About WizardLink Front-End


The WizardLink Front-End provides high-speed serial interfaces to spacecraft flight equipment. The Front-End is used during spacecraft assembly, integration and test phase to test and validate satellite flight equipment. 

Typically, the WizardLink Front-End connects to a Payload, Mass Memory Unit, Laser Communication Terminal or RF Transponders. This Front-End operates as a data source (transmit), data sink (receiver) or both at the same time. 

WizardLink FE Front
WizardLink FE Back

Click image to enlarge

Key Features


  • Up to 4 WizardLink Channels in Parallel
  • Up to a data rate of 2Gbps per channel in each direction
  • WizardLink Channels implemented using TI TLK2711A Chipset (100% compatible with TLK2711-SP)
  • TLK Chipset Clock Programmable between 80 and 125MHz in 1Hz steps
  • On-The-Fly User Protocol Customisation using K-Codes
  • Data-Only or RAW (K– and D-Codes) modes supported
  • Hardware timestamping (CUC) of received data (synchronised to PPS or IRIG)
  • All WizardLink I/O’s to/from the Unit Under Test (UUT) are electrically isolated
  • All WizardLink I/O’s provide fail-safe in– and outputs protecting transceivers in power-off state
  • Optional LVDS Flow Control (TIA/EIA-644-A Compliant) for all WizardLink channels supported
  • Gigabit LAN for Control and Monitoring via TCP/IP (using RJ45)
  • 10Gbit LAN for Data Streaming via TCP/IP (using SFP+)
  • Provided with software to control and archive the data
  • FMEA Report Available

Key Features


  • Up to 4 WizardLink Channels in Parallel
  • Up to a data rate of 2Gbps per channel in each direction
  • WizardLink Channels implemented using TI TLK2711A Chipset (100% compatible with TLK2711-SP)
  • TLK Chipset Clock Programmable between 80 and 125MHz in 1Hz steps
  • On-The-Fly User Protocol Customisation using K-Codes
  • Data-Only or RAW (K– and D-Codes) modes supported
  • Hardware timestamping (CUC) of received data (synchronised to PPS or IRIG)
  • Hardware timestamping (CUC) of received data (synchronised to PPS or IRIG)
  • All WizardLink I/O’s to/from the UUT are electrically isolated
  • All WizardLink I/O’s provide fail-safe in– and outputs protecting transceivers in power-off state
  • Optional LVDS Flow Control (TIA/EIA-644-A Compliant) for all WizardLink channels supported
  • Gigabit LAN for Control and Monitoring via TCP/IP (using RJ45)
  • 10Gbit LAN for Data Streaming via TCP/IP (using SFP+)
  • Provided with software to control and archive the data
  • FMEA Report Available

The system consists of a 19″ 2U rack-mountable unit that is controlled and monitored by a software application that allows the system to be used stand-alone or controlled remotely via a Central-Check-Out System (CCS). 

Providing up to four (4) WizardLink channels in parallel the Front-End interfaces directly to the unit under test (UUT) on one side using differential Voltage Mode Logic (VML) and exchanges user data on the other side using a 10Gbit TCP/IP streaming interface. 

The Front-End enables the user to transmit or receive data (such as CCSDS Frames, Packets, etc.to/from any source. Using a commercial server platform data recorded from the WizardLink channel(s) is offloaded using a standard 10Gbit TCP/IP interface and stored to disk and vice-versa. The commercial 10Gbit ethernet interface allows both copper or optical interfaces between the Front-End and the server platform. This allows the data to be transported over long distances (300 meters or longer) between front- and back-end.

Providing electrically isolated VML interfaces including fail-safe protection to protect transceivers in their power-off state, the WizardLink Front-End provides satellite level fault voltage emissions and tolerances. 

In the second quarter of 2019, it is foreseen to support the SpaceFibre protocol (compliant to ECSS-E-ST-50-11C). 

The WizardLink Front-End is the third generation of WizardLink EGSE released in Q4 2018, since the release of the first generation in 2009. Previous generations have been used one wide range of programs (ESA and non-ESA), such as Sentinel-1 and various commercial programs and delivered to major European prime contractors such as Airbus and Thales Alenia Space.