Samtec Introduces Bulls Eye® ISI Evaluation Boards for Simplified SerDes Testing

Samtec has released a new family of Bulls Eye® ISI Evaluation Boards designed to streamline the testing and validation of high-speed SerDes systems. Engineered for 70 GHz and 90 GHz signal integrity applications, these boards simplify complex multi-lane testing across a wide range of use cases, from short-reach to long-reach SerDes links operating at PAM4 and PAM6 data rates. Modern SerDes systems are fundamental to high-speed interconnects, serving as the bridge between parallel data processing and high-speed serial transmission. But verifying their performance, especially across a range of loss scenarios, demands precise and repeatable test setups. Traditional ISI boards typically allow a single signal path with known losses using discrete RF connectors. Samtec’s new Bulls Eye boards take that concept further by supporting full quad-lane validation on a compact PCB footprint. The 70 GHz Bulls Eye ISI Evaluation Board includes twelve signal paths, ten of which are routed in a stepped matrix—ideal for testing 224 Gbps PAM4 channels. Two longer S-bend buses on the reverse side target 128 Gbps long-reach testing. The 90 GHz version is optimised for next-gen 448 Gbps PAM6 designs, with nine stepped matrix traces and two long-reach S-bends. Both boards support configurable End 2 connections to test instrumentation such as TDRs, BERTs, and VNAs. Designed with Samtec’s Final Inch® BOR trace routing for optimal signal integrity, they feature compression interfaces that eliminate the need for soldering and allow quick lane changes using thumb screws. These evaluation platforms offer engineers a compact, portable solution for SerDes testing at the edge of performance requirements.