The MAX3296 shortwave or vertical cavity-surface emitting laser (VCSEL) evaluation kit (EV kit) is an assembled, surface-mount demonstration board that allows easy optical and electrical evaluation of the MAX3286 1.25Gbps laser driver or the MAX3296 2.5Gbps laser driver in the common-cathode configuration. Shortwavelength laser diodes (wavelength 980nm) and VCSELs typically require a common-cathode configuration. In the common-cathode configuration, the laser's cathode connects to ground and the laser is driven at its anode.