Madison Technologies Westermo DDW-142 ethernet extender

The Westermo DDW-142 from Madison Technologies is a high-speed, compact device that is capable of meeting the increasing data transfer demands within industrial applications. It uses SHDSL technology to establish a high-speed connection between ethernet networks using any existing copper cables. This enables considerable cost savings when installing new systems where the only option in the past would have been fibre.

The Wolverine DDW-142 allows effective ethernet networks to be created over long distances (up to 15 km) at data rates up to 15.3 Mbps on a single twisted pair cable. By using two pairs ‘bonded’, this rate can be doubled up to 30.4 Mbps. The integral switch allows two ethernet devices to be attached and an RS232 port allows for a legacy piece of equipment to be incorporated into the IP network.

The DDW-142 is designed for use in tough environments and mission-critical railway, road or utility applications where device failure could result in significant costs. The rugged and compact unit can operate in extreme temperatures (-40 to +70°C) and where EMC and vibration levels are high. Total galvanic isolation and transient protection of the electronics contribute to a MTBF of 437,000 h, providing high operational reliability and a long service life.

To support engineers that are installing and maintaining ever increasingly complex networks, the DDW-142 has been designed to be easy to set up, requiring no configuration for simple point-to-point communications. For larger networks, a web interface is provided and a CLI allows even more complex configuration.

The Wolverine range is also supplied with a unique cable distance calculator. This uses data from real-world applications to enable installers to calculate the speed and achievable distances using different types of cable. Once installed, SHDSL diagnostics and management functions enable indication of line degradation, allowing planned maintenance. Should maintenance be required, a back-up and restore facility enables configurations to be quickly downloaded from a USB stick.