One of the big successes enjoyed by Optocore over the past 12 months has been the popularity of its AutoRouter.
What made the device so appealing to sound system designers was that it functioned as an intelligent patch bay, creating a redundant ‘star’ out of the ring topology. It is therefore a perfect solution where mixed ring/star or star topology is more desirable due to a star based fibre cable layout.
The way AutoRouter works is that it automatically discovers the presence of mobile devices and adds them to the Optocore loop. When such a device is later disconnected, or powered down, AutoRouter automatically closes the loop with the remaining devices. Redundancy is established automatically, without any user action necessary.
Now Optocore has announced the new OptoSplitter, a device which, when paired with AutoRouter, will achieve redundancy.
So how does it work? Take two identical AutoRouters—a main and backup device. All connections from any external equipment will now connect, not directly to the AutoRouter as previously, but to this new OptoSplitter. This splits the fiber signal into two and distributes it to both the main and backup AutoRouter. Both routers communicate leaving only one active at a time and automatically switching to the backup router when the active one is absent.
“This allows the system to work flawlessly even when one AutoRouter fails or is powered off,” confirms Optocore’s Technical Sales Manager, Maciek Janiszewski. “Despite a bullet-proof design, without a single hardware failure since its launch, some customers have requested hardware redundancy.” And OptoSplitter is the company’s dynamic response to market feedback.
Finally, he adds that since it is a passive device it is not a point of failure. “Each connection splits within the independent optical splitter—the redundancy switchover takes place automatically and independently.”
While OptoSplitter is available as a complete new solution, all customers who already own an AutoRouter or BroaMan Route66 can add redundancy to their existing system.
The new product is available and available for shipment now.