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BERT

Bit error rate testers (BERTs) are usually the initial step for communications testing. These instruments generate digital test patterns, typically pseudorandom binary sequences (PRBSs), that drive devices under test (DUTs). Following the transmission of the signal through the link, the receiver in the BERT captures the signal. This setup can be used for multiple testing purposes, such as to evaluate the performance of a transmitter, a receiver, or an optical link.

MultiLane supports general-purpose BERTs that connect through fixtures and coax cables, as well as BERTs that present an MSA-compliant standard interface.

A BERT needs to be tailored to the characteristics of the DUT. Key parameters include:

Baud rate
Number of channels
Modulation format (e.g. NRZ, PAM4, etc.)
Test pattern (e.g. PRBS15 )
Signal amplitude
Port type (e.g. QSFP-DD)
Form factor (e.g. portable, chassis, etc.)

General Purpose BERTs

Part Number	Max baud rate (GBd)	Channels	Pattern length	Data format	Amplitude max (mVpp diff.)	Other
ML4039E-ATE	58	4	up to PRBS31, PRBS13Q, SSPRQ	PAM4/NRZ	800	ATE
ML4039-BTP	30	4	up to PRBS31	NRZ	800	Benchtop
ML4039-JIT-BTP	30	4	up to PRBS31	NRZ	2200+	Jitter Impairments, benchtop
ML4039B	1.25 - 29	4	up to PRBS(Q)31	PAM4/NRZ	800	benchtop
ML4039D	29.5	4	up to PRBS31Q	PAM4/NRZ	1500	benchtop
ML4039E	58	4	up to PRBS31, PRBS13Q, SSPRQ	PAM4/NRZ	800	benchtop
ML4039EN	58	4	up to PRBS31, PRBS13Q, SSPRQ	PAM4/NRZ	800	Benchtop, crosstalk noise injection
ML4079D	29.5	8	Up to PRBS 31, PRBS13Q, SSPRQ	PAM4/NRZ	1500	Benchtop
ML4079E	58	8	PRBS13Q, 31Q and SSPRQ	PAM4/NRZ	700	Benchtop
ML4079EN	58	8	PRBS13Q, 31Q and SSPRQ	PAM4/NRZ	1200	Benchtop, Random Noise and Jitter Injection

Host Emulators, Margin Testers

Part Number	Max baud rate (GBd)	Channels	Pattern length	Data format	Amplitude max (mVpp diff.)	Other
ML4070-SFP	30	3x1	PRBS 7, 9, 15, 23, 31	NRZ	800	SFP28 Compliance Tester, Stand Alone
ML4070-QSFP	30	3x1	PRBS 7, 9, 15, 23, 31	NRZ	800	QSFP28 Compliance Tester, Stand Alone

Manufacturing BERT

Part Number	Max baud rate (GBd)	Channels	Pattern length	Data format	Amplitude max (mVpp diff.)	Other
ML4054E	29	8	Up to PRBS58	PAM4/NRZ	1200	Manufacturing, benchtop
ML4054B	29	8	Up to PRBS31(Q)	PAM4/NRZ	800	Manufacturing, benchtop
ML4054B-LP	29	8	Up to PRBS31(Q)	PAM4/NRZ	800	Low profile version for thermal testing

JTOL Clock Source

Part Number	Max baud rate (GBd)	Channels	Pattern length	Data format	Amplitude max (mVpp diff.)	Other
ML407-PAM	56	1	Up to PRBS31(Q)	PAM4/NRZ	1000	PAM4 Jitter Generator, for use with any of the PAM4 BERTs such as ML4039D/E