CWDM

ALSO CALLED: Wavelength-division Multiplexing, WDM, Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing, Wave Division Multiplexing, Coarse Wave Division Multiplexing
DEFINITION: Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) is a method of combining multiple signals on laser beams at various infared (IR) wavelengths for transmission along fiber optic media. Each laser is modulated by an independent set of signals. Wavelength-sensitive filters, the IR analog of visible-light color filters, are used at the receiving end.WDM is similar to frequency-division multiplexing (FDM). But instead  … 
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CWDM DEFINITION (continued): …  of taking place at radio frequencies (RF), WDM is done in the IR portion of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. Each IR channel carries several RF signals combined by means of FDM or time-division multiplexing (TDM). Each multiplexed IR channel is separated, or demultiplexed, into the original signals at the destination. Using FDM or TDM in each IR channel in combination with WDM of several IR channels, data in different formats and at different speeds can be transmitted simultaneously on a single fiber.In early WDM systems, there were two IR channels per fiber. At the destination, the IR channels … 
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