Dear Stereolabs Support Team,
We are aiming to use a ZED X stereo camera with a ZED Box Orin NX for our applications. The system relies on the GMSL2 FAKRA-Z extension cable for the connection between the camera and the computational unit.
In our field environment, operators need to connect and disconnect the extension cable on a daily basis. As you know, FAKRA connectors are not designed for frequent mating/unmating (typically only 25–50 cycles). This makes handling difficult for our staff and creates a risk of connector wear or damage over time.
To solve the connector wear issue, we are considering the following custom solution:
1. Keep the 4× FAKRA-Z cable permanently attached to the Jetson (no daily disconnections).
2. Build a short transition cable from FAKRA-Z to LEMO push-pull plug (50 Ω coax).
* Coax type: RTK031 (50 Ω, low-loss, 2.8 mm Ø, DC–6 GHz) or equivalent.
* Connector: LEMO 00 series coax push-pull (≥ 5000 mating cycles).
3. Use a 15 m extension cable with LEMO ↔ LEMO in the middle (for daily plug/unplug) and FAKRA-Z on the camera side (to maintain compatibility with ZED X).
This way, all daily connections would happen through the LEMO push-pull connectors (designed for >5000 mating cycles), while the FAKRA connectors remain untouched.
Before moving forward with this modification, we would like to ask:
* Do you see any technical issues with replacing the FAKRA extension cable in this way?
* Will the signal integrity and PoC (Power-over-Coax) for GMSL2 still be guaranteed if we use high-quality 50 Ω coax (RTK031 or equivalent) and LEMO push-pull connectors rated up to at least 6 GHz?
* Do you already offer, or plan to offer, an alternative extension solution (with more robust connectors) that would suit this type of field use?
Your feedback and recommendations would be extremely valuable before we proceed with ordering materials.
Thank you in advance for your support.