Rotem’s RS-485 Line Repeater unit is a communication booster designed to increase signal strength among houses. The RS-485 Line Repeater is connected to the controllers via cable.

Note: A similar product exists for RS-232 installations.

Using the RS-485 Repeater

By strengthening the communication signal, the following conditions are possible:

• extending cable length between the PC/MUX and controllers
• increasing the number of controllers
• increasing the baud rate between the PC and the controllers

For example, if your current setup is: 32 controllers, 1000 meters of cable and a baud rate of 2400, installing the RS-485 Repeater enables:

• increasing the number of controllers to 64
• or increasing the cable length to 2000 meters
• or increasing the baud rate to 4800

Benefits

Save on Installation Costs

The RS-485 Repeater enables a star configuration, providing significant savings in installation costs due to the reduced amount of cable required (view the diagrams below for clarification on which cables are not needed once the RS-485 Repeater is installed).

Simplify Troubleshooting

After installing the unit, communication is no longer one long chain of houses but rather sections of houses; consequently, troubleshooting is much easier since whole house sections can be eliminated when detecting the problematic house.

Diagram of a Conventional Daisy Chain Installation

Diagram of a Star Configuration Installation Using the RS-485 Repeater