We report the performance investigation and implementation of four different radio-over-fiber (ROF) systems as backhaul for wireless sensor networks based on frequency shift keying modulation at 915 MHz. Its applicability was experimentally verified as a function of packet error rate, received signal strength indicator, and system reach. Furthermore, a performance noise analysis was carried out by taking into account the optical transmitter and receiver parameters, such as: equivalent input noise, noise figure, relative intensity noise, laser wavelength, and output power. The implementation of the proposed technical solution implies in a outstanding enhancement in the system reach, management, and flexibility. It has been achieved an improvement of 17.45 dB in the system performance by using high-quality pieces of equipment of ROF technology. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:26692675, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.27168541226692675