Extend - Communications Without Limits
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Your network is only as effective as its reach – yet unbalanced signals such as USB and RS-232 can reliably transmit only up to 15 feet and 50 feet, and even balanced Ethernet signals are capped at 300 feet. With a growing range of connectivity platforms, modern data networks require not just compatibility and reliability but also flexibility and expandability. CommFront offers ideal solutions to meet modern networks’ data distance needs by converting unbalanced signals to balanced ones, deploying repeaters to boost signal strength, and implementing hubs for star-configured connections, while still taking full advantage of cost-effective and readily available copper wire. For large systems that go far beyond what copper wires can reach, we have perfect solutions too: Our fiber-optic converters work in both conventional point-to-point and advanced daisy-chain / redundant-ring configurations, giving your data network a boost in distance, ranging from 3 miles to hundreds of miles, and additional flexibility, reliability, and expandability. CommFront’s Serial-TCP product offers another ideal solution for merging serial communication protocols with modern TCP/IP communication, yielding benefits such as widely available infrastructures and greater distance, reliability, and speed. With our complete product range of converters, repeaters, hubs, fiber-optics, and software solutions, CommFront makes your data travel without limits.
Point to Point
Used mostly for one-to-one unbalanced signal (RS-232, TTL, and USB, etc.) extension, it can also be used for one-to-one optical fiber extension. Depends on the signal types, the extended distance ranges from 250 feet (70 m) to 4000 feet (1.2 km) on copper wire and 3 miles (5 km) to 40 miles (25 km) on optical fiber.
| RS-232 extension | TTL extension | USB extension |
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Model: RPT-232-3 Description: Opto-Isolated RS232 Repeater (Industrial / Port-Powered) Key Features: |
Model: TTL-485_422-2 Description: RS422 / RS485 to TTL Converter / TTL Repeater (Industrial) Key Features: |
Model: USB-RPT-2 Description: USB Extender / Repeater (Industrial) Key Features: |
| Fiber Optic extension (Serial) | Fiber Optic extension (Ethernet) | ||
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Model: FBR-Serial-2 Description: RS-232 / RS-485 / RS-422 to Fiber Optic Converter (Industrial) Key Features: |
Model: FBR-Ethernet-2 Description: 10 / 100M Ethernet to Fiber Optic Media Converter (Industrial) Key Features: |
Daisy Chain (Multi-Drop)
Typically used for multi-drop RS-485 / RS-422 networks, addressable commands from the Master can be sent to all Slaves, and the addressed Slave can respond to the Master through the same wires, thus reducing the system’s costs. The typical distance for a daisy-chain RS-485 / RS-422 network is 4000 feet (1.2 km), and with the RS-485 / RS-422 repeater, this distance can be extended by another 4000 feet (1.2 km). Daisy-chain extension can also be used for fiber optic networks, in which the communication distances can be extended not by feet, but by miles or even hundreds of miles.
| RS-485 / RS-422 extension (with opto-isolation) | RS-485 / RS-422 extension (w/o opto-isolation) |
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Model: RPT-485_422-4 Description: RS485 / RS422 Isolator / Repeater / Converter (Industrial) Key Features: |
Model: RPT-485_422-2 Description: RS485 / RS422 Repeater / Converter (Industrial) Key Features: |
| Fiber Optic extension (Daisy-Chain or Self-Healing Redundant Ring) | |
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Model: FBR(M)-Serial-2 Description: RS232 / RS485 / RS422 to Multi-Drop Fiber Optic Converter (Industrial) Key Features: |
Star Wiring
Due to the nature of the signals and the requirements of impedance matching, the RS-485 / RS-422 network must run on a linear, daisy-chain (multi-drop) configuration; however, star-wiring is inevitable in many places. With our very well-engineered hubs, the star-wiring configuration is more than just possible; it makes the system much more robust and reliable.
| RS-485 Hub | USB Hub | USB to 4-Port RS-232 Hub |
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Model: HUB-485-4 Description: Opto-Isolated RS485 Hub / Splitter (Industrial) Key Features: |
Model: USB-HUB-2 Description: USB 4-Port / 7-Port Hub (Industrial) Key Features: |
Model: USB-232H-3 Description: USB to RS232 Hub (4-Port / Industrial) Key Features: |
Redundant Ring
Data networks are critical for production, security, and information exchange, any system downtime is very costly - and even deadly in some situations. With an extra self-healing redundant link, a system will not break down even if there is a breaking point in the system, as these redundant-ring networks work both clockwise and counter-clockwise. If the clockwise link is down, the counter-clockwise link will recover the system instantly.
| Fiber Optic extension (Daisy-Chain or Self-Healing Redundant Ring) | |
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Model: FBR(M)-Serial-2 Description: RS232 / RS485 / RS422 to Multi-Drop Fiber Optic Converter (Industrial) Key Features: |
Network
Legacy serial communication protocols such as Modbus have merged rapidly with modern TCP/IP communications, yielding benefits such as widely available infrastructures and greater distance, reliability, and speed. CommFront’s Serial-TCP program offers ideal solutions to bridge your existing Serial/COM port and TCP/IP without the need for changing protocol. It works seamlessly and transparently, just like a pair of passive repeaters; furthermore, instead of requiring installation of cables and converters with limited distance, the Serial-TCP program simply makes use of existing computers and networks with an unlimited transmission distance.
| Serial-TCP (Bridging Serial Ports and TCP/IP) |
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Model: Serial-TCP (Freeware) Description: Serial-TCP (Bridging Serial Port and TCP/IP) Key Features: |
The Products - Repeaters, Hubs, and Fiber Optic Converters
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Key Features
- Rugged industrial grade.
- Built for harsh environments and interfacing with mission-critical equipment.
- Extends Serial, USB, and Ethernet signals through copper wires, optic fiber, and TCP/IP.
- Options of point-to-point, daisy-chain, star-wiring, redundant-ring, and TCP/IP network.
- Unique and proprietary designs for in-line, wall, panel, and/or DIN-rail mounting.
| Model | Description |
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| RPT-232-3 | Opto-Isolated RS232 Repeater (Industrial / Port-Powered) |
| RPT-485_422-2 | RS485 / RS422 Repeater / Converter (Industrial) |
| RPT-485_422-4 | RS485 / RS422 Isolator / Repeater / Converter (Industrial) |
| HUB-485-4 | Opto-Isolated RS485 Hub / Splitter (Industrial) |
| TTL-485-2 | RS485 to TTL Converter (Industrial) |
| TTL-485_422-2 | RS422 / RS485 to TTL Converter / TTL Repeater (Industrial) |
| FBR-Serial-2 | RS232 / RS485 / RS422 to Fiber Optic Converter (Industrial) |
| FBR(M)-Serial-2 | RS232 / RS485 / RS422 to Multi-Drop Fiber Optic Converter (Industrial) |
| FBR-Ethernet-2 | 10 / 100M Ethernet to Fiber Optic Media Converter (Industrial) |
| USB-RPT-1 | USB Extender Cable (Industrial) |
| USB-RPT-2 | USB Extender / Repeater (Industrial) |
| USB-HUB-2 | USB 4-Port / 7-Port Hub (Industrial) |
| USB-232H-3 | USB to RS232 Hub (4-Port / Industrial) |
| Serial-TCP | Serial to TCP/IP Bridge (Freeware) |