Interference Sensitivity of Digital Receivers in Fiber-Radio Distribution Networks

Abstract

Fiber-radio distribution networks have been investigated by several authors recently. In such networks wideband access of several subscribers is provided with the advantage of easy installation and reduced maintenance costs (Fig.1). Due to the wireless connection in the last few hundred meters some mobility of the users is also tolerated. Much effort has been carried out to reduce the complexity of the base stations. Various solutions are proposed for the optical generation and distribution of the microwave or millimeter-wave (MW/MMW) carriers in the network. These solutions are compared to each other in term of phase noise usually. Phase noise of the MW/MMW carrier results in a bit error rate (BER) degradation in the digital channel. System trials are usually performed on individual fiber-radio links. However, a real network incorporates multiple picocells, which introduce new sources of BER degradation. In the radio channels RF interference (RFI) among neighboring transmitters should be considered as one main reason of BER degradation.