Despite the present trend towards digital transmission, analog optical communica- tion systems operating over large bandwidths, are of great interest for short and medium distance video communication due to their low cost. Integrated circuit implementations make this possible at relatively high system performance.

This work focuses on the development of a wideband optical transmission system, capable to transmit FBAS video signals over a distance up to 50km . Using a Siemens laser- and PIN-diode, the transmission of analog signals from DC to 6MHz was realized by frequency modulating a carrier at 35MHz The modulated carrier pulse modulates the source-laser which launches its light into an optical single mode fiber. At the far end of the transmission medium the optical signal is converted back into an electrical signal by the PIN-diode. This system is, com- pared to direct modulation systems, completely DC-free after the modulation pro- cess, and offers the possibility to use automatic power- and gain-control circuits in the transmitter and receiver.

The results of the practical system implementation is a transmitter and receiver module, capable to transmit video signals over 50km of single mode fiber (system loss 20dB) with a signal-to-noise ration of 48dB. The modular system design allows to test each submodule on its own.