2017 International Conference on Computer, Communications and Electronics (Comptelix)
Manipal University Jaipur, Malaviya National Institute o/Technology Jaipur & IRISWORLD, July 01-02,2017
Performance Analysis of Free Space Optical
Communication System for S, C and L band
Deeksha Jain', Dr. Rekha Mehra2, ' 2
Dept. of ECE, Govt. Engineering College, Ajmer
Ajmer (Raj.), 305001, India
.
Email: jaindeeksha311@gmail.com
Abstract- Free Space Optics (FSO) link offers a wide bandwidth
with license free bands worldwide. But the link capacity and
availability is always a major concern in the
atmospheric conditions. Thus the reliability of the link is highly
dependent on weather which attenuates the signal strength under
adverse weather. This paper primarily describes the effects of
bad weather conditions on FSO link within 500 m range for an
attenuation of up to 70 dB/km. The optical wavelength channel
allocation for CWDM systems are analyzed for a bit rate of 10
Gbps. Simulation parameters such as Quality factor, minimum
BER (bit error rate) and Eye diagram are studied to have the
idea of system performance using OPTISYSTEM
Optiwave software. Power spectrum at different wavelengths of
S-band, C-band and L-band windows are analyzed so that the
suitable WDM system based on FSO can be designed.
Keywords-Attenuation, Bi t error rate (BER), C-band, Free space
optics (FSO), L-band, S-band and Wavelength
Multip lexing (WDM).
I. INTRODUCTION
Presently, there is an increasing demand for multimedia
services with a very high quality of service. Optical fibers
have been used for years to cater the ever increasing demand
for high bandwidth. But the reach of these systems become
difficult in the remote areas where the deployment of optical
fiber is not feasible. Also, this will not be a cost-effective
solution. FSO systems [1,2] can be used as a better alternative,
to optical fibers or to currently available access technologies,
for last mile access[3-5] with multiGigabit rate networks. FSO
provides local area network (LAN)-to-LAN connection for
enterprise/campus, robustness, license free bands, easily
deployable, high data rate and no signal interference [6].
Despite of its so many advantages, the link is highly
susceptible to attenuation due to weather conditions and
turbulence [7]. The loss in the light beam is mainly caused by
absorption due to molecular diffusion and scattering caused by
rain, fog, snow and haze [8,9]. Out of which fog is a severe
weather condition. Atmospheric turbulence [10] occurs due to
the variation in refractive index profile. FSO is a line-of-sight
(LOS) technology, thus transmitter and receiver must be kept
aligned. This limits the performance of the link leading to
degradation in range, capacity and availability of link caused
by attenuation. Thus full utilization of FSO link is only
possible when the influence of various weather conditions are
properly characterize [11-13].
978-1-5090-4708-6/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE
,
In this paper, three optical bands: S-band, C-band and L-band
are compared for the allocation of channels in CWDM and
different hybrid WDM networks. The link performance can be
enhanced by using Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA).
The combination of S, C and L bands can also be preferred
among other bands because they lie in an area of low
absorption [14]. This paper mainly deals on finding the best
suitable optical band for channel allocation in WDM networks
under adverse weather conditions in FSO link. The
comparison of optical bands is made on the basis of various
7.0 of simulation parameters like Q factor, minimum BER, eye
diagram and received signal power. The output of system is
also compared on the basis of NRZ and RZ modulation
formats. Table 1 below describes the comparison of work with
previous work for C-band. The remaining paper is designed as
follows: Section II describes the FSO system. Section III and
Division
IV provides the analysis of system using BER analyzer and
NRZ and RZ modulation format respectively. Section V
finally concludes the paper.
II. FSO SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
FSO system consists of a transmitter, propagation channel and
a receiver. The optical transmitter consists of a message signal
generated through a bit sequence generator (in Gbps) which is
a pseudo random bit sequence generator (PRBS). The PRBS
signal is passed through the electrical pulse generator, viz
NRZ (Non-Return To Zero) or RZ (Return To Zero) which
converts the bit sequence (in the form of 0 and 1) into an
electrical pulse. This NRZ pulse and a CW laser source is
modulated using a Mach Zender Modulator (MZM). MZM is
an electro optic modulator. The modulated optical signal is
transmitted into the FSO channel through the transmitting
antenna. The characteristics of a signal is hindered in this free
space channel due to various weather conditions. At receiver,
the optical signal is received through the receiving antenna.
The received signal is amplified by an EDFA amplifier which
provides a loss of less than 0.2 dB/km in the 1550 nm
window. This amplified optical signal is then converted into
an electrical signal using a suitable photodetector. The
photodetector used here is APD (Avalanche Photo Diode).
The LPF (low pass filter) pass the low frequency signals and
rejects the high frequency signal in the form of noise. The
performance of a received electrical signal is analyzed using
BER analyzer. Simulation parameters used in the system are
as follows: Input Power: 15 mW, Bit rate: 10 Gbps, Link
183
 length: 500 m, Length of ofEDFA:
EDFA: 5 m, AlW,
m , Responsivity: 11 AlW, where, Yt(A) and T(A,L)
T (A,L) represents the total
ofthe
Gain of amplifier: 3 and Photodetector: APD.
the amplifier: attenuation/extinction coefficient and transmittance of of
atmosphere at wavelength A Arespectively. Prand Ptrespectively
Table I: Comparison of
ofthe proposed work
the proposed work with
with previous
previous work
work for
for 1550 represents the received and transmitted power. LL is the
nm wavelength
nm wavelength transmission path length. The atmospheric attenuation
Q
Q Bit
Bit coefficient can be expressed as:[19]
Work
Work Attenuation
Attenuation BER
BER
Factor
Factor Rate
Rate
Shaina et al 2.5 YtW=Ua:J OJ +a...dOJ+~1Dl OJ+~al OJ (4)
(4)
70 dB/km 0.00153508 2.59
[15] Gbps
Abd Allah J. 20 dB/km where, ami
amJ and a al are respectively represents the absorption
a al
2.5
Shakir et al (without -- 21.08
Gbps coefficient for molecular and aerosol, and ßmJ �mJ amd �ßalal
[16] EDFA)
represents the scattering coefficients for molecular and aerosol
Proposed 10
10
70 dB/km 0.00160863 2.93428 respectively. The absorption attenuation coefficient can be
work Gbps
20 dB/km minimized by choosing appropriate low absorption band
Proposed
Proposed 10
10
work
(without 0 45.9673
Gbps
transmission window, the attenuation
attenuation coefficient is thus
EDFA) dominated by scattering coefficient and is given by:
by:[19]
[19]

YtW=~al °J (5)
(5)

Kruse model and Kim model were developed to link the

~~:
~:::-~~~P1Ii.~::::::::::::::::::::'" "' ~
visibility V and attenuation ßA
�A of
of a FSO link. Kruse model was
____ ~
... ~
: :h:h:':h:':':':h:,:,:,:! :::hh developed for dense haze, hence, Kim model is the
~r.,A"1pI' '''- ofKim
modification of Kim model and is given by: [19]
"5pIe.r.l,lt~) [

vOan) - lO l~:~o Tdl (i:..)-.ii (6)

(6)
]0 ~<)
~~ 1It:'m8mifU:

{1.6
where, TTth Ao is the maximum
th is the transmittance threshold, Ao
spectrum ofof the solar band and ()Ö is the particle size related
coefficient and is given by: [19]
:hhh'hhhh'~
(\Icj""'' ' 1.6 for V'>50km
£or\l> 50km
13
13 for 66 lbn<V<
£or km<V<50 km
5 0 km
{
&= 0 .1 6V+034
0.16V + 034 for 11 km<V<6
£or km<V<6 kmkm (7)
(7)
Fig.1.
Fig. l . FSO System V --0.5
V 05 for 0.5 km<V<
£or05 lbn<V<ll km
lbn
oo for V<O.5 km
£orV<05km
III. SIMULA nON RESUL
SIMULATION TS USING BER ANALYZER
RESULTS
of three optical bands
In the proposed work, the performance of
are analyzed using BER analyzer. Bit Error Rate (BER) (BER) The performance ofof the system for the three optical bands are
corresponds to the maximum error rate present in the reception checked at 5 dB, 20 dB, 40 dB and 70 dB using BER analyzer.
of bits in the communication systems. For reliable
of
ofBER
communication, ideally the value of 10-99•
BER is equal to 10- A. S-Band
The transmitter of of the FSO link is operated at various
BER=
BER=
No _. ofll
N~ afllit;
iJt; ill erra r
ilJ.ernJr
(1)
(1) wavelengths of of S-band. The wavelengths tested for different
, IT
oot;,l
ta!! oo.oflliJt;
oo.afilit; .eI!
:; enl
bands are 20 nm spaced CWDM wavelengths. Among
different wavelengths of of S-band link better performance is
BER is also related to signal to noise ratio SNR in terms 1491 nm
obtained at 1491 nm. Fig 2,3,4,5 shows the performance of
. of
of:[15] 1491 nm
1491 nm S-band at various attenuation values. It can be seen
that signal gets severely damaged at higher attenuation say 70
BER= � Jexp
BER= ~ Jexp(-SNRls)
(-SNRI 8) (2)
(2) dB/km. The value of dB/km is
of received signal power at 70 dB/km
18.768 mW
18.768 Wand Q factor
and the signal is completely lost i.e. Q
zero.
reduces to zero.
The power transmission ofthe
transmission loss of radiation traversing
the optical radiation
the atmosphere is described by Beer-Lambert law. It is given B. C-Band
by: [19] 1531
The second optical band for link evaluation is C-band. 1531
nm
nm outperforms the different wavelengths in C-band. Fig.
TO.,L)= P;~ =.exp r-yt OJLl (3)
(3) of the system in C-band. As
6,7,8,9 depicts the performance of
dB/km , the signal performance at
the attenuation reaches to 70 dB/km,

184
C-band gives better results than S-band. Q factor of the system
at 70 dB/km is 2.84448 and minimum BER is measured as
0.00213095. the height of the eye is -0.00114453 and signal
power measured at receiver is 20.275 mW.

C. L-Band
This is the third optical band over which FSO system is
evaluated. Among various wavelengths of L-band 1611 nm
gives better performance. Fig. lO,II,12,13 depicts the link
performance. The performance of L-band at 70 dB/km is
better than S band and it performs equally well as that of C­
band. The minimum BER and Q factor at 70dB/km comes out
to be 0.00273185 and 2.77817 respectively. The height of eye
diagram is -5.1841 e-007 and received signal power is 18.769
mW.

Fig. 4 HER Analyzer Output at 40 dB/km

BER Analyzer Sig n�llndex: �:B

Obi Click On Objects to open properties. Move Objects w.h Mouse Dreg AlioSet
Time (bit period)
r;7 Show Eye Di.!Igro!Jm

Analysis I
Max.Q Factor
Min.8ER
Eye Height
Threshold
Decision Inst.

� r Invert Colors
r Color Grade
r Pattern.
CalculatePatterns

PaHems I
Pattern 1 1�f2
Pattern 2 1e-Of1
Pattern] 1�fO
Pattern 4
PatternS 1e-OOB

0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

Fig. 2. BER Analyzer Output at 5 dH/km �l

Fig. 5 HER Analyzer Output at 70 dB/km

� BER Analyzer Signallndex: �:B � BER Analyzer S�nall ndeK�3

Obi Cick On Objects to open properties. Move Objects with MOllse Dra g Aut o Set
Obi Click On Objects to open properties_ Move Objects wKh Mouse Orag
Time (bit period)
ALto Set I
h w Eye Di g am
Timelbrtperiod)
0.5 P' S
8
0.5
, P' Show Eye Di agram
o a r

I
0
5l Analysis 1 Analysis
E Max. Q Factor 316.94
Max. Q Factor 97.5147
g BER
Mi n.

, Min.BER 0 E H ei gh
ye t 0.328293
Eye Height 0.000462002 Threshokl 0.130753
g
� Threshold 0.000191969 D ci i n l n t.
e so s 0. 4218 7!i

Decision Inst. 0.421875

r Invert Colors

0
r Invert Colors r Co b· Grade

r Color Grade r Patterns

g § "
r Patterns CalculalePatterns

a Calculate Patterns
Patterns I
,
0
� � PaHems I E Pattern 1

Pattern 2
1�12

�
1�11

1 Pattern 3 1�10

'''''''
Pattern fe-012

Pattern 2 Pattern4 '

'''''''
1e-011
Pattern 3 1e-010
PatternS '
0

g Pattern 4 ,•./109
g
Pattero5 ,.-<lO8

0.5
Tme (bitperiod)
Q Factor Min BER TlTeshoki t-\eitjlt BER Pattern
0.5
Tme(bit periodl
Q factor I'oWl BER lheshold Height BER Pattern Fig. 6 BER Analyzer Output at 5 dB/km

Fig. 3 BER Analyzer Output at 20 dB/km

185
Fig. 7 BER Analyzer Output at 20 dBlkm Fig. 10 BER Analyzer Output at 5 dBlkm

Fig. II BER Analyzer Output at 20 dB/km

Fig. 8 BER Analyzer Output at 40 dBlkm

Fig. 9 BER Analyzer Output at 70 dBlkm Fig. 12 BER Analyzer Output at 40 dBlkm

186
 Siglallndex: O I
Auto Set
�Sband _(band -&-L band
P Show Eye Diagram

Analysis I 0.4
Max. Q factor 2. 77817
Min. BfR 0.0027318.5
Eye Heig h t - .5. 1 84 ,e-007

Thresho l d 3.36027e.QOEi 0.3

Decision lnst. 0.70312.5

r Invert ColOfS ....

..s::.
r CoIorGr<!lde
.2!I 0.2
r Patterns
<II
C<!IlculatePatterns :I:
<II
Patterns I >- 0.1
w
Pattern 1 1e-()12
Pattern 2 1e-()11
Pattern 3 1e-OfO 0
Pattern 4 ''"'"''

PatternS ,0<108
20 40 60 80
-0.1
Attenuation

Fig. 15 Comparison of Eye Height at various Optical Bands

Fig. 13 BER Analyzer Output at 70 dB/km
The spectrum analyzer is used for measuring the dispersion of
power of a light source over defined values of wavelength. It
Table 2: Comparison among BER of the signal at various Bands under
the effect of atten uation takes power in the vertical scale and the wavelength in the
horizontal scale. Table 3 shows the comparison of output of
Attenuation( dB/km) S-Band C-Band L-Band spectrum analyzer before and after the transmission using
5 0 0 0 three bands that are S,C and L band. The signal power before
20 0 0 0 the transmission of a signal is same for all the three bands. But
40 1.20204e-068 1.54218e-266 0
after the transmission of a signal through an attenuated link
70 I 0.00213095 0.00273185
leads to decrease in a signal power for all the three bands. For
an attenuation of 70 dB/km the signal power after the link is
Table 2 shows the comparison of BER performance of respectively measured as 18.768 mW, 20.275 mW and 18.769
various optical bands at different values of attenuation. C-band mW for S,C and L bands.
and L-band have better BER performance than S-band. Fig. 2-
13 shows that with the rise in attenuation BER value increases Table 3:Comparing power at different optical bands before and after the
transmission
and SNR value decreases i.e signal quality gets degraded.
Both C and L band have shown comparable performance but
C-band is preferred as received power performance of C-band S-Band C-Band L-Band Bands
is better than L-band. The both bands (C and L band) can be
used simultaneously for DWDM extension.

Fig. 14 compares the Q factor of three bands for various

Output of
values of attenuation. It can be seen that Q factor of C-band Spectrum
and L-band are quite comparable. Similarly Fig.l5 graphically Analyzer
depicts the height of eye which clearly depicts that C-band is before
preferred for high attenuation. transmission

�Sband _(band -&-L band

800
... 600
0
....
u
III 400 Output of
....
a 200 Spectrum
Analyzer at
0 70 dB/km
0 20 40 60 80 attenuation
at Receiver
Attenuation

Fig. 14 Comparison ofQ factor at various Optical Bands

187
IV. SYSTEM ANALYSIS BASED ON NRZ AND RZ
MODULA nON FORMAT
NRZ pulse generator represents the bit sequence '0' as low
level and bit sequence' l' as high level. RZ pulse generator
returns to zero at every half cycle. Fig.16 graphically
compares the NRZ and RZ modulator format for optical bands
and eye diagram of C-band at 40dB/km is shown in Fig. 17
and 18. It can be visualized that at attenuation level of 40
dB/km NRZ C-band has a Q value of 34.8503 whereas it is
23.9839 for RZ C-band. In Harsimranjit Kaur et al. [17] work
and Ales Vanderka et al. [18] work, both have estimated that
NRZ modulation format performs better or have comparable
performance than RZ modulation format. This has been
verified in this paper and can be clearly shown through Fig.
16, 17 and 18.

�NRZS-band _NRZC-band

-&-NRZ L-band

800

l §x
... 600
0 Fig. 17 Output of BER Analyzer for NRZ at 40 dB/km
...
u
n:l 400
-
0 200
0 •
0 20 40 60 80

Attenuation

�RZ S-band _RZ C-band

-&-RZ L-band

600

I�
...
0
... 400
u
n:l
-
200
0
0 •
o 20 40 60 80

Attenuation
Fig. 18 Output of BER Analyzer for RZ at 40 dBlkm

Fig. 16 Comparison of (a) NRZ and (b) RZ Modulation Formats at various

Bands CONCLUSIONS
V.
The FSO link has been evaluated for three optical bands that
are S-Band, C-Band and L-Band. It has been observed that for
low attenuation condition three bands can be used
simultaneously for DWDM operation as SCL bands have low
absorption bands. For higher attenuation S-band is attenuated
the most for the bit rate of 10 Gbps. Thus it can't be preferred
for higher attenuation condition. At higher attenuation C and L
bands show comparable performance, thus can be used in
conjugation for DWDM networks. The performance of NRZ
and RZ modulation formats are also evaluated which signifies
NRZ as a better alternative for FSO link.

188
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