Model Ling and Analysis of a Radio over a Fiber System

Modelling and Analysis of a Radio over a Fibre System

Brunel University London

Student’s Name

Radio and Optical Communication systems

Instructor’s Name: R. Nilavan

Date: 28/02/2023
 Model Ling and Analysis of a Radio over a Fiber System

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction................................................................................................................2
2. Inclusive Radio over Fibre Communication System Design.....................................6
3. Fibre Link Modelling.................................................................................................6
4. Radio Link Modelling................................................................................................6
5. Spectrum Use, Emission Guidelines and Analysis....................................................8
6. Modelling Direct Intensity Modulated RoF Radio Link and Critical Analysis of
Performance 8
7. Conclusion...............................................................................................................10
References..........................................................................................................................11
Appendices........................................................................................................................12

Table of Figures

Figure 1: Optical data waveform.........................................................................................7

Figure 2: Direct Intensity Modulation.................................................................................8

Figure 3: Simulink connection of ARoF...........................................................................11

Figure 4: Temporal waveform in Simulink.......................................................................12

Figure 5: Simulink spectrum.............................................................................................12

 Model Ling and Analysis of a Radio over a Fiber System

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1. Introduction

The process by which a radio transmission modulates a light signal is known as radio-

over-fiber (RoF). To increase wireless access, this modulated signal is sent across an optical link.

For improved radio system performance with increased bandwidth for mobile communications,

the RoF system has been designed.

The infrastructure for optical and wireless access networks has been largely implemented

worldwide. Network operators can minimize the operational costs of their access networks,

including wireless ones, and more easily cover the capital expenditures of upcoming network

improvements when diverse access networks converge to a highly integrated network via a

shared optical feeder network. The convergent access network also makes it easier for different

network operators to share more of the network infrastructure. The transmission of radio signals

across optical fiber lines would be a method of streamlining the construction of remote BSs in

such a convergence scenario. In this project, MATLAB was used to simulate and analyze an RF

link and a radio over fiber link. The connection was modeled using Simulink.

The evaluation's objective was to take into account how radio over fiber communication

technologies function and how they are integrated into wireless communication networks. This

assignment focuses on the design of a radio over fiber communication system, with a particular

emphasis on simulating the system in the MATLAB Simulink environment and conducting an

analysis. This helps to pinpoint key operational parameters for the successful integration of such

systems in wireless infrastructure.

Advantages of RoF include:

 Model Ling and Analysis of a Radio over a Fiber System

1. Reduced price
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A simpler remote base station layout means cheaper infrastructure costs,

reduced power consumption by devices, and simpler maintenance, all of which

contribute to lower overall installation and maintenance costs. Another cost-

cutting measure is to employ low-cost Graded Index Polymer Optical Fiber.

2. Easy adaptation to technology

Fiber optics is built to accommodate gigabit speeds, which implies they will be

able to manage future network generations' speeds for years to come. Because

RoF technology is protocol and bit-rate transparent, it may be used with any

current or future technology.

3. Attenuation is low.

It is commonly known that signals transferred through optical fiber attenuate far

less than signals transmitted over other media, particularly wireless media. The

signal will travel longer utilizing optical fiber, decreasing the requirement for

repeaters.

4. Low level of complexity

RoF makes advantage of the Remote Station idea (RS). This station comprises

solely of an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter (with an optional frequency up

or down converter), amplifiers, and an antenna. This implies that the Base

Station's resource management and signal generating circuitry may be moved to

a centralized location and shared by numerous distant stations, simplifying the

architecture.
 Model Ling and Analysis of a Radio over a Fiber System

2. Inclusive Radio over Fibre Communication System Design

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A Radio Frequency (RF) sub-carrier is modulated onto an optical carrier for distribution

across a fiber network in Radio over Fibre (RoF) systems. An Analogue RoF (ARoF) connection

(also known as RoF) consists of an optical source, modulator, optical amplifiers and filters, an

optical channel, and a photodiode as a receiver, as well as electronic amplifiers and filters. ARoF

technology is gaining popularity because of its ability to deliver simplified antenna front ends,

higher capacity, and multi-wireless access coverage. A photo diode may convert an optical signal

to electrical impulses, which can then be supplied straight to a transmitting antenna to generate

an RF link (Al-Raweshidy and Komaki, 2002).

ARoF connections primarily transfer microwave and mm-wave communications over an

optical carrier using an intensity modulation approach. There are two fundamental ways for

transmitting microwave/mm-wave communications over traditional optical lines using intensity

modulation:

i. Direct intensity modulation and

ii. External modulation.

The laser beam's amplitude is directly modulated in accordance with the input RF Signal

via the Direct Modulation technology, commonly referred to as intensity modulation (IM).

Devices like MZM can be utilized in the external modulation approach to modulate the optical

carrier's phase. Because direct modulation is best for certain applications, external modulation is

preferable. Despite the fact that it results in an unfavorable wavelength chirp and significant

chromatic dispersion at high speeds, it is a cheap transmitter. The simplicity of intensity-

 Model Ling and Analysis of a Radio over a Fiber System

modulation (IM), which is based on a light detector, makes it the preferable method. For
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instance, a photodiode functions as a straightforward amplitude threshold detector.

In essence, radio over fiber is an analog optical link that delivers modulated radio frequency

signals. The optical fiber links in radio-over-fiber technology are used to send RF signals from a

central location to the distant antenna units (RAUS). It uplinks and downlinks RF signals. It

sends RF signals from base station to central station and vice versa.

Due to the increase in internet usage, voice over IP, streaming video and voice, and video on

demand, there is a high demand for network capacity. RoF systems can deliver this due to their

benefits including high bandwidth, immunity to radio frequency interference, low power

consumption, ability to operate with multiple operators and services, dynamic resource

allocation, etc. As a result, it is preferred over RF signal processing.

3. Fibre Link Modelling and Radio Link Modelling

Appendix A depicts a basic indirectly intensity modulated AROF connection with direct

detection system that may be modeled in the MATLAB Simulink environment. This system

contains an Amplitude Shift Keying modulator as an RF modulator, which modulates 1 Gbps

digital data onto a 32 GHz frequency RF carrier (mm wave). This modulated RF signal is sent

into a Mach-Zehnder Modulator, which is also supplied an optical signal as an optical carrier.

The optically modified signal is sent by an optical fiber with particular properties.

A light diode detects the received signal at the receiver. An electrical receiver is used to

demodulate the modulated RF signal.

 Model Ling and Analysis of a Radio over a Fiber System

Broadband laser sources with either direct or external modulation, a suitable transmission
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medium such as multi-mode fiber (MMF), single-mode fiber (SMF), or plastic optical fibre

(POF), and broadband photo-detectors or photo-receivers are the essential components of RoF

systems (Seeds & Williams, 2006; Capmany & Novak, 2007; Dagli, 1999). The laser source and

modulation mechanism are critical components in the performance of RoF applications.

The production of the optical signal to be conveyed in the RoF system is particularly

complex in the case of UWB transmissions. UWB is a radio technology intended for cable

replacement in household applications within tens of meters (picocell range), with high-

definition video and audio communications as a potential application (Duan et al., 2006).

The following figure shows the waveform formed by RoF data.

Figure 1: Optical data waveform

4. Spectrum Use, Emission Guidelines and Analysis

SMF, which is ideal for long-distance access applications, has received the majority of

attention in UWB RoF systems. RoF may be installed in residences and business buildings in

conjunction with MMF fibers to transmit baseband digital data that is compatible with 3.5 GHz

wireless signals.
 Model Ling and Analysis of a Radio over a Fiber System

The majority of UWB RoF systems have emphasized SMF, which is ideal for long-
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distance access applications. For baseband digital data transfer that supports 3.5 GHz wireless

signals, RoF in conjunction with MMF fibers can be installed inside of houses and business

buildings. MMF fibers' large core diameter, which is commonly 50 or 62.5 mm, makes

installation and maintenance within buildings simpler and less expensive than with SMF.

Across 100 m MMF, a RoF system utilizing VCSEL direct modulation of UWB impulse

signals in the 3.1–10.6 GHz range has been demonstrated. A wireless distance of 8 m at 2.5

gigabit/s or 4 m at 4 gigabit/s allows for error-free operation using FEC. Another recent

demonstration involved the production of impulse-radio UWB using DFB direct modulation and

transmission over 100 m GI-POF.

Duplex operation (downlink-uplink), appropriate length, and high performance optical

components are the primary requirements of RoF link architecture.

5. Modelling Direct Intensity Modulated RoF Radio Link and

Critical Analysis of Performance

The RF information stream modulates an electrical parameter of the light source in direct

intensity modulation. The current of the laser diode serving as the optical transmitter is the

parameter employed in practical connections. The simplest and most cost-effective design,

Intensity-Modulation Direct-Detection (IMDD), is represented in Figure 1. A photo diode is used

to identify objects in this design (PD). A semiconductor laser directly translates a small-signal

modulation of current (around a bias point set by a dc current) into a comparable small-signal

modulation of photon intensity in the direct-modulation process (around the average intensity at
 Model Ling and Analysis of a Radio over a Fiber System

the bias point). As a result, a single device functions as the optical source and the RF/optical
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modulator.

Figure 2: Direct Intensity Modulation

In this system, a wireless signal is modulated onto an optical carrier created by a Laser

Diode (LD) for the downlink at the central station, and the modulated optical signal is delivered

across a fiber optic cable. A PD detects the transferred optical signal at the base station. After

analogue signal processing, the recovered wireless signal is sent to an antenna. The received

signals from the antenna are routed to a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) for uplink signal

transmission from the base station to the central station, and the output of the amplifier is

modulated onto an optical carrier created by another LD. The optical signals generated are

forwarded to the central station for signal processing and detection.

Analog radio signals in RoF systems are modulated on the intensity of optical signals

(E/O conversion) before being broadcast via an optical fiber link using either directly modulated

lasers or external modulators. Directly modulated semiconductor lasers, such as DFB lasers and

VCSELs, are favoured due to their reduced cost, but externally modulated transmitters are

necessary for high frequencies.

 Model Ling and Analysis of a Radio over a Fiber System

6. Conclusion
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RoF distribution of UWB signals, also known as UWB-over-fibre, has attracted a lot of

interest in an effort to increase the UWB range by taking advantage of the merits that optical

fibers have; such as: large bandwidth, low loss, light weight, and immunity to electromagnetic

interference provide. In order to power the two inputs of the balanced photo-detector, optical

data pulses are divided into two equal pieces. To change the relative time delay between the two

signals, optical delay is used. The required UWB bandwidth is produced by adjusting the time-

delay difference and the pulse width of Gaussian pulses.An optical fiber is more helpful than

coaxial and other cables because of its huge bandwidth and extremely low attenuation.

These systems provide a number of benefits, including increased bandwidth, immunity to

RF interference, lower attenuation when compared to coaxial wire, and longevity. An overview

of current research in the field has been provided in this paper.

 Model Ling and Analysis of a Radio over a Fiber System

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References

Capmany J. Novak D. 2007 Microwave photonics combines two worlds. Nature

Photonics, 1 June 2007, 319 330

Dagli N. 1999 Wide-Bandwidth Lasers and Modulators for RF Photonics. IEEE Transactions on

Microwave Theory and Techniques, 47 7 July 1999, 1151 1171 , 0018-9480

Duan C. Pekhteryev G. Fang J. Nakache Y-P. Zhang J. Tajima K. Nishioka Y. Hirai H. 2006 Tra

nsmitting multiple HD video streams over UWB links, Proceedings of Consumer

Communications and Networking Conference, 691 695 , 1-42440-085-6 Las Vegas,

United States, January 2006

H. Al-Raweshidy, S. Komaki, "Radio over Fibre Technology for Mobile Communication

Networks" , Artech House, 685 Canton Street, MA 02062 , pp. 136-138, 2002

S. Abdollahi, Fully-photonic digital radio over fibre for future super-broadband access network

applications, PhD thesis, Brunel University, 2012

C. H. Cox, , "Analog Optical Links", Cambridge University Press, , Cambridge UK, 2004

G. L. Li and P. K. L. Yu, "Optical Intensity Modulators for Digital and Analog Applications",

Journal of Light wave Technology. Vol. 21, , pp. 2010-2030, 2003

Seeds A. J. Williams K. J. 2006 Microwave photonics. IEEE Journal of Lightwave

Technology, 24 12 December 2006, 4628-4641

V A Thomas, S Ghafoor, M El-Hajjar and L Hanzo, The “Rap” on RoF, IEEE Microwave

Magazine, Oct. 2015.

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Appendices

Appendix A: AROF model in Simulink

Figure 3: Simulink connection of ARoF

 Model Ling and Analysis of a Radio over a Fiber System

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Appendix B: Temporal waveform

Figure 4: Temporal waveform in Simulink

Appendix C: The Spectrum Formed

Figure 5: Simulink spectrum