Moxa Multiport Serial Board Features Fiber Optic Interface

Moxa adds a new serial extension solution, the CP-102UF, which it claims, is the world's first to integrate fiber optic interface on a multiport serial board. The board can be installed directly to the host control PC without buying an additional converter.

The CP-102UF smart Universal PCI boards are designed for industrial automation applications that require a long distance, multi-point, PC-based data acquisition solution. The boards are compatible with all popular operating systems, and each of the two serial ports support data rates up to 921.6 Kbps. In addition, the CP-102UF boards work with both 3.3V and 5V PCI buses, allowing them to be installed in most PC servers.

With a maximum data transmission distance of 40 km (with the single-mode model), the CP-102UF cards beat the 15 meter maximum for RS-232, and even the 1.2 km maximum for RS-422/485. An industrial feature is that optical fiber isolates the data from dangerous increases in ground potential, ground loops, and EMI/RFI radiation.