NEXUS – RFOC – The concept:

RFOC board offers four standard SFP ports via which a NEXUS network can be set up with other Star Routers and base devices using flexibly selectable fiber optic transmission modules. Thanks to the many SFP modules available, both multimode and singlemode fiber optic cables can be used. Line lengths up to 100 km are supported.

Like all NEXUS router cards, RFOC card exchanges 256 audio channels with the Star Router's matrix. These channels can be distributed via the four ports of the board to other connected base devices in the NEXUS network. Since several RFOC cards can be used together without problems, there are many possibilities to design network topology, redundancy and increased channel numbers.

Above all, the comprehensive redundancy concept is one of the points for which the NEXUS system is famous. Thus, redundant fiber optic connections can not only be laid redundantly on two ports of a card, but also distributed on two RFOC cards, in order to even achieve card redundancy, which makes it possible to even change cards, e.g. for maintenance purposes during operation. As with a NEXUS system, the switchover is inaudible.

The data stream exchanged via the RFOC ports naturally also contains the necessary information for synchronization and all transparently transmitted control protocols. This saves additional, complex cabling or, if necessary, allows some external signals to be sent spontaneously via the NEXUS installation. The module has excellent error detection, the connection status of each port is monitored and errors such as jitter are detected and signalled via the LEDs on the front panel.