An opto-electrical oscillator includes, in part, first and second optical phase modulators, a coupler, an optical-to-electrical signal conversion circuit, and a control circuit. The first optical phase modulator modulates the phase of a first optical signal in response to a first feedback signal to generate a first phase modulated signal. The second optical phase modulator modulates the phase of a second optical signal in response to a second feedback signal to generate a second phase modulated signal. The first and second optical signals travel through first and second optical paths respectively and are generated from the same optical source. The optical-to-electrical signal conversion circuit receives an optical signal from the coupler and in response generates an electrical signal applied to the control circuit. The output signals of the control circuit cause the first and second feedback signals to be out of phase.