Thor Broadcast F-2A-TxRx Analog Audio over Fiber Kit | 2 to 32 Unbalanced Channels | Up to 20 km Single-Mode

Unbalanced Analog Audio over Fiber

The Thor F-2A-TxRx extends unbalanced analog audio far beyond what copper comfortably allows, using a matched fiber transmitter and receiver. Noise pickup, level loss and ground loops that come with long audio runs disappear once the signal travels as light. The platform supports point-to-point and point-to-multipoint layouts, and the same electronics are offered as stand-alone units or as rack-mount blades when a system grows past a few channels.

Sampling, Bandwidth and Distortion

Audio is digitized at a 48 kHz sample rate with 24-bit resolution, giving bandwidth from 10 Hz to 24.5 kHz and SNR better than 79 dB, with THD at 1 kHz of 1 percent. Converting to digital before transmission means the link itself adds no cumulative loss, so a 20 km run measures the same as a short one. Levels up to 2 Vp-p are accepted, with nominal operation around 0 dBm.

Connectors, Impedance and Optical Reach

Audio inputs and outputs use terminal blocks at 600 ohm unbalanced impedance, which keeps multi-channel panels compact and allows field-terminated cable. The optical interface is ST/PC as standard, with other connector types available by request. Standard reach is 20 km over 9/125 single-mode fiber at 1310 nm; 1550 nm and CWDM wavelengths are offered on request, as are extended distances of 40, 60, 80 and 120 km for longer routes.

Power Draw and Operating Range

Each unit takes 5 V DC from an adapter rated 90 to 240 V AC at 50 or 60 Hz, drawing about 3 W, so a transmitter and receiver together are easy to power from a single rack outlet. Operating temperature covers -20 to +75 degrees C, which suits unconditioned plant rooms as well as studio racks. Thor quotes MTBF of over 100,000 hours, and unit weights start around 1.5 lb for the smaller channel counts.

Channel Counts and Direction

Ordering follows F-XXA-TX-YY-ZZ, with XX the channel count and YY the distance in kilometers. Uni-directional kits are F-2A-TxRx, F-4A-TxRx, F-8A-TxRx, F-16A-TxRx and F-32A-TxRx. Where audio must travel both ways on one fiber, Thor lists F-2A-B-TxRx, F-4A-B-TxRx, F-8A-B-TxRx and F-16A-B-TxRx. Choose a bi-directional model when a return feed or talkback path is needed; otherwise the uni-directional kits cover studio, venue and campus distribution.