Fibre-Optic Satellite Equipment

[AgentSmith]

Just discovered fibre-optics have entered the domestic satellite branch. This is all new territory for me so correct me if I am wrong. What I understand is that a mono LNB with optical output can put the satellite's entire spectrum in one optical cable. This cable can be split into virtually as many more optical cables as you like, each going to an optical receiver. So no more need for dual, quad or higher LNB's and lots of cables which keeps the cost low especially when you want to feed a lot of receivers say in a hotel. Also the optical signal can travel lots of kilometers as the degradation is extremely low.

The advantages I see for a small domestic setup are no electrically conducting wires coming from the dish or dishes anymore (settopbox and tv safe from lightning). It also seems easier to setup as it takes a lot less cables to do the trick, especially with 2 or more dishes and 2 or more tv's. The optical wiring is very thin and is in no way sensitive to electric or magnetic fields. No shielding required and no worries about possible distortion.

Is there already such equipment available in Thailand? Anybody with experience in the field? I have yet to buy all equipment so I'm merely trying to figure out the best options.

[Crossy]

I'd not seen this before but looks very interesting with a10km transmission radius http://www.globalinv...reopticlnb2.php

Not going to be a cheap solution with the LNB at 124 Quid + VAT and the GTUs that go at the other end about the same price.

By the way, you still need 2 cables to the LNB, 1 fibre and 1 power supply.

[David006]

Okay sounds all wonderful don't it? A few things which you should note:

TVs and all radio signals that pass through the air are analogue ie a wave, if you will, not digital which is essentially on/off signals.

Fibre optic signals can be analogue ie intensity/frequency/wavelength of light wave, but practically all systems now are digital so they can pulse the light on and off and is compatible with most broadband transport, multiplexing equipment and networks.

So .. an analogue Satellite signal it is probably going to be converted to digital and back again to feed you're TV ( cable companies are mostly distributing their signals over single mode digital fibre and converting it to analogue for coax distribution in that box you see up the pole or in a cabinet at the curb.)

There are two types of fibre, single mode( light travels parallel inside the fibre) and multimode (easier and more forgiving... light travels by bouncing around in the fibre).

Either type of fibre network should be put in the too hard basket for most consumers, so much to worry about......connectors/splitters, physically protecting the fibre, watching minimum bend radii , cleanliness of connector faces etc not to mention the expense of multiple electrical to optical conversion and A to D and back again...

Stay with good spec coax mate...atleast for another few years...lol

[AgentSmith]

Pulse the light on and off?? Yes that is one way of modulating a digital signal - I think 56k and slower modems in the old days used this technique - but nowadays more complex modulation techniques are used. Essentially all signal carriers are analogue whether it's electricity or light. And yes, both electric wires and fibre optical cables can carry both analogue and digital signals.

Seriously, what is there to worry about? Of course like with everything you need at least a basic understanding of what the h*ll you are doing. All I care for is [a] needed investment and end-user experience. I am by no means a professional but I do have more than basic understanding of what it's all about.

@Crossy: yes the LNB obviously needs power but that can be a relatively short and thin cable I guess. You still avoid a lot of wires in your home. The price you mention is that still high when you would otherwise need a dual (or quad) LNB?

[David006]

Pulse the light on and off?? Yes that is one way of modulating a digital signal - I think 56k and slower modems in the old days used this technique - but nowadays more complex modulation techniques are used. Essentially all signal carriers are analogue whether it's electricity or light. And yes, both electric wires and fibre optical cables can carry both analogue and digital signals.

Seriously, what is there to worry about? Of course like with everything you need at least a basic understanding of what the h*ll you are doing. All I care for is [a] needed investment and end-user experience. I am by no means a professional but I do have more than basic understanding of what it's all about.

@Crossy: yes the LNB obviously needs power but that can be a relatively short and thin cable I guess. You still avoid a lot of wires in your home. The price you mention is that still high when you would otherwise need a dual (or quad) LNB?

hmmm ....interesting, asks a question then presumes to preach to the respondents....

I am not sure that there are any consumers that are distributing broadband in home using fibre....as I noted,broadband network providers convert to coax in so called fibre to the home applications..should tell you something of the economics...yes?

Maybe I misunderstand but I sense that your basic premise is flawed...using fibre with the assumption that it somehow magically obviates the need for multiple LNBs ( presumably to receive signals from different satellites at different coordinates?).

If you do have multiple LNBS you will have multiple signal feeds which need to be multiplexed and demultiplexed onto your fibre using electronics ...not cheap and hard to source especially in ones' twos'!

Coax outputs from multiple LNBs need a coax coupler ( high bandwidth cable network spec) ...note that RG11 coax will handle over 150 gbits/s in your short haul application..ie a shit load of 6mhz NTSC TV channels...

...anyways knock yourself out gotta admire your guts if you proceed, I am sure we would all like to know how it goes..

....you don't seem to really need /want or respect a professional opinion Why am I thinking "how very Thai?" here lol

[David006]

Pulse the light on and off?? Yes that is one way of modulating a digital signal - I think 56k and slower modems in the old days used this technique - but nowadays more complex modulation techniques are used. Essentially all signal carriers are analogue whether it's electricity or light. And yes, both electric wires and fibre optical cables can carry both analogue and digital signals.

Seriously, what is there to worry about? Of course like with everything you need at least a basic understanding of what the h*ll you are doing. All I care for is [a] needed investment and end-user experience. I am by no means a professional but I do have more than basic understanding of what it's all about.

@Crossy: yes the LNB obviously needs power but that can be a relatively short and thin cable I guess. You still avoid a lot of wires in your home. The price you mention is that still high when you would otherwise need a dual (or quad) LNB?

well thank you for the sermon AS, I always wanted to know how to suck eggs....

Think you need to do a bit more research on your own, the basics of fibre transport are not going to do it for you...

..again.. most broadband network providers convert to coax on their so called fibre to the home networks...should tell you something of the economics.?

Still not sure why you think that changing your signal transport to fibre will magically obviate the need for multiple receivers from different satellites at different coordinates..maybe I misunderstand.

A single RG11 coax will handle over 1.5 Gbits/s that's a shit load of 6Mhz NTSC TV stations..throw in a couple of hi spec splitters and couplers voila same same your high cost fibre ring...yes?

....anyways knock yourself out, I am sure we are all interested to hear how you go, if you do....good luck.

Why am I thinking "very Thai like"...lol

[David006]

ask a question then proceed to respond with a lesson in sucking eggs..goodonya

[AgentSmith]

Ok hold on. Where's all that judgment coming from? I know what I know but at least I admit the things I don't know or have less knowledge about. And just a general remark: since when is earning your money on a certain topic automatically give you more credibility? Not saying it doesn't but throwing it in as an argument is a little bit lame isn't it? It only means you don't really have something to say about the whole "me judging" part and only want to throw out some gut feeling. Well thank you for the contribution. How's that for judging?! I thought this was a discussion board but since some people confuse that with preaching - which being raised entirely non-religious sounds a bit strange to me - I sense this topic is not going to provide a lot more exchange of information on the actual topic. I do hope I am wrong.

Back on the topic. I think the price for optic wires is not that high anymore but the other parts might of course still be. I wouldn't be surprised if it is indeed more expensive but I would like to see actual prices of equipment besides just assumptions. Of course I understand this is no "magical" solution but what I also understood after reading about it is this. With a mono-LNB you can provide all the footage (the entire spectrum) from ONE satellite to many receivers by 'simply' multiplying the optical signal into as many new signals as you need. So no more mono-LNB for one tv, dual LNB for two tv's etc. And if you want to receive 2 or more satellites a mono-LNB on every dish suffices. In my case I want to start with 2 tv's but have the option to connect one more and I need to be able to receive two satellites. So instead of 2 quad-LNB's I only have to buy 2 mono-LNB's. Again, correct me if I'm wrong because that's what this board is for.

[astral]

I am intrigued. How does this mono LNB handle the polarity

when one receiver needs a horizontally polarized channel

and another needs vertical polarity?

[jsat]

Invocomm were the first to market with this technology over three years ago (see the old satcodx reports we did on them about three years ago) and the main advantage of this is the ability to see more satellites on a smaller dish size, mostly on the Ku band. However as already pointed out the cost is still not in the ball park of existing equipment so while it is available it will not (as we have already seen over the years) replace the existing equipment, namely due to price.