mW)
• Total loss of optical power of the section The optical signal level at the receive site on a link is
• Losses by connectors, splices and couplers calculated:
• The operating specifications required for the link
NvOR = NvOT - P

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 Nominal Optical Output Power
Receiver Sensitivity
A fiber optic link is used to connect a remote video surveillance
camera to a monitor that is 3km away. The camera is a high
quality model with 10MHz bandwidth and a video output in the
NTSC standard. A manufacturer of optical equipment has been
found that can convert 10MHz NTSC electrical signals into
optical transmission signal and their equipment specifications
are as follows:
Working wavelength of the equipment 1310nm

Type of Fiber Optic Multimode 62,5/125 AN=0,29

Fiber BandWidth 300 MHz x Km

Two connection panels and two splices are Nominal Optical Output Power -15 dBm
required for installation. Can this optical Receiver Sensitivity - 25dBm a SIN 68 dB
equipment be used? If so, what optical fiber Maximum Fiber Length 3 Km
would be needed?
Receiver Dynamic Range -20 dBm a – 25dBm

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 Nominal Optical Output Power
Receiver Sensitivity
Information from the manufacturer: Calculations:
 Losses in the optical fiber to 1310nm?
 Recommendation for FO diameter = 62.5 / 125  3.0 Km long to? DB / Km
 Attenuation of the optical fiber to be determined  0.2dB splicing losses
 AN of 0.29
 BW = 300 MHz / Km
 2.0dB connection losses
 Maximum length 3Km  Optical range 1.0dB
 0.1dB splicing losses  Total loss of the link?
 1.0dB connections losses  Average transmitter output power =
 Receiver sensitivity = -25dBm to 68 S / N -15dBm
 Average transmitter output power = -15 dBm  Receiver input power =?
 Dynamic range of the receiver from -20 to  Dynamic receiver range -20 to -25 dBm
-25dBm
 Estimated Design Range = 2dB  Receiver sensitivity at 68dB S / N = -25dBm

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 Nominal Optical Output Power
Receiver Sensitivity
Receiver Input Power = Remaining range + receiver sensitivity
= 0 dB + (-25dBm)
= -25 dBm

Total Link Loss = Average output power transmitter - power receiver input
= (-15dBm) – (-25dBm)
= 10 dB

Losses in the Optical Fiber = Losses total link - Losses connection - Optical margin - Losses
joints
= 10 – 2 -2 -0,2
= 5,8 dB
Fiber Optic Attenuation = 5,8 dB/ 3,0Km
= 1,9 dB/Km

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 BANDWIDTH CALCULATION
- Direct Measurement method, requires a time expenditure and requires sophisticated measurement equipment.
- Multimode Fiber: The transmission bandwidth is limited by optical fiber parameters such as modal dispersion and
chromatic dispersion and also by parameters of the optical equipment, light generators and time of rise (response) of
the photodetector.
- In order to get closer to the maximum transmission speed of multimode fibers, very precise fiber and equipment data
must be obtained from the manufacturer:

- Fiber Data:
- Modal bandwidth of the optical fiber (at the working wavelength) MHz x Km B (modal MHzxKm)
- Chromatic dispersion of the fiber (at the working wavelength): ns / nm x Km Dcromat (ns / nm x Km)
- Total length of installed fiber Km dinstal (Km)
- Length of fiber optic plant Km Dfábrica (Km)
- Gamma, concatenation / reduction gamma 

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 BANDWIDTH CALCULATION

1. The electrical bandwidth of the system (Bsis.elect (MHz)) must be determined

from the required data rate in Mbps

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 BANDWIDTH CALCULATION

2. Calculate unknown parameters :

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 BANDWIDTH CALCULATION
3 Calculate the rise time attributable to the equipment parameters

4. Calculate the values for the total rise time of the fiber

5. The modal bandwidth for the length of the optical fiber

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 BANDWIDTH CALCULATION
6. he modal bandwidth of the optical fiber is converted into electrical modal
bandwidth.

7. The electric bandwidth is converted into modal upload time

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 EXERCISE 1. BANDWIDTH CALCULATION

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 EXERCISE 2. BANDWIDTH CALCULATION

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 BANDWIDTH CALCULATION
- Direct Measurement method, requires a time expenditure and requires a sophisticated measurement equipment.
- FIBER MONOMODO: The transmission bandwidth is limited by the material chromatic dispersion of the optical fiber and
by the chromatic waveguide dispersion, which is specified in the picosecond / nanometer x Km (ps / nm x Km) form. It is
also limited by equipment parameters such as the light generator and photodetector rise times.
- There are conventional fibers with a near zero dispersion at the working wavelength of 1310nm so they support very
high bandwidths.
- Fibers with dispersion close to zero are available at 1550nm

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 BANDWIDTH CALCULATION

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY
 MARTÍN PEREDA, José Antonio. Sistemas y redes ópticas de comunicaciones. Pearson Prentice Hall. 2004
 NERI VELA, Rodolfo. Líneas de transmisión. McGraw Hill
 ITU-T. Normas aplicables a las fibras ópticas y a las redes de comunicaciones por fibra óptica. Ginebra, SW, 2000
 ROSSI, B. Fundamentos de Geometría Óptica. Reverte. 1996
 TOMASI, Wayne. Sistemas de Comunicaciones Electrónicas. Prentice Hall
 MANUALES de fabricantes de fibras ópticas y dispositivos
 UNIÓN INTERNACIONAL DE TELECOMUNICACIONES. Recomendaciones UIT-R
 POWERS, John. Fiber Optic System. McGraw Hill International Edition. 1999
 RAPPAPORT, T. Wireless Communications principles and practice. Prentice Hall 1996

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