Abstract

Sophisticated military microwave and millimeter-wave satellite communications (SATCOM) demand a wide IF bandwidth for spread spectrum and high data rate operations. Besides weight, size, and cost disadvantages, the conventional coaxial cables are troubled by limited bandwidth capability, delay distortions, EMI, noise pickup, ground loop, and rf isolation. These problems will be eliminated when the coaxial cables are replaced by a fiber-optic link. The most significant thrust of using fiber optics is allowing integration of a microwave integrated circuit (MIC) downconverter into antenna feed without the interface waveguide. Consequently, the noise performance and G/T of the terminal are improved due to the elimination of waveguide. This paper reports a 1-km fiber-optic link for the SATCOM integrated terminal application.

© 1981 Optical Society of America