Astronics / Ballard Technology USB 429 ARINC 429 and 717 Portable USB Interface
The USB-ARINC 429 interface is a compact and cost-effective solution for interfacing with ARINC 429 and ARINC 717 protocols. It connects to a host computer via USB and provides multiple channels for transmitting and receiving ARINC data. It is ideal for flight simulation, data analysis, and avionics testing.
- Model
- Astronics / Ballard Technology USB 429
- Calibration
- Available on request
- Price
- $3,500
- Status
- In stock
- RFQ ref
- USB 429
This unit
The Astronics/Ballard Technology USB 429 is a portable USB interface for avionics databus testing and simulation. It connects PCs, laptops, tablets, and netbooks to ARINC 429, ARINC 717, and ARINC 575 systems via USB 2.0, enabling real-time communication, monitoring, and protocol validation. The device offloads protocol processing - message transmission, reception, error checking, time-tagging, and buffering - to dedicated onboard hardware, freeing host software for application logic.
Technical Specifications Protocols & Channels
ARINC 429, ARINC 717, ARINC 575
Channel configurations range from single-channel to 12R4T (12 Rx / 4 Tx ARINC 429 channels); models support up to 16 ARINC 429 Rx/Tx and up to 4 ARINC 717 channels in mixed configurations Data Rates
Standard rates: 12.5 kb/s, 100 kb/s
Configurable per channel with custom bit rates supported
Software-selectable parity: odd, even, or data Memory & Timing
32 MB onboard data memory
48-bit hardware time-tag with 1 µs resolution
IRIG A/B PWM and AM time synchronization/generation Discrete I/O
Eight avionics-level programmable input/output discretes Error Management
Hardware-based error detection and selective injection
Message filtering and scheduling
Transmit control: automatic or explicit with configurable repetition rates, gaps, pause/halt/pulse outputs
Internal self-test bus Power & Interface
USB 2.0 bus-powered, single port
Maximum power consumption: 325 mA
LED indicators for bus traffic and error status
Key Features
Plug and Play and Hot Swap installation
Supports periodic and transfer protocols
Multiple message buffering schemes
Syncs and triggers for test synchronization
Handles maximum data throughput on all ARINC channels simultaneously
Typical Applications Avionics system development, integration testing, protocol validation, databus monitoring, equipment simulation, and bench-level troubleshooting of ARINC 429/717 networks.
Compatibility & Integration Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux environments via standard USB 2.0 drivers. Works with modern PC laptops, desktops, tablets, and netbooks without external power supply.
Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Voltage / Current Range | 325 mA max (USB 2.0 bus-powered) |
Astronics / Ballard Technology USB 429 — Repair & Calibration Service
Aumictech offers NIST-traceable calibration and repair for the Astronics / Ballard Technology USB 429. 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 USB 429 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 USB 429 price
This Astronics / Ballard Technology USB 429 is listed at $3,500. Calibration is available separately from $450. Contact us for volume pricing or if you need multiple units.
Astronics / Ballard Technology USB 429 calibration cost
NIST-traceable calibration for the Astronics / Ballard Technology USB 429 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 →
