Ethernet-over-OWC Using VCSELs: Transparent Gigabit Links with Low Latency and Robust Alignment Tolerance

We demonstrate a fully bidirectional 1 Gbs Ethernet over OWC link over a 1m free space path using a VCSEL-PIN pair and only commercially available components. The unamplified, transparent system achieves error-free operation, with a latency of less than 25 ns, and a centimetre-scale alignment tolerance.