Proposal and performance evaluation of a Fiber-To-The-Antenna system for video distribution operating in the S-band

It is well known that fiber-radio schemes merge the high speed of the optical links with the wide-coverage and mobility features of wireless systems. In this regard, we present the performance evaluation of a hybrid fiber-radio communication system for video distribution operating in the S-band. We demonstrate experimentally the generation of a series of microwave passband windows over 0.01-10 GHz range obtained by the interaction of an externally modulated multimode laser diode emitting at 1.55 µm associated to the chromatic dispersion parameter of an optical fiber as well as the length of the optical link. Also, demonstrated experimentally is the transmission of TV-signal coded on the microwave signals located at 2.27 GHz and 4.54 GHz, its propagation over an optical link of 25.24 km, and finally its distribution to multiple users by using an antenna. The originality of this work resides in the fact that the filtered microwave signals used as electrical carriers are function of the distance between the central site and the antenna; therefore it is possible to assign a particular microwave passband for certain services. Experimental results allow us to demonstrate that the Fiber-To-The-Antenna scheme is a promising technique for multiservice distribution.