Monthly DiscussionNew Staff Member
Hello to all our Readers,
We often have customers asking to drive RS-232, RS-485, USB, TCP etc over long distances.Look at Dataforth, Telebyte, Bravo, Maxstream, Adlink, OTC, Sealevel, Artila, Advantech, Quatech, Moxa, Aaxeon, Handy Wave, Hantz, KC Wirefree
RS-232 Extension
is the most common data signal people want to drive long distances, in the industrial world any way.
We have several ways to do this:
Line drivers- basically turning RS-232 into current loop or RS-485 or fiber - Cable type (capacitance will decide the distance). Using copper, these types of drivers (isolated or non isolated) can send data 10kms at low baud rates and slowly reduce as baud rate goes up. Using fiber ( very expensive), distance is easy to attain.
see Dataforth, Telebyte, Bravo
RS-485 Extension
is the next most common industrial data signal
In the RS-485 specification repeater extenders are defined and these can double the length at full baud rate, and this is 1.2km per repeater extender.
see Adlink
802/WiFi -- serial extenders
Another very nice way to send RS-232 or 485 is on Wifi 802 wireless links, the data arrives packed with an IP address which is so nice for software. ( See OTC)
Direct RF Wireless -- serial extenders -- the long haul - line of site usually
Now for those that wnat to go up to 20-30kms we can do this with Maxstream high baud rate wireless 900MHz modems.
Zigbee RF Wireless -- serial extenders -- the smart mesh short haul
Zigbee is revolutionising short hauling data
Bluetooth -- serial extenders -- the short haul
did back a few years back.
Handy Wave, Hantz, KC Wirefree
GSM/CDMA/G3 -- serial extenders -- the Long Haul -- with no cables to any sites.
So this is the only way out if it is a long way and not line of site. These types of modems allow RS-232, 485 and TCP traffic at good baud rates but with long latencies usually so not really real time, but for hauling data one way they are super.
See Wireless - M2M - GSM in general
TCP Network -- Serial Servers -- serial extenders -- The ultimate long haul.
Send the data on a TCP network as packets and bring back to RS-232 or RS-485 using a Serial Server using a virtual driver in the PC.
This can be anywhere in the world, so it is very low cost and full bandwidth if you have broad band. This is using the internet or local net and it is transparent.
However this is only applicable where there is TCP networking and access points out to the big world and back again where you want the RS-232 RS-485 etc.
See Sealevel, Artila, Advantech, Quatech, Moxa
USB extension
Yes, we can do this and over 300 meters USB 1. Note USB 2 is more difficult due to bandwidth but is still available at extra cost.
Now some thoughts on USB, it is superb tenchnology and has auto recognition drivers etc for PCs adn some embeddable systems now, so in a way is self healing if a system looses comms and then the USB is reconnected, you have seen that with scanners, cameras and other devices.
TCP Network extensions
Hubs, and switches take care of all of this. Note fiber is usually used for long hauls in IT systems and Telco systems.
Hope that was useful to many of you.
New Direction and Focus at MasTec:- Over the last few months we have been moving MasTec's focus to be singular. -- "A Sales Company"
To this end, we have just hired a new sales person -- Manasi Gaonkar - ( pronounced Mancy ) who has a degree in Instrumentation Engineering (Process & Control) with 2 years sales and marketing experiencing.
Here recent experience was in Christchurch working on Marketing and Logistical supply lines for a large manufacturer. This experience will assist MasTec as it moves to a have a larger focus on OEM supply for NZ and Austalian manufacturers.
Welcome Manasi
Manasi will work with all our sales engineers as a logisitics sales support person, optimising usages of skills and time inside the sales team and off loading some tasks from our more senior sales people.
MasTec is now entirely a Sales Focused Company, see the contact list below showing the flat sales structure..
This removes the burden of trying to be all things from the sales staff and allows them to focus on our customers needs.
More next month on the next step.
All Sales -- Administration
Saera Tui All Sales -- Management
Rob Maskell Instrumentation Sales
Loyal Noronha AC & DC Power Sales
Dhara Pandya General Sales
Mancy Gaonkar Dealers Sales,
Jeannie Murdoch Liason Officer for Product Development
Rob Maskell (Please send Jeannie Murdoch in Marketing any updates on company details, any new staff members etc)
Winner of the Soltec 400VA UPS for June was Jack Farley, Congratulations Jack.