MDKs ease deployment of copper-to-POF converters

Photonics communications specialist Firecomms Ltd has announced the availability of two media development kits (MDK) that will enable the rapid deployment of copper-to-plastic optical fiber (POF) converters and repeaters for 1394b and Fast Ethernet. Each kit is a complete reference design that enables developers to quickly enter the market for copper-to-POF converters and repeaters.

Firecomms said the new Fast Ethernet-over-POF and 1394b-over-POF MDKs enable developers to set up a working network link (1394b/FireWire/i.LINK or Fast Ethernet) over a length of POF to evaluate the performance of the company's 1394 and Fast Ethernet fiber optic transceiver (FOTs) as well as the link's QoS.

Each MDK uses the company's fully integrated transceiver RCLED-based 650nm FOT and highly-sensitive receiver FOT that operate within IEEE 1394 or Fast Ethernet data communications networks. The integration of the emitter Tx FOT with its driver IC and a pin-diode Rx FOT with a receiver IC in a POF link provides for a high-integrity digital data link over a range of up to 50m at 250Mbps, or 100m at 125Mbps.

Each kit contains two PCBs, each with a FOT pair housed in connectors and soldered to the PCB, one POF cable (10-, 20- or 50m), which is fully connectorized with plugs suitable for use with the SMI FOT housing, two DC power supplies, design tools, schematics, Gerber files, BOM, and Firecomms technical support. Each PCB accepts IEEE 1394 or Fast Ethernet traffic from a source connected to a standard 9-pin 1394 or RJ45 cable. The data is fed to a PHY IC, which is configured for S200 operation (1394b) or 100Mbs Fast Ethernet. The optical port of the PHY IC is interfaced to Firecomms' FOT pair (Tx+Rx), which is housed in an small media interface (SMI) connector housing.