Using singlemode fibre, serial data transmission can be extended up to 40km, far exceeding the 15m limit for RS-232 and even the 1.2km limit for RS-422/485. In many industrial applications, an even bigger benefit is that optical fibre isolates the data from dangerous increases in ground potential, ground loops, and electromagnetic radiation.

Using the CP-102UF, a PC can be included as a node in a fibre optic ring that is formed with Moxa's TCF-142 serial-to-fibre converters. Each TCF-142 in the fibre optic ring can connect to a serial device with the potential to build large, highly reliable networks of serial devices.

A simple DIP switch setting configures the CP-102UF to "ring mode'. When one node transmits a signal, the signal travels around the ring until it returns back to the transmitting unit, which then blocks the signal, preventing messages from looping endlessly around the network.

David Evans, Product Development Manager at Amplicon comments: "For many years we have been highlighting the benefit of redundant rings in Ethernet networks and now we can do the same for serial-based networks. The CP-102UF adds a very innovative new dimension to our Data Communications portfolio."