Performance of Low-Cost Commercial Fiber-Optic Transceivers for Reference Frequency Distribution

Richard Dragonette, Joseph J. Suter

Abstract:	Precision time and frequency reference signals have been effectively disseminated using high-quality intricate fiber-optic distribution systems. The quality of signals distributed by such systems is excellent, but the cost of these systems makes them unavailable to many potential users. In this paper, a study of signal quality maintained using inexpensive commercial transmitter/receiver pairs is undertaken. Seven different transmitter/receiver pairs obtained from four different manufacturers hove been thoroughly tested using a 5 MHz sinusoid derived from a precision, temperature-controlled, crystal-controlled oscillator. The electrical signal output from each fiber-optic receiver was tested for spectral purity, single-sideband phase noise, and AM noise, and the results are tabulated and discussed without identification of the manufacturer or the equipment model number.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 24th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting December 1 - 3, 1992 Ritz-Carlton Hotel McLean, Virginia
Pages:	343 - 356
Cite this article:	Dragonette, Richard, Suter, Joseph J., "Performance of Low-Cost Commercial Fiber-Optic Transceivers for Reference Frequency Distribution," Proceedings of the 24th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting, McLean, Virginia, December 1992, pp. 343-356.
Full Paper:	ION Members/Non-Members: 1 Download Credit Sign In