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Optical link for data and voice cuts leased line

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Nov 8, 2001

A licence-free optical datalink supplied by Wadsworth Electronics has enabled P and P Installations to solve a pressing IT requirement for mailing system specialist Ascom.

A licence-free optical datalink supplied by Wadsworth Electronics has enabled P and P Installations to solve a pressing IT requirement for mailing system specialist Ascom by allowing the company to rapidly complete expansion of its Croydon-based sales, service and repair facility.

Ascom had originally planned to employ a leased line and high-speed modems to establish voice and data links, via a local exchange, between its main site and an adjacent building acquired to accommodate expansion.

However, impedance obstacles in the loop ruled this solution out.

Furthermore, the fact that the two buildings are separated by an access road maintained by the local authority meant that the installation of cabling beneath the road would require planning permission and lead to an unacceptable delay.

To solve these problems, P and P Installations provided a wireless solution based on licence-free Cablefree technology supplied by Wadsworth.

Cablefree uses laser transceivers to establish a line-of-sight optical link capable of supporting 10/100 Base-T and a simultaneous E1 (2Mbit/s) telephony link capable of supporting 30 simultaneous phone conversations.

Cablefree transceivers were mounted on each building and the line of site link was optimised in around 20 minutes using an audio-based alignment tool.

Dean Henry, account manager at Wadsworth, who was involved with the project, said, "P and P Installations is a regular customer, and has successfully installed Cablefree links in a number of projects.

Keith Dodd of P and P contacted us to discuss the situation at Ascom, and we were able to offer the complete solution from stock for next day delivery".

The installation was completed just three days after the company's initial enquiry to P and P and, as Roger Chubb, the company's IT Director points out: "It's in use seven days per week and the link has never gone down".