Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:46:30 -0600
From: Michael DuVernois <michael.duvernois@icecube.wisc.edu>
Subject: [ROCSTAR] RF over Fiber comments/outline

So, basically there are three setups being considered for the ARA
stations:
- 1 (baseline) digitizer electronics down the hole
- 2 (proposed this summer) digitizers on the surface above the hole,
LMR-1200 down the hole, equalizer network
- 3 (from this fall) analog RF over fiber up to digitizer

- 1 Pro: only digital communications; Con: packing the electronics
down the hole, digital communications
- 2 Pro: conceptually straightforward, easier electronics access,
trigger formation; Con: expensive, thick cables
- 3 Pro: commercial product, cheaper than coax; Con: potentially
power, still being evaluated

The ViaLite 100-1000MHz commercially available RF over Fiber Tx and
Rx pairs were tested at UH and UW due to the very generous loaner
equipment. 2.5W per pair. Excellent signal fidelity. Some care needed
matching the input level (LNA gain) to the optical system to ensure
maximum dynamic range.

Two further, possible ideas related to this:
- One could stack the RF signals with upconversion ahead of the Tx
and downconvert after the Rx, might need to send the LOs along as
well though for phase coherence
- One could run all of the fibers from the three stations (four holes
per station, four antennas per hole) to a single communication and
power hub "superstation"

Additional units (Optical Zonu ->UH, Hamamatsu ->UW) are being
evaluated, and I think there'll be a lot of discussion of this at the
March meeting.

Links:
http://www.vialite.com/products/general/general.html
http://point2point.co.uk/products/index1.html
http://www.fermionics.com/opticalreceiver.html
http://sales.hamamatsu.com/en/products/solid-state-division/ingaas-pin-photo
diodes.php
http://www.jdsu.com/en-us/Optical-Communications/Products/a-z-product-list/P
ages/modulator-dual-parallel-mach-zehnder-dpmz.aspx
http://opticalzonu.com/zonunews