Comments on: Design: When to Choose Free Space Optics (Ethernet Lasers) ? http://etherealmind.com/free-space-optics-what-design-how-ethernet-laser/ Network design, architecture, thinking, working. Tech. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:43:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Greg Ferro http://etherealmind.com/free-space-optics-what-design-how-ethernet-laser/#comment-971 Greg Ferro Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:08:23 +0000 http://etherealmind.com/?p=1512#comment-971 Thanks for your comment. That's been the same as my experience, good it it's specific niche. And you can't go past the price. Thanks for your comment. That’s been the same as my experience, good it it’s specific niche. And you can’t go past the price.

]]> By: Ed http://etherealmind.com/free-space-optics-what-design-how-ethernet-laser/#comment-970 Ed Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:56:05 +0000 http://etherealmind.com/?p=1512#comment-970 We use a Lightpointe between 2 buildings about .5 mile apart. It works great, and give 100mb full duplex. I also use a pair of Cisco 1310 bridges with Yagis as a backup link. The installation is in South Florida, so no snow but sometimes very heavy rain and fog (maybe twice a year) will break the light beam, but the users do not feel it ( even though throughput is a less) as the backup link fails right over then back as soon as the light beam is clear. Used professionals to mount it and aim it. Pricing has gone down so it is a good alternative for somewhat short distances. Just need to be careful of the possibility of occasional interruptions and have a backup link if possible. We use a Lightpointe between 2 buildings about .5 mile apart. It works great, and give 100mb full duplex. I also use a pair of Cisco 1310 bridges with Yagis as a backup link. The installation is in South Florida, so no snow but sometimes very heavy rain and fog (maybe twice a year) will break the light beam, but the users do not feel it ( even though throughput is a less) as the backup link fails right over then back as soon as the light beam is clear. Used professionals to mount it and aim it. Pricing has gone down so it is a good alternative for somewhat short distances. Just need to be careful of the possibility of occasional interruptions and have a backup link if possible.

]]> By: Jason http://etherealmind.com/free-space-optics-what-design-how-ethernet-laser/#comment-969 Jason Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:07:48 +0000 http://etherealmind.com/?p=1512#comment-969 Great article. I've been interested in FSO before (having briefly looked at RONJA before, but that's a *lot* of work!), but this article showed a balanced view of the pros/cons of an FSO system. One question though - how much do these units cost (ballpark figure)? Searching for suppliers for FSO systems almost always give no prices. Thanks! Great article.

I’ve been interested in FSO before (having briefly looked at RONJA before, but that’s a *lot* of work!), but this article showed a balanced view of the pros/cons of an FSO system.

One question though – how much do these units cost (ballpark figure)? Searching for suppliers for FSO systems almost always give no prices.

Thanks!

]]> By: Greg Ferro http://etherealmind.com/free-space-optics-what-design-how-ethernet-laser/#comment-968 Greg Ferro Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:36:43 +0000 http://etherealmind.com/?p=1512#comment-968 Julian Thanks for your post. It's great to hear that this very fine technology is working for more than just me. I am very fond of FSO and would recommend anyone to look carefully. This post looks at the good and bad of the whole system. Julian

Thanks for your post. It’s great to hear that this very fine technology is working for more than just me. I am very fond of FSO and would recommend anyone to look carefully. This post looks at the good and bad of the whole system.

]]> By: Julian http://etherealmind.com/free-space-optics-what-design-how-ethernet-laser/#comment-967 Julian Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:24:56 +0000 http://etherealmind.com/?p=1512#comment-967 In 2002 I implemented an FSO between 2 buildings that were about 1.5 miles apart, it required a professional installation as one head unit was on the 10th floor in one building, and on the 20th floor on the other. There weren't any cheap dark fiber options between our buildings and so this was the only way to get 100mb speeds at low lat and it was just damn cool. We used it for about 4 years until that office closed. You are correct about the FOG and light diffusion. Rain and snow it was mostly fine but on foggy mornings it was a complete circuit cut. Fortunately in north TX fog isn't that frequent. In 2002 I implemented an FSO between 2 buildings that were about 1.5 miles apart, it required a professional installation as one head unit was on the 10th floor in one building, and on the 20th floor on the other.
There weren’t any cheap dark fiber options between our buildings and so this was the only way to get 100mb speeds at low lat and it was just damn cool. We used it for about 4 years until that office closed.
You are correct about the FOG and light diffusion. Rain and snow it was mostly fine but on foggy mornings it was a complete circuit cut. Fortunately in north TX fog isn’t that frequent.

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