Video multicast using a VSB-AM external modulator at 1.5 mu m

At 1.5 mu m VSB-AM video signal source is demonstrated using a balanced Mach-Zehnder external modulator. The source is a continuous wave Er-doped glass laser operating at 1.534 mu m. The predistortion network reduces the Mach-Zehnder third-order distortion level by 17-21 dB across the 330-450 MHz frequency band. The transmitter third order distortion level is better than 60 dBc for 4.0% modulation index per channel in a 20 channel system. A carrier-to-noise ratio of 54 dB was achieved at 0 dBm detected power. With 12.6 km of standard single-mode fiber (SMF) which has minimum dispersion near 1310 nm, no noticeable system carrier-to-noise ratio or composite second order distortion degradation are detected. Measurement with 10.5 km of distortion shifted fiber (DSF), which has minimum dispersion near 1550 nm, showed little carrier-to-noise degradation.<>