DS3800NFEC1B1B | Replacement for DS3800NFEC

Description

Product Introduction

The DS3800NFEC1B1B is an enhanced single-channel fiber optic board that combines expanded diagnostics with extended range and environmental protection. The suffix tells the story: the first “1” indicates a hardware revision. The “B” specifies 1300nm long-wave transceivers with a 5km range. The second “1” adds expanded diagnostic features (optical power monitoring, link quality trending, detailed status reporting). The final “B” is the conformal coating with humidity-resistant components. This board was designed for installations where a single fiber link needs to reach beyond 2km and where diagnostic feedback is important for preventive maintenance.

The board plugs into the Mark IV backplane and communicates with the DMP CPU over the parallel bus. The 1300nm transceivers operate at 2Mbps and support fiber runs up to 5km on 62.5/125µm multimode fiber. Compare this to the DS3800NFEC (850nm, 2km range, expanded diagnostics). The 1B1B gives you more than double the reach, better diagnostics, and conformal coating—all in a single-channel board.

Key Technical Specifications

Compatible Replacement Models

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What’s the difference between the NFEC1B1B and the NFCF1C1B?
The NFEC1B1B has expanded diagnostics—optical power monitoring, link quality trending, and detailed status reporting. The NFCF1C1B has standard diagnostics (basic optical power monitoring and error logging). The NFEC is for customers who need more detailed diagnostic feedback for preventive maintenance. The NFCF is for customers who need basic link monitoring.

What’s the “Detailed Status” LED?
The Detailed Status LED indicates that the board has additional status information available. This includes optical power level, link quality trending data, and error logs. If the LED is green, the status information is available and within normal parameters. If it’s red, there’s a diagnostic alert—check the detailed status through the Mark IV diagnostic interface.

Do I need to upgrade my DMP firmware for the expanded diagnostics?
The expanded diagnostics require DMP firmware v3.5 or later. If you’re running an older firmware version, the board will still work, but the expanded diagnostics won’t be available. We can provide the firmware EPROMs for the upgrade if needed.

Can I use this board with single-mode fiber?
The 1B1B is designed for multimode fiber (62.5/125µm) with ST connectors. The transceivers are LED-based and aren’t powerful enough to couple efficiently into single-mode fiber. You can use it with single-mode fiber in a pinch, but the range will be reduced to about 2-3km. Use multimode fiber for full performance.

What’s the most common failure mode on the NFEC1B1B?
We’ve serviced about a dozen of these boards. The most common failure is the 1300nm LED transceiver—it degrades over time, reducing optical power output. The symptom is reduced optical power output, showing up as the Optical Power Good LED turning red. We replace the transceiver module. The edge connector is the second most common failure—corrosion from humidity. The board is repairable.

Can I hot-swap this board?
No. Mark IV backplanes are not hot-swappable. Power down, lock out, wait 60 seconds.

What’s your warranty and lead time?
We stock the NFEC1B1B in limited quantities. Lead time is 2-3 business days. We offer a 1-year warranty. We test every board with a 24-hour burn-in, a fiber optic loopback test (with a spool of 5km fiber), and a diagnostic verification. 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.

ABB PFSA140 3BSE006503R1
PIONEER MAGNETICS PM3398B-6-1-3-E
SIEMENS 6ES7 488-3AA00-0AB0