High-speed capture module for remote CoaXPress cameras: the camera-side box that turns CXP-12 coax links into CoaXPress-over-Fiber

01

Four CXP-12 micro-BNC inputs, one QSFP+ or four SFP+ outputs: links, speeds and the 50 Gbps aggregate

Euresys's Coaxlink CXP-12 to QSFP+ Converter is a stand-alone aluminium box with four micro-BNC 75 Ω CoaXPress inputs on the front and one QSFP+ port for 40 Gbps optical modules on the rear. It accepts one 1-, 2- or 4-connection camera, or four 1-connection cameras on request, at every CXP speed from CXP-1 (1.25 Gbps) to CXP-12 (12.5 Gbps), and carries up to 50 Gbps (5,000 MB/s) to a Coaxlink QSFP+ frame grabber under the CXP-over-Fiber Bridge Protocol 1.1, with a stated maximum fiber link speed of CoF-10. [1]

Editorial calculation: four links at the 12.5 Gbps of CXP-12 add up to 50 Gbps, the aggregate Euresys states for its converter. [1] The up-connection back to the camera runs far slower: Euresys lists 20.83 Mbps for CXP-1 to CXP-6 and 41.66 Mbps for CXP-10 and CXP-12, and KAYA gives a 41.6 Mbps downlink against a 12.5 Gbps uplink, using the opposite naming for the two directions. [1] [2]

The four products split the work differently. BitFlow designed the QFi for a single compact camera far from the host, because converting to fiber with a dedicated pair of boxes was, in its words, quite cost prohibitive; one QFi handles one link, a multi-link camera takes one QFi per link, and the fiber plugs straight into a BitFlow Claxon fiber frame grabber without a second converter. [4] Phrontier's PHORTE pairs a camera-side module (PHORTE-CM) with a frame-grabber-side module (PHORTE-FG) when neither camera nor grabber supports CXPoF, with other combinations depending on the camera and grabber; the conversion is transparent, so the host sees an ordinary CoaXPress connection with no drivers or configuration. [3]

Give the supplier the camera model and its number of CXP links and speed, whether one multi-link camera or up to four single-link cameras share the module, and whether the frame grabber already accepts CoaXPress-over-Fiber or needs a second converter at the host end.

02

From 30–40 m of coax to 400 m multimode and 10–80 km single-mode: optics, fiber count and reach

Phrontier, as described by its distributor Stemmer Imaging, puts the copper limit for CXP-12 at roughly 30 m because of attenuation, while BitFlow rates its QFi for camera-to-module coax runs of up to 40 m at CXP-12, longer at lower speeds. [3] [4] On the fiber side the published reach depends on optics and fiber type.

KAYA adds reasons beyond distance for going to fiber: the link is electrically isolated, does not radiate or pick up electromagnetic interference, avoids grounding problems and is not easily tapped. [2] BitFlow notes that off-the-shelf fiber cables combine multiple SFP+ connections into one QSFP+ connection, so four QFi modules can feed one quad-link grabber. [4]

Editorial calculation: replacing a 30 m CXP-12 coax run with Phrontier's 10 km single-mode link is a reach about 330 times longer, and KAYA's 80 km rating is eight times Phrontier's single-mode figure; the reach actually achieved still depends on the SFP+ or QSFP+ optics fitted, which each maker leaves to the module chosen. [3] [2]

State the distance from camera to frame grabber, the fiber already installed on site (multimode grade or single-mode, fibre count, MPO or LC), and whether the optics are to be supplied with the module.

03

Powering the cameras over coax, 24 V supply, heatsinks and the temperature where the box is mounted

Each module can power the cameras through the coax, so the camera end needs no separate supply. Euresys budgets 4 × 17 W of PoCXP plus 19.5 W for its own electronics from a 24 V DC ±3 % input, cooled by a fan-cooled heatsink, and offers a 160 W 24 V adapter as a related product. KAYA's converter draws under 11 W itself, delivers 13 W per link, takes 24 V DC and is fanless with a passive heatsink. BitFlow's QFi provides up to 13 W to its camera. [1] [2] [4]

Editorial calculation: Euresys's worst case is 19.5 + 4 × 17 = 87.5 W, about 3.6 A at 24 V; KAYA's is under 11 + 4 × 13 = 63 W. [1] [2]

Size, mass and environment set where the module can go. Euresys's box measures 208 × 113 × 56.5 mm, weighs 776 g net and is rated for 0 to +50 °C and 10–90 % RH non-condensing; KAYA's measures 117 × 114.5 × 23.5 mm, weighs 300 g and is rated for -40 to +80 °C; Phrontier's PHORTE modules measure 88 × 147 × 41.25 mm, sized to fit inside camera housings. [1] [2] [3] Phrontier reports link state through a UART port and LEDs, KAYA through a micro-USB port that also takes firmware updates, and BitFlow through a side channel showing temperature and link speed. [3] [2] [4]

Give the supplier each camera's PoCXP power draw, the 24 V supply available at the camera end, the mounting place and its temperature range, and whether a fan is acceptable there.

04

Camera, distance and site data for a CoaXPress-over-Fiber capture module

Paste it into your enquiry below or into an email to a maker, then replace every bracket.

Cameras: [model; number of CXP links; CXP speed; PoCXP draw]
Layout: [one multi-link camera or up to four single-link cameras per module]
Distance: [camera to module coax length; module to frame grabber fiber length]
Fiber: [multimode grade or single-mode; fibre count; MPO or LC; optics supplied or not]
Frame grabber: [model; CXPoF input or copper input needing a host-side converter]
Power: [24 V DC available; total budget]
Site: [ambient temperature; enclosure; fan acceptable or not]
Monitoring: [link status, temperature, firmware updates]

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