Freeport McMoRan Henderson Mine Radio
Distribution Over Fiber
Optical Zonu offers several fiber optic delay lines. The Integrated Fixed Delay Line is a standalone flange mount assembly that can implement delays of RF signals up to 110 μsec. Delays are proportional to the fiber length within the delay spool. The RF frequency band to be delayed is customizable and based upon Optical Zonu fiber transport modules within the range 10 kHz to 50 GHz.
Each configuration of the fixed delay module is designed for high spurious free dynamic range (SFDR). The fiber transmitter within the delay module is designed around a high power linear isolated cooled DFB laser diode. Fiber receivers within the delay module feature high performance InGaAs photodiodes. The standard RF interface is 50 Ohm SMA, however K or V connectors may be required for the highest RF frequencies.
LEDs on the module front panel provide status of the laser diode and photodiode. Open collector alarms and monitors are available on the DB9 connector. Optional I2C communication may be enabled to integrate the delay line into Optical Zonu’s Managed RFoF management system. The module is powered from +12 VDC.
Overview:
Freeport McMoRan relies on a Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) network to distribute communication throughout and to the most remote locations within the Henderson mine. Leaky coaxial cables (LCX) can distribute radio over shortdistances close to the communications headend. Low loss fiber cable extends the reach of LCX to more distant points in the mine.
Challenges:
- Challenge 1 – Many SFP/SFP+ Competitors in China “crashing” prices.
- Challenge 2 – Large Original Equipment Suppliers (OEMs) not open to new features from single source.
- Challenge 3 – Finding the “visionary” in the organization who sees the potential of the Micro-OTDR.
- Challenge 4 – Clearly demonstrating the fundamental cost advantages of the Micro-OTDR.
- Challenge 5 – Growing the supplier base capable of fabricating the technology needed to support the expected growth of the Micro-OTDR applications.
OZC Solution:
The Optical Zonu J3U chassis and plug-in modules were selected and deployed to meet the program requirements. 16-way RF splitters and 8-way RF combiners were used to split the headend radio signal to 8 RF over fiber links. Two fiber transceivers (transmitter + receiver) at the headend are used to transport redundant bi-directional radio traffic on two redundant fibers. A J3U RF redundancy switch selects between the two fiber paths based upon received signal strength.
Likewise, at remote locations, two fiber transceivers interface to the redundant fibers, Again an RF sensing switch is used to select between the two fiber paths.
An optional Ethernet over fiber datalink may be used to connect headend to remote locations. The Ethernet datalink contains a patented micro-OTDR. If there is a loss of Ethernet signal, the datalink switches to a pulsed OTDR that reports estimated fiber fault distances via the remote user interface.
For remote monitoring the JS14 managed Ethernet switch within the various chassis provides status and control using SNMP v2/v3 via an SSH command line interface(CLI), a tabular Web UI, the Managed RFoF graphical user interface (GUI). The management interface also supports the RESTful API.
Optical Zonu Products Used:
- 19” 3RU J3U chassis (headend and remote locations)
- J3U RFoF transceiver plug-in modules (WDM multiplexes 2-way RF traffic onto a single fiber)
- J3U auto-sensing RF switch plug-in modules
- JS14 managed Ethernet switch plug-in (with embedded web agent)
- Dual redundant 100W AC power supply plug-in modules
Results / Outcomes
- Communication to 20 km distant locations achieved
- RF signal fidelity maintained
- Radio traffic successfully re-routes over redundant fiber when faults detected
- All remote locations successfully monitored and controlled via Ethernet
Have A Similar Challenge?
Contact:
Michael Hartmann
VP of Business Development, Digital Products
[email protected]
