Point-to-multipoint distributions of 42 channel VSB-AM video signals using an erbium-doped fiber amplifier

It is demonstrated that an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) can be successfully used as a power amplifier for point-to-multipoint distributions of 42-channel VSB-AM video signals. The amplifier has a 31.4-dB net small-signal gain and 6.1-dBm saturated power. When used as a power amplifier, the EDFA is heavily saturated with a 19.2-dB gain compression and 12.2-dBm output power. The total optical power budget is 20 dB at CNR of 50 dB. Both composite-triple-bit and composite-second-order distortions after the amplifier and splitter are about or above 60 dBc. The possibility of cascading these fiber amplifiers and branching their outputs makes them well suited for tree-and-branch-like CATV distribution systems. >