Are FPD-Link III and GMSL2 Connectors Interchangeable?

When designing automotive camera systems using high-speed SerDes technologies like FPD-Link III and GMSL2, one of the most common questions engineers face is:

Can the connectors and cables be used interchangeably between the two?

The short answer is: No, not directly-but there's more to it.

Both FPD-Link III (by Texas Instruments) and GMSL2 (by Analog Devices) are SerDes interfaces designed for high-speed video, control, and power transmission over a single coaxial cable. However, their electrical signaling, protocol, and connector recommendations are different.

Key Points:

• FPD-Link III connectors typically use Fakra Z, HSD, or Rosenberger HFM depending on bandwidth and layout.

• GMSL2 connectors commonly use Fakra, mini-Fakra, or H-MTD depending on space, performance, and PoC requirements.

• Even when both systems use the same Fakra connector shell, the internal pinout, impedance matching, and grounding may differ.

Using a GMSL2 cable on an FPD-Link III system-even with the same connector type-may result in:

• Signal integrity issues
• No communication link
• Potential damage to components in worst-case scenarios

• Impedance Matching: Both systems target 50-ohm systems, but tolerances, equalization, and coupling mechanisms differ.
• PoC Behavior: Power-over-coax circuits (voltage, current, filtering) are often tuned to specific SerDes chipsets.
• Data Encoding: GMSL and FPD-Link use different signaling and framing structures at the protocol level.

Rather than mixing components across systems, it's best to use cable assemblies designed for the specific interface:

• GMSL camera cable: Designed for GMSL2/3, matched to Analog Devices SerDes
• FPD-Link III cable: Tuned for TI chipsets with correct PoC filters and impedance
• Both often use Fakra or H-MTD connectors, but with system-specific internal designs

At Premier Cable, we manufacture both GMSL2 and FPD-Link III cable assemblies, with connectors such as Fakra Z, H-MTD, and HSD. Our cables are electrically tuned and tested for each platform, ensuring signal integrity and reliability in ADAS, camera, and infotainment systems.

GMSL Cable Fakra Female to Female Cable

Quad Fakra Female to Female Cable

Quad Mini Fakra HFM Cable Assembly

HSD Male to Female Automotive Cable

FAKRA Mini HFM Quad to 4 x FAKRA Z Plug

Quad Mini Fakra Male to Female Cable