Upgrade your Lightpointe Aire X-Stream FSO

Upgrade your Lightpointe FSO Free Space Optic Laser Link

How to Upgrade your Lightpointe FSO Laser Link

Upgrade your Lightpointe Aire X-Stream FSO
Lightpointe Aire X-Stream FSO: time for upgrade?

Why upgrade your Lightpointe FSO link?

Lightpointe have announced by partners by email that they are discontinuing their entire range of FSO links.   This strategic move by Lightpointe away from FSO (Free Space Optical) technology means many FSO users will have to look for alternatives.
Many users own FSO links including Lightpointe  which are old and sometimes problematic.  Often, users require higher reliability, uptime, capacity or distance than their older FSO laser links can provide.

The Need for Reliability and High Availability

Modern IP networks demand higher capacity and uptime, and as FSO links are installed outdoors often in harsh conditions where they age faster than indoor mounted IT equipment such as switches and routers, which are installed in nice airconditioned environments.   Modern Carrier Class wireless equipment is designed for all-outdoor use including harsh environments and can ensure ultra-high availability and reliability in practical use.

Alternatives to Lightpointe and FSO

There are many alternatives available including Carrier Class FSO from other vendors, MMW links with 10Gbps+ capacity, Microwave links and MIMO radio.  These have different characteristics, capabilities and price points.  Modern links can offer up to 40Gbps capacity and for low-end solutions, MIMO radios at lower price points than FSO for sites where budgets are tight.

If the customer requires a direct replacement FSO link, there are relatively few FSO vendors currently available with reliable shipping products.

Other FSO vendors currently offering carrier grade FSO:

Lightpointe – FSO Laser Links – Free Space Optic laser links – Manufacturer information

Established in 1998, Lightpointe  provides optical communications at the speed of light which operate license-free. With products capable of sending up to 1 Gbps full duplex of data, Lightpointe offers reliable, fibre-optic connections without the need for expensive physical fibre.

Lightpointe – Manufacturer information

  • Lightpointe (based in USA) is a Manufacturer of FSO bridges
  • Built for line of site (LOS) with ranges suitable up to 2km
  • Ultra secure connections using narrow beams of light are secure from RF packet sniffers
  • Reliable availability with five nines availability
  • Licence free operation using FSO technology

Upgrading from Lightpointe AireBridge LX Quad Beam Laser Link

Lightpointe state that AireBridge LX models are the most advanced laser bridges in the industry, backed by patented technology refined over 5 product generations. For customers wanting the absolute longest range and highest availability, the LX is the answer. Your data will fly between buildings on 8 beams of overlapping invisible laser light, all transmitting simultaneously (4 transmission beams and 4 receiving beams at each side of the link).

  • Quad Beam
  • Tracking
  • Autopower
  • 250 Mbps full duplex
  • RJ45, PoE
  • Recommended for distances up to 1600 meters

Upgrading from Lightpointe AireBridge SX Single Beam, Wireless Bridge

Lightpointe state that the LightPointe AireBridge SX Single Beam, Wireless Bridge offers highly competitive pricing and extreme value for distances up to 750 meters. Utilizing an advanced single laser and “Avalanche Photo Diode” (APD), these bridges transmit and receive data simultaneously for full duplex connectivity. Each side of the link can be ordered in a 250 Mbps, 500 Mbps, or 1,000 Mbps configuration and can be upgraded later via software keys.

  • AireBridge System
  • Single Beam 250 Mbps full duplex
  • PoE Power
  • Recommended for 200 – 600 meters

Upgrading from a Lightpointe AireLite G (500m) Laser Link

Lightpointe state that the AireLite G is the latest addition to the LightPointe Optical Wireless product line and the new flagship of LightPointe’s high capacity single-beam, point-to-point Optical Wireless solutions, delivering real full-duplex Gigabit Ethernet throughput at a system latency of less than 50 microseconds. Additionally, the AireLite G offers several advanced features such as PoE operation, a web-browser-based and SNMP management, an integrated multiport Layer 2 switch fabric with multiple fiber and copper based network interface options, an integrated built-in alignment telescope, and an automatic lens defroster, just to mention a few. All features are designed within a compact, lightweight, fully outdoor rated and energy efficient package.

  • High Speed Connection Real full-duplex Gigabit Ethernet throughput.
  • Ultra Low Latency Fiber-like system latency (typically less than 50 microseconds)
  • Operating Distance Recommended operational distance up to 500 meters
  • Secure Operation Highest level of physical transmission security due to narrow angle transmission beam.
Upgrade Geodesy Gigabit Wireless FSO Free Space Optic Laser Link
Gigabit Wireless Technologies

Disclaimer

The technical specifications listed above are those advertised by the manufacturer.  No warranty is made to the accuracy of this information, which may vary widely in practical installations.  Many vendors are known to exaggerate or mis-state the capability of the equipment which they offer.

For More Information on Wireless Upgrades

If you would like more information on upgrading a Lightpointe FSO wireless solutions please Contact Us and our experienced team of wireless experts will be delighted to assist.