Samtec, Inc., announces the release of the BE71A Bulls Eye Phase & Amplitude Stable Test Assembly. Optimised for use out to 71GHz in support of 224Gbps PAM4 SerDes testing, this new product combines the popular Bulls Eye assembly’s space-saving compression-mount design with Samtec’s distinctive orange NitrowaveTM high-performance microwave cables.
Why phase stability matters
As frequencies increase, phase matching between cable assemblies becomes more important. This is because precise signal timing is critical when assessing performance or detecting faults in a measurement. The BE71A test assembly offers industry-leading 0.5ps phase matching. This matters for signal integrity, reliability of transmission, and error reduction. The 71 GHz Nitrowave cables in the BE71A assembly were specifically designed to maintain phase stability while test fixtures and cables are tweaked and adjusted.
Designed for test
Optimised to address real estate, cost, and flexible use case issues, the Samtec BE71A Test Assembly has a standard 1.85mm connection to instrumentation, eliminating the need to upgrade to the 1.00 mm test equipment that is often required for 224Gbps PAM4 testing.
Configured in a double row, which supports microstrip/co-planar waveguide or stripline PCB transmissions with 50ohm impedance, Samtec’s BE71A Bulls Eye Phase & Amplitude Test Assembly compression mounts to the board for high-speed digital test, SerDes characterisation, and ATE. It is also well suited for high-density multi-port panel & I/O connections.
Some Samtec customers who are already using BE71A test assemblies are integrating them directly into the front panel of 224 Gbps test equipment, such as bit error rate testers (BERTs). Outside the box, the BE71A test assembly enables smaller evaluation boards and shorter trace lengths in test and measurement applications. The assembly compression-mounts directly to the board for placement adjacent to the SerDes under characterisation, reducing trace length and associated loss.
