Media Converters

Wireless communication solutions are rich in features, easy to install and robust in performance. They are so relevant in many connectivity scenarios that in some parts of the world, wireless is the only means of high through put long distance connectivity ever possible.

The preset solutions can be used seamlessly in most IT oriented scenarios in which connecting the locations with Ethernet is the only thing needed. The rest of the job is done by the protocols in the upper layers of the well known ISO network model, like the superhero named IP.

This means you can count on a wireless solution taking your Ethernet data from one location to the other without the need for wire. But the valuable data you might need to transfer is not always in the form of Ethernet packets. This is where different physical layer interfaces are needed to convert the data format from other physical layer protocols to Ethernet (IEEE 802.3).

One major examples of such a need is when E1 phone lines are available in one location and are needed in another. In such a scenario a media converter is needed to transform the voice packets in E1 format to data packets of Ethernet format. The output of such a converter can be easily transferred via a wireless link to the remote location and converted back to E1 format in another media converter of reverse functionality. This is a virtual imitation of a wireless link capable of accepting E1 traffic. The difference is that the media converter hardware is separate from the wireless link hardware making it much easier to manage and maintain while the price is also kept lower.

Another example of the need to transfer of information in formats other than Ethernet is the control signals in SCADA systems widely used in oil and gas and other industries in which digital control is playing a major role. Most SCADA control devices are using RS-485 protocol in the physical layer, including most sensors, switches, actuators, controlled valves and many other types of control devices.

Using a RS-485 media converter the connectivity between the control system and the control devices like sensors and switches can be wireless. This makes it possible to extend the reach of a SCADA control system to SCADA sensors or switches locations up to 50 km away (or even more in multi hop links).

Such a solution can drastically cut the overall cost of a control system by eliminating the cost of cables in one side and saving the extra cost of the local SCADA servers and controller on the other side. The number of different possible configurations is virtually limitless.

Netronics has addressed the need for the above media converters though cooperation with major manufacturers of such converters making them available for utilization with wireless links after extensive compatibility and reliability tests. The results are the following two products.

NMC-E1

This converter is capable of accepting up to 16 E1 lines through its modular design. It converts the E1 stream into 100BaseT which is acceptable for all Netronics wireless networking products.

The unit is also capable of accepting fractional E1 traffic to insert or to drop part of the E1 traffic.

NMC- RS485