ETL's StingRay RF Over Fibre Solution

ETL's StingRay RF over Fibre (RFoF) range offers 1+1 redundancy and 4+1 or 4+2 redundancy systems. It provides an excellent solution for ultra-compact requirements or for smaller applications, such as a single antenna. The StingRay RFoF links are a modern alternative to copper coaxial cable. They offer low-loss conversion of RF signals to optical over single-mode fibre from, for example, a satellite antenna to reception equipment room. There are options catering to distances up to 10 km and for distances up to 500 km. StingRay RF over Fibre uses single-mode fibre as the optical performance is improved over long distances and wider bandwidths.

Systems

100 Series & 200 Series

ETL’s StingRay RF over Fibre modules are designed to be housed in either indoor or outdoor chassis. The module range is split into the 100 and 200 series. The 100 series range is ideal for ultra-compact requirements or for smaller applications, such as a single antenna, with up to 16 RF modules housed in a 1U high chassis. The 200 series range offers twin module options, where 2 separate links are provided on one module or where a module is fitted with a -20 dB monitoring port for input signal monitoring.

200 Series ODU Unit

The StingRay RF over Fibre Outdoor unit (ODU) is a robust weatherproof (IP65 rated) enclosure which has been designed to be wall or post mounted close to an antenna.

VSAT 

The StingRay VSAT fibre system provides connectivity between a VSAT antenna and a remote control room up to 10km away. It is ideal for applications such as SNG trucks, mobile satcoms, flyaway VSAT systems and government and defence. The system consists of one downlink transmission path, with a multiplexed 10 MHz reference signal, and one uplink path with a 10 MHz reference signal. The 10MHz tone is extracted from the uplink input, carried on a separate fibre for best performance, and injected into both L-band connectors at the ODU.

CWDM & DWDM

A StingRay CWDM system transmits RF signals up to 45km in distance. It is comprised of transmit modules and a multiplexer module to combine up to 8 wavelengths on to a single fibre cable at the transmit end. A demultiplexer module and receive modules are then used at the receive end to split the separate wavelengths.

ETL's StingRay DWDM systems transmit RF signals up to 500km in distance for diverse sites. They include transmit modules and a multiplexer module to combine up to 40 wavelengths on to a single fibre cable at the transmit end. An EDFA (Erbium-Doped Fibre Amplifier) is used to boost the signal at the receive end to overcome excessive optical loss on long fibre runs. A DCF (Dispersion Compensation Fibre) module may also need to be used for distances approaching 100km. A demultiplexer module and receive modules are then used to split the separate wavelengths.

Components

400 Series

ETL’s StingRay RFoF 400 series is designed to deliver long-distance L-band, Broadband 50-2450MHz or S-band 500-3150MHz over fibre between the satellite dish and control room decoders. 10MHz over fibre and 1PPS over fibre for reference and timing applications are also available.

900 Series

ETL’s StingRay 900 series offers GPS (GNSS) over fibre units, as well as wireless extending for cameras and microphones and VSAT applications, all in a compact IP65-rated weatherproof housing. Designed to work with ETL’s weatherproof outdoor ready Power Supply Units (PSU), the 900 series products are available as either single modules or dual redundant.