Fibre optic LNBs the future?

[rolfw]

At the recent CAI trade show in the midlands, there were several fibre optic head end systems on display, mostly for use in larger systems, but still of interest.

Of most interest was a prototype from Global Invacom, a fibre optic LNB, requiring a 12v supply at the dish, but otherwise only a single fibre back to the distribution point in the house/apartment block.

The beauty of fibre optic over coax cable is the practically non-existent loss, less than 1db over 100m.

This particular system can provide multiple feeds from a small switch, and by cascading, I believe that the system shown could provide 48 feeds or even more, ideal I would have thought for our big dish members in Astra fringe reception areas.

this was only a prototype, but a working prototype, so keep a lookout for the finished product, was advised that it should be available in both LNBF and C120 format.

[Llew]

Any pointers there on terminating and/or splicing the cable runs?

There are several methods of terminating the cable using different types of connector, but it will be a different ball game to coax (light losses etc.)

Llew

[Turok]

soon,the invacom fibre opic lnb must hit the market,but i dont know prices yet,i think it could be very expensice 100€ or more for one lnb!

is also a special wireless device like a sender,nesersary,on the backside of the reveiver?
instead,of optical cable conection,30-40 m of optical toxlink cable,also aproixmently 100 € or more,seems to be,everything will be very expensice

also,there are now products on the market,that coasts even much more,where you can transport,the lnb signals over the powerline like internet signals,in every household!

but i have no further information yet,i only know,that this products exists but not for the "mass" market!

[rolfw]

Yes, there is a small switch unit, it can either go behind a receiver, or you can use it centrally, then send over traditional coax once in the home.

It will obviously be an expensive alternative for the standard domestic installations, but has huge benefits onbig dish or large multipoint systems.

They are also considering a terrestrial input for Integrated systems.

[satelliteman]

I did miss out then by not going along

[rolfw]

LOL, had a chat with the guy on the stand and have to say that it was very interesting, can't wait to see the final product launch. Imagine only having to run one cable to a head end from the dish, with perhaps a 12v coax feed from a PSU , a combined cable if the cable manufacturers pick this up.

I certainly see this as a boon for the system installer, near zero loss from dish to head end, means either negating the need for an IF launch amp, or facilitating the use of a smaller dish in sensitive locations.

Must be an advantage for the big dish boys, as distance to the dish is no longer a problem, as long as there is a cable route.

[satelliteman]

Yes the benefit of no loss from dish to switches would be an advantage esp.. on long cable runs to the headend, it's a shame sub feeds were also fibre instead of coaxial where most of the signal problems occur

[rolfw]

It can be cascaded, so there could be fibre runs to the apartments.

Have requested further and better information from Global, as I'm not 100% sure on the capabilities of the switch.

[satelliteman]

Any info you get, let us know

Cheers

[teddie]

im wondering if theres a way of using fibre optics lnb into my tm hd 6800 or any digital box,..is there a way of converting an optical feed to a cable input [ f type] signal ,.come on you clever boffins out there,..that way it would lower the signal loss by using a short cable fed from the optical feed,..and we can use our current stb`s,..teddie,.

[rolfw]

Yes there will be when this is brought into production, but whether you'd want to pay the price for a standard installation is another thing altogether.

[teddie]

thanks rolfw,..just wondering if you heard anymore on the fibre optic converter,.how much and where to buy,.and also the f o lnb? cheers,.teddie.

[rolfw]

Hi teddie, no, not heard any more yet, but not really expecting to until late autumn, or possibly the new year, as it can be a long time between prototype and production model.

[Turok]

how the signal will be transmited,are the difrent solutions?
when i must buy 30 meter of fiber optice light weave cable,that normaly used for souround receivers then its quite expensive 10 meter aproximently 30€!

normaly incacom should have already realese this lnb,in tsi from april in spring,the told it comes out in summer time,now iam wondering,why nothing is here for the public to pruchase?

[rolfw]

Well I didn't see it until June Turok, but as I said, from prototype to production model can be a difficult road.

[Llew]

If anyone wants to read the TSI article, you can download the pdf from -
_www.tele-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-0805/eng/global-invacom.pdf

Llew

[teddie]

cheers people,,..and congrats to you Llew on your 10 yrs in forum,..you seem to be a serious sater,..good for another 10 + im sure,...

[Robbo]

I had the opportuinity to see these in action today. Impressive.

The current offering from Invacom includes:

Optical Fibre LNB

Quad fibre GTU ( converts o/p of LNB to standard quad signals)

Quattro fibre GTU

Twin Fibre GTU

2 way, 4 way,8 way optical splitters

Fibre joiner.

Pre-made armoured Fibre leads ranging from 1m to 200m length.

No terrestrial input as yet though, so a hybrid system using a standard multiswitch would be needed. But accoring to the Global rep, the intention is to provide terrestrial as well.

The fibre cable is just 3mm thick, but seems to be very robust. A knot can be tied in it and it still works.

[BombedOne]

Personally I see only one usage of such system - when you're deep underground, and your antenna is only thing above earth surface, and you have a lot of thunderstorms in your area. In such case, this LNB can be good isolation to protect your equipment from high voltage...

[Robbo]

No, the main advantage is long cable runs without the need to worry at all about cable losses. The loss of the fibre is 0.03dB per 100m according to the rep.

Also for a multiroom satellite distribution setup, system design and installation would be childs play, as again there are no cable losses to factor in, and only one main trunk cable(fibre) is necessary.

The max recommended number of optical splits is for 32 outlets, but each of these can be connected to conventional multiswitches using the quattro GTU, or each fed to the quad fibre GTU for a total of 128 sat tuners.

[Channel Hopper]

Since many teleports use fibreoptics to convey signal across distanced from the head end to the antennas, it was only a matter of time before it was viable to be used on domestic set ups.

The price difference is going to be the main factor for a full rollout though, standard RF cable, connectors and the average universal costs are peanuts compared to the fibre alternative.

[rolfw]

Not sure how much more expensive it will be, probably going down to Reigate on Thursday to see the finished article, plus anything else which is about.

It should certainly mean that smaller dish sizes will often be possible, even when the feed is 50m or so and 50m of WF125 5 core is not exactly cheap.

[Robbo]

A 50m run of the fibre is significantly cheaper than the equivalent multicore wf125.

However the LNB + quattro GTU is significantly more expensive than a standard quattro.

[BombedOne]

I have several installations with cables up to 100m and a bit over. If using good quality cable, generally I face no problem.

[dale094]

i am a installation engineer and have been invited by my supplier to go and do a setup next week .

i will post the results.