TC3005 "MAXI" Fiber Optic Mode Converter/Repeater - Fiber Optic Modems, Multiplexers, Multidrop (SCADA) Modem, RS-232, RS-422, RS-485,V.35, T1/E1, T3/E3, Intercom/V

Overview

Because of the need for reliability, durability and a wide variety of applications and interfaces, Aerospace, Military and Government fiber optic networks often require specialized solutions. TC Communications offers more than 50 different general purpose and custom products and has been offering specialized solutions since 1992.

For example, TC has provided custom voice and data modems for U.S. Navy ships, voice & data multiplexers for the U.S. Army in Iraq, hybrid Serial Data and T1 multiplexers for the Aerospace industry & advanced mode converters for government agencies.

The force behind TC's extensive product line is an experienced and talented Engineering Department. Most Engineers hold advanced engineering degrees and have been with TC for more than 5 years.

Custom & Specialty Products

TC offers several important products that are considered custom, unique or hard to find. These include:

Multi-Service Access Platform (TC3840)
Multi-Interface Fiber Modems (TC1710)
28-Channel Data/Telephone Fiber Multiplexer (TC8800)
Single-Mode-to-Multimode Converters (TC3020)
8, 16or 24Channel T1 or E1 and 3 Channel 10/100M Ethernet Fiber Multiplexer with Management (TC8518)
Data/Audio/Analog Fiber Multiplexer (TC8000)

Featured Product

JumboSwitch^TM - TC's featured product for Aerospace, Government & Military communications is its new flagship Gigabit Ethernet Multi-Service Access Platform (MSAP), the JumboSwitch^TM product Family.

Gigabit Ethernet/IP Backbone
Low Cost Alternative to SONET/SDH
Future Proofs Network Design
Tele-Protection
Minimum Real-Time Latency
Industrial Grade VoIP Gateway
Simple & Friendly OAMP Interface

The center piece of the JumboSwitch family is a fully-managed and easily scalable Gigabit Ethernet switch that integrates up to seven hot-swappable Ethernet, Voice & Data interface cards onto a Gigabit backbone Ethernet fiber optic network.

JumboSwitch^TM Multi-Service Access Platform

Advantages over SONET/SDH Systems

Based on the most advanced Ethernet/IP, VoIP and TDMoIP technologies, the JumboSwitch MSAP family offers an efficient, low cost alternative to SONET/SDH network solutions for many applications, and promises straight-forward and simple scalability for any network topologies and sizes.

Compared to the complicated hierarchies of SONET or SDH based systems, the JumboSwitch drastically reduces operational expenses since it totally eliminates unnecessary hardware layers, thus significantly lowering the skill level required for installation, maintenance and troubleshooting.

In the past, SONET and SDH communication systems were the only choices when it came to building mission critical automation and control systems. But, progress in the control, computing and communication technologies has made these TDM based communication systems basically obsolete. The trend is moving towards Ethernet/IP based communication backbones.

Supports Legacy Equipment

The JumboSwitch makes communication network design extremely easy and straight forward. Legacy equipment, e.g. T1/E1, T3/E3, RS-232/RS-485, can co-exist harmoniously on the same platform with more advanced technologies including Ethernet, GigE fiber ports, Turbo Serial for protective relay communication, and LANex, a virtual VoIP PBX without the need of additional Call Managers or SIP Servers.

Management, networking and security features are extensive and include STP, RSTP, SNMP (v1& v2), VLAN, IGMP Snooping, Port Rate Control, QoS, etc. The JumboSwitch supports all popular topologies including redundant ring, bus, string, star and add/drop multiplexing. It is available in 2U and 4U (rack) versions. With TC’s proprietary self healing technology, the recovery time for JumboSwitch fiber rings is less than 50ms for any number of nodes.

Configurations are flexible and easily determined by network engineers. For example, it could be configured as a 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet 42-port redundant ring switch with any combination of fiber or copper ports. Or, it could be configured with 12 channels of Ethernet, 8 channels of T1/E1, 8 channels of phone and 4 channels of RS-232.

Unique "VoIP-LANex" Package

The JumboSwitch offers a unique VoIP–LANex package, LAN exchange, enabling all VoIP phones ( if less than 100) to work the same as extension lines connected to a virtual PABX, providing basic but reliable call processing functions without the need of additional Call Managers or SIP Servers.

Industrial Hardened & Industrial Ethernet for Extreme Environments

“Industrial Hardened” and “Industrial Ethernet” describe communications products designed to operate in industrial process control environments or geographical locations where harsh conditions are common. Typical installations include Power Substations, Utilities, Manufacturing Plants, Oil & Gas Installations, Water Treatment Plants, Traffic Signal Control Systems, etc.

To meet this level of durability, “Industrial” grade (synonyms for “industrial” commonly include “rugged,” “outdoor,” “hardened,” and “substation hardened”) communications products are manufactured with special components, connectors and circuitry. This ensures reliable operation in the event of wide temperature swings, electromagnetic interference (EMI), radio interference, vibrations, or moisture and humidity fluctuations.

TC Communications Industrial Grade products are designed to exceed pertinent industry specifications. For example, communications equipment used in power substations are subject to extremes of temperature and humidity, as well as electrical transients from high voltage switching. These environmental conditions are described in industrial standard specifications IEC 61850-3 and IEEE 1613 for networking devices. Similarly, equipment used for traffic control applications are required to withstand roadside vibration in addition to high/low heat and humidity. Testing standards pertinent to traffic control are described in the environmental requirements of the NEMA TS-2 standard.

TC Communications’ extensive Engineering Department features a variety of sophisticated on-site testing equipment to verify that its Industrial Grade products meet the most demanding environmental and EMI requirements.

Every TC Communications product passes through “live operating temperature” testing (unlike randomly selected products for statistical sampling) before it is shipped. Each unit is connected to an operating BER tester to ensure error-free operation while the temperature chamber cycles from -40° C to 80 C° during the 24 hour testing period.