Italy - Optical fibre cables for data transmission

Description

The Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT) is the most recent radio telescope to become operational in ITALY. Thanks to its size (primary mirror diameter of 64 meters) and the accuracy of the surface processing, the SRT is an international level instrument for high frequency observations, beyond 100 GHz. In particular, two new broadband multi-feed (dual polarization) receivers are being built to complement the one already operating in K-band. All three receivers will be managed by a back-end, installed in the building where the control room is also located, more than 600 meters away from the SRT. The tender that will be launched will allow to acquire the RFOF cables that will connect the SRT with the environment where the digital back-end will be installed.
The Sardinia Radio Telescope is being upgraded with the realization of several new receivers that will operate at frequencies above 40 GHz, up to the theoretical limit of 100 GHz for which the radio telescope was built. In particular, two broadband multi-feed receivers (double polarization) are under development in the Q-band (33-50 GHz) and W-band (77-116 GHz), equipped with 19 and 9 feeds respectively. Once completed, they will join a revamped version of the 14-feed K-band (18-26.5 GHz) receiver already installed on the antenna. All three multi-feed receivers share the same output as the first RF conversion that will be performed on the antenna in the 1-18GHz frequency band. In order to share the same back end, which will be installed inside the main building at 600 m from the antenna, a remote control system of the antenna based on RFoF technology able to carry all the 38 outputs (19 feeds/2 polarizations) in the 1-18 GHz band is necessary. This contract will allow to acquire the 40 cables in RFoF technology necessary to connect the radio telescope with the Control Room located in the buildings.Main characteristics in principle (details in the tender documentation):- 1-18 GHz frequency band,- Gain (average value in the band): 13-15 dB (maximum spread between modules less than 2 dB),- Gain Flatness: +/-2 dB (Gmax-Gmin interval calculated on the 2-18 GHz window less than 4 dB),- Gain smoothness: +/-1 dB (Gmax-Gmin range calculated on the 2-18 GHz window less than 2 dB),- Input Return Loss >12 dB (minimum acceptable value is 10 dB),- Output Return Loss >12 dB (minimum acceptable value is 10 dB),- FC/APC type optical connectors,- SMA or equivalent/compatible type RF connectors,- 230 VAC/50Hz power supply,- nominal operating temperature (OTC and ORX): range 15-30 °C.

Opportunity closing date

31 January 2021

Value of contract

£100k-1m