Dual-Port Tunable Laser Source for Telecommunication and Optical Networks

Why Optical Networks Testing Often Needs Two Wavelengths

A lot of optical networks testing involves more than one wavelength at the same time. A team building its own coherent receiver needs a signal carrier and a local oscillator. A filter, multiplexer or AWG may need to be checked at two channels together. Crosstalk and adjacent-channel tests need a second laser sitting next to the first.

Using two separate benchtop lasers for this doubles the cabling, control software and space on the bench. A single instrument with two independent ports keeps both wavelengths under one control interface, so test scripts and calibration stay in one place.

The Dual-Port Tunable Laser Source in the Lab

The dual-port tunable laser source from ID Photonics, the CoBrite DX2, hosts one or two independent tunable laser modules in a half-width 19-inch chassis. Each port is set separately for wavelength, output power and on/off state, and both are reached through the same USB or Ethernet connection.

The chassis measures 45 × 136 × 179 mm and weighs 1.3 kg, and two units fit side by side in one full-width 1 HE slot when a rack holds more than two channels.

Why Independent Ports Matter

Two ports under one controller make three common setups simpler:

• Carrier and local oscillator: one port feeds a transmitter, the other serves as the LO for a team’s own coherent receiver design.
• Two-wavelength component tests: filters, multiplexers and AWGs can be measured at two channels without swapping sources.
• Neighbouring channels: the second port can sit beside the first for crosstalk and adjacent-channel checks.

Built for Optical Networks Test Racks

The DX2 is designed to sit in a rack or on a bench and to be driven from test software.

C-band, L-band or both

The C-band covers 1524.5 to 1572 nm (190.7 to 196.65 THz) and the L-band 1568.8 to 1611.7 nm (186 to 191.1 THz), with a C+L option. The band is chosen for each port.

Output power per band

Each port gives 10 to 16 dBm in the C-band and 9 to 14.5 dBm in the L-band, depending on the laser variant fitted. An ultra-narrow variant offers linewidth below 25 kHz.

Scripted or hands-on

USB and Ethernet with SCPI-style commands work with Python (PyVISA), LabVIEW (NI-VISA) and MATLAB, while a browser GUI needs no software installation.

Low power, small footprint

A 12 V adapter draws 12 W from a 100 to 240 V supply, and the unit operates from 0 to 40 °C, so it suits shared labs and racks alike.

Building a Complete Two-Wavelength Test Bench

When one port of the dual-port tunable laser source feeds a transmitter under test, the CORX Coherent Optical IQ Receiver recovers the signal with its own built-in local oscillator, so the second port stays free for a second channel or another test. The ID OSA Optical Spectrum Analyser confirms the wavelength and spacing of both ports. Labs that need only one wavelength can start with the Compact Tunable Laser Source, and those that need more than two ports can move to the Multi-Channel Tunable Laser Sources.

Who Uses It

• Coherent transceiver and receiver developers
• Optical component makers testing filters, multiplexers and AWGs
• Telecom equipment makers and operator test laboratories
• Silicon photonics and photonic integrated circuit teams
• Optical communication research groups at IITs and research institutes

Supply and Support in India

United Spectrum Instruments (USI), Chennai, supplies the dual-port tunable laser source in India as the distributor for ID Photonics, together with the single-port and multi-channel CoBrite lasers, CORX receiver and ID OSA.

Sourcing from one supplier gives optical networks teams a single point of contact for port count, band, laser variant, installation and after-sales support, and a route to add channels as the bench grows.

Request a Configuration

Download the brochure from this page, use the Enquire Now button, write to sales@unitedspectrum.in, or call +91 93631 83748 / +91 97899 04948. Please mention:

• One or two ports, and the band for each: C, L or C+L
• The linewidth and output power each port needs
• What the two wavelengths are for: carrier and LO, two-channel tests or crosstalk
• Whether the unit will sit on a bench or in a rack, and how it will be controlled