ARCNET analyser displays more than transmitted packets

18 July 2001 Test & Measurement

Contemporary Controls' newest generation of ARC Detect ARCNET network analysers will allow engineers to capture and decode low-level messages that controllers use to initiate and control a packet transmission. ARCNET is referred to as an embedded networking technology frequently found in diverse applications including industrial automation. A network analyser is used to examine the data sent over the network.

The ARCNET Network Analyzer (ANA) provides the ability to view all frame types including invitations to transmit (ITT), free buffer enquiries (FBE), acknowledgements to messages (ACK), negative acknowledgements (NAK), as well as the ability to view the transmitted ARCNET packets (PAC).

ARCNET is a token-passing network and ANA will display the tokens and the transmission time. The ANA has a 2,5 ms timer resolution for all recorded events and will operate at the 10 Mbps upper limit of ARCNET.

"The ANA has the edge because no other standard tool on the market exhibits such diagnostic capability," says Bennet Levine, Senior Engineer. "Most analysers only display transmitted packets because they incorporate an ARCNET controller chip for capturing packets. The ANA does not use an ARCNET chip but reconstructs complete ARCNET activity by observing the symbols on the cable. For example, the occurrence of an ACK or NAK cannot be determined by just using an ARCNET chip. The ANA is ideal by combining analysis functionality and a simple interface with Windows presentation."

The product operates on a standard PC or a notebook computer with a USB interface. It directly accommodates coaxial star and bus, twisted-pair and DC or AC EIA-485. Data rates can range from 156 Kbps to 10 Mbps.

The ANA does not rely on a PC for realtime acquisition. The ANA's USB module contains its own CPU, memory and custom triggering hardware to facilitate capture of all transmissions. It is viewed as a nescessary tool for developing and troubleshooting ARCNET networks according to the manufacturer.

For further information contact Electronic Products Design, (012) 665 9700.

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