Transmission Performance Analysis of Digital TV Broadcasting Signals over Turbulent FSO Channel

Abstract

〈Summary〉 Recently, Radio on Free space optics (RoFSO) has gained growing attention as a key technology for complementing optical fiber networks to provide broadband wireless access in areas where the deployment of optical fiber is not feasible. In this paper, we present an analytical and experimental investigation on transmission of terrestrial digital TV broadcasting signals over free-space optical (FSO) link. We introduce an analytical model for transmission of the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) based signals over RoFSO link and a closed-form symbol error probability expression taking into account the laser diode nonlinear distortion as well as the weak to strong atmospheric turbulence effect of the FSO channel. We then present an experimental evaluation of transmitting terrestrial digital broadcasting signals over 1-km FSO link. The obtained results are used for designing, predicting and evaluating the RoFSO system capable of transmitting multiple wireless services over turbulent FSO link.