ARCNET TRADE ASSOCIATION

Contemporary Controls

ARCNET Manufacturer of Boards, Hubs, Analyzers

2431 Curtiss Street
Downers Grove, IL 60515 USA
Telephone: 1-630-963-7070
Fax: 1-630-963-0109
E-Mail: info@ccontrols.com
WWW: www.ccontrols.com

Your GUIDE to Configuring an ARCNET Network

Contemporary Controls has built a solid reputation in the industry, providing equipment for some of the largest ARCNET systems installations. We design and manufacture industrial networking products supporting ARCNET and CAN fieldbus technologies. We furnish ARCNET active hubs, links and repeaters. We produce ARCNET-compatible interface modules for all the popular bus structures and wiring hubs that support coaxial cable, twisted-pair cable as well as both single mode and multimode fiber optic cabling. We provide bridges that support CAN-based technologies such as DeviceNet and Smart Distributed System. Our products are used primarily in building automation, motion control, and the general industrial automation markets. To promote a better understanding of this technology, we authored the ARCNET Tutorial and Product Guide. It is an ideal reference guide for designers and engineers utilizing ARCNET networks.

Active Hubs

The MOD HUB series of modular active hubs is designed to accommodate larger, expanding systems. The MOD HUB series offers enclosures in two sizes. Our most common size will allow as many as four expansion modules and when fully configured will accommodate as many as 16 ports. The larger expansion module has 12 slots and a total of 48 ports can be provided within one hub. Mix and match coaxial cable, twisted-pair wire, as well as glass fiber optic cable in the same hub. Hubs can be rack, desktop or panel-mounted. A NEMA 1 enclosure is available for the smaller MOD HUB.

Network Interface Modules (NIMs)

NIMs are obtainable for all the popular bus structures such as ISA, PCMCIA, PCI, PC/104, SBus, SBX, and STD.These NIMs incorporate either the COM20020 or COM20022 controller, enhanced with features over earlier generation ARCNET chips.

Network Analyzer

Our newest generation of ARC DetectÒ ARCNET network analyzer (ANA) is a necessary tool for developing and troubleshooting embedded ARCNET networks. The ANA will allow engineers to capture and decode all ARCNET frame types as well as the ability to view the transmitted ARCNET packets (PAC). Unlike other ARCNET analyzers that use an ARCNET chip for capturing packets, this analyzer captures the symbols sent and reconstructs the frames. The ANA has a 2.5 microsecond timer resolution for all recorded events and will operate at the 10 Mbps upper limit of ARCNET. It directly accommodates coaxial star, bus, twisted-pair and DC or AC EIA-485.

We Can Support All ARCNET Topologies

With ARCNET, there are several choices. Our hubs and NIMs support point-to-point, star, distributed star, bus, star/bus, daisy-chain and multidrop. Using active hubs, you can expand the network to the limit of the ARCNET technology.

Single Mode or Multimode Fiber Optics

Single mode fiber optic cable is available in one size, 7/125, and multimode fiber optic cable is typically available in three sizes, 50/125, 62.5/125 and 100/140. The larger the size, the more energy that can be launched and, therefore, the greater the distance. Distances up to 46,000 feet are possible.

RS-485 Communications
Expansion modules exist for either DC coupled or AC coupled RS-485 in either backplane or non-backplane operation.