Network extenders Black Box

900-MHz Serial Transceiver, RS-232, (2) Client/Server Units (Kit) Eliminate serial cable connections. Control your RS-232 devices wirelessly!

Quick Facts
- Enables you to interconnect terminals as far as 20 miles apart!
- Use in mobile, temporary, or fixed installations—point-to-point or multipoint.
- Operates in the license-free 900-MHz band using FHSS technology.

Further Details
- Supports RS-232 2-wire, half-duplex communications for easy integration into legacy systems.
- Industrial-grade transceivers feature durable, die-cast enclosures to withstand temperature extremes and the elements.
- Plug-and-play design and GUI-based configuration software enable quick setup.

Set up wireless links to your factory-floor devices fast with these affordable, ready-to-use transceivers from Black Box.

Perfect for industrial, commercial, or campus applications, our 900-MHz Serial Transceivers use Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) technology to provide reliable 115.2-kbps communications. They transmit around corners, through walls, and even in environments that are typically hostile to RF signals.

The transceiver supports links at extended distances, too—up to 20 miles (32.1 km) outdoors with clear line-of-sight. Indoors, the 900-MHz Serial Transceiver transmits up to 1500 feet (457.2 m). Just think what you can do by being able to control serial devices at these distances. Better yet, think about how much you'll save by not having the added cost of cabling. (See "Applications" below.)

Also available is a RS-485-pinned model, as a standalone unit or as a complete kit for your client/server setups. If you prefer to make your server-side links via your PC or laptop USB port, order the 900-MHz, 200-mW USB Host Transceiver (MDR291A). Then select the individual remote RS-232 or RS-485 unit(s) suitable for your application. (NOTE: The USB version supports a maximum distance of 4 miles [6.4 km]).

Set up your wireless system up in minutes.
The transceiver transmits standard asynchronous RS-232 serial data to one or more client transceivers.

The central server node supports any number of remote client nodes in point-to-point or multipoint settings. You can send communications to all devices, or you can address packets to a specific destination using the unique MAC addresses embedded in each transceiver.

No special host software is needed, and the included GUI-based, Windows® compatible software enables you to custom-configure your transceivers to suit your specific application requirements.

You can even create a number of subnetworks (simply by assigning unique radio addresses to the specific groups) and co-locate unique networks within the same site—without any concerns over possible interference. In fact, you can create up to 32 independent networks with the RS-232 and RS-485 900-MHz Serial Transceivers. The USB version, with even more channels, supports 56 independent networks.

A distinct hopping pattern is provided for each channel, and an embedded RF232® protocol ensures error detection and link verification. To establish an RF link, the server-end unit emits a beacon to each client transceiver, which then informs the host that it has detected the beacon. DES encryption keeps data safe by encoding bit streams across the data link.

Need to link devices in areas not suitable for 900-MHz communications? Then see our 2.4-GHz Serial Transceivers (MDR242A, MDR243A-KIT, MDR244A, MDR245A-KIT).