Use of optical amplifiers to increase distribution capacity of optical analogue video systems

Optical amplifiers can be used to increase the distribution of analogue video signals over a passive optical network. The paper analyses the gains in system loss budget that can be obtained from the positioning of optical amplifiers either as transmitter power amplifiers, line amplifiers or receiver preamplifiers in a distribution network. Both AM and FM subcarrier multiplexed (SCM) video systems are considered within the constraints of operating with safe optical power levels on optical lines in the network. It is shown that under such conditions optical amplifiers can give significant advantages in the loss budget for FM SCM systems, but have limited application within AM SCM systems