American Fibertek's Net I/O series of network communications devices enable real-world alarm contacts, auxiliary outputs and data to "tunnel" across networks to eliminate distance limitations of physical contacts. Information from PIR devices, door contacts, access control or fire panels, camera pan-tilt-zoom control or point-of-sale (POS) systems can communicate from remote locations across the network, without going through a server, to trigger auxiliary outputs anywhere network-wide.
Ranging from the Net I/O N-111 offering a single contact and a single data channel to the Net I/O N664 with six contacts and four data channels, the units communicate across the network via 10/100 Base-T with other Net I/O units, American Fibertek's Pilot software, other customer hardware or software (DVRs, NVRs), and other American Fibertek equipment such as the Scout environmental security safety system and the Commander IP communications center.
Communication includes Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) messaging and e-mail notification.
Net I/O's user-programmable serial data ports use standard RFC-2217 protocol, easily recognised by most computer operating systems. Each port can be individually and independently enabled, disabled, or configured as RS-232, RS-422, RS-485, two- or four-wire. Any combination of ports can be configured as masters or slaves. Front-panel green, yellow and red LEDs indicate status for all alarm inputs, auxiliary outputs and data channels.
"Net I/O offers so much versatility, it's hard to think of an existing or new system application that it wouldn't benefit," said Jack Fernandes, CEO and President of AFI. "Communication using Net I/O empowers network systems to make decisions based on logical sequences of events that can now be communicated from anywhere to anywhere on the network."
Net I/Os can "ping" units to see if they are on line and listening and can turn power on/off through various methods. For Net I/Os with the power reset function, the Watchdog feature ensures continued operation and resets if any of Net I/O's functions cease for more than 10 seconds. When used with Scout and Commander, Net I/Os provide valuable management information. Each device in a system can be titled with a name and location to easily identify its location within the network. The self-contained Web browser doesn't require additional client software.
Environmental specifications include operating temperatures from -40 degrees to +75 degrees C, and humidity range from 0 to 95 percent.