The foremost goal of this experiment is to investigate systems in which communications are

carried out by transmission (Transmitter) and also by receiving (Receiver).

Fiber optics is basically referring to as one of the major building blocks in the telecommunication
infrastructures. It consists of high bandwidth capabilities and low attenuation characteristics that
makes it ideal for gigabit transmission and beyond [1]. In other words, its high signal bandwidth
provides significantly greater information carrying capacity for which the typical bandwidth for
multi-mode (MM) fibers are range between 200 and 600 MHz-km [2] whereas for single mode
(SM) the bandwidth ranges from > 10GHz. From this characteristic of fiber optic, it provides high
efficiencies that decreases the cost, size, lower losses and weight compared to copper conductors
of equivalent signals carry capacity.
Therefore, in this particular experiment the major task is to investigate systems in which
communications are carried out by transmission (Transmitter) and also by receiving (Receiver)
and by understanding its characteristics and verifying its applications.
Like all other corresponding communication framework, the essential target of optical fiber
communication framework or system is to exchange the signal containing information’s such as
video, data and voice from source to the destination [3].

Figure 1. The general block diagram of optical fiber communication system

Figure 2. The figure above shows the main elements used in an optical fiber communication which
consists of several stages. The transmitter stage includes light source and associated drive circulatory.
While for the receiver section it composed of photodetector, signal amplifier and signal restorer.
 Scientech 2502 TechBook with power supply cord
4mm patch cords
Optical Fiber Optics (0.5m and 1.0m)
Cathode Ray Oscilloscope (CRO)
Mandrel
Numerical Aperture measurement Jig
Two personal computers with RS232 cable connections

Part B: Propagation Loss in Fiber Optic

Table 1: Voltage amplitudes for 0.5m and 1.0m long fiber optic cables.
Optic Fiber (m) Peak-to-peak Voltage (±𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝑽)
0.5 2.00
1.0 2.75

Table 2: Bending loss voltage amplitudes for 0.5m long fiber optic cable.
Optic Fiber (m) Peak-to-peak Voltage (±𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝑽)
0.5 2.00
0.5 with mandrel 1.10

Part C: Measurement of Numerical Aperture

Table 3: Numerical aperture measurements.

W (±𝟎. 𝟏 𝒄𝒎) L (±𝟎. 𝟏 𝒄𝒎)
1.0 1.1
1.5 1.9
2.0 2.5
2.5 3.0
Part A: Setting up Fiber Optic

I. Fiber optic analog link (step 6)

Figure 3. The waveform output when ch1 of the CRO to the Emitter 1 Input and ch2 to the
Amplifier 1 output. This is the wave form of an Analog Link which shows that both channels have
the same sinusoidal wave.

II. Fiber optic digital link (step 7)

Figure 4. The waveform output when ch1 of the CRO to the Emitter 1 Input and ch2 to the
Amplifier 1 output. This is the wave form of a Digital Link which shows both have similar
waveforms but different amplitudes. The input waveform has a much larger amplitude than output
waveform.
Part B: Propagation Loss in Fiber Optic

I. Measurement of propagation of attenuation loss in optical fiber (step 5)

Figure 5. The waveform output when ch1 of the CRO to the Emitter 1 Input and ch2 to the
Detector 1 output. Both have sinusoidal waveforms but different amplitudes and wavelengths.

II. Bending loss (step 4)

Figure 6. The waveform output when ch1 of the CRO to the Emitter 1 Input and ch2 to the AC
amplifier output. Both have sinusoidal waveforms but slightly different with the amplitude. This is
the bending loss.
In this experiment, the main focus is on the characteristics of the fiber optics. Thus, as observe
from the results obtained above it shows that for the transmitter voltage is constants although there
are varying frequencies occurs as shown in the figure 3 representation whereas for the receiving
(receiver) end the voltage decreases as the frequencies increases and vice versa. This provide the
characteristics known as the indirect proportional behaviour between the receiver output voltage
and the frequencies. This signifies that large information can be transmitted at very high
frequencies through the application of fiber optics. According to the results obtained there might
some so of errors encountered due to improper handling of equipment or the usage of faulty
apparatus.

Therefore, to conclude the major objective of this particular experiment is been achieved in which
knowing that the transmitter voltage is constant all throughout the varying frequency whereas the
receivers output voltage behaves in the indirect proportional characteristics which signifies that
characteristics of an optic fiber that can transmit huge information in telecommunications.

[1] Agrawal, G.P., 2012. Fiber-optic communication systems (Vol. 222). John Wiley &
Sons. [Accessed: May 17, 2020]
[2] K. C. Kao and G. A. Hockham, Proc. IEE 113, 1151 (1966); A. Werts, Onde Electr.
45,967 (1966) [Accessed: May 17, 2020]
[3] Krimmel, H., Bulow, H., Heidemann, R. and Otterbach, J., Alcatel-Lucent NV,
1996. Optical transmitter. U.S. Patent 5,550,667. [Accessed: May 17, 2020]

PH302 lab manual, 2020, Experiment 3 “Fiber Optic”, page 1 - 8.