Overview

Free Space Optics (FSO) – offers a viable alternative to traditional fibre cabling – as a point to point line of sight transmission medium. Free Space Optics is ideal for use where the laying of traditional fibre cable is difficult or cost prohibitive. It can be used as a temporary or permanent link and can be used for redundant backbone, temporary link or expansion purposes.

Through an international agreement with Canon U.S.A., Molex is offering a secure high bandwidth Free Space Optics solution, Canobeam, as part of the DT-100 series of FSO data transceivers, a great investment into the further expansion of Molex’s innovative communications infrastructure solutions.

Canobeam is a Free Space Optics solution that provides a point-to-point wireless optical beam transmission system. As part of the Molex total fibre product range, Canobeam is ideal for campus and building-to-building connectivity as either a primary or backup backbone link. The robust Canobeam can be installed outside or in a window for point-to-point applications.

Fibre Optic Cable has proven to be the preferred backbone media to link buildings and users, but sometimes installing fibre optic cable is not the most feasible option - over roads, bodies of water, railways or where the cost of installing fibre is prohibitive

Highlights of Canobeam series

• High speed economical transmission from 25Mbps to an ultra-fast 1.25Gbps
• High-quality, reliable wireless communications to a distance of up to 2km
• Auto Tracking that compensates for movements in the building due to temperature variations or vibrations
• Built-in Management Board to manage transceivers via SNMP or Telnet
• Protocol independent, like fibre optic cable
• Installation and operating costs are typically lower than installing fibre optic cable
• 3R function

Benefits of Free Space Optics

• Ability to transmit data, voice and video between commercial and residential buildings, college campus and municipal buildings
  
• Cost-effective
• Can be quickly implemented
• Transmission data throughput remains constant with adequate beam strength
• Line of sight technology makes it virtually impossible to intercept or pirate the transmitted data
• Canobeam has Auto tracking to adjust and compensate for any vibration/environmental disruption

*Canobeam is a registered trademark or trademark of Canon

System Design

FAQ's

Is performance affected by the weather?
It is unavoidable that an optical beam can be affected by weather conditions. Rain, fog or snow reduces visibility, scattering and attenuating the amount of laser light that passes between the two units. This can result in transmission errors, and in many cases that is why a back up line is recommended. However, the laser light that is transmitted by the Canobeam units will travel approximately two times the visibility distance so if it is possible to see approximately half way to the opposite site under bad weather conditions, the DT-100 series can transmit correctly.

Are the lasers safe?
The DT series is rated as a class 1M laser. The laser light that is transmitted by the DT series is safe even if viewed with the naked eye at the point of transmission. Because the laser beam spreads out by the time it reaches the receiving side, it is even safer there than it is on the transmitting side. (It is not recommended to use magnifying optics such as binoculars at the point of output, as the effect on the eyes would be amplified). FDA Laser Notice No.50, IEC/EN60825-1/A2:2001 Class 1M.

What is the maximum transmission distance between links?
Standard transmission distances for each model vary from 20 – 2000 metres. However, maximum transmission distance is a function of weather conditions and acceptable link availability.

Is a relay setup possible?
If you want to set up a network connection between two buildings that are separated by more than 2km or that does not have a clear line of sight, you can connect pairs of Canobeam units to relay the signal. With the DT-130, the relay process will not damage the data, because the waveform is normalised by the 3R function at each relay point.

What is the warranty status for Canobeam?
Canobeam comes with a standard 1 Year Product Replacement Warranty when installed by a certified installer.