Rack & Cabling

To extend your serial connections over secure, interference-free fiber optic media, order BLACK BOX® FlexPoint RS-232 to Fiber Converters.
Ideal for extending links to RS-232 equipment such as controllers, modems, and terminals in industrial networking or office applications, these fiber converters feature baud-rate autosensing at speeds up to 115.2 kbps and, for user flexibility, support half- or full- duplex modes of operation.
With the multimode versions, you can extend RS-232 data up to 2.5 kilometers (1.5 mi.) or 5 kilometers (3.1 mi.). For extra range, such as in long-haul fiber applications, order the single-mode models. Depending on the models ordered, they support long- distance links as as far as 28 kilometers (17.4 mi.)
Connecting a serial device is easy. Just attach the RS-232 port via a male DB9 serial cable to the RS-232 equipment. The FlexPoint RS-232 to Fiber Converters also feature switch-selectable DTE/DCE configuration. When connecting the RS-232 cable to data terminal equipment such as a computer or controller, you just flip up the DTE switch. And when you need to link to data communication equipment, such as a modem or printer, you just flip down the DCE switch.
And there's no special crossover cabling needed either. An ordinary straight-through cable works whether you're connecting data terminal or data communications equipment in your application. Flow control can be accessed via software using the X-ON/X- OFF protocol or via the supported RTS, CTS, DCD, DTR, and DCR flow control signals.
To assist you with the installation, operation, and troubleshooting of the converters, FlexPoint RS-232 to Fiber Converters feature an informative diagnostic LED display that provides at-a-glance status information.
The media converters also have a loopback feature set for remote fiber testing. By initiating remote loops, you can verify the integrity of the fiber link connection-without actual data activity on the link itself. You can test both ends of the fiber from one location with no need to set switches on both units simultaneously. When the fiber loopback switch is set in this mode of operation, the local unit's fiber transmit port is encoded to carry a remote loopback protocol over the fiber to the far-end converter and return a signal back to the originating unit. LEDs on the local and remote units will blink to indicate that there's a good fiber link between the converters.
You can use FlexPoint RS-232 to Fiber Converters as standalone, rackmount, or wallmount units. You can also mount multiple units in a FlexPoint 14-Slot Power Chassis, which features an AC power supply and can be used to hold other devices in the FlexPoint family.