Free-space optical systems review

Free-space optical or wireless optical systems are typically communication devices capable of transmitting information between two points using modulated light sent through air and thus called free-space systems. There are a number of excellent articles, webpages and books outlined in the following section describing more about the technology itself.

This review is a live document collecting publicly available information about existing free-space optical products on the market to clerly evaluate their technical capabilities and empower the reader to make an educated choice in using these systems for their applications.

Everyone is kindly asked to contribute and provide better information to this review if available. Please use methods available via github.

Free-space optical background reading

There is a reasonabely large number of free resources available online regarding wireless optical systems, providing generally available ones not associated with equipment manufacturers:

• Wikipedia Optical Wireless communications
• Wikipedia Free-space optical communications
• Book chapter: Free Space Optical Communications — Theory and Practices
• Free-Space Optical Communications at JPL/NASA
• Review of free-space optical communications with diverging beam

Resources from various equipment manufacturers:

• CableFree: Introduction to Free Space Optics

Wireless optical system review criterion

This review should list as many manufacturers and technical charasterictis of their products in an organized manner and collect publicised information about their systems and advertised affect of the free-space channel on the wireless optical link.

KORUZA Pro

• Website: http://koruza.net
• Developed by: Luka Mustafa and Institute IRNAS Race
• Throughput: 1/10 Gbps @ 100 dB/km attenuation
• Distance: 100-200m
• Wavelength: 1300nm and 1500nm laser
• Beam divergence: 0.005 mrad
• Transmit power: 1mW
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: yes
• Cost: 1450 EUR
• Remarks: Open source open hardware

KORUZA 1.0

• Website: http://scientific.koruza.net
• Developed by: Luka Mustafa and Institute IRNAS Race
• Throughput: 1/10 Gbps @ 100 dB/km attenuation
• Distance: 100-200m
• Wavelength: 1300nm and 1500nm laser
• Beam divergence: 0.005 mrad
• Transmit power: 1mW
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: yes
• Cost: 750EUR+
• Remarks: Open source open hardware

RONJA

• Website: http://ronja.twibright.com/
• Developed by: Karel ‘Clock’ Kulhavý et al.
• Throughput: 10 Mbps
• Distance: 1.4km
• Wavelength: 625nm LED
• Beam divergence: 2-3 mrad
• Transmit power: ~17mW
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: no
• Cost: ?
• Remarks: Pioneering open hardware

LightPointe Overview

• Website: http://www.lightpointe.com/
• Developed by: Lightpointe
• Throughput: 1000…1250 Mbps
• Distance: 1100…2800 m
• Wavelength: 850 nm
• Beam divergence:
• Transmit power:
• Aperture:
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking:
• Cost: € 6.900…€ 17.900
• Laser class: 1M
• RF backup: Yes
• Remarks:

AIREBRIDGE SX

• Website: http://www.lightpointe.com/airebridge-sx.html
• Developed by: Lightpointe
• Throughput: 250,500, 1000 Mbps
• Distance: up to 1.1km @ 3 dB/km attenuation
• Wavelength: 850 nm
• Beam divergence: ?
• Transmit power: ?
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: no
• Cost: ?
• Remarks: Hybrid upgrade possible

AIREBRIDGE LX

• Website: http://www.lightpointe.com/airebridge-sx.html
• Developed by: Lightpointe
• Throughput: 250,500, 1000 Mbps
• Distance: up to 1.5km @ 10 dB/km attenuation
• Wavelength: 4x 850 nm
• Beam divergence: ?
• Transmit power: ?
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: yes
• Cost: ?
• Remarks: Hybrid upgrade possible

fSONA Overview

• Website: ttp://www.fsona.com/
• Developed by: fSONA Networks Corp
• Throughput: 155…2500 Mbps
• Distance: 500…5400 m
• Wavelength: 850 nm
• Beam divergence:
• Transmit power:
• Aperture:
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking:
• Cost: € 10.000…€ 29.000
• Laser class: 1M
• RF backup: No
• Remarks:

SONAbeam® 155-E

• Website: http://www.fsona.com/product.php?sec=155e
• Developed by: fSONA Networks Corp
• Throughput: 125 Mbps
• Distance: up to 3.2km @ 3 dB/km attenuation
• Wavelength: 2x 1550 nm
• Beam divergence: ?
• Transmit power: 2x 160mW
• Aperture: 10cm
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: no
• Cost: ?
• Remarks:

SONAbeam 155-E

• Website: http://www.fsona.com/product.php?sec=155m
• Developed by: fSONA Networks Corp
• Throughput: 125 Mbps
• Distance: up to 5.4km @ 3 dB/km attenuation
• Wavelength: 4x 1550 nm
• Beam divergence: ?
• Transmit power: 4x 160mW
• Aperture: 20cm
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: no
• Cost: ?
• Remarks:

SONAbeam 1250-E

• Website: http://www.fsona.com/product.php?sec=1250e
• Developed by: fSONA Networks Corp
• Throughput: 1.25 Gbps
• Distance: up to 2.7km @ 3 dB/km attenuation
• Wavelength: 2x 1550 nm
• Beam divergence: ?
• Transmit power: 2x 160mW
• Aperture: 10cm
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: no
• Cost: ?
• Remarks:

SONAbeam 1250-M

• Website: http://www.fsona.com/product.php?sec=1250m
• Developed by: fSONA Networks Corp
• Throughput: 1.25 Gbps
• Distance: up to 4.8km @ 3 dB/km attenuation
• Wavelength: 4x 1550 nm
• Beam divergence: ?
• Transmit power: 4x 160mW
• Aperture: 20cm
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: no
• Cost: ?
• Remarks:

SONAbeam 1250-Z

• Website: http://www.fsona.com/product.php?sec=1250z
• Developed by: fSONA Networks Corp
• Throughput: 1.25 Gbps
• Distance: up to 500m @ 3 dB/km attenuation
• Wavelength: 1x 1550 nm
• Beam divergence: ?
• Transmit power: 1x 160mW
• Aperture: 5cm
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: no
• Cost: ?
• Remarks:

SONAbeam 2500-E

• Website: http://www.fsona.com/product.php?sec=2500e
• Developed by: fSONA Networks Corp
• Throughput: 2.5 Gbps
• Distance: up to 1.9km @ 3 dB/km attenuation
• Wavelength: 1x 1550 nm
• Beam divergence: ?
• Transmit power: 2x 160mW
• Aperture: 10cm
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: no
• Cost: ?
• Remarks:

SONAbeam 2500-Z

• Website: http://www.fsona.com/product.php?sec=2500z
• Developed by: fSONA Networks Corp
• Throughput: 2.5 Gbps
• Distance: up to 500m @ 3 dB/km attenuation
• Wavelength: 1x 1550 nm
• Beam divergence: ?
• Transmit power: 1x 160mW
• Aperture: 5cm
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: no
• Cost: ?
• Remarks:

Artolink M1-FE-L

• Website: http://artolink.com/page/products/free_space_optics_Artolink_100Mbps/
• Developed by: Mostcom
• Throughput: 131 Mbps
• Distance: up to 2.4km (32dB link margin at 1km)
• Wavelength: 785nm
• Beam divergence: ?
• Transmit power: ?
• Aperture: ?
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: yes
• Cost: ?
• Remarks: longer range with RF backup

Artolink M1-GE

• Website: http://artolink.com/page/products/free_space_optics_Artolink_1Gbps/
• Developed by: Mostcom
• Throughput: 1.25 Gbps
• Distance: up to 1.5km (27dB link margin at 1km)
• Wavelength: 1550nm
• Beam divergence: ?
• Transmit power: ?
• Aperture: ?
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: yes
• Cost: ?
• Remarks: longer range with RF backup

Artolink M1-GE-L

• Website: http://artolink.com/page/products/free_space_optics_Artolink_1Gbps/
• Developed by: Mostcom
• Throughput: 1.25 Gbps
• Distance: up to 3.8km (44dB link margin at 1km)
• Wavelength: 1550nm
• Beam divergence: ?
• Transmit power: ?
• Aperture: ?
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: yes
• Cost: ?
• Remarks: longer range with RF backup

Artolink M1-GE-L

• Website: http://artolink.com/page/products/free_space_optics_Artolink_10Gbps/
• Developed by: Mostcom
• Throughput: 10 Gbps
• Distance: up to 2.5km (28dB link margin at 1km)
• Wavelength: 1550nm
• Beam divergence: ?
• Transmit power: ?
• Aperture: ?
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: yes
• Cost: ?
• Remarks: longer range with RF backup

LaserFire

• Website: http://www.spacephotonics.com/Free_Space_Optics_Wireless_Communication.php
• Developed by: Spacephotonics
• Throughput: 1/10 Gbps
• Distance: up to 2.4km
• Wavelength: 1550nm
• Beam divergence: ?
• Transmit power: ?
• Aperture: ?
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: yes
• Cost: ?
• Remarks: wide angle fast tracking

CableFree Overview

• Website: http://www.cablefree.net/cablefree-free-space-optics-fso/
• Developed by: Wireless Excellence Limited
• Throughput: 100…1.500 Mbps
• Distance: 200…4000 m
• Wavelength: 780/980 nm
• Beam divergence:
• Transmit power:
• Aperture:
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking:
• Cost: € 5.500…€ 23.000
• Laser class: 1M
• RF backup: Yes
• Remarks:

CableFree Gigabit

• Website: http://www.cablefree.net/cablefree-free-space-optics-fso/
• Developed by: Wireless Excellence Limited
• Throughput: 1.5 Gbps
• Distance: up to 2km
• Wavelength: 780nm
• Beam divergence: 4-8mrad
• Transmit power: 14.4-19dBm (1-3 lasers)
• Aperture: ?
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: no
• Cost: ?
• Remarks:

CableFree Access

• Website: http://www.cablefree.net/cablefree-free-space-optics-fso/
• Developed by: Wireless Excellence Limited
• Throughput: 155 Mbps
• Distance: up to 4km
• Wavelength: 980 nm
• Beam divergence: 5-8mrad
• Transmit power: 19-25.4dBm
• Aperture: ?
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: no
• Cost: ?
• Remarks:

CableFree 622

• Website: http://www.cablefree.net/cablefree-free-space-optics-fso/
• Developed by: Wireless Excellence Limited
• Throughput: 622 Mbps
• Distance: up to 1.5km
• Wavelength: 780 nm
• Beam divergence: 5-8mrad
• Transmit power: 14.4-19dBm (1-3 lasers)
• Aperture: ?
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: no
• Cost: ?
• Remarks:

iRedStar 1Gbps

• Website: http://jv-shop.eu/index.php?route=product/product&path=20&product_id=88
• Developed by: JV Labs
• Throughput: 1 Gbpos
• Distance: up to 400m (700m when tracked)
• Wavelength: 850 nm
• Beam divergence: 1mrad
• Transmit power: 40mW Class 1M according to EN 60825-12
• Aperture: 90mm
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: no/yes
• Cost: ?
• Remarks:

CBL

• Website: http://www.cbl.de/101-0-Richtfunk.html?clang=1
• Developed by: CBL - Communication by light
• Throughput: 1000 Mbps
• Distance: 800 m
• Wavelength: 850 nm
• Beam divergence:
• Transmit power:
• Aperture:
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking:
• Cost: € 8.000…€ 20.000
• Laser class: 1M
• RF backup: Yes
• Remarks:

Trimble Overview

• Website: https://www.trimbledirect.com/
• Developed by: [](]
• Throughput: 100 Mbps…3 Gbps
• Distance: < 1.0 km…5.0 km
• Wavelength: ?
• Beam divergence:
• Transmit power:
• Aperture:
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: Some models yes
• Cost: $2,947…$28,850
• Laser class:
• RF backup:
• Remarks:https://www.blutecsys.com/model-selector/

Northern Storm Overview

• Website: https://www.northernstormdirect.com/
• Developed by:
• Throughput: 1.25…30 Gbps
• Distance: 1.0…5.0 km
• Wavelength: 1550 nm
• Beam divergence:
• Transmit power:
• Aperture:
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking:
• Cost: € 16.000…€ 33.500
• Laser class: 1M
• RF backup: Yes
• Remarks: OEM of Artolink

Optelix Wireless

• Website: ??
• Developed by:
• Throughput: 1…1.25 Gbps
• Distance: 600…1500 m
• Wavelength: 850 nm
• Beam divergence:
• Transmit power:
• Aperture:
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking:
• Cost: € 9.500…€ 12.000
• Laser class: 1M
• RF backup: No
• Remarks: Closed?

Plaintree Systems

• Website: http://freespaceoptics.ca/
• Developed by: Plaintree Systems Inc
• Throughput: 100…155 Mbps
• Distance: 500…2000 m
• Wavelength: 800…900 nm
• Beam divergence:
• Transmit power:
• Aperture:
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking:
• Cost: n.a.
• Laser class: 1
• RF backup: No
• Remarks:

Polewall

• Website: http://www.polewall.com/
• Developed by: Polewall
• Throughput: 1000 Mbps
• Distance: 250 m
• Wavelength: n.a.
• Beam divergence:
• Transmit power:
• Aperture:
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking:
• Cost: € 2.000…€ 2.500
• Laser class: 1M
• RF backup: No
• Remarks:

SkyFiber

• Website: http://www.owbnetworks.com/owb-fso
• Developed by: OWB Networks
• Throughput: 1.25 Gbps
• Distance: 1600 m
• Wavelength: 860 nm
• Beam divergence:
• Transmit power:
• Aperture:
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking:
• Cost: € 14.900
• Laser class: 1M
• RF backup: Yes
• Remarks:

Redline

• Website: http://www.redlinesa.co.za/optical-wireless-broadband/
• Developed by:
• Throughput:
• Distance:
• Wavelength:
• Beam divergence:
• Transmit power:
• Aperture:
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking:
• Cost:
• Laser class:
• RF backup:
• Remarks: Also marketed as ComNet http://www.shopblt.com/item/comnet-free-space-optic-1gbps-high/927u_fso1gsr.html#Availability

No longer in business

MRV

• Website: https://www.mrvfso.com/
• Developed by:
• Throughput: 100…1500 Mbps
• Distance: 860…5200 m
• Wavelength: 830…860 nm
• Beam divergence:
• Transmit power:
• Aperture:
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking:
• Cost: n.a.
• Laser class: 1M
• RF backup: No
• Remarks: Not longer manufacturing - https://www.mrvfso.com/mrvsupport/

PAV link

• Website: http://www.pavdata.com/
• Developed by: PW Data Group Ltd
• Throughput: 100 Mbps
• Distance: up to 5km
• Wavelength: ?
• Beam divergence: 2?
• Transmit power: ?
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking: yes
• Cost: ?
• Remarks: Closed

AOptix

• Website:
• Developed by:
• Throughput: 2 Gbps
• Distance: 10000 m
• Wavelength: 1550 nm
• Beam divergence:
• Transmit power:
• Aperture:
• Motorized alignment and auto-tracking:
• Cost: € 49.000…€ 57.000
• Laser class: 1
• RF backup: Yes
• Remarks: Closed in 2016 - http://www.lightreading.com/mobile/backhaul/exclusive-its-lights-out-for-aoptix/d/d-id/720915

Other known resources

• Organized table of some devices: http://www.blutecsys.com/model-selector/

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License

All our projects are as usefully open-source as possible.

Hardware including documentation is licensed under CERN OHL v.1.2. license

Firmware and software originating from the project is licensed under GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE v3.

Open data generated by our projects is licensed under CC0.

All our websites and additional documentation are licensed under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4 .0 Unported License] (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode).

What this means is that you can use hardware, firmware, software and documentation without paying a royalty and knowing that you'll be able to use your version forever. You are also free to make changes but if you share these changes then you have to do so on the same conditions that you enjoy.

Koruza, GoodEnoughCNC and IRNAS are all names and marks of Institut IRNAS Rače. You may use these names and terms only to attribute the appropriate entity as required by the Open Licences referred to above. You may not use them in any other way and in particular you may not use them to imply endorsement or authorization of any hardware that you design, make or sell.