Free-Space Optics

This picture was barrowed from

http://www.freespaceoptics.org/.
What Free-Space Optics (FSO) is:
• FSO is a wireless technology that
transmits data via laser beams.
• FSO uses light to transmit data between
buildings that have clear a line of sight
(LOS).
– There are other applications for FSO.
• Electronics
• Aerospace
 Why use FSO:
• FSO can send large amounts of data (around
2.5 Gbps of data).
• No need to get a license, the spectrum used is
an unlicensed worldwide.
• Can transmit at distances around 4 km (almost 2
and one half miles).
• The cost is often less than that of using fiber
optic cables.
• FSO systems can be installed quickly (in days).
• Because it uses light there is no RF interference.
• Virtually no Fresnel Zone compared to RF.
 FSO & Other technologies
The chart below was barrowed from Computer Networking by Row and Schuh.
 How FSO works:
• FSO systems use optical wireless link heads each having:
– a transceiver with a laser or LED transmitter
– a lens or telescope (can have more that one)
• shaping overcomes building movement
– a receiver usually a semiconductor
– May also employ servo motors, stepping motors, voice
coils, mirrors, quad detectors, CCD arrays, and even
liquid crystals and micro-electromechanical systems
(MEMS) for tracking and acquisition.
• FSO operates in the infrared (IR) range around 850 and
1550 nm (frequencies around 200 THz).
• FSO is protocol transparent (IP, ATM, voice, video, etc…).
• FSO can use Power Over Ethernet (PoE).
 Issues with FSO
• Actual transmission rates are weather dependent.
• Atmospheric attenuation is variable and hard to predict.
• Distance is limited
• Vendor max range specifications can be misleading.
– Lack of standards as of Aug. 2004 ITU still working on
802.16g (Coexistence in License-Exempt bands).
• FSO may not work well in some locations
– Fog, dust storms, scintillation
• Compared to fiber-optics higher launch power is required
to get useful distance
 What is Being Done
• LEDs and Fresnel type lenses help reduce
power requirements
• Wide-beam technology reduces effects of:
– Building movement
– scintillation, and shimmer
• FSO and microwave hybrid systems to
overcome distance, fog, and dust.
• Parallel lasers help integrity and increase the
amount of data that can be transmitted.
• Use of link-budgets to check vendor claims
• Continued standards development
 References
• Free-Space Optics: Enabling Optical Connectivity in
Today's Networks
By Heinz Willebrand, Ph.D.,, Baksheesh S. Ghuman
Sams Publishing 2001/12/21
• “Free Space Optics (FSO), Optical Wireless, Infrared
Fixed Wireless Access, Wireless Broadband, Laser”.
Copyright 2000 CableFree Solutions Limited. Retrieved
from http://www.cablefreesolutions.com/
• Isaac I. Kim and Eric Korevaar, “Availability of Free
Space Optics (FSO)and hybrid FSO/RF systems”
• Rowe, Schuf. Computer Networking. (2005). Pearson
Education, Inc.