MultiLane ML7004F-L – 224G/Lane Long-Reach BERT
The ML7004F-L is a high-performance 4-channel Bit Error Rate Tester (BERT) designed for validating next-generation 224G/lane PAM4 interconnects and devices used in AI infrastructure, 1.6T networking, optical modules, and high-speed data center applications. It supports data rates up to 120 Gbaud and is optimized for long-reach channel testing.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Channels | 4 |
| Maximum Data Rate | Up to 120 Gbaud |
| Aggregate Capacity | Up to 896 Gb/s (4 × 224G) |
| Modulation | PAM4 and NRZ |
| Equalization | Up to 35–40 dB Rx/Tx equalization (depending on configuration) |
| Tx FFE | 21-tap pre/post-emphasis linear FFE |
| Rx DSP | DFE, Reflection Canceller (RC), Bandwidth Extension (BWE) |
| Standards | IEEE 802.3ck, OIF CEI-112G VSR/MR/LR |
| Application Focus | Long-reach active and passive interconnect testing |
Core Capabilities
224G PAM4 Validation
The ML7004F-L can be configured for:
- 224G PAM4
- 112G PAM4
- 56G PAM4
- 25G NRZ
and their derivative line rates, making it suitable for both current and emerging high-speed ecosystems.
Long-Reach Testing
A major strength of the platform is its ability to compensate for significant channel loss through advanced equalization.
Features include:
- Up to 35–40 dB equalization capability
- Receiver DSP filtering
- Reflection cancellation
- Adaptive equalization techniques
This enables testing of highly attenuated channels encountered in modern data-center and AI networking environments.
Advanced Signal Generation
Supported patterns include:
- PRBS9
- PRBS11
- PRBS13
- PRBS15
- PRBS16
- PRBS23
- PRBS31
- PRBS13Q
- PRBS31Q
- SSPRQ
- Square Wave
- CID Jitter Tolerance Pattern
- User-defined patterns
The instrument also supports Gray coding and fine bit-rate tuning in 100 kbps increments.
Receiver Analysis Tools
The ML7004F-L includes extensive diagnostic capabilities:
SNR Monitoring
- Real-time Signal-to-Noise Ratio monitoring
- Long-term trend analysis
PAM Histogram Monitoring
- PAM4 eye distribution visualization
- Signal quality assessment
Error Detection
Supports automatic pattern detection and BER analysis across standard compliance patterns.
Typical Applications
Optical Interconnects
- Pluggable optics
- Linear Pluggable Optics (LPO)
- Optical transceivers
- Active optical cables
Electrical Interconnects
- Active electrical cables
- Passive copper cables
- High-density backplanes
- PCB channel validation
Data Center Equipment
- Switch ASIC validation
- AI accelerator interconnect testing
- SerDes characterization
- System bring-up and qualification
MultiWave Test Platform Compatibility
The ML7004F-L is available as:
- A standalone instrument
- A module for the MultiWave Test Platform (MWTP)
The MWTP chassis can accommodate up to four ML7004F-L modules, allowing testing of up to 16 channels simultaneously, making it suitable for production and high-volume validation environments.
Key Advantages
- Native 224G/lane capability
- Up to 120 Gbaud operation
- Long-reach channel support
- 21-tap transmitter equalization
- Advanced receiver DSP processing
- SNR and histogram measurements
- Compliance with IEEE 802.3ck and OIF CEI standards
- Scalable deployment through the MultiWave platform
- Position in MultiLane’s Portfolio
| Model | Primary Focus |
|---|---|
| ML4079ELN | 800G long-reach BERT for 112G ecosystems |
| ML7004F-L | General-purpose 224G/lane long-reach BERT |
| ML7008F-LFT | Advanced 224G/lane BERT with hardware FEC, BLER, and link training |
The ML7004F-L serves as a versatile general-purpose 224G validation platform, while the ML7008F-LFT adds more advanced features such as hardware FEC processing, BLER measurements, and 224G link-training support for next-generation 1.6T ecosystems.
