International Journal of Electronics,

Communication & Instrumentation Engineering

Research and Development (IJECIERD)
ISSN(P): 2249-684X; ISSN(E): 2249-7951
Vol. 4, Issue 6, Dec 2014, 29-36
TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION ON OPTIMIZATION OF WCDMA

BASED RADIO OVER FIBER (ROF) TRANSMISSION LINK
ANISHA & LOVE KUMAR
Department of Electronics & Communication, DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology,
Jalandhar, Punjab, India

ABSTRACT
Radio over fiber (RoF) systems is the combination of both free-space radio path and fiber optic link. In this paper
the performance of radio over fiber links for WCDMA is assessed by simulation. The simulation model has been
developed by integrating both RF wireless and optical fiber systems that is transparent to a UMTS system.
This WCDMA RoF system has 16 users transmitting data through optical network. The whole hierarchical simulation
system model was constructed and simulated using a commercial optical system simulator. The Bit Error Rate (BER) has
been calculated by varying the length of fiber, type of fiber and using different modulation format.

KEYWORDS: Radio over Fiber, BER, Modulation Format, WCDMA

INTRODUCTION
Radio over fiber (RoF) is an analog optical link which transmits the modulated RF signals. It transmits the radio
frequency signal, both uplink and downlink, to and from central station (CS) to base station (BS) also called the radio
ports.
RoF systems are now being used extensively for enhanced cellular coverage inside buildings such as offices,
shopping malls and airport terminals [10]. The distributed antenna system (DAS) provides an infrastructure that brings the
radio interface very close to the users. It gives the benefit such as better coverage, higher capacity and easier installation
[39]. Other benefits are low attenuation loss, larger bandwidth and immunity to radio frequency interference.
The basic configuration of RoF link can be found in Figure 1 where the system consist of central station and remote access
unit (RAU) connected by a single mode fiber.

APPROACH AND METHOD

To develope a WCDMA based RoF system, four mode-locked lasers used to create a multi-frequency light source
using the channel spacing of 0.8 nm. The carrier frequency was 2.5 GHz which was modulated with wavelength of
1547 nm. The time delay for respective channel was 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1ns. The pseudo random signal was generated
using PRBS generator and was multiplexed with the multi-frequency light source. The resultant signal was passed through
the modulator and then the resulting optical signal was passed through the 4 different filters where the specific frequency
was filtered out and then the signal was passed through the time delay block where the W/T codes were generated which
are required for the 16 users.
The encoded data from all users was multiplexed and then passed through a 10-km span of standard single mode
fiber (SMF) followed by a loss compensating optical amplifier. Amplifiers can also be used to compensate for the insertion
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Anisha & Love Kumar

losses due to encoders, multiplexers, demultiplexers and decoders if needed. The output signal from a fiber span then
passed through splitter/demultiplexer and routed to the users decoder. The decoded signal finally arrives at optical
receiver.

Figure 1: Block Diagram of WCDMA RoF Transmission Link Considered for Simulation
Figure 1 shows the model for WCDMA RoF. For simplicity, only two channels namely channel 1 and channel
16 are shown in the figure.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The proposed WCDMA RoF model was successfully simulated using commercial system simulator,
optisim. Number of simulations have been made for system performance characteristics.

Figure 2: Input Generated by PRBS Generator

Impact Factor (JCC): 4.9467

Figure 3: Spectrum of the Four Wavelengths

Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0

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Performance Evaluation on Optimization of WCDMA Based Radio over Fiber (RoF) Transmission Link

Figure 4: Signal after 10km Optical Fiber Span with Carrier Signal

Figure 5: Electrical Spectrum after APD

Figure 2 shows the random input signal generated by the PRBS generator. Figure 3 represents the spectrum of the
four wavelengths namely 1550, 1550.8, 1551.6, 1552.4 nm at the channel spacing of 0.8 nm. Figure 4 shows the spectrum
of the four wavelengths after modulating with carrier frequency. Figure 5 shows the signal at the receiver side after passing
through Avalanche Photo Diode (APD). A signal can be seen at the frequency of 2.5 GHz (carrier frequency).
The BER for the received signal are as follows

Channel 1 = 4.4510-22

Channel 16 = 1.610-13
The Q factor for the signal is

Channel 1 = 19.9dB

Channel 16 = 15.8dB
The investigations have been carried out at a bit rate of 1Gb/s WCDMA RoF System designed to yield a

performance analysis for different fibers and different fiber span using Eye diagram and BER
Eye Diagram for Single Mode Fiber

Figure 6: Eye Diagram at Fiber Span of a) 100 km Length b) 150 km Length c) 200 km Length
In the above figures, the eye diagram for figure 6 a) is broader as compared to other two figures. This shows that
as the distance increases, the broadening of the eye decreases, i.e. BER increases with the increase in the fiber length.
Eye Diagram for Single Mode Fiber with Non Linear Effects

Figure 7: Eye Diagram at Fiber Span a) 100 km Length b) 150 km Length c) 200 km Length

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Anisha & Love Kumar

The same conclusion can be drawn from the eye diagrams for SMF with non linear effects. It can also be seen that
the eye opening is even narrower than the simple SMF.
Eye Diagram for PMD Fiber

Figure 8: Eye Diagram at Fiber Span of a) 100 km Length b) 150 km Length c) 200 km Length
The eye diagrams at different fiber length for PMD fiber are same as the simple SMF which indicates that PMD
has negligible effect on the performance of the system.
Eye Diagram for Combined Effects of PMD and Non Linear Effects

Figure 9: Eye Diagram at Fiber Span of a) 100 km Length b) 150 km Length c) 200 km Length
The eye diagram for combined effect of PMD and non linear effect is same as that with the non linear effect alone
as PMD fiber has negligible effect on the system performance.
Table 1: Comparison of BER for Different Fibers at Different Length

1
2
3
4

SMF
Non-linear
Fiber
PMD Fiber
Combined
NL & PMD

BER Table Comparison

100KM
150KM
Q Factor
Q Factor
BER
BER
(dB)
(dB)
-17
-13
19.4
15.8
6.62e
3.48e
-16

5.48e
-17

6.62e
-16

5.48e

19.2
19.4
19.2

-12

5.78e
-13

3.48e
-12

5.78e

15.2
15.8
15.2

200KM
Q Factor
BER
(dB)
-11
15.1
2.85e
-10

5.53e
-11

2.85e
-10

5.53e

14.8
15.1
14.8

The BER comparison table shows the values of BER for different Fiber at different fiber span.
The optimization of designed WCDMA based Radio over Fiber Transmission link using various modulation
format had given the following results.
Eye diagram for single mode fiber with PSK modulation format.

Impact Factor (JCC): 4.9467

Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0

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Performance Evaluation on Optimization of WCDMA Based Radio over Fiber (RoF) Transmission Link

Figure 10: Eye Diagram at Fiber Span of a) 100 km Length b) 150 km Length c) 200 km Length
It is clear from the eye diagram that as the length of the fiber increases, the eye diagram becomes narrower.
This depicts that the BER increases with the length of the fiber.
Eye diagram for single mode fiber with duo binary MSK modulation format.

Figure 11: Eye Diagram at Fiber Span of a) 100 km Length b) 150 km Length c) 200 km Length
For duobinary MSK, eye diagram at 100, 150 and 200 km fiber length is narrower than that of PSK. It can also be
seen that at each respective fiber length PSK modulation offers less BER than Duobinary MSK.
The same conclusion can be drawn from the eye diagrams for DPSK modulation from figure 6 that the eye
diagram becomes narrower as the fiber length increases. It can also be seen that DPSK modulation offers the value of BER
which is between the values of BER offered by PSK and duobinary MSK.
Table 2: Comparison of BER for Different Modulation Formats

Fiber Span
100 Km
150 Km
200 Km

BER Table Comparison

PSK
Duobinary MSK
Q Factor
Q Factor
BER
BER
(dB)
(dB)
7.90
-18
5.30 e
19.9
15.4
e-12
2.30
4.30 e-16
19.2
14.2
e-10
4.34
7.10 e-12
15.5
13.9
e-09

DPSK
Q Factor
BER
(dB)
5.62e19.4
17
3.48e13

2.85e
11

15.8

15.1

From the above table, the values of BER and Q factor clearly depicts that the PSK modulation scheme is better
than both DPSK and duobinary MSK as it provides lesser BER and larger Q factor for all the fiber spans used as compared
to other two modulation formats.

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Anisha & Love Kumar

CONCLUSIONS
A 16 channel WCDMA based Radio over Fiber (RoF) transmission link set up has been designed and simulated.
The Optical spectrum of with and without carrier frequency show the input to optical fiber. The system is simulated for
10 km single mode fiber span length and performance of system analyzed on the basis on BER, Q factor and input output
signal spectrum. Results shows that BER for Channel 1 = 4.45e-22 and Channel 16 = 1.6e-13 and Q factor for channel
1= 19.9dB and for channel 16 = 15.8 dB. The investigations were carried out at a bit rate of 1 Gb/s in DPSK modulated
WCDMA RoF System.
Further the system was analyzed by using different fibers and varied fiber span. It was observed that BER
increases with the fiber length. For SMF at 100 km, 150km and 200km fiber span, the BER is 6.6*e-17, 3.48*e-13 and
2.85*e-11 respectively. For Non liner fiber BER for 100 km, 150km and 200km fiber span is 5.58*e-16, 5.78*e-12, 5.53*e-10
respectively. It has also been observed that PMD fiber has almost negligible effect on BER as compared to non linear
effects and therefore the combined effect of PMD and non linear effect has almost same results as with Non linear fiber
alone.
The BER results after optimization of WCDMA based RoF system for different modulation techniques shows that
out of the three modulation techniques, PSK modulation is the most favourable for the transmission of the data.

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Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0

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Performance Evaluation on Optimization of WCDMA Based Radio over Fiber (RoF) Transmission Link

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Impact Factor (JCC): 4.9467

Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0