Pickering Interfaces is expanding its range of switching solutions with the introduction of a new PXI module, the 40-736, capable of switching communications signals carried on 100 ohm differential pair cables.

The 40-736 is a flexible multiplexer designed specifically for the switching of signals carried on wires organised as differential pairs. Thanks to its wide operating bandwidth the 40-736 is capable of handling signals ranging from Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), USB2.0 to Ethernet, including Gigabit Ethernet. When used to switch Gigabit Ethernet, the 40-736 is configured as an 8:1 multiplexer, for 100BaseT and AFDX applications the 40-736 can be configured as a 16:1 multiplexer with the capability to reverse the transmit and receive pair - providing a simple way of simulating a crossover cable connection.

Input and output signals are carried on a 78 way D Type connector, and an interface adaptor card is available that converts these signals to an 8:1 Ethernet MUX on RJ45 connectors for direct connection to an Ethernet cable.

The switch provides an elegant solution for testing multiple devices that share a common communications interface. The common input can be electrically routed to the required output with no ambiguity or interference from other devices connected to the interface - replicating a simple scenario where just one device is linked to one other device.

The 40-736 can be supported by any 3U PXI chassis and is also supported by Pickering Interfaces 60-100A Modular Switching Chassis with an LXI compliant interface. Software drivers support all major test programming environments.