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Alta Data Technologies continues to redefine the landscape of MIL-STD-1553 and ARINC connectivity with a series of groundbreaking product releases. In addition to several new commercial off the shelf (COTS) interface cards, Alta has introduced the in-line (NLINE) product family, a truly innovative solution that embeds their advanced protocol engine directly into ruggedized cabling.
Further simplifying integration, the NLINE offers an auto-bridge mode. This eliminates the need for programming, automatically converting 1553 or ARINC, time-stamped packets to Ethernet UDP packets. The ENETs and NLINE products streamline the integration of 1553 and ARINC connections for new and legacy avionics systems.
The NLINE products deliver an incredibly compact form factor with ultra-fast communication capabilities. This makes the NLINE ideal for a wide range of applications, including general avionics testing and operational flight plan (OFP) data loading. Expanding its versatility, the NLINE is now available with Ethernet, Thunderbolt, and USB 3 interfaces.
The NLINE design leverages Alta's proven success with their widely deployed real-time Ethernet 1553 and ARINC converters (ENET), trusted in thousands of air and land vehicles. Alta's proprietary FPGA protocol engines deliver maximum data throughput between the 1553/ARINC and Ethernet networks, achieving real-time packet speeds.
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The dedication of our employees to quality in design and meticulous manufacturing processes benefits everyone: customers, suppliers, and Alta alike.
Further simplifying integration, the NLINE offers an auto-bridge mode. This eliminates the need for programming, automatically converting 1553 or ARINC, time-stamped packets to Ethernet UDP packets. The ENETs and NLINE products streamline the integration of 1553 and ARINC connections for new and legacy avionics systems.
Miniaturized, Modular Connectivity for Demanding Avionics
“The enthusiastic reception for our ENET and NLINE products has been truly inspiring, and customers are eager to push this technology directly into their avionics computers using interface cards similar to our PMC and XMC cards, but in even more compact, mezzanine (MEZ) form factors.” explains Harry Wild, VP of sales for Alta.
He continues, “This demand has fueled the development of our latest innovation: the MEZ family of interface cards. These remarkably small circuit cards pack a powerful punch, offering 1553, EBR (enhanced bit-rate 1553), WMUX, and ARINC interfaces, paired with either Ethernet and PCI Express host connections."
These products are accompanied by comprehensive reference design schematics and development cards, allowing customers to initiate software development with the same hardware while their system design is finalized. The MEZ represents Alta's commitment to providing cutting-edge, adaptable connectivity solutions for the evolving avionics landscape.
Adapting to Evolving Needs - Alta's Commitment to Legacy and Emerging Standards
While Alta's PMC and XMC interface cards continue to be widely adopted in test, VPX, and MOSA line-replaceable units (LRUs), the MEZ product line caters to the growing demand for compact solutions in mission and flight support systems. Drawing inspiration from the mini PCI Express (MPCIE) and M.2 cards commonly found in servers and laptops (for flash discs and WIFI), MEZ offers similar flexibility and space efficiency. In response to the rising demand for M.2 solutions, Alta is set to introduce an M.2 1553 interface card in early 2025.
Further pushing the boundaries of integration, Alta is introducing an XMC board with an unprecedented array of avionics interfaces for cPCI, VPX, MOSA LRU, and test systems. The XMC-MAS card combines asynchronous serial interfaces (RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485) with 1553/ARINC capabilities and digital discretes, providing comprehensive connectivity on a single card. This complements Alta's existing high-density XMC-1553 1553 card, which boasts an impressive capacity of up to 10 individual channels.
Alta's Software Development Augments Hardware Advancements
"Our ambitious hardware roadmap necessitates a parallel commitment to software development, ensuring our customers experience a smooth and efficient integration process," says Jake Haddock, CTO of Alta. "While we’re known for offering hardware solutions, their full potential is unlocked by our comprehensive software packages."
“We strive to make our products the most straightforward to integrate, keeping pace with the rapid evolution of computer hardware and operating systems. This means continuously adapting to new architectures like ARM and staying ahead of Linux updates. We're constantly developing drivers, example programs, and providing specialized integration support, including compatibility with LabVIEW and DO-178 applications. Furthermore, we continually enrich our AltaView analyzer with exciting new features to be provide customers the best tool for avionics network analysis.”
All Alta products include the streamlined AltaAPI SDK, a full software-ware tool kit that promotes code reuse across our entire product line, and accelerates development with hundreds of readily available example programs.
Uncompromising Quality - The Foundation of Alta's Success
Alta's unwavering commitment to quality is evident in their rigorous, ISO audited manufacturing processes. Each product undergoes multiple JTAG boundary scans, multiple IPC-610 Class 3 inspections (the highest commercial standard), image scanning, and comprehensive functional testing. This dedication to excellence allows Alta to confidently offer an industry-leading 5-year warranty.
"Since our inception in 2007, we've shipped over 70,000 items with an astonishingly low repair rate," says Richard Schuh, CEO of Alta. “We rarely charge for repairs, even beyond the warranty period as it's simply not worth the customer’s procedural hurdles, and they really appreciate this level of support. The dedication of our employees to quality in design and meticulous manufacturing processes benefits everyone: customers, suppliers, and Alta alike. This approach has translated into consistently record-breaking sales and impeccable on-time delivery, even amidst the challenges of COVID-related supply chain disruptions.”
Choosing the Gold Standard in Avionics Data Bus Connectivity
Executives buying COTS MIL-STD-1553 and ARINC products are usually solving a mismatch between long-serving aircraft electronics and the computing architectures surrounding them. Flight programs cannot discard certified data bus investments whenever processors, backplanes or test environments change, yet they also cannot let legacy interfaces dictate weight, cabling complexity or integration pace. The stronger suppliers in this market are not simply board vendors; they help avionics teams preserve proven bus behavior while moving data into architectures shaped by VPX, Ethernet, compact embedded systems and open-system procurement discipline.
The purchase risk often sits in the space between electrical compliance and program adoption. A device can meet a protocol requirement and still create cost if it forces custom software paths, consumes scarce chassis space or requires different engineering practices from lab bench to deployed platform. Executives should look closely at how much channel density can be consolidated without complicating thermal, vibration or power constraints. Products that support MIL-STD-1553, ARINC-429/717 and mixed serial needs across multiple form factors give programs a cleaner path when aircraft subsystems, ground support equipment and simulation environments need common behavior.
Software continuity carries equal weight because integration labor is usually harder to contain than unit cost. The best hardware choice limits driver fragmentation, protects code reuse and gives engineering teams a common API across cards, Ethernet appliances and small embedded modules. That matters when a prototype starts on a USB or Ethernet interface and then migrates into an XMC, Mini PCI Express or M.2 design. A supplier’s value increases when the move from development to qualification does not require a fresh application model.
Network migration has become another decisive point. Ethernet-connected bus interfaces can reduce wiring burden, simplify data collection and make older avionics data usable by newer test, monitoring and mission systems. The technical distinction is latency and control. A converter that depends heavily on host software can add timing uncertainty, while a hardware-directed UDP design can make the bridge more predictable. For programs that must gather 1553 or ARINC traffic without extensive host programming, automatic bridging also reduces schedule friction, especially in labs and retrofit environments where engineering access is constrained.
Reliability should be assessed through manufacturing discipline, environmental options and support model rather than broad claims. Aerospace buyers need form factors that fit commercial labs, rugged LRUs and conduction-cooled embedded systems, backed by repeatable test practices and long-term availability. The right supplier makes legacy data buses easier to sustain inside modern avionics architectures without turning every platform change into a custom engineering effort.
Alta Data Technologies stands out with a product line that maps closely to the real acquisition problem. Its MIL-STD-1553 and ARINC portfolio spans XMC, PMC, PCI Express, Mini PCI Express, M.2, USB, Thunderbolt, ENET and NLINE in-line converters, while AltaAPI supports software portability across those choices. For VPX and embedded systems, its XMC-MA4 and XMC-MAS options address multi-channel and mixed 1553/ARINC/serial needs. For Ethernet migration, ENET and NLINE products provide real-time 1553 and ARINC conversion, including auto-bridge modes for UDP data movement. For executives standardizing around COTS avionics connectivity, Alta is the Gold Standard recommendation.
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Company
Alta Data Technologies
Management
Richard Schuh, CEO, Jake Haddock, CTO, Harry Wild, VP of Sales
Description
Alta Data Technologies continues to redefine the landscape of MIL-STD-1553 and ARINC connectivity with a series of groundbreaking product releases. The company’s NLINE products deliver an incredibly compact form factor with ultra-fast communication capabilities.
