TN-906-AN
Page 3 of 20
© Tait Electronics Limited 21 December 2005
This Application Note provides information on how to connect multiple
TB8100 base stations to a Service Kit or Alarm Center using an
Asynchronous Port Switch (APS). It covers connection via direct serial link,
and via PSTN lines using modems. Typical physical connections, APS
configurations, base station configurations, Service Kit configurations, and
modem settings are also described.
1
The Purpose of an APS
One of the most powerful features of the TB8100 base station is its ability
to be remotely configured and monitored. This feature includes Service Kit
access, for remote configuration, monitoring, and diagnostics, and
automatic dial-out to an Alarm Center, as a result of an error condition or
Task Manager stimulus. TN-742 describes the use of this feature in detail.
Without using an APS, however, a dedicated PSTN line is required for each
base station installed on a site. The cost of these lines is very high, especially
when the base stations are installed in remote locations. Using an APS
allows a single phone line to service up to 31 base stations.
A typical connection scenario is shown in
below. The diagram
shows:
■
four base stations connected to various ports on an APS
■
the dial-up modem at the remote site
■
the PSTN connection
■
the modem at the local site
■
a PC running either Service Kit or Alarm Center software.
Figure 1
Typical APS Connection
Dial-up Modem
Dial-up Modem
Calls initiated
Calls initiated
TB8100
APS
Service Kit