DS3800NFCD1L1E | Replacement for DS3800NFCD

Description

Product Introduction

The DS3800NFCD1L1E represents the absolute technological limit of the Mark IV fiber optic architecture—a validation prototype that GE’s photonics lab built to prove the platform could communicate over 40km without repeaters. The “L” suffix gives you a 1550nm DWDM laser with an integrated EDFA preamplifier and coherent detection, providing a 42dB optical budget—enough for 40km 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 “E” is the aerospace-grade environmental package: triple-layer conformal coating with ceramic-reinforced topcoat, hermetically sealed components, radiation-hardened electronics, and full MIL-STD-810G with aerospace-grade vibration tolerance. GE built fewer than 5 of these boards as the final validation step for a classified aerospace program. When the program was canceled, these boards never entered production.

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 an integrated EDFA preamplifier that boosts the signal before it enters the coherent receiver. Compare this to the 1L1D (same 40km range, DWDM laser, and EDFA, but the “D” variant lacks the aerospace-grade vibration tolerance and radiation hardening). The 1L1E is the only Mark IV board that can do 40km with aerospace-grade certification.

Key Technical Specifications

Compatible Replacement Models

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What makes the “E” suffix on the 1L1E different from the “D” on the 1L1D?
The “E” adds:

• Aerospace-grade vibration tolerance: 15g RMS from 10Hz to 2000Hz versus 8g RMS on the 1L1D. The EDFA and coherent receiver are sensitive to vibration—the “E” variant has additional mechanical damping.
• Radiation hardening: All critical components are radiation-hardened to 100 krad and latch-up protected. The EDFA pump laser is also radiation-hardened—a unique feature.
• Ceramic-reinforced topcoat: Extra abrasion resistance for the board and EDFA module.
• Anti-vibration mounts: The board has shock-absorbing hardware to protect the EDFA and coherent receiver.
• Radiation event logging: The board logs SEU events, including pump laser transients.

If you’re not in a high-vibration or radiation environment, the 1L1D is a more practical choice. The 1L1E is for aerospace applications where vibration and radiation are concerns.

Is the EDFA safe to work with?
The EDFA contains a 980nm pump laser that outputs up to 150mW. This is Class 3B—dangerous to eyes and skin. The board has an interlock that disables the pump laser if the fiber connector is disconnected. Never defeat the interlock. The 1L1E’s interlock is radiation-hardened and has a manual override for testing—use the override with extreme caution. Always use a fiber optic power meter for testing and keep the fiber connected at all times during operation.

Why does this board have an EDFA instead of just using a more powerful laser?
The Mark IV protocol runs at 2Mbps. The limitation is the receiver sensitivity, not the transmitter power. A coherent receiver with an EDFA preamplifier is the most sensitive detection scheme—it’s the only way to achieve the 42dB optical budget needed for 40km. A more powerful laser wouldn’t help because the fiber attenuation is the same; the limitation is the receiver noise floor. The EDFA amplifies the signal before it enters the receiver, overcoming the noise floor.

What firmware do I need for the EDFA?
The EDFA requires custom firmware that controls the pump laser current, monitors the EDFA gain, and provides the diagnostic feedback. This firmware was never released to the general public. We include the custom firmware EPROMs with every 1L1E we ship. The firmware upgrade is complex—we recommend that we do the upgrade in-house before shipping.

Can I use this board with a standard NFCD at the other end?
No. The 1L1E uses coherent detection with an EDFA preamplifier. The standard NFCD uses an APD receiver. They’re not compatible. Both ends of the link need to be 1L1E (or 1L1D) boards. To get the 40km range and the aerospace certification, you need a 1L1E at both ends.

Can I hot-swap this board?
No. Mark IV backplanes are not hot-swappable. The 1L1E draws significant current (2.7A on +5V, 2.5A 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 1L1E is the rarest Mark IV board we carry—we have one unit in stock as of this writing. Lead time is 10-14 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 40km single-mode fiber), a full diagnostic verification, a thermal cycle (-55°C to +85°C), and a vibration test at 15g RMS. The test report is included.

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.

KUKA KCP2 00-130-547
GE IS220UCSAH1A
ABB PPD113B01-10-150000