RFoF for Broadcast Audio Video Applications

TV broadcast companies and audio applications for events must provide high-quality audio and video throughputs. Sometimes this requires increasing the range of the sensors (audio and video) over a few kilometers. Since using coax cable is in such a case impractical, RF over Fiber has become the preferred solution. RFOptic’s new series of programmable RFoF linking Tx and Rx enhances the broadcaster’s coverage by transporting RF signals between RF audio and video antennas to their receivers over long distances.

It can carry any RF signal within the range of 0.5 MHz to 3 GHz or 0.5MHz to 6 GHz with built-in LNA (low noise amplifier) generating the lowest noise figure of about 5 dB using software. As a result, the MDS (minimum detectable signal) increases from 10dB to 20 dB which enables to transfer easily low signals of even -120 dBm. Furthermore the gain at the Tx and Rx utilizes 30 dB Attenuator with 0.5dB resolution to adjust. This is highly practical when the same gain of different links must use a different single mode fiber link. The gain control enables the broadcaster to tune each link to the required gain.

Furthermore, the coverage of wireless microphones can also be extended by remotely placing antennas farther away from the audio receiver. The optical Tx module converts the input RF signal to an optical signal, which is transported over a long fiber optic cable run to reach the optical Rx module, where the optical signal is converted back into its original RF form. This functionality extents the range of the audio sensitive microphones.

The option to activate an LNA by software can also be used for surveillance cameras without line of sight to the control room. This is important for strategic sites such as mines, oil facilities, security fences etc. The user interface is a micro-USB similar to any mobile or smart phone where the software runs on Windows 7 and up.

Broadcast Applications | RF Over Fiber Converters