American Fibertek, Inc. (AFI) has long been known as a company that helps their customers make the right connections. Their range of products bridges communications between multiple channels of video, data, audio or contact closure using one singlemode or multimode fibre. While the company's first fibre-optic transmitters and receivers provided an optical bridge between coax cable transmission systems, more recently AFI has built an optical bridge to connect Cat 5 unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cables for video and switching systems.
"Our bridging product line has evolved and expanded to meet the changing needs of the market," said Jack Fernandes, CEO and President of AFI. "Integrators need flexibility when seeking to leverage the benefits of fibre optic communications. Our extensive line of bridging products provides integrators with a list of options sure to include whatever configuration they need to make a robust connection to ensure effective system operation for years to come."
Currently, the company's complete line of IP/analogue bridging products incorporates a mini (two copper port) Ethernet switch with a digital video (analogue) transmission system. AFI's bridging products can be either singlemode or multimode and can provide up to four channels of video with multiple data, audio or contact closure plus the two ports of Ethernet on a single fiber.
For example, AFI's 91P3335E-SL singlemode series transmits high-quality, state-of-the-art, 10-bit digital video, two ports of 10/100Base-TX Ethernet, three RS-232 data channels and one RS-485 data channel using one singlemode optical fibre. AFI's 91P58E-SL singlemode series transmits and receives one video channel, two Ethernet ports, two audio ports and one multi-protocol data port.
The Ethernet interface is designed to be completely transparent. Auto-negotiation automatically configures the unit for the correct speed, and the system requires no field adjustments at installation or additional maintenance thereafter. The equipment can be ordered as a stand-alone module or rack card.
Other AFI bridging products include a wealth of choices, including 1, 2 or 4 video channels with many data, audio, and contact closure options. For higher video counts on single mode, American Fibertek can provide 16 to 56 video channels using the proven CWDM (Wave Length Division Multiplexing) technology. Bridging products can be monitored remotely using AFI's Afinety system.
