You Can Always Find a Shortcut Somewhere
Dear Friend & Subscriber,
I love shortcuts, and I admire people who take them.
Take for example a certain Jason Niccum of Longmont, Colorado. Jason just got busted for using a special device that changes traffic lights from red to green.
Mr. Niccum had complained "I'm always running late" according to the police incident report.
So he got on Ebay and bought one of those devices that ambulances and fire trucks use to change traffic signals.
It had cost him a hundred dollars, plus he got fined $50 and they confiscated it.
But he said, "I guess in the two years I had it, that thing paid for itself."
Now B&B Electronics does NOT sell these gadgets, nor will we be adding them to our product line. (For one thing, this thing uses Infrared not wireless networking. I am fairly sure we could sell a few, until the police came knocking on our door.)
As for shortcuts, we're all for them, especially when you can avoid filling out a police report. So here's what we've got for you this week:
***How to Extend USB 500 Meters without getting busted by the USB Police: http://bb-europe.com/product_family.asp?FamilyId=148
Did you know you can use ordinary CAT5 cable to extend your USB network up to 500 meters? Yes, it's possible and it's fully compliant with USB 1.1. Ulinx™ USB extenders are composed of two separate units, the local extender and the remote extender.
These units deliver all of the benefits of USB, including remote device powering, Plug-and-play operation, and cross-platform flexibility. Complete with power supplies and 1 meter USB cable when required. All you need are Category 5 and fiber optic cables, except for UEF10M.
And we have another way to extend the reach of your USB devices. With USB-over-Ethernet you can plug your USB devices anywhere you can find a LAN connection. http://www.bb-europe.com/product.asp?SKU=ANYWHEREUSB/5
While we're talking Ethernet, I think we all finally understand the differences between "Industrial Ethernet" and plain old vanilla Ethernet. The bits and bytes don't change, but the expectation of flawless reliability in the toughest conditions only applies to the industrial variety. If you don't need flawless Ethernet performance, skip this one and read on. But if your system, your equipment, or even your job depends on that data, you've got to check out this managed Industrial Ethernet Switch from Sixnet:
http://www.bb-europe.com/product_family.asp?FamilyId=184
***Extend your data line across the new parking lot: Wirelessly connect your legacy serial device to 802.11.
Got a PLC, weigh scale or data acquisition unit that you'd *like* to connect to the world but the wiring is too much of a hassle? You can convert that serial port (232/422/485) to wireless Ethernet and send the signal anyplace you want.
The Vlinx™ ESR combines wireless data networking with proven asynchronous connectivity. Available in 1, 2, and 4 port versions with support for RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485 interfaces.
Oh, and we've got this very cool 3D rendering of the unit so you can rotate it live on your screen. I love this 3D stuff:
http://bb-europe.com/product_family.asp?FamilyId=145
***I must have a problem with authority or something, because I really enjoyed that story about the traffic signal changing device.
But I'm learning my lesson... and with fresh wounds from IRS Tax Season on my skin, let me offer you a Post-April 15 tax tip (I don't know how it works in Europe, but here in the States, April 15 is The Day of Reckoning as far as taxes are concerned):
If you ever get into a disagreement with an IRS agent, you *could* say something like "Hey you money-sucking government muckety-muck, I've met donkeys with more brains than you. And yo momma's so fat, the last time she saw 90210 it was on the scale."
You could say that.
But just like manipulating traffic signals on your way to work, I would not recommend it.
Maybe you could get yourself into a little wireless networking mischief. Or tempt the USB police instead.
And if we can help you be an accomplice an any of these less-onerous crimes, then give us a call: 353.91.792444.
Happy Connections!
Mike Fahrion
support@bb-europe.com
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