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Product overview

RFOptic’s Ultra RF over Fiber 12GHz Transmitters & Receivers operate from 100MHz  12GHz and are commonly used for applications in the X band, such as remote antenna and RF over Fiber systems for 5G testing. Their compact design and relatively low power consumption make them ideal for standalone and subsystem applications. The modules are available with FC/APC or SC/APC connectors and SMA RF ports.

The RFoF 12GHz Ultra is designed to meet the needs of the RF over Fiber for 5G testing (at 7.1GHz and above) and can handle 5G and 6G cellular traffic with better ACLR and EVM.

Each 12GHz link includes a transmitter (Tx), and a receiver (Rx) module.  These modules may be monitored and controlled by the RFOptic configuration tool software under MS Windows OS using USB-C connection. Optionally, the Tx module may be ordered with a built-in pre-amplifier to improve the Noise Figure of the link, and/or a post-amplifier in the Rx module to increase the gain of the RFoF link.

The RFoF 12GHz ULTRA modules share the small dimensions of the RFoF Programmable Series and can be installed in 2U high-density subsystems, accommodating up to 40 independent transmitters / receivers or 20 half bidirectional terminals . Furthermore, the compact Ultra modules are ideal for subsystems (including DWDM) where up to 8 modules can be installed in each 1U 19” Generic enclosure or up to 4 per 1U 19” Removable enclosure featuring hot-swappable modules.

Key Features

  • Frequency Range: 100MHz -12GHz
  • High input P1dB compression point
  • Compact dimensions
  • USB C Monitoring and control interface
  • Low power consumption
  • Operates at 1550nm and 1310 nm
  • Operating temperature from -40o C to +70o C
  • Option to include pre- and post-amplifiers
  • Contact us for WDM solutions.

Enclosure level software features

  • Remote Management and Control (M&C) for enclosed modules is via USB-C
  • RFoF module level information includes temperature and optical power
  • Full control of all Tx and Rx modules
  • Configurable optical level alarm
  • Secure communication with M&C over HTTPS with user-specified SSL PKI credentials
  • Ethernet configuration supports DHCP and static assignment
  • Supports manual, local, or NTP time zone setup
  • Support features include RFoF system log and service package software updates

12GHz Ultra applications

The RF over Fiber ULTRA 12GHz links operate from 100MHz – 12GHz. Their compact design and relatively low power consumption make them ideal for standalone and subsystem applications.

These RFoF links are designed to meet the needs of the Electronic Warfare market and, interestingly, those of 5G RF over Fiber applications, including testing, remoting, and Distributed Access (DAS) now reaching 7.1GHz and above. In addition, RFoF ULTRA links feature high SFDR and therefore can handle 5G and 6G cellular traffic with better ACLR and EVM..

In general, 12GHz RF over Fiber offers a good price performance compromise and can be used for the same applications as those using our HSFDR 12GHz modules, such as 5G testing, remote antenna for Electronic Warfare and Radar, as well as for Optical Delay Lines. RFoF links provide superior performance to coaxial cables, since even a short distance of several feet or meters of coaxial cable at high frequencies introduces unacceptable insertion losses.

Main popular applications include: