An IR-UWB Photonic Distribution System

Experimental results are presented for a novel distribution system for an impulse radio ultra-wideband (UWB) radio signals employing a gain-switched laser. The pulse position modulated short optical pulses with a bit rate of 1.25 Gb/s are transmitted over fiber to a remote antenna unit, where the signal is converted to the electrical domain and undergoes spectral shaping to remove unwanted components according to UWB requirements. An experimental radio terminal has also been constructed to enable bit-error-rate measurements to be carried out. These experiments show that the optical distribution system will be capable of supporting the radio part of the system.