Astronics / Ballard Technology LP1553-3C PCI to MIL-STD-1553 Interface Board
The Astronics LP1553-3C is a PCI to MIL-STD-1553 interface board. It allows computers with PCI slots to communicate with devices using the MIL-STD-1553 protocol, commonly used in aerospace and military applications. This interface board facilitates data transfer and control between a standard computer system and a 1553 data bus.
- Model
- Astronics / Ballard Technology LP1553-3C
- Calibration
- Available on request
- Price
- $3,100
- Status
- In stock
- RFQ ref
- LP1553-3C
This unit
The Astronics/Ballard Technology LP1553-3C is a PCI interface board that bridges standard computer systems with MIL-STD-1553B avionics data buses. This card enables seamless integration of aerospace and military legacy systems into modern test, development, and simulation environments by offloading all protocol processing to a dedicated DSP core, freeing host CPU resources.
Technical Specifications
Interface Type: PCI
Protocol: MIL-STD-1553B
On-Board RAM: 256KB to 1MB
Time-Stamp Resolution: Programmable 32-bit
Front Connector: BNC type
Form Factor: PCI Card
Key Features The LP1553-3C supports multiple operational modes within a single interface. Operate as Bus Controller (BC), Remote Terminal (RT), or Bus Monitor (BM). The card handles single-terminal emulation through multi-terminal simulation without requiring firmware changes. Programmable data buffers and deep built-in memory maintain data integrity across high-message-rate scenarios. Concurrent monitoring allows passive bus observation while simultaneously executing BC or RT functions. Advanced variants include selective protocol error injection for fault tolerance testing. Dedicated DSP processing eliminates protocol overhead from the host, enabling the PC to focus on application logic. Flexible message buffering schemes adapt to varying traffic patterns and capture requirements.
Typical Applications This interface supports aerospace avionics development, military system integration, MIL-STD-1553B bus simulation, protocol conformance testing, and real-time data acquisition from fielded aircraft and defense platforms.
Compatibility & Integration OS drivers ship for Windows 95/98/NT/Me/2000/XP. Linux and VxWorks driver support is available separately. The BTIDriver API supports C/C++, C#, Visual Basic, VB.Net, and LabVIEW development environments. Ballard's CoPilot 1553 graphical software provides BC schedule creation, RT simulation, and bus monitoring without custom code. The LP1553-3C is part of the dual-redundant LP1553-3x series and supports future feature upgrades. Manufactured by Astronics/Ballard Technology under AS9100 and ISO 9001 certification.
Astronics / Ballard Technology LP1553-3C — Repair & Calibration Service
Aumictech offers NIST-traceable calibration and repair for the Astronics / Ballard Technology LP1553-3C. Calibration covers analog input channel accuracy and offset at all gain settings, analog output accuracy, digital I/O logic threshold verification, sample rate and timing accuracy, and trigger and synchronization bus functional verification. NI CompactRIO and PXI chassis also undergo backplane trigger line integrity check.. All calibrations ship with a NIST-traceable certificate. Turnaround is typically 1–3 business days after receipt.
Common Astronics / Ballard Technology LP1553-3C faults: power supply failure (cRIO-9073/9074), C-series slot connector wear, PXI chassis fan failure, GPIB interface failure on VXI controllers, BIOS/EEPROM corruption. NI CompactRIO most common faults are power supply failure on older cRIO-9073/9074 chassis and C-series module slot connector wear from repeated hot-swap cycles. PXI chassis fan failure is the most common wear item — chassis fans are field-replaceable. VXI embedded controllers most commonly develop EEPROM corruption and GPIB interface failure.
Astronics / Ballard Technology LP1553-3C price
This Astronics / Ballard Technology LP1553-3C is listed at $3,100. Calibration is available separately from $450. Contact us for volume pricing or if you need multiple units.
Astronics / Ballard Technology LP1553-3C calibration cost
NIST-traceable calibration for the Astronics / Ballard Technology LP1553-3C is $450 (standard — pass/fail certificate and calibration sticker) or $650 (full measured data at every test point, reference standards documented, traceability chain included). Calibration for this instrument covers analog input channel accuracy and offset at all gain settings, analog output accuracy, digital I/O logic threshold verification, sample rate and timing accuracy, and trigger and synchronization bus functional verification. NI CompactRIO and PXI chassis also undergo backplane trigger line integrity check.. Turnaround is 1 to 3 business days after receipt. See full calibration details →
