D. Cardenas

Perspective in next-generation home networks: Toward optical solutions?

The meaning of broadband connection is in continuous evolution. FTTH and ever-improving ADSL technologies are capable of offering to the final residential user a very-high-performance access network connection to the main door of our homes. At the same time, high-definition and interactive video will require higher and higher bit rates inside the home. Both drivers lead to the requirement for high-quality networking also inside homes, to avoid a somehow ironic, but indeed possible situation in which the home area network becomes the actual bottleneck of the full system. In this article we review the requirements for next-generation HANs and show that this environment may end up taking advantage of optical cabling solutions as an alternative to more traditional copper or pure wireless approaches.

A Media Converter Prototype for 10-Mb/s Ethernet Transmission Over 425 m of Large-Core Step-Index Polymer Optical Fiber

A prototype media converter for transmitting 10-Mb/s Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 data over a large-core (1 mm) step-index polymer optical fiber (SI-POF) is presented. The system is demonstrated over a record maximum distance of 425 m, which greatly outperforms, in terms of reach, previously published results and commercially available systems, which are usually limited to approximately 100 m. This extended reach allows to envision new applications of SI-POF such as in the last part of access networks, edge networks, in-house and in-building networks, industrial automation, airplane and ship cabling, and all areas where the resilience and ease of installation of SI-POF can be a fundamental advantage

Equalization Techniques for 100Mb/s Data Rates on SI-POF for Optical Short Reach Applications

In this paper, we propose the combination of 8-PAM modulation, pre-emphasis and adaptive equalization to overcome 1mm-SI-POF bandwidth limitations in optical short reach links. An error-free transmission at 100Mbit/s over 200 m SI-POF is experimentally demonstrated.

The Rebirth of Large-Core Plastic Optical Fibers: Some Recent Results from the EU Project "POF-ALL"

Within the EU project POF-ALL, we designed a fast Ethernet media-converter for 1 mm plastic optical fiber. Equalization techniques allowed a record link of 275m, a capability that encourages POFs use for in-building and in-apartment networks.

Demonstration of an extended reach (425 m) Ethernet system over large core polymer optical fibers for access/edge networks

We developed a media-converter and a transceiver for 10 Mb/s Ethernet transmission over 1 mm PMMA step-index polymer optical fibers. Using commercial optoelectronic components and a proprietary protocol, we demonstrate the system over a record distance of 425 meters.

Ethernet transmissions over large core polymer optical fibres: demonstration of an extended reach (425 m) LAN system

Optical community has expressed a wide consensus over the idea that 1 mm poly-methil-meta-acrilate step-index fibres (PMMA SI-POF) can be a good candidate in future domotic networks and in edge networks, that is in the last part of access networks, due to their better mechanical behaviour and lower installation and handling costs with respect to conventional 50/125 or 62.5/125 multi-mode glass fibres. Current applications are anyway limited by relatively low transmission performances: up to now, the best performing commercial Ethernet transceivers using PMMA SI-POF are able to reach at the most 200 m at 10 Mb/s or 70 m at 100 Mb/s, thereby keeping these fibres in the niche of very-short reach applications, such as in the automotive market. A Prototype of a media converter for fully compliant 10 Mb/s Ethernet transmissions over PMMA SI-POF experimentally demonstrated the feasibility of >400 m long link, this length may open new applications to PMMA SI-POF. The 425-m record distance presented here has been achieved by both introducing a proprietary protocol implemented over a field programmable gate array platform and by a careful selection of (commercial) optoelectronic components. The prototype is to be considered as a proof-of-concept that PMMA SI-POF can be introduced in new areas such as the last part of access/edge networks or datacom applications in industrial automation or aircrafts/ships cabling. The 400-m distance is, for instance, the specification of an Italian fibre to the home operator for the last part of its access network architecture