A key challenge in transceiver and digital signal processing (DSP) testing is generating significant levels of chromatic dispersion. While transmission fiber is the most intuitive solution, is it the most efficient in terms of cost, space, and performance?
A Cost-Effective, High-Performance Alternative
indie’s Chromatic Dispersion Emulator (CDE) is a fixed, entirely passive solution that replicates the effects of thousands of kilometers of fiber transmission. Built on indie’s proven fiber Bragg grating (FBG) technology, the CDE:
- Reduces costs compared to traditional fiber-based setups
- Minimizes insertion loss, reducing the need for amplifiers
- Emulates up to 45,000 ps/nm of dispersion in a compact half 1U 19-inch rack module
Designed for Advanced Modulation Formats
The CDE has a strong track record in labs worldwide for testing the robustness of 100G/200G coherent DP-QPSK transceivers and DSP algorithms. As standards evolve, 400G and 800G transceivers (OSFP, QSFP-DD) are now tested for chromatic dispersion robustness.
Thanks to its wide bandwidth, the CDE can emulate dispersion at very high baud rates, including 800G signals at few tens to hundreds of GBaud.
Versatile Configurations for Diverse Applications
C- and L-band CDEs: Available in multi-channel configurations for simultaneous testing of 100G-800G optical modules, or wideband single-channel configurations for next-generation high-data-rate applications.
OBW = Operation bandwidth of each channel over which optical parameters are guaranteed.
O-band CDE (Available Upon Request): Supports 100G Lambda MSA transceivers for CWDM channels in FR, LR, and ER standards, ensuring compliance with industry specifications.
A Highly Customizable Solution
indie’s CDE configurations can be tailored to meet specific requirements. Below is a summary of the C- and L-band configurations available.
Flexible Configurations for Diverse Testing Needs
The CDE supports a wide range of transmission applications with configurations available in C-band, L-band, and O-band. Multi-channel configurations allow for testing multiple wavelengths simultaneously, while single-channel versions offer a broad operational bandwidth for the latest high-speed applications.
Each CDE module supports multiple dispersion levels, typically offering three predefined settings per module. For example, a 45,000 ps/nm module can be configured to emulate 15,000, 30,000, and 45,000 ps/nm, providing a flexible and efficient approach to dispersion emulation.
In the O-band, the CDE can test both minimum and maximum dispersion for a given standard across multiple channels, ensuring compliance with 100G Lambda MSA specifications.
Massive Dispersion in a Compact Form
A single half 1U 19-inch module can provide up to 45,000 ps/nm, with the option to cascade multiple units for even higher dispersion levels, allowing the replication of dispersion characteristics typically found in submarine networks.
CDE vs. Transmission Fiber – An Efficient Alternative
Save space, cost, and complexity by replacing bulky fiber spools and EDFAs with a plug-and-play CDE solution.
- Up to 3× less expensive than a fiber-based setup
- Up to 10× reduction in insertion loss
indie’s CDE provides a scalable, high-precision dispersion testing solution, offering unmatched efficiency compared to traditional fiber setups.
Related Product
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| Fixed Laboratory Dispersion Emulators – CDE | View product |