Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System

John K Munro Jr <[email protected]> · Mon, 24 Nov 2003 11:09:39 -0500

Hi John,

We have limited experience on the SNS front end  and hot spare where the use of
fiber is important to allow us to have ethernet communications between
equipment on the "hot deck" of the ion source (to get oscilloscope signals out)
and the "outside world".  We used media converters in the price range of
$100-150 each from two different vendors and found these to be unreliable.
They did not hold up well under conditions of sparks and arcing.  We could
usually recover by power cycling the media converters and oscilloscopes (had to
power cycle both most of the time).  The media converters required enough
attention for the recovery sequence to be a nuisance.  We recently obtained a
pair of more expensive media converters from Phoenix Contact to try during our
most recent commissioning operation.  I have not heard any complaints so far,
so ordered a second pair for use on the hot spare.  We are still interested in
the experiences others have had.  The Phoenix Contact units are performing much
more reliably (based on operator experience, not detailed, rigorous testing).

-- John Munro

john sinclair wrote:

> I've been looking at inexpensive ethernet/fiber media converters on various
> web sites.
>
> Is anyone using any that cost $100US or less. Any problems?
>
> --
> John Sinclair

--
John Munro, Development Staff
Real-time Systems Group, Energy Science and Technology Division, and working
with
Global Controls Group, Accelerator Systems Division, Spallation Neutron Source
Project

PHONE: (865) 241-9509
FAX:   (865) 574-0676
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EMAIL: [email protected]

Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System

Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System