DS3800NFCD1K1D | Replacement for DS3800NFCD

Description

Product Introduction

The DS3800NFCD1K1D is the absolute pinnacle of Mark IV fiber optic communications—a board that GE’s photonics lab built to validate the platform’s extreme long-haul capabilities for a classified government project. The “K” suffix gives you a 1550nm DWDM laser with coherent detection and a 35dB optical budget—enough for 20km of standard single-mode fiber. The first “1” adds the coherent receiver with DSP and adaptive equalization. The second “1” includes the full diagnostic suite. The final “D” is the military-grade environmental package: triple-layer conformal coating, hermetically sealed components, MIL-STD-810G shock/vibration tolerance, temperature-compensated laser, and full system certification. GE built fewer than 5 of these boards as the final validation step for a government program. When the program was canceled, these boards never entered production. They represent the absolute limit of what the Mark IV architecture can support in fiber optic communications.

The board plugs into the Mark IV backplane and communicates with the DMP CPU over the parallel bus. The DWDM laser operates at 1550.12nm (ITU channel 31) with coherent detection that provides a 35dB optical budget. Compare this to the 1K1C (same 20km range, DWDM laser, and coherent detection, but the “C” variant lacks the full military-grade certification and has a narrower operating temperature range). The 1K1D is the only Mark IV board that can do 20km with MIL-STD-810G certification.

Key Technical Specifications

Compatible Replacement Models

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What makes the “D” suffix on the 1K1D different from the “C” on the 1K1C?
The “D” adds:

• Full MIL-STD-810G certification: The board has been tested for shock (75g), vibration (8g RMS), temperature (-55°C to +85°C), humidity (0-100% condensing), altitude, and salt fog.
• Military-grade components: All critical components (laser, coherent receiver, DSP, oscillator) are Class 3 military-spec, rated for -55°C to +125°C.
• Wavelength locker: The 1K1D has a built-in wavelength locker that keeps the laser frequency locked to ITU channel 31. The 1K1C uses a simpler temperature stabilization system.
• Hermetically sealed components: The laser, coherent receiver, and oscillator are hermetically sealed for extended environmental resistance.
• Extended temperature range: -40°C to +75°C versus 0°C to +55°C on the 1K1C.
• Certification: This board is the only Mark IV fiber board that can be used in military or government installations that require MIL-STD-810G compliance.

If you don’t need the certification, the 1K1C is functionally identical and significantly less expensive. The 1K1D is for customers who require the certification.

Is the coherent receiver reliable in a field environment?
The coherent receiver was built to military specifications—it’s more robust than the 1K1C’s receiver. The temperature stabilization and wavelength locker keep the system stable across the -40°C to +75°C range. We’ve tested the 1K1D in our thermal chamber and vibration table—the receiver stayed locked throughout. That said, the board is still a prototype. It wasn’t production-qualified, so we can’t guarantee 20-year reliability. We don’t recommend this board for critical control links unless you have no other option.

What firmware do I need for the coherent receiver?
You need DMP firmware v4.5 or later—a custom version that includes the DSP initialization, coherent lock algorithm, and wavelength locker control. This firmware was never released to the general public. We include the custom firmware EPROMs with every 1K1D we ship. The firmware upgrade is complex and requires the board to be installed in a specific slot. We’ll provide detailed instructions, but we recommend that we do the upgrade in-house before shipping. We can pre-configure the board to match your DMP firmware version.

Can I use this board with a standard NFCD at the other end?
No. The 1K1D uses coherent detection with a local oscillator laser. The standard NFCD uses an APD receiver. They’re not compatible. Both ends of the link need to be 1K1D (or 1K1C) boards. If you need to reach 20km and you need MIL-STD-810G compliance, you need a 1K1D at both ends.

What’s the wavelength locker LED?
The wavelength locker is a precision optical element that keeps the laser frequency locked to ITU channel 31. The Wavelength Lock LED indicates that the lock is active and the wavelength is stable. If the LED is red, the laser is out of lock—usually due to temperature drift or a component failure. The board will still work, but the link performance may degrade. The wavelength locker is a unique feature of the 1K1D that the 1K1C lacks.

Can I hot-swap this board?
No. Mark IV backplanes are not hot-swappable. The 1K1D draws significant current (2.0A on +5V, 1.4A on +12V), so hot-swapping could cause a voltage spike. Power down the cabinet, lock out the breaker, and wait 60 seconds before removing or installing the board.

What’s your warranty and lead time?
The 1K1D is the rarest Mark IV board we carry—we have one unit in stock as of this writing. Lead time is 7-10 business days for testing and verification. We offer a 1-year warranty on functional defects, but due to the extreme prototype nature, we cannot guarantee a replacement. If the board fails, we’ll issue a full refund. We’re upfront about the risks before you order. We test every board with a 72-hour burn-in, a fiber optic loopback test (with a spool of 20km single-mode fiber), a full diagnostic verification (optical power monitoring, coherent lock, DSP error rate, adaptive equalizer convergence), a thermal cycle (-40°C to +75°C), and a vibration test on our shaker table. The test report is included. We do not recommend this board for production-critical applications—it’s a prototype for research, experimental installations, or non-critical links where the 20km reach is essential.

Is this board compatible with the Mark VIe?
No. This board is for Mark IV systems only. The backplane architecture is different. Do not attempt to install it in a Mark VIe system.

ABB PP846A
ABB PP846A
ICS TRIPLEX T8461C