Ordering information, Linear fiber optic lightlinks – Toner Cable Lightlinks (TM) L-Band Fiber Optic System User Manual
Page 2

”Toner Cable Equipment, Inc.
Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice.
Telephone:
Nationwide:
Fax:
E-mail:
Internet:
Linear Fiber Optic LightLinks™
215-675-2053
800-523-5947
215-675-7543
http://www.tonercable.com
Using Linear Fiber Optics for Direct Broadcast Satellite Reception
in Multiple Dwelling Units
The MDU distribution system shown in Figure 1 can be
used to provide DBS service to well over 100 units
without using coaxial cable longer than 150 feet, and
with negligible signal quality degradation. A single Ortel
model 3112M transmitter sends both polarizations
(which have been combined at the antenna onto a sin-
gle cable) to eight model 4112M receivers at secondary
distribution points throughout the property (e.g., differ-
ent floors of a high-rise building). The fiber optic cables
may be thousands of feet in length and still add less
than 1 dB of RF insertion loss, even at 2050 MHz.
From there the usual network of splitters and/or taps is
used to connect to approximately twenty individual
units per secondary distribution point. Off-air channels
can either be diplexed in at the secondary distribution
point, or added to the fiberoptic transport system.
Figure 2 shows the overall system performance as a
function of the gain of the antenna Low Noise Block
Downconvertor/Feed (LNBF). The gain typically varies
from one LNBF to the next, as well as over tempera-
ture since the LNBF must be outdoors.
The baseband energy per bit per noise density (Eb/N0)
varies little as a function of LNBF gain, eliminating the
need for either a manual gain adjustment or automatic
gain control (AGC). The installer merely connects the
LNBF output directly to the 3112M input connector
using an RG-6 cable. Threshold Eb/N0 is 5 to 6 dB, so
the 60 cm antenna yields nearly 10 dB rain margin.
Two-tone IM distortion products are less than -30 dBc
over the entire LNBF gain range.
Another problem with the all-coaxial approach is that
dc power must be provided to amplifiers and multi-
switches as well as to the LNBF. The coaxial cables
often must carry dc current through their center con-
ductors, further complicating both design and installa-
tion, and a single device failure can result in loss of
service to many customers. Using fiber partitions the
system into several small electrical networks, and
enhances overall reliability by considerably reducing
the number of active elements.
Ortel 3112M & 4112M LightLinks™ Transmitter & Receiver
A single wall-plug transformer power supply can be used
to power both the 3112M optical transmitter and the dual
stacked LNBF; the LNBF current is fed from the 3112M
via the center conductor of the antenna cable.
L-band signal distribution using Ortel’s inexpensive lin-
ear fiber optic transmitters and receivers dramatically
reduces engineering and installation costs in medium
and large MDUs, and completely eliminates multiswitch-
es. There is no penalty in terms of performance, so all
of the rain fade margin that was designed into the satel-
lite link budget is preserved. A further advantage is that
all of the satellite transponders are carried on a single
line, enabling multi-room distribution from a single drop.
ORDERING INFORMATION
Model
Description
3112M
Transmitter, 950-2050 MHz, Flanged Mount
4112M
Receiver, 950-2050 MHz, Flanged Mount
10347M
Transmitter, 950-2050 MHz, Plug-In
10447M
Receiver, 950-2050 MHz, Plug-In
10357A
Transmitter, IF, 10-200 MHz, Plug-In
10457A
Receiver, IF, 10-200 MHz, Plug-In
10990A
Rack Chassis for Plug-Ins, 19" x 3RU
10901A
Main Power Supply for Rack Chassis
10901B
Standby Power Supply for Rack Chassis
Figure 2: Eb/N0 vs LNBF Gain
LNBF Gain, dB
E
b
/N
0
, dB