The PDS-220Fx series is a family of Programmable Device Servers, also known as "Serial-to-Ethernet gateway", that are designed for adding optical fiber connectivity to RS-232/422/485 devices.
 
The fiber-optic communications permits transmission over longer distances than other forms of communications because of the signals travel along them with less loss and no crosstalk. It has following important features: Immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI) — Motors, relays, welders and other industrial equipment generate a tremendous amount of electrical noise that can cause major problems with copper cabling.
 
High electrical resistance, making it safe to use near high-voltage equipment or between areas with different earth potentials.
 
No sparks — important in flammable or explosive gas environments.
 
Not electromagnetically radiating, and difficult to tap without disrupting the signal — important in high-security environments.
 
Because of these reasons, optical fibers have largely replaced copper wire communications in core networks in the developed world.
 
The user-friendly VxComm Utility allows users to easily turn the built-in COM ports of the PDS-220Fx series into standard COM ports on a PC. By virtue of its protocol independence, a small-core OS and high flexibility, the PDS-220Fx series is able to meet the demands of every network-enabled application.
 
The PDS-220Fx series includes a powerful and reliable Xserver programming structure that allows you to design your robust Ethernet applications in one day. The built-in, high-performance MiniOS7 boots the PDS-220Fx up in just one second and gives you fastest responses.
 
The PDS-220Fx is equipped with 1 RS-232 port and 1 RS-485/422 port. The removable on-board terminal block connector is designed for easy and robust wiring in industrial situations.