Case Studies

Serial-to-IP in the Harbor
2006/05/03   

Putting connection technology where only eagles dare to fly
VOLKTEK’s rugged industrial devices link weather-tower devices to harbor control                               

The Challenge:
The management of the harbor in one of China’s biggest port cities recently needed an Ethernet solution to link a wind-measuring device in a 30m-high steel tower to the harbor’s control room, more than 3km away. Apart from giving real-time data on wind behavior, the device would be depended upon to sound the alarm if the wind became too strong and the harbor’s wind-sensitive cargo cranes needed to be shut down. The transmission link would have to be reliable – and the device closest to the measuring equipment would have to be able to withstand daily summer temperatures of between 40°C and 50°C, as well as extreme wind, vibration and humidity.

Ethernet to the rescue:
Optical Ethernet was the obvious choice because fiber-optic cables can extend transmission distances to over 100km, while retaining 100% data integrity. VOLKTEK’s IRF-601 device server is tough enough to take the environmental punishment. It was used to link the measuring equipment’s serial cable to a modern IP network via fiber cable. It lent its IP capability to the legacy device and its RS-232 cable was simply plugged into the IRF-601, from where the IP-enabled signal was piped via fiber cable to the control room. On the control-room side the fiber cable was linked to 100TX cable by an NXF-742 media converter.

The Mission:
Use optical Ethernet devices to link weather-measuring devices on 30m-high steel towers with a central control room.

Requirements:

• Distance flexibility
• Ability to withstand extreme temperatures, wind, vibration, humidity
• Wide voltage range
• Remote management of software over long distances at high speed
• Link serial devices to TCP/IP network

Solution:
(See diagram.) VOLKTEK’s IRF-601 Device Server links RS-232 cables and connecters to 100FX fiber cable, which easily bridges the few kilometers to the NXF-742 converter in the control room.

Why VOLKTEK?

• Our optical Ethernet technology links various types of serial cable to fiber cable and thus makes it possible to transmit data seamlessly through high-speed, high bandwidth, distance-extending fiber cable.
• Our products have built-in features and flexibility that makes them easy to use and install – and they also make it easier to plan a network, increase redundancy and do troubleshooting.
• VOLKTEK specializes in delivering complete Ethernet solutions by producing all the media converters, device servers and switches needed. We aim to provide one-stop shopping.
• Our solutions are very cost-effective because they are competitively priced and reliable.
• Our range of Industrial Ethernet products are made of high-quality components that are encased in a tough IP30 casing, delivering a package that can operate well in harsh, industrial-type environments.