A voice/data multiplexer for point-to-point satellite and ground communications applications has been introduced by U. S. company DNE Technologies. The new SatPlex/2 has eight data ports, a range of 4.8 kbps to 16 kbps voice compression, and a small (2-U) form factor. It weighs less than 15 pounds and is priced under $3,000 in the U. S. A. Potential users include private network facilities serving the banking, financial services, long-distance telephone, distributed manufacturing, energy and transportation industries.

It addresses several key concerns of narrow-band network users, including price, low bit-rate voice with full POTS functionality, ability to support emerging data applications, flexible management options, minimal size and weight. It features a highly integrated system board designed around the Motorola PowerQUICC 860T Microprocessor/Communication Controller.
"The SatPlex/2 is ideal for the small corporate remote network niche market," said DNE vice president of sales and marketing Charles F. Reese. "It is the first in a series of access products for private networking solutions, and we are expanding our distribution network in Latin America to support them."

Multiple applications
The multiplexer is designed as an economical solution for transporting voice, data and video information between two points. Applications include corporate voice/data communications, multi-channel datacasting, ISDN access and Voice over ATM. Discount long-distance telephone service providers can also use it to compress transmissions, stretching scarce bandwidth while retaining voice quality.

Flexible Operation
The single board unit has four high speed synchronous and four asynchronous data ports, and integrates easily with five option slots that support voice, including: FXS/FXO, 4-wire E&M and T1/E1 configurations. With these interfaces, the multiplexer compresses a maximum of eight analog or 30 digital voice channels.
The compressed voice channels use either MP-MLQ or LD-CELP algorithm with rates from 4.8 to 16 kbps. The MP-MLQ 4.8 kpbs algorithm produces high voice quality while using minimal bandwidth, the manufacturer reports. All compressed voice channels support Group III fax and V.32bis data modems.
The SatPlex/2 can be managed from a front panel keypad, through an RS-232 console port or from a Web-based manager through the LAN port. Test capability is built in and system software upgrades can be downloaded from the manufacturer.
The unit supports simplex and asymmetric operation over the aggregate and synchronous channels. The simplex mode can be utilized to support simple datacast applications where data is streamed from a single multiplexer at a hub site to units at multiple remote sites. The asymmetric operation optimizes the transport of Internet traffic for users who prefer the downlink to have significantly higher bandwidth than the uplink.

Company Background
DNE Technologies, headquartered in Wallingford, Connecticut, USA, manufactures concentrators for military and commercial voice and data networks. The company is ISO 9001 certified.

Caption:
Economical SatPlex/2 voice/data multiplexer conserves bandwidth and rack space for narrow-band network users.

For additional information, contact:
Vincent Parrotta
Product Marketing Manager, Commercial Products
DNE Technologies, Inc.
50 Barnes Park North
Wallingford, CT 06492 USA
E-Mail: parrotta@dne.com
Tel: +203-265-7151 x 4271
Fax: +203-284-8414
www.dnetech.com

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