Performance Analysis of Hybrid FSO/RF Communication System

Abstract

Free space optical and RF can be combined using millimeter wavelength to form a hybrid FSO/RF which can improve the performance of the communication system. This is due to the fact that both FSO and RF links experience di fferent e ffects when it comes to atmosphere and weather. FSO links su er from high attenuation in the presence of fog, while rain has no e ect. In contrast, RF links are not a ected by fog, but rain can increase the attenuation. Similarly, the atmospheric turbulence is the main cause of small-scale fading in FSO links. FSO is used as a primary link for data communication as long as it is good to use when the FSO is poor, RF link will be used for the transmission.