Space network interoperability reached another significant milestone. We completed our first “plugfest” for the DIFI standard recently in Colorado Springs with seven ground systems equipment makers participating.

Plugfests are a standard way for standards bodies to validate the effectiveness of their … well… standards by testing how well devices from different manufacturers work together.

Participating companies were Calian, Evertz, iDirect, Keysight, Kratos, Wavestream and Welkin Sciences. Tested devices included BUCs, combiners, dividers, DIFI stream generator/testers, IFCs (ADC/DAC), modems and modulators in 110 combinations across manufacturers in low, mid and high transfer rates up to 750 Msps.

Plugfests are intended to do two things: first, to check how well the standard achieves its intended purpose in working environments; second, to test how well individual devices or software implement that standard. I’d say DIFI hit a home run on the first by demonstrating interoperability across multiple devices in a range of profiles from manufacturers that have not worked together natively before.

On the second front, I’d call it a triple, with an 87% overall success rate on the tests, in large part because some of the devices were still in prototype phase. These results will help us advance the device certification process currently under development by the DIFI Certification Working Group, led by Keith King of Wavestream and Todd Renking of Welkins.

In addition to demonstrating that it works in the real world, we also learned some valuable information that will help the DIFI standard mature, especially for specific use cases. The plugfest was conducted using version 1.1 of the standard, and we are already starting to plan a second to be held in Europe that will use version 1.2. Companies interested in learning more can contact plugfest@dificonsortium.org.