Media Converters

Serial-To-Serial | Serial-To-Fiber | Fieldbus-To-Fiber

Serial Converters for Serial, Ethernet and Fiber Connections

Media converters are widely used in industrial applications to connect devices to different media interfaces to meet a wide range of communication requirements. The demand for media conversion between fiber and serial/Ethernet communication interfaces has increased because fiber cables offer benefits such as increased bandwidth, greater transmissions distances, and a higher level of noise immunity. For example, data that continuously update operators on machine status make it possible for them to act immediately when downtime occurs, or even help them avoid downtime through predictive maintenance analytics.

To achieve optimized operation efficiency, you first need to connect your legacy devices to collect data from them and transmit it to your on-site system or cloud system for analytics.

Devices at field sites have multiple interfaces and use different communication protocols, making connectivity complex and challenging for engineers. Moxa has more than 30 years of expertise in connectivity to enable reliable network solutions for customers. With our comprehensive serial-to-Ethernet product portfolio, we have the solutions to simplify and execute any of your connectivity demands.

This guide illustrates four practical challenges you need to know about and useful tips on how to choose the most suitable interconnectivity devices to bring your serial devices to IIoT applications.

Recurring Challenges for Serial-to-Ethernet Connections

Bringing legacy devices into an Ethernet-based network requires expert knowledge. Furthermore, phenomena such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and OT/IT convergence increasingly demand more and more devices to be connected, making connectivity more complex than ever. As a result, engineers face three main challenges: ensuring reliable connectivity, strengthening security, and simplifying the manageability of networks.

Connectivity

Connecting multiple types of field devices into one network is complex, as well as difficul to collect multiple data formats and integrate them into systems on the premises or cloud.

Security

Although getting more field data into systems can help engineers unlock valuable information, it also makes your field devices vulnerable due to unauthorized access.

Manageability

Field devices can be monitored once their status is visible in management systems. To enable this, engineers have to deal with managing a large number of networking devices.

Media Converters for Your Application

Serial-to-Fiber Converters

Industrial-grade serial-to-fiber optic converters can convert RS-232/422/485 to optical fiber, which provides users with an easy and reliable way to communicate with their serial devices. Easy network extension with plug-and-play connectivity.

Fieldbus-to-Fiber Converters

Fieldbus-to-fiber converters from Moxa convert fieldbus to fiber with ease, and also offer easy configuration and effortless troubleshooting. Moxa’s industrial-grade ICF converters can convert PROFIBUS to fiber and are a cost-effective solution – even in harsh environments.

Serial-to-Serial Media Converters

Moxa’s serial-to-serial media converters can convert between RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485, which avoids compatibility issues that are often encountered when communicating between different serial interfaces. These industrial grade media converters have wide operating temperatures and high EMI immunity.

Ethernet to Fiber Media Converters

Moxa’s Ethernet to Fiber media converters feature innovative remote management, industrial-grade reliability, and a flexible, modular design that can fit harsh industrial environments. A wide range of models are available from entry-level and Gigabit converters to IEC 61850-3 Ethernet -to-fiber media converters.

Resources

Enabling cloud connectivity is not only beneficial, but also easy. Moxa’s serial device servers NPort IA5000A-I/O, NPort IAW5000A-I/O, and protocol gateways MGate 5105-MB-EIP are ready-to-run connectivity solutions that easily bring your field data to cloud systems. Check out the video to learn more.

The days of headaches over managing a large number of devices are over. Moxa has mass device management tools that ease your pain. Tools such as MXconfig, an intuitive network configuration tool, or MCC, a CLI configuration tool, can meet any device management requirement that your system might have. Check out the video to learn more.