RF-over-Fiber Transmitters and Receivers Support 5G, CBRS, Satellite Applications
Optical Zonu Corporation recently released the OZ200 line of RF-over-Fiber (RFoF) transmitter and receiver modules, which can delver RFoF links with ultra high dynamic range (UHDR) greater than 65 dB, and up to 6 GHz of bandwidth. Each module can operate standalone or can be mounted into a 4-slot line card for the company’s 19-inch, 3RU J3U chassis. A full chassis enables up to 64 transmitter or receiver combinations per rack for high-density transport.
“The OZ200 UHDR capabilities support a broad range of emerging mission-critical applications including high-capacity 5G small-cell backhaul in the C-band and Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum, phased-array and radar RF distribution systems, and signal remoting for teleport and satcom ground stations,” Optical Zonu explained when introducing the transmitters and receivers. “Its compact size, light weight, and low power consumption also make it ideal for unmanned aerial vehicles and drones. The product can be optimized via managed RFoF infrastructure for frequency division duplex or time division duplex applications, offering unparalleled error vector magnitude [EVM].”
“Low EVM is critical for reliable cellular coverage since it directly impacts signal quality and data integrity,” observed Farzad Ghadooshahy, Optical Zonu’s chief technology officer. “While low EVM fiber links exist, maintaining consistently low EVM across a wide dynamic range has remained a challenge until now. The OZ200 product line sets a new standard, delivering ultra-low EVM across a dynamic range of 65 dB or more. This enables low-latency transport, minimal errors, and clear, reliable communication for even the most demanding cellular applications.”
The company pointed out the following performance and physical characteristics of the OZ200 product line.
- Broadband coverage: 30 MHz to 6 GHz (and down to 500 kHz)
- Ultra-wide dynamic range: >65 dB link budget and spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) for dense 256 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) achieving EVM of less than 2%, with the ability to support higher-order modulations.
- Precision gain tuning: Manual or automatic high-resolution gain control (MGC/AGC)
- Intelligent monitoring: Integrated signal-strength detectors, RF RMS power measurement, and local LED alarms.
- Digital management: Microcontroller-based control via USB-C with SNMPv3 readiness
- Ruggedized design: -40 degrees to +70 degrees Celsius operating case temperature, low EMI shielding, and 6.5-7 VDC single-supply power
Optical Zonu’s president and chief executive officer Meir Bartur concluded, “The new OZ200 product line boosts signal integrity and system performance, supporting a broader RF power range for long-haul fiber transport. Whether deployed as a lightweight standalone solution or within our J3U chassis, it integrates seamlessly with our leading managed RFoF and the NMS offered via CloudView network management system, which delivers advanced remote monitoring features like fault detection, terrain-based fiber path visualization, and precise fault localization using micro-OTDR data.”