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Although DCB multiplexers don't always interoperate with units from other manufacturers, our sales people are authorized to provide trade-in credit when replacing a pair of obsolete competitors with DCB multiplexers. Often, replacing a non-working orphan multiplexer unit with a pair of DCB multiplexers is less expensive than finding a replacement, used unit.
In addition to orphaned multiplexers, other current production and obsolete multiplexer brands such as Penril, Baytech, Comm Design, Micom, Multitech, Data Race, Timeplex, Codex, Racal, and others are also easily replaced with DCB products. Data Comm for Business is in the serial data management business. We are constantly improving and enhancing multiplexer technology, so when you are ready to upgrade or replace those older multiplexers, consider a modern replacement from DCB.
The illustrations show a system without statistical multiplexers and how the same system would be configured with statistical multiplexing.
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DCB manufacturers statistical multiplexers with two to thirty-two asynchronous ports that use either synchronous or asynchronous composites (the line between the two multiplexers), and that use either propriatary or frame relay protocols between the units.
DCB also builds multi-drop and multi-point statistical multiplexers. These systems allow multiple remote sites to all communicate with a single multiplexer at a host site when using multi-point or multi-drop wide area networks such as radios, multi-drop DDS lines, satellite, or frame relay.
Statistical multiplexers were developed to meet the needs of terminal (and later PC) users. In the last few years, they have found new applications in many fields of machine-to-machine communications. It is now common to see statistical multiplexer networks with no PC or terminal connected. Some common uses are sharing one line between multiple point-of-sale terminals (cash registers), printers, networked computers using PPP or SLIP, lottery machines, SCADA systems, security systems, gaming machines, or process control equiment.
In some cases, routed networks share wide area network (WAN) links with older terminal based networks by conecting a router on one port of an older statistical multiplexer network. This allows simultaneous use of remote terminals along with LAN workstations for email and provides an orderly transition path from terminals to LAN based workstations networks. In other cases, DCB multiplexers are used to transport serial data via ethernet connections using our EtherPath ethernet interface.
Most statistical multiplexers use a proprietary protocol on the "composite line" between the two units. At DCB, we've also added frame relay as a native composite protocol. This allows DCB multiplexers to operate over a native frame relay point-to-point or point-to-multipoint network. It even co-exists with Cisco brand routers!
Most statistical multiplexers also require a full duplex link between the two units. DCB has a line of data concentrators (special breed of statistical multiplexer) that function over a simplex or half-duplex link. This system works more efficiently over radio and satellite links.
DCB has been building statistical multiplexers since 1981. Along with the
expected incremental improvements of faster speeds, open standards, lower
cost, and more processing power; many unique features have been added to our
statistical multiplexer line. We even added low bit rate voice
multiplexing to our SR series.
For example, many of our statistical multiplexers support "AT command
spoofing". This allows Windows95 PCs and other workstations to use PPP
connections through a multiplexed WAN link. This feature is often used with
frame relay to extend LAN connectivity to PCs at multiple locations with no
ethernet cards or routers. Many other features have been added to enhance
ease of configuration, problem diagnosis, remote training, and
performance.
Links to DCB multiplexer product
datasheets...
Link to other DCB products.
Link to other DCB educational material.