Subject: RS485: Ain't glamorous, but definitely here to stay

Networking has created quite the buzz during the last 
five years.  A half dozen Fieldbuses, Industrial Ethernet, 
nternet, Wireless.  Compared to all this "jazzy" stuff, 
lowly RS-485 doesn't get much limelight.

But make no mistake, with the exception of office grade 
Ethernet, there's probably more 485 in use than any other 
single network out there. 

RS-485 can be used almost anywhere you need multiple 
devices at various locations, so long as the devices have 
RS-485 ports.  If 485 ports are not built in, they can be 
adapted to RS-485.  Converting from RS-232 to 485, for 
example, is easy and quite common.  RS-485 has been used 
in many factory environments to gather data and control 
addressable motor drives, cameras, PLC's, time clocks,
bar code scanners for process control and other factory 
equipment.

This network has been around for 20 years and it's a 
pretty safe bet that it'll still be making things hum 20 
years from now.

And when it's 40 degrees below zero, or you've got to 
string a serial connection several thousand feet, 485 may 
be your best bet.

***Extend the RS-232 50-foot limit to 4000 Feet

RS-232 signals get pretty flaky after about 50 or 75 feet.
485 is a different ballgame.  A simple DIN Rail converter
on both ends with ultra-wide -40 to +80C temperature range, 
Surge Suppression and Optical Isolation makes your data 
nearly bulletproof:

http://www.bb-elec.com/product.asp?sku=485LDRC9&src=e070903a1
or call (815)433-5100

Or you might take a look at a simpler Line Isolator /
Repeater with the same adroit temperature specs and
surge capabilities:
http://www.bb-elec.com/product.asp?sku=485OPDR&src=e070903a1& chr(10) & chr(13)

***Fiber Optic makes your data "Noise Proof" up to 2.5 miles

Any two serial ports -- 232, 422 or 485 -- can be linked 
via fiber optic cable to make your data truly immune to
external interference.  You can also create a multi-drop
ring configuration, and you can mix and match different
standards.  

http://www.bb-elec.com/product.asp?sku=FOSTCDR&src=e070903a1 
or call (815)433-5100

***Extend RS-485 up to 25,000 miles with Ethernet and TCP/IP

A clever technique called "Serial Tunneling" allows
you to send serial port data 'round the world, and the VLinx
converter makes it possible:

http://www.bb-elec.com/product.asp?sku=ESP901&src=e070903a1
or call (815)433-5100

Is RS485 the most glamorous network solution around?
Not likely, but most of us don't get paid for glamor, 
we get paid to make stuff work!

Questions?  Comments?  Rants?  Raves?  I always
love to hear from you!

Cheers,

Mike Fahrion
B&B Electronics
support@bb-elec.com