Modeling and performance analysis of WCDMA radio over fiber system

Abstract

Radio over fiber (RoF) systems is characterized by having both a fiber optic link and free-space radio path. The purpose of this paper is to assess the performance of radio over fiber links for WCDMA by simulation. The developed simulation models have integrated systems for both RF wireless and optical fiber systems that would be transparent to a UMTS system. Whereby, in this WCDMA RoF network model consists of central station, one remote access unit and an optical fiber link model that uses commercially available parameters. In this system, external modulators technique which is electroabsorption modulator is applied. The whole hierarchical simulation system model was constructed and simulated using a commercial optical system simulator. By varying the modulation index, the log of bit-error-rate (BER) can be achieved as low as around -450 dB. Comparing the results of different optical power input not lead to a big different of distances that can be achieved.