ComNet: state of the art transmission products for Security, Intelligent Transportation System and the Communications market

ComNet: state of the art transmission products for Security, Intelligent Transportation System and the Communications market. For most ComNet is a new name in fiber optic and Ethernet transmission products. Those in the fiber optic industry will recognize the name of Litchblau as the original founder of – International Fiber Systems (IFS). George Lichtblau started IFS in 1986 and he eventually sold the company to GE in 2003. Lichtblau established ComNet in 2008 having observed a stagnation and decline in fiber optic product development coupled with an ever increasing technology gap. Many key former employees of IFS were ready and willing to join him in this new effort, and now ComNet consists of some very talented people in the fiber optic industry.

Comnet has established its headquarters and manufacture plants in Danbury, Connecticut, USA. ComNet produces state of the art transmission products used in the Security, Intelligent Transportation System and Communications market. ComNet’s main charter is to go back to basics, supplying superior products and superior service to all.

To this end ComNet opened the European HQ Headed by Steve Clarke in Leeds, UK to service Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia. Satellite offices have also been opened in Germany and Dubai.

Product Development in Close Cooperation with Clients

As part of the product development process ComNet spoke with many installers, integrators and consultants to get an understanding of what they and the market required. It became apparent early on that there was a real need to reduce the number of components used in a system/ installation. In response ComNet developed their product concept, Comfit.

The Comfit concept allows a transmitter or a receiver to be wall (surface) mounted or installed in a rack chassis. The obvious advantage of this concept means a lower number of product variants being held by maintenance teams and stocking distributors as well as a reduction in the number of product codes resulting in a simplified ordering process. Another challenge posed by the customers and the system designers was to increase signal density in the fibers thus allowing users to free up fiber in existing systems. ComNet’s response was to develop product road map that utilised modern engineering and state of the art technologies.

ComNet developed the majority of their product line to utilise a single fiber. This innovation alone will provide numerous savings to the end-user. It can either reduce the cost of the fiber media required or allow more functionality to be built into an existing fiber installation. All ComNet single optical fiber, video, data and Ethernet products are priced competitively against the competition’s two fiber designs.

By utilising ComNet products you have the potential to save up to 50% on the cost of the transmission media.

Two New Product Lines

A company’s true value is how they are developing new technologies to overcome existing and new challenges. ComNet has introduced two new innovative fiber optic solutions to the market. The first is the recently launched Ethernet suite of products all fully ruggedized for the tough environmental requirements of the Security and ITS marketplaces. 

The ComNet line of managed/unmanaged Ethernet switches and media converters are all designed to operate under extreme temperatures. These units are used in applications where the products are subjected to high levels of shock and vibration and are generally deployed in unconditioned environments. ComNet offers both a Fast Ethernet Managed Switch and Gigabit Ethernet Managed switch to manage IP video networks.

ComNet’s second new introduction is “the first self-healing ring, video product line using only 1 fiber”. This video and data transmission product has many of the same benefits offered by IP video without any of the inherent challenges.

The FVT/FVR SHR series has the capability to insert up to 8 full motion broadcast quality video channels onto the video network. The system directly supports either a linear adddrop- repeat or self-healing ring topology. Either topology is accommodated with a single multimode or single mode fiber.

Transmission distances between field nodes of up to 2 km using multimode fiber, and up to 55 km on single mode fiber. These channels can be dropped at an almost infinite number of monitoring “Head-End” locations.

Compared to traditional Ethernet video/data fault tolerant systems, the ComNet FVT/FVR SHR system offers considerably simpler ease of installation and system integration. Unlike Ethernet- based systems, trained IT or technical personnel are not required for the installation or maintenance of this system, reducing the initial installation cost as well as the life-cycle cost of the system.

Contact:

Comnet Europe Ltd.,
Leeds, UK
Tel.: +44 113/3076400
Fax: +44 113/253 7462
sales-europe@comnet.net
www.comnet.net